Life With Briana

February 15, 2010

Chani's Crayola Celebration

Briana got all dressed up on Saturday because it was someone special's 3rd birthday party. Miss Chani is now 3 years old!

Kathy really outdid herself with this one. It was a Crayola Crayon themed party. Everything was brightly colored and there were crayons galore!

Here is Briana getting her bag all decorated for a scavenger hunt...

The kids are receiving instructions for the scavenger hunt...

Briana loved finding stashed goodies hidden around the house...

Party hats with feathers? This party is fantastic...

Chani, Maisie, Briana and Katie...

Miss Maisie...

Miss Emily Grace...

Miss Katie - "Is there a little frosting on my face?"

Dueling blowers...

The best part of the party was the balloon release. Kathy blew up almost every balloon on her own. Now that is dedication...

And release!

Very excited children...

Woo Hoo!

It is such a shame that Briana didn't have a good time. ;)

It was a fantastic and very imaginative birthday bash. Can't wait to see Chani's next birthday party!! :D

February 14, 2010

Georgia is getting some nice snow this year. Not like northeast or mid-east snow (thank goodness) but definitely some significant snow. We got about 4 inches on Friday. Bri loved it! It sure was purdy.

This is the nature preserve across the street from our house:

Bri in front of our house:

Footprints in the snow...

Snow Angel!

Our "pint-size" snowman, Frosty. Original, I know...

The next morning, the sun was out and it was beautiful outside. Here is Briana coming after me with snow...

Yes, she dumped some on me...

Bright, blue sky...

My backyard...

Here is Briana sledding in a laundry basket. She loved it at first (as you can see in the pic below). After a few times of falling out of the basket and face planting, she decided she was done and wanted to go inside. She had a bit of a meltdown after that. She didn't like having cold snow all over her. She said, "I don't want to go down the hill again." Hopefully she is not traumatized for life. ;)

Looks like we might be in store for a little more snow tonight! Nothing like Friday, but it might be nice to get another dusting. All the snow has melted already!

Happy CNY and Valentine's Day

Today is a big day! It is the first day of the Year of the Tiger 2010 and also Valentine's Day. A double whammy! :)

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! And Gung Hay Fat Choy!

February 12, 2010

Flashback Friday

Taken in Dianjiang, Chongqing. Right in front of Briana's orphanage...

February 11, 2010

Dragon Puppets and Red Envelopes

I had this post about dragon puppets ready to go yesterday and had it set to post today. Then I saw yesterday that she had already done a post about a dragon puppet yesterday. I promise I am not a copy cat. LOL! :D

Next Thursday, Briana is in charge of bringing snack to preschool. I thought it would be nice for Briana to celebrate Chinese New Year with her classmates on her snack day, so she is going to bring in panda cookies and juice. Along with the cookies, Briana and I decided to make dragon puppets for her to pass out to her classmates (which we saw how to make in this book). Bri has been wanting to make dragon puppets for the longest time, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do a craft. She will also pass out red envelopes to her classmates with chocolate coins in them. She is so excited!

Here are some pictures of our little project!

And I have an UPDATE on my kitty! The tumor was completely removed and there was no spreading. She is in the clear!! I am so happy! Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers for her!

February 10, 2010

Black and White Wednesday

The above pictures were taken on Saturday just before Doug, Bri and I headed out to the CNY celebration at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga. I took the color out and left just a bit of pink. You can click here to see them in color.

And the picture below is of a "girlie" lamp and a picture that I have sitting on my desk in my office at home. The picture was professionally taken last year. I love looking at the lamp and the picture each day that I sit at my desk.

To see more beautiful black and white photos, please head over to Lisa's blog!

February 7, 2010

CNY Celebration

We had a wonderful time yesterday at the Chinese New Year celebration at the Children's Discovery Museum (in Chattanooga)! We met Lisa, Eammon and Maisie, Liene, Lane, Eriks and Emilija, Kathy, Matt and Chani, Angela, Laney, Jay and Halee and Kelly, Corinne and Skylar at the museum for fun and festivities. There were two lion dances, a martial arts demonstration and a station to make Chinese lanterns. (I also heard there was going to a demonstration on how to make dumplings, but Bri started to wear out and we didn't make it to that.) Of course, there were also the usual fun exhibits at the museum which include music, theater, art and archeology. It was a really fun day and the kids had a blast.

Here is my girl ready to head to the celebration...