Gung Hay Fat Choy... and Happy New Year!
When we were in China, we had to go to a pediatric clinic to fill out some paperwork for the embassy. The clinic catered to adoptive families and had tried to decorate in a way to appeal to Americans. So, they picked a beloved cartoon character and hung pictures of him everywhere.... Santa Claus... it was April and there were Christmas decorations everywhere. We got a good chuckle out of that.
Decorating for Chinese New Year felt a little like going back to that clinic. We went down to Convoy Street and bought a bunch of signs and fake fire crackers. We didn't know what they meant, or where they were supposed to go... but we taped them up around the house, ate some steam buns and called it close enough for now.
Adelaide's school kicked off the Chinese New Year celebrations with a large school carnival. Melinda was in charge of the classroom 4's booth (along with another mom, Karen). But, as much as us Moms would like to take credit for the booth, the real prize goes to Karen's husband who found he enjoyed making monkey cookies and manned the table for the whole six hour event!
The kids dressed in their most festive silk (okay, okay polyester) clothes for the event.
The school festival offered a wide array of fun, kid-distracting booths put on by the different classrooms and the PTA. Meanwhile, in the gym, different performance groups shared their talents. The taiko drummers were pretty amazing, but the hula girls were definitely our favorite.
Happy Year of the Monkey! In attempting to understand our holiday decorations, we read somewhere the being born in the Year of the Monkey is actually a bit unlucky. But, we don't believe it. This is the year we'll get Jefferson, and nothing could be luckier than bringing home one of our children. So bring it on Monkey, we've got a good feeling about this year.
When we were in China, we had to go to a pediatric clinic to fill out some paperwork for the embassy. The clinic catered to adoptive families and had tried to decorate in a way to appeal to Americans. So, they picked a beloved cartoon character and hung pictures of him everywhere.... Santa Claus... it was April and there were Christmas decorations everywhere. We got a good chuckle out of that.
Decorating for Chinese New Year felt a little like going back to that clinic. We went down to Convoy Street and bought a bunch of signs and fake fire crackers. We didn't know what they meant, or where they were supposed to go... but we taped them up around the house, ate some steam buns and called it close enough for now.
Adelaide's school kicked off the Chinese New Year celebrations with a large school carnival. Melinda was in charge of the classroom 4's booth (along with another mom, Karen). But, as much as us Moms would like to take credit for the booth, the real prize goes to Karen's husband who found he enjoyed making monkey cookies and manned the table for the whole six hour event!
The kids dressed in their most festive silk (okay, okay polyester) clothes for the event.
These girls are ready to party.
Steven is so cute, you just
want to hug him through the screen!
The school festival offered a wide array of fun, kid-distracting booths put on by the different classrooms and the PTA. Meanwhile, in the gym, different performance groups shared their talents. The taiko drummers were pretty amazing, but the hula girls were definitely our favorite.
Kung Fu Cutie!
When you are three, there are
few things in the world as fun
as a giant, flowy fan.
Adelaide made a beautiful rainbow fan,
and Steven didn't even destroy it! Well,
at least for a few days.
Wow! Whatever Mom came up
with the great idea to make Monkey cookies
out of Nilla Wafers is some kind of genius!
(Humble Brag)
Adelaide and Lauren (best buds) finally got
to introduce their little sisters to each other.
Look at those cute Hula dancers! That little girl
in the middle with the Chinese dress and yellow lei,
she was amazing, couldn't stop cheering for her.
After the party at Barnard, the downtown festival felt a little slow. It's really just a big collection of Asian food trucks and a few booths. We did go check it out and Steven really enjoyed the koi pond in the garden of the Chinese Historical Museum (which was at the center of the festival). Mom and Dad really enjoyed our brief speed walk through the museum and look forward to a return visit in 18 years or so... ("Don't touch! That's two hundred years old! What are you... where is? We should go...").
We snapped a few photos at that event.
Steven was not at all sure posing
beneath a Dragon was a wise idea.
But, he was totally down with
philosopher statues. Way fewer teeth.
Of course, on New Year's Day (Feb 8), we gave the kids the traditional gift of a red envelope. We're so generous, they each got $2 whole dollars! That's twice as much as the tooth fairy. Well, we thought we were generous. Some of Melinda's ridiculously kind and thoughtful co-workers from Hong Kong sent home some red envelopes for our kids to help them celebrate this Chinese holiday with their new brother. And, those had $10.... So spoiled these three.
Steven not pictured. He's not allowed to touch
his money until he learns that it's for spending,
not ripping in half. The girls stashed it in
an Elmo piggy bank for him.
Happy Year of the Monkey! In attempting to understand our holiday decorations, we read somewhere the being born in the Year of the Monkey is actually a bit unlucky. But, we don't believe it. This is the year we'll get Jefferson, and nothing could be luckier than bringing home one of our children. So bring it on Monkey, we've got a good feeling about this year.
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