Family Time

Up and headed to Tianjin by 9:00.  It snowed again overnight and continued pretty much all day.  The streets were pretty clean and we didn't get all that much.  In Tianjin our first stop was IKEA.  Bought some couches and finally got it worked out to have them delivered.  We had Mr. Xue doing what he does best...running the show and thinking he is important.  He is pretty helpful sometimes and good to have around. 

Our next stop was the furniture store next to IKEA.  We see them everywhere but have never stopped.  Since we had time we figured we might as well walk around inside some more.  It was 5 huge floors full of furniture.  Some of it was ok but some was absolutely Chinese.  We killed about 30 minutes and didn't see anything we needed.

The long escalator from the 5th floor at the furniture store.

Next stop was Ancient Culture Street.  It was still snowing a little but it wasn't too bad walking around outside.  We mostly were just checking out the Chinese New Year decorations to see if they had anything we couldn't live without.  We found a decoration that had "tough looking snakes" instead of cheesy snakes.  Bought that for less than 3 bucks.  That was our only purchase. 

Shopping on Ancient Culture Street.

Todd is bargaining for a New Year decoration.

It's was a beautiful day in Tianjin.

Cameron watching the guy dump the snow down the
sewer hole.

Off to lunch.  Texas BBQ again.  That place just never gets old.  So delicious.  Finished eating and stopped at a new grocery store in the same complex.  Looked around, bought a couple of things, and then back in the van to go back to TEDA. 

Year of the Snake.

Ryley immediately saw our van and came running over.  Him and Ainsley were out playing in the snow.  Cameron ran up and put his snow gear on and was back outside in about 2 minutes.  I quickly baked a cake for Marcela.  I promised her last night I would make her one for her birthday.  After I took it out of the oven I put my snow pants and coat on and went out with the kids for awhile.  Todd went out too.  We watched Cameron, Manuel, Ryley, and Tobias try to build a couple of snowmen.  Todd and I went back inside.

Tobias, Manuel, Ryley, and Cameron playing in the snow.

Trying to make a snowman.

Todd gave Cameron the tip of trying to roll the ball.
It worked pretty well.

This was Cameron's little guy.

The snowman building turned into a snowball fight.

5:30 we went down to Carrasco's to give Marcela her cake.  She was pretty excited.  When she saw it she had a huge smile on her face.  Lit the candles, took some pictures, and she blew the candles out before we could even sing.  Ileana cut it and the kids devoured it.  All the Carrasco kids had 2 pieces.  Obviously it was good.

Marcela with her birthday cake.

Alejandro, Marcela, Alfredo, and Cameron waiting to eat the cake.

Todd and I with Marcela.

Back upstairs, dinner, watched MacGyver, and skyped with both sets of Grandparents.  While skyping with Grandma and Grandpa Ronnebeck I gave Cameron his Valentine's Day present from them since we will be in the Philippines on the 14th.  Cameron was so excited to get another NERF gun.  He put it under his pillow and slept with it.  Goofball.

Cameron happy again.