Let's go fly a kite!

This is daddy here...I took the kids on a special date today to the Zilker Park Kite Festival (http://www.zilkerkitefestival.com).

Since this festival is so popular, they have a bus service from a downtown parking area. This was a highlight of the trip for the kids, since they got to ride on a school bus! Emerson said it was neat that it was so bumpy, and they both thought it was great that they didn't have to wear seat belts (sorry Mom).

Anyway, once we got there, Annie took over with the camera and got lots of photos...I'm posting two of the shots she took here. Annie said that her favorite kite had 'Hello Kitty' on it, and she also liked ours (right). She said it reminded her of Old Glory. This is the kite that Ryan and Jenny bought for my birthday a few years ago. Emerson tried to help me fly it, but it was so windy it almost pulled him off the ground!


We had a great time, and next year we'll be sure to get there earlier so that we can make a whole day of it!

-Mike

Little People

Here we are playing with our favorite little person, Amelie Citlali !!

My Gram

My Gram has been in Austin since the 16th of January. We are all very much enjoying her visit. She seems so relaxed and right at home in TX. Emerson and Annie are totally in love with her. She gets right down on the floor and even WAS a parking garage the other day. Annie says her favorite part about being with Great Gram is that "she plays with us and it's also fun to just be with her." Emer says his favorite thing is, "playing cars and puzzles." He is always looking out for her and wants to help her with everything...including lifting her up off the floor and checking on her to make sure she's OK.

The kids love it when she spends the night here. Here she is reading with Emerson.

Emer's Confession

I noticed Emer smelled sweet when I got home from grocery shopping this afternoon with Annie. I let it pass in the hustle of unpacking groceries. We had lunch and a short while later as I was tucking him in for his nap I asked him if daddy gave him some lotion because he smelled like coconuts.

He said, "I was playing with Annie's doll house and the bathtub broke. I tried to glue it with lotion but it didn't work. It was an accident mommy."

Even Annie laughed when I told her.

Emerson

I had an awesome date with a very special little guy this morning. Just my little guy and me. We went to Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up! We had a great time! We sang and danced to our favorite tunes including The Sesame Street theme song, Buffalo Gals, I've Been Working on the Railroad, and lots of others!

He is getting so big. Right now I am in the midst of taking his crib down and getting his big boy bed ready for him when he gets home from a sleep over with my parents. I'm feeling very emotional and I can't stop crying. I'm sad that I have no more baby and I'm so happy that I have a sweet, healthy and bright little boy! Words can't express how much I love you Emerson!

Of course, when he gets home tomorrow he will be so happy. As he was bouncing with excitement this morning he said, "I not a baby mommy. I a big boy and I so excited for my big boy bed!"

Kung Hei Fat Choi

Happy New Year! Congratulations and Be Prosperous!

Chinese New Year was officially on Thursday the 7th but we had our Year of the Rat New Year celebration today. We were honored by the presence of Papa Lu, Grandpa Chuck, Uncle Adam, Gramma Jan and Great Gram (Dorothy).

Before our meal the kids smeared honey on the Kitchen God's (Zao Jun) picture so he will say only good things about the family to the Emperor of Heaven. The picture is then burned so it can begin its journey to Heaven.

We served a whole chicken (it stands for family unity and togetherness), rice, Chinese rice noodles, steamed broccoli, and veggie egg rolls. For dessert we had Nian Gao (Traditional Rice Cake) which Annie and I made fresh this morning with Glutinous rice flour, eggs, baking powder, pecans and raisins. We also enjoyed candied haws, almond cookies and dried persimmons.

After our feast the children received lucky money envelopes (Hong Bao or Lai See) filled with good-luck money. They also received small silk heart boxes filled with lucky money and their very own Buddha statues from Grandpa Chuck.

Special thanks to daddy for helping to make this celebration one to remember!

Happy New Year! Congratulations and Be Prosperous!

Check this website for more info about Chinese New Year Celebrations.

China Town Center

Chinatown Center in Austin Texas had a Year of the Rat celebration today. Here is a video of another Lion Dance we saw today.

Below are some pictures of our China Table.


Above are our handmade Chinese Lanterns (small & red) and our very own handmade Dancing Dragons.


This is a picture of our paper model of the Great Wall of China, chop sticks, a paper lion, an oyster with pearls still in it (from Grandpa Chuck), and a Chinese figurine.

Check back tomorrow for pictures from our very own Chinese New Year Celebration!

Happy Birthday, Annie!

Annie had a blast on her birthday partying with some of her buddies!

A Kiss for Annie on Her Birthday!

I wasn't sure if the letter that I wrote to the Independent Airline Pilots of Austin would be taken seriously when I asked them to write kisses in the sky for our Annie on her birthday! But as you can see they got the letter and kindly obliged!
We love you Annie!
Happy Birthday from Mommy and Daddy!
XOXO

Chinese Lion Dance

We're dressed up and ready to go to the Lion Dance

Our studies have brought us to China this month. We began with a lesson from Grandpa Chuck. He and Papa Lu traveled there in October. We got to see all of their awesome pictures and souvenirs including Jade, clothes and an oyster shell with pearls still in it! So far, we've made a paper model of The Great Wall of China, we watched a video of the wall too, were fascinated by the Terra Cotta Warriors, made our very own dancing dragons, and learned about the Chinese Zodiak. We've read several awesome traditional Chinese Folk Tales including The Water Witch, The Persimmon Monster, The Waterfall of White Hair, The Empty Pot, The Seven Chinese Brothers, The River Dragon, The Runaway Rice Cake, The Story About Ping and Kites: Magic Wishes that Fly Up to the Sky.

Tonight, at the grand opening celebration of a local Asian restaurant, we got a chance to see a Chinese Lion dance which traditionally represents good luck.

We will continue our China studies until February 7th when we have our own Chinese New Year celebration!

Check out this video we took tonight.
Click on the arrow below the picture.