Our local FCC group had their Chinese New Year celebration on saturday and Kerry and I decided to check it out. Up until now we've only dressed up, done crafts, ordered dumplings and put a few decorations around the house, so this was her first "real" CNY bash. She's got a book and a couple of DVD's so she's been learning all about it and is she has been so excited about all things CNY this year. I guess it's just her age, last year she was not quite three so she just wasn't that into it, and this year she understands so much more about it so it's that much more for her to be excited about.
The "Dragon and Phoenix" print dress finally came in on Friday...just in time. I love her in red.
They had some pre-dinner crafts and games set up. Oh, and was she ever excited to get her first "Hong Bao" (lucky red envelope). She carried it with her all night.
Making a little cardboard dragon flyer. Afterwards she got to try to fly it into its cave (toss it into a basket on the floor) for a little prize.
Here all of the kids were lining up for the "Dragon Parade". This was what she was really waiting for. I can't even express how proud I was of her. Even 6 months ago she struggled with going to the Sunday School class with people she was familiar with because it meant neither I or her Daddy would be there. On Saturday night she happily joined up with a large group of mostly older kids, in a room full of strangers, in a place she'd never been before, and let me out her sight to join the Dragon Parade. Something just clicked late last summer and her separation anxiety issues have been mostly a thing of the past since.
They snaked around the large gymnasium several times. I managed to catch her in action as they passed.
She's in there somewhere. She's so little I kept losing sight of her.
As the evening wrapped up Kerry and a couple of new friends decided to take advantage of the open space to blow off some energy by chasing each other around in circles while giggling wildly.
They had banners representing each Province so I had to get a shot of Kerry with the Jiangxi banner. After all of the running around, her buns were starting to reach the end of their life span... despite the bobby pins and hairspray.
And of course there was a booth set up for shopping. Kerry chose this Chinese drum and has been happily demonstrating her drum skills for everyone who will listen.
The "Dragon and Phoenix" print dress finally came in on Friday...just in time. I love her in red.
They had some pre-dinner crafts and games set up. Oh, and was she ever excited to get her first "Hong Bao" (lucky red envelope). She carried it with her all night.
Making a little cardboard dragon flyer. Afterwards she got to try to fly it into its cave (toss it into a basket on the floor) for a little prize.
Here all of the kids were lining up for the "Dragon Parade". This was what she was really waiting for. I can't even express how proud I was of her. Even 6 months ago she struggled with going to the Sunday School class with people she was familiar with because it meant neither I or her Daddy would be there. On Saturday night she happily joined up with a large group of mostly older kids, in a room full of strangers, in a place she'd never been before, and let me out her sight to join the Dragon Parade. Something just clicked late last summer and her separation anxiety issues have been mostly a thing of the past since.
They snaked around the large gymnasium several times. I managed to catch her in action as they passed.
She's in there somewhere. She's so little I kept losing sight of her.
As the evening wrapped up Kerry and a couple of new friends decided to take advantage of the open space to blow off some energy by chasing each other around in circles while giggling wildly.
They had banners representing each Province so I had to get a shot of Kerry with the Jiangxi banner. After all of the running around, her buns were starting to reach the end of their life span... despite the bobby pins and hairspray.
And of course there was a booth set up for shopping. Kerry chose this Chinese drum and has been happily demonstrating her drum skills for everyone who will listen.