A lot of celebrating!

What a week!  So much has happened, but sadly all of my pictures are stuck on my camera, until my computer is working again.  So this will be a long post sans pictures, unless I can find some on John's computer or the internet that might apply.


Last Sunday we celebrated the Chinese New Year at my sister Jewel's house.    I LOVE Chinese New Year!    Jewel's home looked lovely and festive, and there was no shortage of yummy dishes.  Lemon Chicken, stir fry, chicken wings, lettuce wraps and peanut sauce, and the yummiest pot stickers (gyozas) EVER!  It is to date one of my favorite meals so far, because the food was ridiculous!   Seriously, I took pictures, and it is a shame I can't show them.  I want to eat the photo!     Jewel kept insisting that if her Brother in Law Lorin had been there it would have been yummier, as he apparently specializes in the whole Gyoza department.  I find it hard to believe a meal like that could be any tastier - but John and I would be more then willing to be the judges of that!

Happy Year of the Tiger everyone! 

 (this is not  our Nate just some zazzle.com  baby that is almost as adorable.  Almost)

The kids had no school all week so a lot of time was spent playing.    Our board games were used well this week, as well as several impromptu rounds of hide and seek.  I have made several observations about my kids as I've tried to play with them this week, but perhaps I'll save it for another post, when I can share pictures.

The highlight of this week came yesterday when we celebrated Jessicas 3rd birthday.  Three!  Has it already been that long?   Whenever I think of Jessica's birth I experience a broad range of feelings.  Within days of her birth my Dad passed away.  Weeks after that we learned of John's mom's illness.  That was the start of a very difficult year, but I was always so grateful every time I held Jess.  She seemed to me to be this little bundle of joy amidst a lot of sadness.    She still is that little spark of happiness and we are so thankful for her.

She milked her birthday for all it was worth.  She helped make her cake.  (Hence the batter on my blinds and walls),  and she wore her "princess dress" all day long.  She waited anxiously for HOURS for her cousins to arrive, and when they did she behaved like a true Diva!    Only when it is your birthday can you act like that. ...and only when you are three for that matter too.  




    She's lucky she's so CUTE!