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| AMEN |
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| Nana with our family |
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| Our little family |
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| Pop Pop and Emily watching the performances |
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| Having fun coloring |
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| Miss Emily |
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| mommy and Emily |
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| LOVE this picture; my treasures |
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| Emily took this picture of us |
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| Gong Hay Fat Choy! |
Friday, February 4, 2011
Chinese New Year Celebration with our IFCA
Tonight we celebrated Chinese New Year with the local chapter of Families with Children from Asia. It was hosted at Gateway School of Language and Culture which is a Chinese Immersion School. We had dinner first followed by dance performances by each class K-6th as well as performances by a Modern Chinese Dance troupe. I have to say it brought tears to my eyes, they were all so cute and each person took it all so seriously. Everyone was graceful and beautiful. After the dance performances they had crafts set up in several different rooms. Emily had fun coloring and playing with the other kiddos. As I walked around the school looking at what was on the walls in the hallways and inside of the classrooms I was impressed with what I saw. Numerous mentions of respect, honoring, integrity, tranquility, love and even a wall with a huge map of Africa, a work station and some of their art projects from the Africa theme. I saw quotes of famous people in history to inspire and bring hope. One in particular caught my eye so I took a picture of it and will post it along with celebration pictures from tonight. What is ironic about Gateway Language and Culture School is that I attented elementary school there when it was called McMillan Elementary so to be back there after 35 years (sad but true) and to be contemplating if Emily might someday be a student there is pretty wild. Blessings to you all....
Rite of Passage
I remember always thinking that if someday I had a little girl I would pierce her ears when she was a baby. When we became a family there was so much adjustment already taking place that I questioned if it was the "right" time. Than I began to dream (I know it sounds a bit silly) about it being a special day when she started school where we got her ears pierced, went to lunch or dinner just us girls and Nana. Now here at 3 years old I just couldn't wait any longer and while her hair is still at this little pixie length I thought why not? Thats how I roll, I make up my mind and usually just do whatever it is. I have to say there have been times this hasn't always been the best way to do things but that is a whole other post. :) And actually this time it all worked out. Daddy met us at the store since Nana said she couldn't bear to see Emily go through it and I wasn't sure just how well I would handle it either. After all this is my baby we're talking about. When it was all said and done she let out a loud wail and quite a fews tears were shed. Thankfully her ears were pierced at the same time and for bravery she received a pretty blue lollipop from the girls. I'm actually glad we did it now so that by summer when we are camping, swimming etc they will be healed and we shouldn't have to worry about them too much. She looks really cute. She told me she wants to fill up her jewelry box with earrings, lots and lots of earrings. So from this rite of passage my baby says she is now my "big girl". My heart says oh, sweetie don't be in too big of hurry to grow up. I love you to the moon and back.
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| Support from Daddy |
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| Mommy and Emily |
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| "X" marks the spot, this isn't so bad |
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| the strength of daddys hands, I'm ready |
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| Feeling a bit scared now |
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| All done, thank goodness! |
Ready or Not
Miss Emily is really starting to enjoy playing hide and seek inside our home. And it's funny because she has her own set of rules of just how that game is played. For instance when daddy is trying to find her she will call out "I am in here", she almost always hides in the same place and she likes to tell you where you should hide too. One day when we were playing and it was my turn to find her she calls out "I am in here" and this time it was a new hiding place. When I got to her I burst out laughing, silly girl.... she was in her laundry basked in plain sight. I love this girl!!
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| Here I am |
Ethiopian Christmas Celebration
Merry Ganna (which is basically Christmas and /or birth of Jesus Christ)
January 7th of this year was Ethiopian Christmas. On January 8th we were blessed with attending our local families with children from Ethiopias Christmas celebration. In case you didn't know Ethiopia does not go by the Gregorian calendar they use their own ancient calendar most similar to an Egyptian calendar. I tell you this because the most significant thing about this is that it runs EIGHT years behind us. So welcome to the year 2003! Isn't that amazing?! Anyhoo back to the celebration. It was awesome we loved seeing all of the families together and the children dressed in their native clothing, they all looked adorable! This was the first time we have eaten Ethiopian food and it was delicious; I especially enjoyed the coffee afterwards. Emily was really shy at first bit it didn't take long for her to be running around hugging and laughing with all the other kiddos. Emily's "pop pop" went with us and we also met up with our good friends Debb & Jeff who anyday should be getting their referral isn't that exciting?! It was a great evening and hopefully by this time next year we will have baby sister home too! Enjoy the pics... :)
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| Our Ethiopian Dinner: Injera is kind of like a spongy crepe, Wat is similiar to a hot spicy stew, & bread. The milk is for cooling off your mouth from the spiciness. |
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| The family along with Pop Pop |
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| Our dear friends Debb and Jeff |
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| Emily with her friend Avery |
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| pure sass |
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| Miss Emily |
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