Chinese New Year 2011

Seems like we just celebrated in ringing in 2011...in a few days, we will be ready to ring in the lunar new year 2011! Year of the Rabbit.

I always love this time of year, the girls love to dress up in their chinese outfits and all the traditional foods that symbolizes wealth, prosperity and happiness. Yes, that is a lot of "goodness" on the table!

What I like about it is that it brings the entire family together. There is nothing like keeping the traditions going -- the food, the new clothes, the house cleaning on the 28th (lunar), the no sweeping on new year's day, fresh flowers in the vase (with each flower symbolizing a good saying), no using of the the clever...and so on. But there is one tradition that I am so glad mom has loosened the rules -- hair washing. I remember when we were little, mom did not allow us to wash our hair for at least 5 days.

Wishing my family and friends...good health in the year of the Rabbit!!

Hello 2011!!

The guys

The gals

The little people

We have enjoyed a prolonged autumn and now we are paying for it NOW. Hello 2011...let there be snow and cold temperatures. Cold enough to put the chill in your bones. (sigh)

But that did not stop our group of close friends from having a good time. This year, our annual gathering was chez Andy et Jennie's place. We shared a lot of yummy dishes, friendly games of mahjong to create the "noise" effect, nine kids who are just as capable of the noise factor and of course -- some beautiful memories captured to remember how we are all are when we are together. If that is not a great time...then I don't know what it would be!

Many thanks to Ivan and Vera for the "the girls" and "the little people" photo!

Happy New Year - 2011

I would like to wish my family and friends, a happy and healthy 2011.