a new year!

So here's the color version of the black and white from my Wed. post.

I shared in my previous post how I had wanted to get some portraits of these two in their traditional Chinese clothes. I sometimes think getting 2 or more children to sit for a portrait (as my husband says) is like 'herding cats.'

I kept the picture taking short and sweet and was very pleased with these images.

As people in China prepare for the new year that is arriving soon, I thought I'd share a little of what we do as a family to celebrate. Every year it's a little bit different. It's starts with me decorating with a lot of red, hanging red knots from our front door, paper lanterns hanging from the mantel, and a red silk table runner on the dining room with some of the things we bought in China decorating the table. I also put out a big bowl of mandarin oranges which symbolize good luck, they don't last long around here as both kids love them.


On the eve of the new year (Saturday night) we'll go out to dinner at our very favorite local Chinese restaurant. We live in a small town of about 10,000 people, that's just outside of a much larger city. Shortly after getting back from China with William, we went into that favorite place and to our surprise found out that the owners were originally from Will's birth city and province! Who would have thought that we could meet in a small town in Wisconsin. The 'Grandma' adores William and dotes on him. In fact every time we go there, he's swept away into the kitchen for a while and given some treats and spoiled a little. ;)

On Sunday we'll celebrate Chinese New Year with giving Grace and Will a few small gifts and red paper envelopes with a little money(even numbers) in them. We also give the 'hong bao' to some of our friend's children too. In 2 weeks we'll get together with a local group of friends all with children adopted from China, at another dinner.
In year's past I've spoken to Grace's classroom about Chinese New Year, we've had travel group get togethers, attended a festival put on by our adoption agency and gone to downtown Chicago's Chinatown and watched their parade which was amazing (though really cold!) I will say we always do something to celebrate the holiday and bring a little of China and it's rich, vibrant culture into our home.
You can say Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year!)

or Gong Xi Fa Cai (Congratulations and be prosperous!)

However you say it...Happy New Year!