Friday, February 16, 2007

Getting Ready for the New Year

Chinese New Year preparations are well underway at our home. The house has been cleaned. The kids had their hair cut. Oranges have been bought as gifts for grandparents. Red envelopes are ready to go. (We bought some really special ones in China for this year.) Outfits are ready. Coloring sheets are printed.

Tomorrow we will make our red couplets to hang around the front door. We found some neat well wishes in Chinese to write on them. That will be James' job. We have some really cool Year of the Pig coloring sheets for Riley to color. We all really enjoy the preparations for the new year.

We will listen to our Twelve Girls Band CD while working on our crafts. We are also going to make a few paper lanterns to hang around the house. We really try to be very festive and involved during this time.

Tomorrow we will attend a local Chinese New Year celebration hosted by SACA. This is always a HUGE event. We will attend our FCC festivities on March 3rd. (late, huh?) We will invite family and friends over to our house one day for a meal, too.

I have also pulled out our various books on Chinese New Year to read as our bedtime stories for the next two weeks.

I just love learning and embracing pieces of Riley and Madeline's birth country. To me, this is very important. They are Chinese Americans and will grow up learning about China... not just adoption. Being Chinese and being adopted are both very important parts of who they are. We have so many things on adoption.... but more on China.

May the Year of the Pig bring you happiness, longevity and prosperity.

Open your windows and doors to welcome the new year!

(We will try to post pictures of some of our CNY happenings... if I'm not too lazy!!)

8 comments:

Mommy Spice said...

Our group went out for a CNY dinner tonight. Many of us had grandparents, cousins and other family members with us. We had a great time. Got my new camera, but not able to get my pictures on the computer yet. As soon as I can, I will post our pics.

Jeff and Valerie said...

Happy New Year to your sweet family. Enjoy!

B-squared said...

Xin Nian Kaui Le! Happy CNY!
We love the Twelve Girls Band too...the kids get fired up about dancing to it.
Best wishes from snowy Indiana!

redmaryjanes said...

That sounds like so much fun!
I am in Overland Park, KS. It's a Kansas City suburb. I love it here too.

Michelle McDonald said...

Happy CNY! It sounds like you did so many fun things! Year of the Fire Pig Blessing and Good Fortune to you all!
(thanks for the support comment on our blog - we followed your trip and take encouragement from it!!)

PandaMom said...

Happy CNY! We had a great time with our playgroup and got some good pics of the girls in traditional clothes. Sound like you have everything covered! ; )

Karyn said...

We didn't do much this year (other than go to two FCC dinners!) but expect to celebrate next year when Kai is more able to understand what is going on and we've had a year to research crafts and music appropriate for a 25 month old.

Madeline, Riley, and James look just great. Send them my greetings and best wishes!

Your former Secret Pal and fellow mother to a very special boy from China.

Karyn

Julie said...

Happy New Year, may it bring you good fortune and happiness!!!!