Shopping For Inner Mongolia Treasures

The snow followed us from Texas to Beijing and now to Hohhot!  I opened the drapes this morning to gaze upon this snowy site:



We started our day with some Skype action.  Poppy, Nana & Frank and the Baynes...it was so, so good to see you and chat for a bit!

Then we got out for a bit to shop at a factory or mall type place to buy souvenirs.  It was a bit odd...gated and deserted, but when we pulled up the driver honked the horn and they started playing really loud music and opened up shop.  We thought it would be nice to bring back some things for Silly Sofie and trinkets for family and friends and decided to do most of that shopping here, where she is from.

I picked up a traditional Mongolian gown and hat for little Miss.  It is really beautiful.  She also got a "lucky ribbon", a set of chopsticks and some nesting boxes.  I bought few other trinkets including some beautiful cashmere items and some gorgeous Buddhist prayers beads for me.

Sofie is very funny when we go out and about.  She is a whirlwind while in the room, but gets very quiet and subdued when we are outside the hotel.  She just watches everyone and everything and won't talk to strangers.

We are having a pretty good day...only one little meltdown when it was nap time and I took something away from her.  She then cried herself to sleep.  We will probably just relax the rest of the day and perhaps try the swimming pool since she is feeling better.  Tomorrow we will visit the Inner Mongolia history museum, which we've heard is pretty great.  Then it's off to the airport and Guangzhou.  We are really looking forward to the change of scenery and meeting back up with the other families.

Photos from today...

Learning to ride on Baba's shoulders...to give Mama's back a break!

First family photo!  About time!

Snowy lanterns

Newest obsession...clothes...they ALL come out at least once a day

Don't move...I think she is asleep.  How cute is that tiny hiney?