Happy Chinese New Year

Happy Chinese New Year!
祝┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯ ♥(\ /)
福┠恭┠┨賀┠┨新┠┨年┠┠快┨┠樂  ღ( . .)ღ
您┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛c(”)(”)
Happy Chinese New Year!

We had so much fun making paper lanterns this year for CNY that we decided to string them up over the kitchen table. :) The girls are just now learning to cut with scissors in straight lines, so although they didn't turn out spectacular, I think they did a wonderful job! We also hung up the beautiful lanterns we found at the Asian Market. Jessa and I went to the Asian Market to explore all the options for food. I was a little leery to purchase anything besides the noodles. LOL! Totally out of my element and not sure what everything was because, well, it was in Chinese. :) But, we had fun picking out several different kinds of noodles including one packet that said "Sichuan Sicy Style". I've already tried them and they are DELICIOUS! :)

We also bought some traditional Chinese decorations - lanterns and a "Fu" sign to hang up on the door which means "good luck". Tonight we will order our favorite Chinese take-out dishes and we bought some red envelopes to put "lucky money" inside for the kiddos. The Chinese believe only "even" numbers are lucky so the amount should be any even amount. Jessa also found some chocolate gold coins and gold ingots to try.

We are learning more and more about the holiday and this year the kids really wanted to learn about their Chinese Zodiac signs. This is the Year of the Hare and that got them thinking about what animal they are...pretty funny to read the descriptions written out and how closely they resemble them. :) We have a LOT of descriptions with the word "stubborn" in our clan. :) In our family we have 2 rats, 1 dragon, 1 horse, 1 dog, 1 pig, and soon, 1 ox.  Bet you can't guess who is who! :)

Here is a link to a page that tells the years and the descriptions of each animal sign. Which animal are you?

Gung Hai Fat Choi! Happy Chinese New Year!