Bringing Luke Home: January 2009

Friday, January 30, 2009

Chinese New Year 2009

The family that plays together.....

Luke strikes a pose

Logan and Lily cut up in the craft room

Lily and Jada ribbon dance

The past weekend was packed full of activities related to the Chinese New Year. On Saturday we attended the annual International Adoption Families party. Another mother and I created the table center pieces. She made beautiful lanterns out of paper complete with flickering tealights inside and I made firecrackers out of PVC pipe we had lying around. The kids had a great time. They started out in crafts then had some lunch (Springfield's version of Chinese food, not the authentic kind) and then the music began. John was in charge of lining up the entertainment and since many of his students studied the Fall semester under two Chinese music professors their skills were very good. The kids got to all join in with percussion instruments. Lily was thrilled to perform the ribbon dance with Hing Wah and Hing Wah was impressed that Lily could keep those long long ribbons up off the floor (since she is just shy of 40") The kids all joined in with kid sized ribbons and then crowded inside the belly of the dragon as he swerved and curved around the room. This was Luke's first year to attend and he loved every minute. I think our two kids were some of the very last to leave and then we had to drag them away.

On Sunday the Discovery Center hosted Chinese New Year entertainment and once again, John was in charge of the music. He had students posted around the facility playing and then he and the kids took up one post. Luke and Lily were much more interested in just playing on the exhibits at the center than to "park and bark" as musicians call it. John did get Lily to perform a solo singing one of the Chinese children's songs she knows. There was a great performance of the Lion dance.

There will be one more chance to wear our fancy Chinese clothes next weekend when the University Chinese community hosts a feast. They have invited us to attend as their guests and I'm sure Luke and Lily will perform if called upon. Lily is as comfortable with a microphone as she is with lip gloss.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year 2009

Luke makes a New Year mask

Pretty Butterfly

Spiderman!

We put on many layers of clothes last night and headed downtown to First Night. The layers were due to the cold temperatures that have returned to our area. Many businesses participated in the event and once you purchased tickets all the venues were free. We spent most of our time at the YMCA standing in a long line for face painting. There was one painter and many many faces! The kids were determined so we stuck it out and the results were great. They had inflatables there as well that the kids enjoyed. We then went over to the Lander's theater to see the YES troop perform. The YES troop is a group of very talented high school kids who have spent many years perfecting their stage performances. Luke and Lily were both tired at the beginning of the show (9:30pm) but woke up when the dancing started and stayed awake until it was over an hour later. We headed home and didn't stay for the midnight fireworks. They are too young and John and I are too old. Happy New Year to everyone.

Christmas Travels

With only two days between trips it was a challenge to get the laundry done, go to work for two days and head out again, this time for North Carolina. We decided to drive all night on Tuesday. John was ready with plenty of Starbucks coffee to keep him awake on the journey. We had a rough ride the first couple of hours with ice and then heavy rain but the last half was pretty good. I can say that because I did not do any of the driving. I was able to actually read a novel with my little book light and finished it by dawn. Of course there were a few naps thrown in along the way.
Lily left earlier in the day with Aunt Kim and Michelle so we just had Luke and Logan. By 10pm after watching two movies they both drifted off for the rest of the ride. John was understandably tired by the end of the trip and had to catch up on a little sleep on Wednesday.
We spent Christmas eve at Mill Ridge with Grandma Prescott and her caretaker, Delta. The kids hung their stockings on the fireplace. The next morning we were back over at 7 so the kids could check out what Santa had delivered during the night. Their stockings held all kinds of treasures and Lily got a Barbie bride and Luke a drum set. After a traditional breakfast of ham biscuits it was time to open the family gifts. Luke was so excited to get a fireman costume and firetruck from Grandma while Lily got two High School musical dolls and a cheer leading costume.
By noon we were ready to make the two hour trip up to Aunt Valia and Uncle Rudy's house in Winston-Salem. Their two kids were there, Rick and Kay along with their families. We had a nice dinner and played our gift exchange game. The weather was unseasonably warm so the kids were able to play and run off some energy outside.
Back at Mill Ridge in the mountains the kids went tubing with Daddy, Aunt Kim and Michelle. I stayed back at the house to relax and begin the packing up process.
We had a nice meal out with Grandma and then it was time to say good-bye as we headed back home early on Saturday. The kids really enjoyed their Christmas time.