A Day in Pictures Part 1

So, to make up for some lacking pictures yesterday, I will try to put as many in as possible and attempt to tell the story that way....



First of all, check out these cuties at the hotel pool!  They thought it was funny that they had to wear swim caps in order to play in the water.  I thought they looked like little Olympic swimmers!  Grace has not seen much water (this includes bath tubs) so we just practiced climbing stairs by the pool and we were completely content!

I'm sorry but if Gap ever decided to use cleft kids for ads, tell me she could not rock the jeans!  I love that the jeans, boots and sweater were all worn by Claire as a baby.  I held onto them just in case...so glad they are on this beauty!

Yesterday we visited the City Wall which circles the city 8 miles long.  This is at the top of the wall complete with drawbridge and moat, these really interesting guys and some very cool drums we were able to play!

This is Claire showing the people how it's done.  Near the wall were several games and hobbies to try, such as this "body building" hula hoop.  Much heavier than ours but you wouldn't know it when Claire gave it a whirl!  That's Carter in the background trying some sort of hacky sack toy and Grace taking her first stroller ride in a hot pink Minnie Mouse ride.  Not really our style but it is what we could find and we think it suits her spunky personality!

This is where the generals used to stand to dictate to the soldiers below the battle plan to protect the city.  You should be very scared.

This happens everywhere we go.  We have no idea who these ladies are.

This is the Wild Goose Pagoda, a beautifully made structure and surrounding buildings.  There are two silly gooses in front.

This is the view near the top structure overlooking the city (and Daddy and Grace).

Behind the main structure which is seven floors high and earthquake proof, there were smaller temples and pretty landscaped gardens.   This is why I love being a Barnett...  our conversations ranged from the apostle Paul in Athens to wondering if we could make our own kung fu movie here.  It would be perfect!

Only because we were encouraged to do so by our guide.  We would never stoop to such antics.

Only because his sister did it.

The courtyard.  What you can't see is the throngs of people in front of us taking our picture too.  We are pretty famous here.

Cory calls this his retribution picture.  We have had our picture taken more times than we care to admit. Cory wanted payback in a big way.  Afterall, he was wearing a baby carrier.  When our guide asked permission for a picture with this military gentleman, he at first said no way.  We said OK, and started to walk away.  He looked around and motioned Cory quickly back for the shot.  He really wanted a picture with him.   Because Cory is famous.

As we were leaving the square, we were approached by some kind young men who asked if we would pose with this message.  After making our guide promise that it didn't say anything bad, we happily agreed.  It supposedly says "Happy Birthday" and the young man was making a creative card for a friend.  To our friends in North Carolina of Chinese decent and/or Duke Chinese language majors....if it doesn't say that, we don't want to know.

Sightseeing is WAY overrated!  (She is not asleep, just decided to collapse on the floor when we were unlocking the room!

Games with big brother...

Part of the massive City Wall gate...

Standing on top of the City Wall...it is very wide and many spaces to shoot arrows from!

Overlooking from top of the wall....

I honestly debated posting this video that Cory made at the dumpling restaurant but I always said I would not blog if I couldn't be honest.  I think there was a best selling book recently out called Tiger Mom?  A whole different kind of Tiger Mom was about to be unleashed in that restaurant.  Good thing they brought jasmine tea.  Calming.....

Dumplings....amazing!  

Grace likes dumplings and puffs and mashed potatoes and rice and pancakes...she is such a good eater!

Chopstick master.

Cory was the only one brave enough to try this...what I can only describe as some sort of pork jello.  The attractive manner in which he ate it made it even better.

Day 1 of sight seeing in Xi'an complete!  Stay tuned for Day 2!