Xin Nian Kuai Le- Chinese New Year Post

If a cold Chinese New Year is good luck, then we should be all set for 2013. Last year we were told that Michigan hardly got any snow and winter was very mild.  Our first winter in three years has greeted us with a lot of snow and the colder temps to go with it.

Even though there were no obvious displays in our city that Lunar New Year was approaching, we knew the date was in February and anticipated it.
 Our homeschool group has several girls between the ages of 7-9. We decided to have meetings once a month for moms and daughters.  I offered to host a Chinese New Year party.
 Thanks to Renee for sending me some CNY kitsch, goodies from Hong Kong to help the event be more festive.

The traditional craft of making a lantern from red packets. 

One of the moms brought these cookies in and wrote fortunes to go with them. Mine said "you are blessed"

This was a bingo game.  Some of the squares were Star Ferry,
Ni Hao, Long lines, Jo san and the color red.
I wanted a way to talk about our impressions and experiences in China overall and not only in regards to Chinese New Year .  The game allowed me to share some information as I would call out what was on a square, I felt this was more interactive and less boring than just talking.

Durian is a very strong smelling fruit , it is banned from some public buildings in Asia.  I compare the smell to sweaty socks, very pungent.  Some people really like it and durian flavored ice cream and other treats are not uncommon.

Would you eat this?
Choices: Shrimp Flavored potato fries
Snack Seaweed
Durian Flavored candy
cream filled cookies,
(the cookies were the  kind we would see at 7-11 all the time, I think they are Japanese)
 I had a taste testing survey.
You could rate what you ate as:
No Way! Only if I was Starving and I like it.

We did have some positive feedback on the seaweed, a family that eats sushi said they thought it was good.
The cookies, not surprisingly did get the most votes for I like it.

We recently visited an Asian market about 5 minutes from our house. They have real durian, but I didn't purchase it for two reasons. One, I was worried the smell would linger in the church until Sunday. Two, the already cut up package cost about $5, for  4 small pieces.  I was sure no one would eat much of it and didn't want to waste it for the price.
 

Thanks to Oriental Trading Company, the girls were able to decorate paper fans.

Berea worked hard to find characters that would sound like her name.  I didn't help her on it so I don't know how close she came, but she did an excellent job writing the characters.

Jane with friends, Morgan and her baby sister Adelai

I really enjoyed hosting the event and getting an opportunity to share, my knowledge (as small as it is) about Chinese culture.
Kung Hey Fat Choy from the Sweeneys



   

Kids and Questions

In response to our Finnish friends blog, I interviewed the kids and asked them the same questions she did her three kids.

We got a lot of snow recently.  

Name 10 things you like:

Jane:                              
Toby Mac
Stuffed animals
Games
China
Clothes
Webkinz
Legos
Michigan
Art
Posters


Elliot:
St. Louis City Museum
Mooshi Monsters
Disney
Stuffed Animals
Pizza
Games
Adventures in Odyssey
Lego
Playmobile
Spaghetti


5 Dislikes:
Jane:
When Elliot makes sound effects
Chores
Mushrooms
tomatoes
football

Elliot:
Homework/school
Chores
green beans
cottage cheese
when I get snow in my boots


What have you been doing today:
Jane/ Elliot
Homeschool

Places you want to visit:  
Jane
City Museum
Tokyo
Hong Kong
Disney World Florida
Lego land


Elliot:
City Museum
Disney World
Disney land Hong Kong
Legoland
Texas

Favorite Book
Jane:
Yotsuba

Elliot:
none

Is there something you would say right now to someone if you could:

Jane:
to Tobymac- can I have your autograph?

Elliot:
to mom:  May I do no more school

Favorite Food/Drink:
Jane
Grandmas yam yam sweet potatoes/ Lemonade
Elliot
Pizza/root beer

do you have something to confess:
Both of my kids didn't have anything to say, I tried prompting, but their minds went blank.


Favorite Celebrity:
Jane: Tobymac
Katie Leigh

Elliot
Tobymac

What do you want to be when you grow up?
Jane:
artist
Elliot:
Work like daddy does

TV show that you are addicted to?
Jane:
no tv show but listening to Down Gilead Lane audio drama
Elliot
no tv show but listening to Adventures in Odyssey- kids audio drama

Where are all the places you have lived?
Michigan and Hong Kong

Picture of your signature:

Museum and Skating

This was taken this past summer when I met up with Kim (far left)   Mandy and their kids for a fun time of skating.

