CNY 2015

I love Chinese New Year.

It makes me super emotional, over-joyed, sappy, teary-eyed, and abundantly thankful.

I think about Mina's birth family and mentally obsess over how they are preparing for the big holiday. Wondering what traditions they honor, who does all the cooking, what they're wearing, conversations they have, and deep down I wonder if they think of Mina and what she's doing on this occasion. I fantasize about us all sharing a meal together one day. 

A few weeks before CNY, I usually pull out the suitcase we bought in China and filled with all our Chinese goodies. The silk dresses and outfits for the girls are by far one of my favorite things...

The girls squeal and beg to try some on, which I never say "no" to...

 

Then the big day of feasting arrives, and we get ready to chow-down and par-tay!

Hey Mina, guess what we're going to have LOTS of for Chinese New Year?
What!?...

DUMPLINGS!!!!!

She gets so insanely excited about dumplings.
A toast, to all the dumplings that will be going in my belly!

(Aubrey, as you can see in this photo, surprised us all by coming to the dining room wearing make-up for the big event. ?!?!)

Oh these girls. They are certainly my favorite dumplings of all! :)

Each year, it is my goal to try and make a Chinese dish with Mina.
The girls both love egg drop soup, and I found the best / easiest recipe here.

It was such a great day of celebration and family traditions!

Happy Year of the Goat!

Flower Girls (and a Tooth Fairy + Elsa)

This year's Halloween was a bit different for the girls.

Aubrey wrote about it at school when the teacher asked the class to draw a picture of what they were going to be for Halloween...

"I will be a tooth fairy. Too bad that I can't come to Halloween. I am going to Atlanta to be a flower girl. I am excited."

(See the end of this post for her custom-made costume she wore to a Halloween party. :))

So instead of trick-or-treating on Oct. 31st, the girls were practicing their flower girl skills before Uncle Jacob's wedding the next day.

And let me just say, I cannot wait see the professional photographer's photos!

I know I'm biased, but goodness gracious. These two make my heart swell!

Despite the massive temperature drop and 25+ mph wind, the day was absolutely beautiful!

I even snagged a photo with the best man!
(This guy was made to wear formal attire. Swoon!)

And what's a wedding without dancing?
Daniel captured this gem of a video while I stepped out to help Aubrey bandage her skinned knee.
I'm pretty sure I've watched this a gazillion times...

It was such a great weekend!
Congrats Jacob and Brandy!
Thanks for letting us share in your special day!
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Even though the girls didn't get to go trick-or-treating this year, Aubrey came up with her own costume as the Tooth Fairy for a Halloween party at a friend's house, and Mina has been in non-stop Elsa mode. The girl can seriously NOT let it go.

It's scary...

how much I love these girls!

Happy Halloween!

The Return of the Lucky Green Hat!

Some of you who have been readers of this blog for several years know that around St. Patrick's Day I have taken pictures of Aubrey wearing a green hat {click on the following years for flashbacks: 2009, 2010, and 2011}.

Once Aubrey reached 3, I thought it was about time to end it with the hat. I was afraid if I didn't stop then, I'd wind up taking her picture with that silly hat wearing nothing but a training bra and smiling with a mouth full of braces. I decided that once my daughter was out of diapers, I should stop. It was about to border on creepy/inappropriate.

With that being said, we have a new diaper hiney in the house!
The hat is making a comeback!
Hooray!

Here's our newest little lucky leprechaun...

I knew this was going to be tricky considering Miss Mina doesn't like ANYTHING on her head.
Not to mention the girl is all kinds of stubborn.

While I didn't get the looking-at-the-camera-smiling-while-wearing-her-hat photo that I hoped for, I still think she looked downright precious...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Best Halloween Yet...

So, as I'm sure you've noticed, Halloween is crazy these days.

People go ALL OUT.

I like the fun, kids dress up in cute costumes, and get lots of candy Halloween.
Not the blood, guts, and gore Halloween.

With that being said, we had a downright lovely October 31st this year.

The day started out with Aubrey going to preschool.
Instead of kids coming in their costumes, it was Dress Silly Day.
Miss Priss Goofy Britches didn't mind one bit...

After a fun-filled day of school, Aubrey immediately began begging to put on her costume.
I said "no" at first, then thought, "Really? Who cares? Let the girl wear her costume!"
I mean, us moms play the villain most days. It felt nice to be the Fairy Godmother for a change. 

So ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is my pleasure to present to you...

Princess Cinderella!

 

 

Instead of door-to-door trick-or-treating, we decided to take advantage of our church's Light Up the Night alternative. 

Yeah, yeah...I know. 

We are that family. 

Honestly, I'm not opposed to door-to-door trick-or-treating -- it's just our neighborhood stinks. 

No streetlights and brick mailboxes in the middle of the sidewalk, for example. 

Also, several neighbors like the more gruesome decor when it comes to Halloween. 

Last year Aubrey's candy collection was cut short when she waltzed up to a house with a bloody skull on a stake on display in the front yard. It scared her to pieces, and she instantly wanted to go home.

So, yeah. We went to church this Halloween, and it was awesome.

There was a concert for the kids, after that they all paraded across the stage in their costumes, and lastly the little ones walked through the main hall and collected candy. It was perfect!

Once it was over, Aubrey said as she skipped to our car, "This was the best Halloween EVER!"

And the minute she went to bed, Daniel and I were both saying, "This was the best Halloween EVER!" too...

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Bright and early this morning, Aubrey was back in her costume before breakfast.

And here's a little glimpse of what Cinderella looks like after the ball...