Museum and shopping...Caleb's Icecream surprise

 God is so good to us. I thank Him daily for my newly expanded family and our loved ones at home. Thank you all.
TODAY:
It was cold here today...like Fresno cold. It was in the 70's then it turned windy, then cold, then cloudy, then rain...
The museum we went to today was the of the wealthiest family in Guangzhou, the Chen family. It was amazing, but I couldn't help but think of Hearst Castle as I walked through the ornately decorated walls, intricate ivory carvings, detailed embroidered art, complex wood carvings, and just plain opulence. However, there was not one heater in the whole joint. So needless to say, it was a quick walk through.
Shopping in Shaiman island an old British/French outpost was amazing. Think New Orleans meets Trafalgar Square then overrun with assorted flowers and a dash of the old Sunnyside swap-meet. This is the place to wheel and deal, we did not. It was too cold and we went to world famous (they told us so) Lucy's. Ate our usual burger and fries, didn't know it was such a staple in the Chinese diet. By the way, Cate loves mashed potatoes. Oh and Virginia was if Caleb was 8 and Chinese.
Speaking of Cate, she and Caleb have learned to bond in a way that Virginia and I haven't been able to. He makes her laugh out loud. They play together and she puts up with him invading her space. She has begun to sing and babble when we push her in her stroller. Today she was reaching for Virginia and definitely prefers her to me.
We ran out of diapers and low on formula today, so I went to Carre Four (Chinese Walmart). It is a multilevel nightmare. So I spent my early evening as a mute. I asked the concierge for him to write me a slip to hand the cabbie and one for the return-off I went. It took me longer to locate things in Carre Four then it was to get there and back. Nevertheless, it was less eventful than a previous outing to get our laundry. I will save the details of that trip for my in person reenactment.
While I was out, our hotel has a kids playroom. Cate seems to love rolling a ball and was standing on her own.
Last stop of the night was desert. We asked for a chocolate/vanilla sundae with sprinkles for Caleb... Instead he got a chocolate/vanilla sundae with BBQ chips sprinkled on top. No kidding...You really don't have to ask if he ate it do you...

A week and a day has gone by, Cate reveals more and more of her personality to us. There is a sweetness that she show with her brother. A diva when she arches her back in protest. There is also the suspicious look she gives when other kids come around her trying to touch her stuff or worse her. I just thank God for this opportunity.

Take care and God bless,

CVCC