Chinese New Year Notes

So I did my best not to plan a thing for us to do during Chinese New Year, and while it was tiresome (all the cooking, baking, cleaning - no Jojo!), Hubs and I managed to trade off sleeping-in days so that we could sleep into 10 am! And it felt so goooooood.

In other news, we are still awaiting word on Grand Daddy Claude. Mads' breathing is okay, but I'm afraid we're slipping back again. I talked to the doctor and he said it is because it is sooo cold here right now (7 degrees!) - and it is freezing in our house.

I have two heaters running on high in their room and it is barely taking the chill out of the air. I feel like I am living in Alaska. But how can this be? There are palm trees here. Swimming pools that are not frozen over. But somehow I have never, ever been this cold.

They say it's because your blood thins in tropical climates. I used to laugh at people who wore body-length down coats (ha! how funny they look! it never gets cold enough to....), now I wish I could find FOUR - one for each member of our family. Oh, and one for our kitty, who would sit on the heating unit if she wasn't worried it would burn her tail off.

Grand Daddy Claude

Within a few days of Great Grannie Annie (Hubs' mom's mom) passing, Great Grand Daddy Claude (Hubs' dad's dad - he just turned 97!) was hospitalized with internal bleeding. Now, nearly a week later, he is still in the hospital - and we have been receiving updates every day - and things are looking up. His levels seem to have stabilized, but the actual cause is still undetermined. And again, we are reminded how precious our time here is, and how quickly it passes -- and how important it is to make sure those around you know how much you love them.

We love you Grand Daddy Claude! So very, very much.

Chinese New Year

Leading up to Chinese New Year, the kids were asked to dress up for school ... here they are, waiting for the school bus ...

































Madsy also had a New Years event, but as she is in a mood where she only wears clothes she is comfortable in, she decided against any New Years clothing.














Decorations at Madoc's school ...














On Chinese New Year day, the girls were up early (4:15!) and after asking them to amuse themselves, I asked the girls to help me make a Chocolate Coy (fish) for a Chinese New Year party we had been invited to later in the day.... Little did I know, I would have to make 4 of them, before I actually could get the thing out of the form ...














They also did some free-form painting with chocolate ...














Mads worked hard on her fish mold ...




















Our amazing friend hosted a Chinese New Year Party for roughly 40 adults and 40 kids. And because she likes to mix it up, she selects a "theme" for dinner.... last year, the theme was Greek -- this year, the theme was Mexican.

A gorgeous smile from Miss Anabelle!














The lovely Lara ...



















The Mexican Chinese New Year feast ...




















That crazy guy who kept shakin' his morackkas (?) ...













My dearest Chase ...



















Lovely ladies ....













I made a Mexican Chocolate Mousse - chocolate, espresso, cinnamon, chili ... plus a chocolate fish!




















And then the kids got the fish ...



























Chase dressed-up like a dragon ...




















And the band (Stu & friends) started ...














And the kids went crazy ...

































































And then there was the guy who could balance a pillow on his head...














And the kid that liked to play with fire ...














And the amazingly talented band ... (who let me sing Romeo & Juliet with them) ...














And it was getting late ...














The party raged ...

































































And the band played on ...

Remembering Great Granny Annie

I am having such a hard time writing this. I've started this post a hundred different ways, because I can't seem to find the words to describe how hard it is to lose someone you love.

Yesterday a.m., Great Granny Annie passed away. And while she is Hub's grand mother, she became my grand mother, as I met her 14 years ago - she helped plan our (gorgeous) wedding, which was held in her church in Mobile, Alabama. She was always so kind, so welcoming and so generous. She was strong, smart and beautiful and absolutely committed to supporting her husband, her family and her community.

One of the hardest things about living abroad is the distance from family - in good times and bad. I am so grateful for all the memories and will treasure them; passing them down to the girls when they are old enough to remember. This is the third grand mother I have lost - my mum and dad's being the first two to go. And it strikes me deeply, as a daughter and a mother, the bonds women share and pass down through generations.

One memory I will always cherish is when I mistakenly threw a damp towel over her rocking chair and it left a big, wet mark (which much to my relief eventually dried and became invisible) - but before it did, I started to cry, thinking I had ruined her rocking chair. And she comforted me, telling me "don't cry over anything that can't cry over you."

I find solace in the fact that the last time I saw her, I told her how much I loved her, how much she meant to me, and how grateful I was for her kindness.

And dearest Chase and Madoc, while you might not actually remember her, I hope this post serves to remind you later in life of how much she loved you.

Overwhelmed

I have noticed everyone seems to be asking if I had a "restful" vacation (Christmas break). And the truth is, I had a very nice, but very stressful Christmas vacation. I realize it was my own doing, as it is not unusual for me to over-schedule our lives, but as we start the New Year, I am feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, instead of "renewed" or "refreshed."

And I have to figure out how to make it all less stressful. Not just for me, but for my girls, too. Of course they have more energy than I do, and get bored easily, but seriously it seems I should be able to figure out a way around all the classes and courses. Easier said then done.

A Note About First Born

Chase had some big questions tonight just before bed. Like, "what was my third favorite word when I was a baby?" (good thing I kept a blog, although I'm not sure I actually documented that)

She also asked me tonight, "Mommy, are first born children the best?" To which I said, "You are my most special first born child. Because you were born first. You will always be my first born child. I love you always and forever, no matter what." And then she said, "what about Madoc?" And I said, "Madoc is my most special second born child. Because she was born second. She will always be my second born child. I love her always and forever, no matter what."

And Chase smiled, turned over, and went to sleep.

Let Them Eat Cake

So we went to a birthday party this afternoon, and after the girls were finished with their cake, this is what their plates looked like. Note: Chase ate only cake, while Mads ate only frosting.