Happy Valentine's Day

Wow - has it really been a whole week since I posted? A mix of strep throat and a nasty head cold will do that do ya. I am finally on the mend after being in bed pretty much the whole week. Bri is getting over the sniffles and Doug now has a terrible cold. Not too sure what that is going to mean for our Valentine's Day, but it will be low key I'm sure. Bri has a Valentine's Day party at school. She will be bringing Valentines and goodies bags to her classmates for the occasion.

Doug, Bri and I managed to attend a CNY celebration at the Children's Discovery Museum in Chattanooga on Saturday. I was getting over my cold and Doug's was just kicking in, but we still managed to have a nice day. More to come on that later...

I hope you all have a very happy heart day. Here are a couple of pictures of my very special Valentine dressed in red. :)

Second Party Of The Year

Here is the beautiful birthday girl Chani with her friend Emma. Miss Chani is four years old!

When I think my friend Kathy can't outdo herself when it comes to putting together a party, she always proves me wrong. We've been to two other parties for Miss C and they were amazing. I never could believe Kathy's attention to detail. And then Kathy topped herself again. This year's party was a Mickey and Minnie Mouse themed party. I don't think there was an item that didn't have a mouse on it in the whole place - including the bathroom! There was a craft station, a coloring station, and a pizza making station. There were super cute games, tons of food and adorable goodies bags. Amazing I tell ya. Briana had a total blast of course...

Briana and her snow globe...

Makin' pizza (yes, Micky Mouse shaped pizza)...

Mmmm, marshmallows...

Coloring station...

Starting the games...

Look at my pizza...

Miss Katie...

Miss Maisie...

Singing "Happy Birthday"...

Katie and Briana...

Doug kidding around with Chani...

She was slightly hopped up on puffed cheese balls and cake...

I seriously can't wait for next year's party! :D

Little Miss Chic

Briana headed to her second birthday party of the year yesterday and she got all dolled up for the occasion!

Finding Joy In Every Day Things

As much as Briana enjoys holidays and special occasions, she always manages to find a way to just enjoy the every day things in life.

Dressing silly in party stores...

Eating a Steak N Shake burger, fries and milkshake...

Swinging...

Sliding down a pole...

Spending a quiet Sunday afternoon alone with Gramma...

Gramma and Bri comparing feet...

Walking down overflowing aisles of Valentine's Day goodness...

The reason Briana doesn't need one more stuffed animal...

Briana has retaught me to enjoy all the little things in life. I love having a four year old.

Scenes From Chinese New Year

This is what Briana wore to school yesterday morning. It was quite cold, but Briana was adamant about wearing a dress to school! She looked so cute...

She always asks me to take a silly face picture of her...

Briana's teacher read "Dragon Dance" to the class. Then she asked Briana to sing "London Bridge" in Chinese for the class and say "Happy New Year" in Chinese as well. Then all the kids received the CNY goody bags that I put together for them.  I wasn't there for the festivities, but Bri's wonderful teacher gave me the play by play. :D

In the evening, we met the B family and the A family at a nearby restaurant to celebrate CNY. All the girls looked especially cute in their silk dresses...

Hope everyone had a very special first day of Chinese New Year. Only 14 days left to go. :)

Xin Nian Kuai Le

Happy Chinese New Year! Xin Nian Kuai Le! Gung Hay Fat Choy!!

We Are Ready For Chinese New Year

The house is all decorated for the New Year...

We've been busy making Chinese lanterns...

And the goodies bags are all ready for school tomorrow... 

Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!