oh she's cute

chinese new year 2012

Finally - a party! We celebrated Cora's first Chinese New Year in the good ol' USA last night with a couple family-friends. (Or maybe I should say that we celebrated our first Chinese New Year with our girl!) The local Chinese culture club hosts a dinner and talent show each year, with decorations and activities for the kids. The girls dressed up in the silks that they wore in China, which they loved to twirl and dance in! (And I just want to note that Cora's dress is now a little snug - yay!)

My little princess


And my little empress


Doing what we Barrettes do best...

That-a-girl! Go for dessert first!

Looks like kung fu, but she's actually dancing.


Olivia with her bestie.


And here is Cora with her friend, Vivi. Remember our travel buddies in China? (See second picture down.) So glad we live close enough to celebrate these special dates together!


We had a great time! It was fun to meet other families who had adopted as well as celebrate our youngest's culture. (And of course we always love getting to meet up with good friends, too!)

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

ketchup, anyone?

stockings

A little Christmas flashback... I did not get pictures of the girls and their stockings (which my mom knit!) on Christmas morning because I FORGOT to bring Olivia's to my parents' house. So we took pictures of the girls and their stockings today. They're so cute, I could keep them out all year round. (The stockings - I obviously do not pack away my children with the ornaments.) But I guess that's okay. My mother-in-law has historically kept her Christmas tree out all year round, so you could say it's a family-thing. (And yes, she does follow my blog, and I expect she will read this. Ha!)

rainbow rice

So I filled my evening last night looking up activities to do with the girls. I started with pinterest, which linked up to several blogs that offered some really great ideas (which I will now be stealing!) Some people are incredibly creative - thank goodness for the internet! We have quite a few activities to try now, from blowing up balloons to blowing up soap. Today we colored rice, because we had all the supplies to do so. (I have a pretty long shopping list...)



The girls loved it. I only wish I had more rice. (Add it to the growing shopping list.)


They did not share very well. I guess it's an opportunity to provide life lessons, as well.




These are a few of the blogs that I thought were very good: allfortheboys.com, playathomemom3.blogspot.com, bkids.typepad.com. Let me know if you have any other suggestions! We're ready for some fun!

What did you say??? We have a winner?



Well, who is it? Olivia, will you help us out?



(No. She wouldn't help us out. But my sewing cabinet will.)



Congratulations, Tara! I'll be in touch about delivering your dress. Thanks for playing, everyone! It was fun and we will have to do it again!

happy new year!

Hi there! I hope everyone had a great New Year celebration! Mine was not quite so fabulous, as I was stuck in bed with some kind of stomach bug. Yuck. Fortunately for me, the neighbors set off fireworks at midnight, so I knew when the new year had rung in. Even more for fortunately, those same fireworks did NOT wake up my girls. Phew! Oh well, at least for our family, there is always Chinese New Year.

Which leads me to this little number... A Chinese-New-Year-inspired, creamy, Asian toile print.


Do you like it? Would you like it?


Because I'm giving it away! It is a size 3t dress, and as you can see, it's pretty long on Cora. (She normally wears a size 2.) An older child could probably wear it as a tunic top. A younger child could wear it long, or grow into it. :)


To win, please leave a comment below telling me that you like the dress. I will draw a winner the old-fashioned way. (My girls will choose a name out of a hat.) You must comment by midnight next Wednesday, January 11.


Good luck!