Chinese New Year

We had lots of opportunities to celebrate Chinese New Year.  Joseph had a class party last Friday.  That night we were invited to another party with some other Taiwanese families.  The kids made out like bandits with the hong bao (red envelopes).   On Sunday I hosted a Chinese New Year dinner with a couple of families in the ward.  Then on Monday, Audrey’s class had a little celebration as well.  Joseph’s little friend Annie said that for Chinese New Year “We eat, and then we eat again!”  That is a good description of what has been going on the last few days…lol.   Our apartment complex is all decorated for Chinese New Year and the staff even wore Chinese clothing.  The kids got to see a Lion dance at school and fed the Lion red envelopes.  Some day we may have to go some place where they really celebrate Chinese New Year.  I think that would be exciting to see.

 

Pictures of the kids counting their loot.  Poor Joseph wasn’t feeling well that night.

Sweet Nunu

Katelyn was in a good mood the other morning and was willing to pose for me.  I took a couple of fun pictures of her.  She is so pretty.  I can’t believe how much she has grown.  She doesn’t look like a baby anymore and that makes me a little sad.  Time sure flies!  I wish I could just keep them little for a long time yet.

Soccer season starts

Joseph had his first soccer game in the Coca Cola competitive soccer league.  He started off the game by scoring a goal!!!  Needless to say, he did great throughout the game and his team won their first game 2-0.  Go Dragons!

Sweet Sisters

Audrey and Katelyn are 19 months apart. When they are not fighting, they are the best of friends. Mommy took this cute picture of them this morning.

Meditation

Mommy heard humming coming from the back seat. She asked the kids what they were doing, and they said they were meditating. That does seem like a good way to deal with Jakarta traffic...lol.

New Year Resolution

Mommy has decided to do her own Project 365.  That is where you take a picture a day for an entire year.  Mommy has heard that it is difficult to keep up the momentum for an entire year, and that many people bail after about 6 weeks or so.  Joseph has taken an interest in photography lately and says that he would like to do his own Project 365.  Mommy will post 1 picture a day from herself and 1 from Joseph on her personal blog: Crazy J's Blog.  It can be accessed on the right side under My Other Blogs.   We will see if we can make it an entire year!

New Year's Eve

Today is New Year's Eve.  The kids got up extra early...before 6am.  After Daddy went to work, the kids helped Mommy organize the apartment a little.  We sorted through some papers and toys and put things in their proper places.  Later, we headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner tomorrow.  Mommy and Daddy invited Bro. and Sis. Beaman over for dinner on New Year's Day.  They are a missionary couple in our ward, and they are leaving for home on Thursday.  Mommy and Daddy are sad to see them go.  They are a great couple, and we have so enjoyed knowing them. We wish them all the best as they return to life after a mission.

Daddy only had to work a half day today so he met us at the grocery store.  Mommy bought a couple of containers to help organize the rest of the toys.  Mommy also bought a large container which will henceforth be labeled the "Saturday" box.  The kids have been warned that whatever toys and things Mommy comes across that have not been put away will end up in the "Saturday" box.  The things will be returned the following Saturday.  Mommy has been struggling with getting the kids to put their things away before getting out something else.  Mommy read that taking the toys away from the kids and putting them in a see through container that is off limits is enough incentive for the kids to learn to put their things away.  Time will tell if this idea will work.

While at the store, the kids wanted to get flip-flops.  Audrey was needing a new pair because she wore out her old ones.  The other two decided they wanted to try wearing flip-flops.  The kids are going "native" as most Indonesians wear flip-flops as their footwear of choice.

 

 

Later in the afternoon, Mommy and Daddy took the kids to see the movie Life of Pi.  Daddy heard that it was really good.  Audrey and Katelyn got a little scared during the storm scenes and both said that they did not like the movie.  The rest of us liked it quite a bit.  We ate dinner at the food court at the mall.  The kids wanted McDonald's for dinner.  Mommy and Daddy had wontons and noodles from a really yummy Korean style stall. 

 

 

 

 

This evening we had FHE and then hung out and played on the Wii and with toys.  It was a fun day.  The kids are fast asleep. When we get up tomorrow, it will be 2013!  Mommy and Daddy wonder what the new year will bring.  2012 went by so quickly, but it was a great year!