We had a very bad impression of the lawyer who was appointed by the court to represent our daughter in our adoption proceeding.  This is because she didn't show up as scheduled to visit with us on Thursday evening.  I faxed a letter to her on Friday morning, expressing our displeasure, and today she spent a lot of time making up for the mishap.

Turns out that her sons, who are half Vietnamese and half Caucasian, speak Chinese.  Two of them came to our home with the lawyer today.  The one who is age 13 visited with our daughter in Chinese and in English.  Ping and Cici said that the boys speak Chinese about as well as PIng and Cici speak English, which is quite good.  But they also speak Spanish and German and Vietnamese.

We would like for the adoption to be final before the book signing event on May 19 if possible so that we can introduce Cici at that event with her new name - and as a new United States citizen.  In Texas, the adoption is final when the Judge signs the papers.  Cici already has her green card.  She is under age 16.  When these factors co-exist, citizenship is automatic.  So the lawyer will undertake to help us have the hearing by May 12.

Uncle Andrew magically produced four free passes to the zoo for us.  I will take Cici and two of her classmates to the zoo.  Ping is celebrating the chance for a break from us so she can visit with one of her friends.  You will miss us, I told Ping.  I can handle it for one day, she responded.  Longer than that and I would miss you and Cici, she added with a smile.

We ate some of Ping's famous rice soup, like congee, this time with winter squash in it instead of sweet potatoes the way she usually prepares it.  It was delicious, but not filling enough to last for too long.  Do you want some pizza, I asked the girls?  Yes and yes, so it is pizza time.  Slices anyone?