Happy New Year!

January 26th marked the official Chinese New Year (a.k.a., Spring Festival). It is definitely one of the most celebrated and traditional holidays for the Chinese (equivalent to our Christmas Holiday), and is marked by the lunar calendar. Celebrations often last for over two weeks. Their astrology runs in twelve year cycles, moving each year from one animal zodiac to another until the cycle completes itself and then runs full circle again. Last year was the year of the "Rat", and this year is the year of the "Ox".

While we do not fully understand, nor can we possibly appreciate just how significant this holiday is for our friends in and from Asia, we nonetheless had the privilege of celebrating it in a small way last weekend with some local acquaintances of ours. In fact, these folks also adopted a sweet little girl from China named Meredith right about the same time we brought Poppy home. We had never met them before until some neighbors of ours told us (right after we returned from China with Poppy) that they too had adopted and lived only about a block away from us. We've since connected with them from time to time and found them to be very kind, generous and loving. They hosted a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration at their house replete with traditional cuisine, decorations, music, and even fireworks. Victoria was in San Luis Obispo for the weekend spending some special mother-daughter time with Annie, so I "Mr. Mommed" it with the girls and Barret. After dressing them up in their native Chinese apparel, we all went to the Chinese New Year party at our neighbor's home and had a ball together. Poppy especially loves parties and this one was no exception. Willow seems to be content just about anywhere she goes, and manages to find herself in precarious positions that never frighten her in the least. I thought this picture of her in the party host's dog-kennel was quite apropos.

We're enjoying just a few of the girl's native heritages. Next they'll have to start learning how to use chop-sticks. Right now they're pretty much food stabbing utensils instead of delicate instruments of finesse.

Gonghe Xinxi! (Happy New Year!)

Tom (& Victoria)