We spent a couple of days with Kim and the girls during their Christmas break from school. One place we visited again was Tarry Hall skating rink.

A fun part of skating, taking a break in the snack bar.  Emma and Elyse are in between Jane and Elliot in age and grade. 

Snowflake making

The Joslins have a pass to the museum like us, we met up with them to take advantage of their Holiday activities.

The kids had a pattern over a tin plate and made dots to create an image.

Bowling

 Elliot and I had a ring toss contest, I could only get one on.

I love walking through the part of the museum that features the old shops of Grand Rapids. This printer was demonstrating how the press works. He made beautiful cards that were free to take.
  One said Happy New Year and the other was a book mark that featured the Tigers baseball name and their 2012 season stats, which took them to the World Series.

Members now get free carousel rides, so we rode it more than once.

 Michigan made root beer -free samples. Elliot really wanted to take home a bottle, but at $5 each he decided not to spend his money on it.

We love skating and visiting the museum but it is always more fun with friends.

tasteslikepaint from outypants on Vimeo.

Highlights of the Season

The kids have been anticipating the snow since Thanksgiving.  It finally arrived, the day after Christmas.  I am sure I will do more post about our fun in the snow soon.  

 These pictures highlight some of our activities over this busy holiday season.  

Ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle

Jane liked the fact her new ear muffs and gloves matched the ice skates they gave us.

Elliot tried to skate as fast as he could, even though he fell more than once, he kept going.

Gingerbread house decorating with the Mccarthys.  I forgot to take photos of the final products. 

Singing Christmas Carols at the nursing home. Jane was able to accompany us on the piano. 

Our tradition of Christmas cookie decorating. I found this photo from 2007, probably the first time I had the kids decorate.

2012 

Fellow Home-schoolers Esther and Daniel joined us for cookie decorating.

The rhinoceros cookie cutter I purchased from CitySuper.
  I love that you can stand it up using the cutters that make the legs.  It of course reminded me of the wonderful tradition we had of cookie decorating at Ping's house. 

Ping and Joanna our first Christmas in Hong Kong 2009

Christmas Eve with all of the family here in Grand Rapids. The kids loved getting their Jones Soda, found in their handmade stockings from cousin Ben.

Santa Vadar

One of my favorite games as a kid "Hungry Hippo"
As an adult I found it to be a really loud game. 
Yes I am old.

It was a Lego Christmas this year. Jane received two Friend sets from family. Elliot received Ninjago and a City set.
This table did have games and puzzles in its drawers, it has officially become the Lego table.

Elliot has been asking me for a robe and slippers since October, he was very happy with this gift, that came from his aunt.

Christmas day we drove up to Coleman.  One of our games was singing the 12 days of Christmas, but with the Christian meaning.  We were separated into groups of our birthday month. 
I remember Elliot's group was faith hope and love- instead of three french hens.  I had eleven faithful disciples.

Trevor and Elliot.

Jane and Grandma Roman the September Birthdays

 The weather in Hong Kong was lovely during Christmas, and we had the freedom to celebrate Christmas and worship Jesus' birth.  Yet it was during Christmas that I would miss being home more than any other time.  This year I enjoyed the overdose of Christmas music, the decorated homes covered in lights and most of all the constant reminders of the true meaning of Christmas that could be found in our community.  The Christmas lawn decorations with the nativity, local businesses putting on their signs Jesus the reason for the season. The many churches providing toys and meals to the needy.  

Jane and Abigail Krohn
dancing at midnight bringing in the
New Year.

The year 2012 held many bitter-sweet moments for our family, we are looking forward to 2013 and the new adventures that await us.

The incident

On Wednesday nights at our church the kids have two classes. The first hour they are in Junior Bible Quiz. Kids practice answering Bible questions and eventually get the chance to compete against other kids from different churches.
The next class they take is a separate one for boys and girls.
Elliot attends Royal Rangers.
One of our Wednesday nights became eventful when Elliot chipped one of his front teeth, an adult tooth.  What class would you expect him to chip a tooth in, the class full of rambunctious grade school boys playing in the gym or JBQ where they answer questions?  Yes, he chipped it on a table leg after he answered a question.
Jane commented, he got all the answers right that night mom!

Here it is a few days after we visited the dentist, jut like new.