Beijing - Sightseeing (Day 1)

We had a very busy day yesterday sightseeing and shopping!  The day started with a pretty good breakfast bar at the hotel, but I think Allie is going to lose some weight on this trip, she not adventurous at all when it comes to trying new foods!  We left the hotel and visited Tiananmen Square, this is the political center of China.  The kids got to feel what it was like to be movie stars.  Everyone was looking at them and taking pictures of them. Especially Allie because of her fair skin and blue eyes. We even had people stop and put there child with Allie and take pictures. It was fun, but Allie got a big head. Everyone kept saying how pretty and handsome they were! 

Then we went to the Forbidden City.  It is amazing how large it was and the way culture that went on during the Royal dynasties. We learned a lot!  The oohing and ahhhing over the kids continued.

After that we headed to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. It was pretty good for everyone except Allie, who ate hardly anything.  After lunch we went to the pearl factory, there are many types of pearls here in China. I got both Allie and Sarah a set (necklace, bracket and earrings) that we will wait and give to them when they are older (graduation or marriage or something like that).   After the pearl shop we visited Summer Palace, this is a garden like area that was built for the royal family many years ago.

After the Summer Palace we visited the silk factory, where I have to admit I got a little carried away!!  We got the girls some authentic silk dresses and pajamas. I also got a silk duvet cover and sheets.

We attended an authentic tea ceremony which we very cool. So proud of Mitchell, he tried all of them. He has also been pretty adventurous with trying new  things. Our guide has been great making sure we get nothing with nuts in them!  We then visited the Birds Nest (where the 2008 Beijing Olympics were held). 

After the tea and Bird's Nest we headed to dinner Peking Duck. I did not try the duck, but Jerry said was only ok. Again most of us ate pretty well, except poor Allie who was exhausted by this point and did not eat anything except the ice cream our sweet guide Sherry got her! 

 We returned to the hotel around 7:30 and the kids were asleep by 7:45 and us by 8:00. It was a very long day, but a good one!!  It is currently 6:30 am and the kids are still asleep, thank you Lord, they so needed the rest. We are going to attend an International church service today, visit the Jade factory, lunch and then the Great Wall of China.

 Thank you for all the prayers, we can really feel them. We are so blessed to be here and just can't believe that we will have Sarah tomorrow!!  It's unbelievable!