Bloomington for the 4th and Care Package for Yifeng SWI

Friday after lunch we drove to Bloomington to celebrate the 4th at the farm with my family.  John and I were once again encouraged by "just how great a traveler" A was .... until bedtime.  Audrey thoroughly charmed my parents at dinner and afterwards but oh my going to sleep involved A LOT of crying.  Fortunately, this was a non-issue the next night either due to being extremely tired or the portable bed being made more comfortable or better communication between A and myself or some combo of all.

But Saturday while we were trying to get Audrey to nap we took a drive to Brown County State Park to see what it was like.  We were both impressed.  Really cool pool in the lodge.  Not as good as the one at Banff Springs but geographically much more convenient.

Baba and Audrey in the Nature Center at BCSP. 

Audrey knows how to sign, say and correctly use the word "please".  Which is why I handed over my camera and let her take a lot of pictures like this one

I have no pictures from the family party at the farm because I basically helped Audrey steer her Radio Flyer cart around the A frame,  fed her and then we had to leave early as she was crashing.   It was fun to see family and especially nice to see Ted's in-law's Joy and Max who gave Audrey a very special ring that belonged to their daughter Melissa.  We are keeping this in a safe with Audrey's important documents for a special future date.

When we got home from Bloomington I saw I received an email from Ann of Red Thread China.  Ann's email  said my translated  letter, silk album with 35 pictures of Audrey and a cake will be delivered next week to Audrey's orphanage, Yifeng SWI.  Ann was sweet enough to attach pictures of what she is sending including the translated letter.

My letter basically explained who we were, how Audrey is developing, attaching and adjusting and thanking them for their delicate care of her in the first 10 months of her life.  I also explained we would love to know anything about her caregivers or time at Yifeng that they would like to share and gave them ways to send information.  I hope but certainly do not expect to hear anything.