Happy Chinese New Year 2011 Year of the Rabbit

Happy Chinese New Year Everyone! I hope everyone had a nice celebration. Our family celebrated the New Year with the Families With Children From China and went to the yearly party at the Washington Fair Grounds! It was so fun to see all of the little children in their Chinese outfits as well as some of the parents and grandparents.
The Cricket Acadamy had the little dancers perform ages 4 through 12 and that was so sweet! Their was a demonstration on Thai Chi with the option of coming up and practicing on stage for a little lesson. The lion dancers were incredible as usual. Julia is still afraid of them this year even though she keeps telling me they are pretend...she had a firm hold around Johns neck as they paraded down the aisle.
I purchased another outfit for her for next year as well as a parasol and fan and another one of the Chinese lion marrionettes.
Julia and Evan decorated masks. Evans made a Green Bay Packers one. Julia made a cut out dragon on a stick and a Chinese Lantern. Julia made friends with Jenna and they had so much fun running around on stage with the other little girls and playing with their fans and balloons and Chinese yoyos. The food was very yummy....a Huge buffet of every kind of Chinese dish and eggroll and wonton! Julia enjoyed the Lo Mein noodles. It certainly was a full day of activities with no nap but we all had a great time!

Happy New Year 2011

I hope everyone had a terrific New Year Celebration to ring in 2011. We had a great time celebrating with our neighbors like we traditionally do. It is nice that the adults and children can all celebrate together! Julia actually stayed up until 2 AM and loved the party. She had her first glass of sparkling white grape juice and loved to play all of the games that our neighbor has in his basement...she loves the slot machines and air hockey table...yikes! We had a wonderful lobster and steak dinner and had a great time visiting with friends.

Christmas Day Pictures Continued 2010

Merry Christmas 2010

I think that this Christmas was so special for all of us since it was almost as if there was an awakening with Julia. Last year I remember reading the same Christmas stories to her and celebrating the same traditions but this year she was recognizing everything as if it was the first time she had ever seen it. Christmas is so magical through the eyes of small children! We went to Christmas mass on 4 PM Christmas eve. The church was so beautiful and when the Deacon told the Christmas story with Silent Night in the background and all of the children sitting aroung the alter you could have heard a pin drop with all eyes on him. Afterwards we had a small gathering at our house. Julia and Evan made the reindeer food and sprinkled it over the front yard so that the moon could shine on the glitter and show Santa the way. Julia was so excited about leaving the mild and cookies for Santa....or should I say Coffee and cookies this year:)
On Christmas morning everyone was so excited. Julia was happy to see that the scooter she asked for and Buzz Lightyear were under the tree. Evan showed some shock and awe at his new IPod Touch. After presents we went over to have buffet brunch with Johns parents at their assisted living dining room. Johns brother Jim made it into town from New York which was very special. Then off to my sisters for dinner and to see some more cousins and family.
I hope everyone had a Wonderful Christmas with family and friends

Gingerbread House 2010

I went into a local cake store planning on only purchasing icing for my gingerbread men. While I was there they were holding a class on decorating gingerbread houses. I thought that Julia would love decorating a house with me so of course had to pick up the other supplies. Julia loved decorating the house. She kept taking the candy out of the boxes and slipping a few pieces in her mouth trying to look casual. I knew I was in trouble as her cheeks got bigger. Here is our final result

Happy Birthday John December 13 2010

Happy Birthday John.....Hugs and Kisses...Love you!!!

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

I can not believe that I am catching up on pics and posts since Thanksgiving....eek! I had hostessed Thanksgiving for John's side of the family this year. This was the first year I had made a turkey which did not turn out to be all that difficult. While I was bathing the turkey Julia asked me where the eyes were and the warbly thing under the beak....lol The hard part was getting everything out at the same time and keeping it warm,but with my mother in laws help we worked well as a team! John did not want me to take a picture of the turkey so I only have the table pictures. We could not fit everyone in the dining room so we ended up putting the younger adults and children in the kitchen at their own table.