The Mongolian Hair Cutting Party

Jason's sister, Alicia, married a man from Mongolia. It is the custom to not cut the boy's hair until they are either three or five years old. Time in the womb is counted as part of that time. Their two boys are just at the right age to be able to do both of them at the same time.

It is a big deal in Mongolia, like a right of passage. So, here we are posing as the guinea pigs for the photographer. She was trying to find a good background for the family picture.....

Here's the other background......

We didn't mind because we got some good pictures of the family and I got this cute one of my girls and me! I love Eleanor's smile in this picture!

And here is the family picture....

The yurt centerpieces.....

This is Charlotte and Charlotte. They have been friends since they were only a year old. She flew out for the party. We went out to dinner with her the night she came and they bought these cute matching sweaters at Talbot's. They look darling!

Xander's former principal. Alicia works at the school Xander used to go to and Sharon and I have stayed in contact all these years! She was shocked to see how TALL Xander was!

Savannah watching the hair cutting......

First, they put their hair in a ponytail and then dad cut the ponytail off. They put it in a special bag to save forever. Here is Jay cutting Zorig's hair.

There's the ponytail and now dad is cutting Buuvei's hair.

Buuvei was a lot less cooperative than Zorig. They had a hard time getting him to sit still!

Once the ponytail was gone, they let the cousins cut some of the hair.

Then it was time for the BIG hair cut.....shaving their head!

I love this picture of Zorig! He looks so grown up now!

(By the way, that is face paint on his face, not war paint or anything having to do with the ceremony!)

Next was Buuvei and he had to be held down by both parents and he was NOT happy!

I can't believe how different they look! I didn't get a good after shot of both of them, as they were running around. It was an interesting experience and one my kids won't ever forget!