Busy day

Today was a very busy day.

As Roel and Áslaug came by to say goodbye just before they leave for spain on Monday, we had to buy our groceries very early. We were in the store at 9.15, way too early......

When Roel and Áslaug came we had some pastry delights and played several rounds of klaverjassen. Roel helped me demolish our office desk, as it would have to be removed from ZiXuan's room, to make place for his bed.

When everything was demolished and put in the car and we had said goodbye to Roel and Áslaug, Nina and I went to the municipality dumpsite to get rid of the rubbish (office desk, some paperwork and files), went to the Gamma to buy some rails to hang up the nice chinese embroidery gift. From there we drove to Ikea to buy some plastic boxes in which we will want to store the clothes we got from the Bos family. From there we drove to Overvecht area in Utrecht to buy some fishing wire.

By now it was late afternoon and we went home, to prepare for tomorrow when my uncles and aunts are coming to help us set up ZiXuan's drawers and bed and other odd chores.

Bed and dresser

Wednesday we went to Voorschoten to babysit my niece Yildiz. It was a wonderfull evening where she was very nice and behaving well. At certain moments she tried to push some boundaries. For instance, she wanted a candy before going to bed. When she noticed we wouldn't budge she was ok with that.

We received her bed and dresser as she wouldn't need them anymore. She is a super big girl now, especially now that she sleeps in her own bed made for princesses.

We stored the bed and dresser in ZiXuan's room:

On Sunday the family from the south is coming over to help us set up the bed and dresser and other chores.

A beautifull chinese gift

Sunday, Roel and Áslaug came to visit us. On their last visit before they go back to Spain to life there, we played tennis, had dinner together and played a couple of rounds of klaverjassen (card game). They brought some gifts for us. Lovely set of clothes, a buggy and a wonderfull Chinese embroidery, which will get a nice spot in ZiXuan's room.

Thanx Roel and Áslaug.

Getting clothes and more

Saturday we visited our friends Wim & Patricia and their sons Dennis & Ruben. They said they had some clothes which they would like to give to us. Those clothes had been worn by Dennis & Ruben when they were little. So we went to Amstelveen to pick up these clothes and have dinner with them. At a certain point Wim stood up and asked us to come and go to his mother in law, where the clothes were. We wondered why we had to go there, as we thought it would be packed in a bag or 2....... Well we were amazed that we could all fit it in the car, as the photo below shows you it was slightly more than two.......... Thank you very much Wim, Patricia, Ruben & Dennis, we don't have to buy any clothes for the next 4 years.....

Getting additional information on ZiXuan

Tomorrow three families are going to China to adopt children. One family is going to Shaanxi province. They might be going to the same children's welfare institute as we are in May. Their son Yalong has spent some time in the institute and they hope to be visiting this place as well. We asked them whether they could take some pictures from ZiXuan whilst being there. Fortunately they agreed to help us as much as possible. Their adventures can be seen on their blog.

Homecoming of Shan Koot

Today we went to see the return of Karin and Jan Koot. They went to China to adopt their son Shan. They arrived at Schiphol airport. There were more families who had adopted their child in China, who had come back that day. So there were many people awaiting the arrival of their friends/family. I spoke a few words with Karin and said hi to Jan, before Nina and I went back home. It was very nice to see how things might go when we return from China.

More information about the adventures of Jan, Karin and Shan can be found at their website

Making a Cupboard

On Saturday 17th of March, Nina and I went to a children's furniture shop, to buy a cupboard for ZiXuan's room. A nice white cupboard named Rome. Two of our friends from the tennisclub came over in the late afternoon to help us set up the cupboard. Thanks to Saskia and Sander we can now put ZiXuan's clothes in this lovely cupboard.

First message

Hello All,

This is the first message about the life and times of our son ZiXuan Rulkens. The son we have been waiting for for over 8 years.

We are happy to share our adventures with you through this blog. About the things that happen before we go to China and the things that will happen in China and afterwards back in the Netherlands.

In the next few weeks we will keep you up to date about our adventures.

This is our son, ZiXuan, this foto was taken a couple of months ago in the Baoji Social Welfare Institute:

ZiXuan Rulkens