Chinese Dance Class Recital and Red Envelope Presentation

What can I say? This was probably the cutest recital I have ever seen. Saturday afternoon was Briana's Chinese dance class recital. Bri and her classmates all dressed alike. Simply adorable. One of the moms in the class was able to get someone to make all the girls' skirts and Kathy, bow maker extraordinaire, made all the bows to match of course.

Above is Miss B with her best buds Chani, Imerie and Mary Lin. 

Briana and all the girls were ready to show off what they have learned so far. Below, I have tons of pictures of the class and videos as well...

The next four videos show what the girls have learned. In the last video, you will see how they have learned to count to 12 in Chinese. This is really cute stuff, so if you have a few moments, please take a look...
















After showing us their dance moves, the moms got the girls into their red outfits to do a presentation of red envelopes for Chinese New Year. In the Chinese culture, it is customary for children to bow or kneel before their parents and grandparents and say "Happy New Year" on Chinese New Year's Eve in order to receive red envelopes. This is what we did in class and it was so very cute! My parents were able to attend that day and loved seeing every second of it!

I am so grateful that Briana has an opportunity to take this class - a big "thank you" once again to my friend Amy for helping to make this class happen. Briana and her classmates will also be performing their dance number on Feb 4 at a Chinese New Year FCC event. It should be lots of fun!

Daddy's Birthday Recap

Doug had a wonderful birthday on Friday - even though it was Friday the 13th!

Doug did have to work that day, but he worked from home all day (he works from home usually unless he is traveling or has a meeting in Atlanta) and I was able to have lunch with him. Briana wished Daddy "Happy Birthday" before she headed to school. She also wished him peace and love...

That evening, Briana and I took Daddy out to dinner at one of his favorite restaurants. Here are my two favorite people...

After we dined on our main courses, Daddy got a special treat from the restaurant...

And Briana ordered Smores...

Bri and I had decorated for Daddy the night before his birthday...

Since we were so full from dinner (and knowing we would be getting dessert at the restaurant), I bought Doug a small piece of strawberry shortcake so he could blow out a candle. He opted to eat the slice the next day...

Briana loved helping Daddy open his gifts...

He received a new Keurig from me and Bri. And he got a cool Golden Tee video game from my mom and dad. Doug was showing Briana how to use it...

It was such a nice birthday and I think Doug felt the love. Between you and me, this was his last birthday in his 30's. And he can't be mad at me for blabbing because I am going to out myself too. This will be my last birthday in my thirties come June. So, next year is the big 4-0 for the both of us. Ahem. I feel my mid-life crisis coming on already. ;)

A Brand New Year

The first week of the new year was pretty busy for us - per usual. Briana returned to school on January 3 and she looked so cute on her first day back...

On our last day of Christmas break (Jan 2), Bri and I invited over Lisa and Maisie and Kathy and Chani for a play date. The first play date of the new year! The girls played in Bri's play room and feasted on pizza, apples and Popsicles while the mamas had a chance to catch up with each other...

Briana also returned to Chinese dance class on January 7. It was good to get back to dancing. Here Bri is with Mary Lin and Imerie...

We had definitely had some down time that week too. It is always good to stop for a minute and build a bird's nest...

I mentioned in a previous post that Briana stopped taking gymnastics. So we had no gymnastics the first week of the new year. I was really sad to walk out of there on December 16 permanently because Bri had been taking gymnastics since she first turned 2. It was bittersweet. But now, I am actually kind of happy that I don't have to take her there. Bri is in so many activities still, leaving gymnastics freed up a little more of my time...

We also said farewell to Ponca and the horseback riding facility at the end of December where Bri had been taking lessons since September. Bri's instructor suddenly quit in November and I wasn't too happy with the way the whole thing was handled by the rest of the staff. I really liked Bri's instructor and the facility wasn't the same after she left...

But - now in with the new! My friend Alison told me about the facility that her daughter has been taking lessons for years and now Bri is taking lessons there. We love Ms. Keri. And we love the horse Bri is riding on now too - Yogi. The day of our very first lesson was so stinking cold! The high temp was in the 30's (and it was windy) and Bri had to bundle up...

The following week, the temps were much more comfortable. I think they were in the low 60's...

So now we are two weeks into the new year. Last week, I volunteered in Bri's classroom and ate lunch with her, we celebrated Doug's birthday and Bri had a Chinese dance recital - so more details on those to come!

I am still battling my dizziness, unfortunately. I have had a CT scan of my sinuses and also an X-ray of my neck with nothing found. I am continuing chiropractic care and though my neck feels better, my dizziness still remains. I am going to see my general practitioner this week to figure out what my next move is. Not sure what his recommendation will be. I can function normally, but it sure isn't fun to feel wooziness all the time. Luckily, I am not feeling so bad that I can't continue to keep up with Bri's demanding schedule! But, I want to feel 100% again. So keep praying for me if you don't mind. I can really use the prayers. :)