They are cute, the one pic looks like it has blue eyes and the antennas are nice on the other pic, no idea here either, but don't look chinese to me either.
Oh, I know these. These are praying mantises. The reason why they are called that is because their hind legs stick out behind them like someone kneeling down in church to say their prayers.
It may be irrelevant now but I'd put money that its Stagmomantis carolina. The coloration, shape of the head, and banded leg patterns all point to this small native.