Well, we are celebrating the new year once again! Chinese New Year fell very close to the beginning of the year this year. The kids are out of school for 2 weeks and most places are closed down. We made cupcakes to celebrate. The character on the cupcake is fu. It means blessings and happiness. Nearly all the people will put this character on their front door in hopes of a good year to come.
Benjamin is glad to be able to spend time with his best buddy these two weeks. His family is about to move and Benjamin has been wanting me to take lots of pictures of his friend. They have a lot of fun together.
So the character is literally found on everything...even my apple! :) People will give apples because the word for apple is ping guo and the word for peace is ping an...so it's kindof a play on words. Yo uare saying that you hope that this next year they will have much peace.
It is much like our Christmas in the States as far as the gift giving goes. But most people give some time of food...fruit, chocolate, candies, cookies, etc.
Another way that you know that that it's the new year (besides all the people traveling home) is all the crazy fire crackers going off. Lauren actually wasn't as terrified as she looks in the picture. She wanted to go out and see them all going off, but she had to close her ears. It really is the loudest thing you've ever heard. Even the "safe" ones that you just throw on the ground and they pop are super loud.
We were taken out to eat this weekend in celebration. Regan didn'r know she was in the picture..haha) We met several new people at this dinner and Lauren and all the kids behaved great! You never know how long these dinners will be, so we were very proud of them. We left at about 5:30 and got home at about 9:00...not too bad.
On CNY Eve, we went to another friend's house for dinner and celebration. Jonathan answered the trivia question right and got a red envelope with money in it. The envelopes are another tradition...new money for the new year...but usually it's just for the kids.
This was jsut a portion of the food that was prepared for us to feast on! It was soooo much food. It just kept coming and coming! I think the only one I wasn't brave enough to try was the million year old egg. I think it's a pschological thing...something about eating a black egg with that name. hmmm
So our friends house ended up having 2 American families over and 2 local families (including their extended family) This was one of the little ones and nai nai (grandmother)
Lauren is never afraid to try new foods. She and Regan are best eaters over here :)
The family bought gifts to give to everyone. Katherine opened hers first and got a bunny pillow with a character on the front. She was so excited. She loves her bunnies :)
Lauren was very patient opening and eating pistachios. She enjoyed the "snack" table.
The night was ended by writing new couplets to hand around our door for this next year. They wrote one for each family that was there. We then went home and watched fireworks for a while from our window and then tried to sleep...the peak of the fireworks was at midnight of coarse. Lots of fun!
Well, we are celebrating the new year once again! Chinese New Year fell very close to the beginning of the year this year. The kids are out of school for 2 weeks and most places are closed down. We made cupcakes to celebrate. The character on the cupcake is fu. It means blessings and happiness. Nearly all the people will put this character on their front door in hopes of a good year to come. 
Benjamin is glad to be able to spend time with his best buddy these two weeks. His family is about to move and Benjamin has been wanting me to take lots of pictures of his friend. They have a lot of fun together.
So the character is literally found on everything...even my apple! :) People will give apples because the word for apple is ping guo and the word for peace is ping an...so it's kindof a play on words. Yo uare saying that you hope that this next year they will have much peace.
It is much like our Christmas in the States as far as the gift giving goes. But most people give some time of food...fruit, chocolate, candies, cookies, etc. 
Another way that you know that that it's the new year (besides all the people traveling home) is all the crazy fire crackers going off. Lauren actually wasn't as terrified as she looks in the picture. She wanted to go out and see them all going off, but she had to close her ears. It really is the loudest thing you've ever heard. Even the "safe" ones that you just throw on the ground and they pop are super loud.
We were taken out to eat this weekend in celebration. Regan didn'r know she was in the picture..haha) We met several new people at this dinner and Lauren and all the kids behaved great! You never know how long these dinners will be, so we were very proud of them. We left at about 5:30 and got home at about 9:00...not too bad.
On CNY Eve, we went to another friend's house for dinner and celebration. Jonathan answered the trivia question right and got a red envelope with money in it. The envelopes are another tradition...new money for the new year...but usually it's just for the kids. 
This was jsut a portion of the food that was prepared for us to feast on! It was soooo much food. It just kept coming and coming! I think the only one I wasn't brave enough to try was the million year old egg. I think it's a pschological thing...something about eating a black egg with that name. hmmm
So our friends house ended up having 2 American families over and 2 local families (including their extended family) This was one of the little ones and nai nai (grandmother)
Lauren is never afraid to try new foods. She and Regan are best eaters over here :)
The family bought gifts to give to everyone. Katherine opened hers first and got a bunny pillow with a character on the front. She was so excited. She loves her bunnies :)
Lauren was very patient opening and eating pistachios. She enjoyed the "snack" table.
The night was ended by writing new couplets to hand around our door for this next year. They wrote one for each family that was there. We then went home and watched fireworks for a while from our window and then tried to sleep...the peak of the fireworks was at midnight of coarse. Lots of fun!
