Happy Valentine’s Day/Lantern Festival!

The Chinese New Year celebrations have officially ended!  As it turned out this year, Valentines Day ended up coinciding with the Lantern Festival. The Lantern Festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

I will admit, we are all thankful for the celebration ending.  The noise of the firecrackers and fireworks startled us over and over again as they were randomly set off right outside our windows.  Josh and I decided to spend Valentine’s watching a romantic movie.  It took us twice as long to watch it not because our internet was slow (which is usually the case) but because we had to keep pausing the movie while the rounds of firecrackers went off so we could actually hear the movie.

One thing we are so incredibly thankful for is that Jaden slept through it all!  He wasn’t able to take naps (unless he was extremely exhausted) but he did sleep through the night (something Josh and I had a difficult time doing).  I am still in shock that he slept.  I mean, it sounded like a war zone with the whole neighborhood participating.

We were privileged to join our neighbors at a “party” of sorts to celebrate the Lantern Festival.  We went to this beautiful clubhouse like building and they had entertainment as well as activities.  We walked in and were given little plastic bears full of chocolate candy.  We weren’t sure what to expect but it ended up being a good time.  We sat at a table where they gave us hot tea (and hot juice for Jaden).  They  had a MC introduce someone to sing for everyone and pulled people from the crowd to play games.  Of course, being a foreigner we were asked to the front.  Someone had seen Jaden dancing off to the side during the first performance so he and I were both dragged to the front to dance.  Once we got Josh up front as well as our neighbor, Jaden did actually do a quick little jig much to everyone’s delight (and my relief).

They also had us make what is called “rice balls” that is filled with black sesame seeds.  It doesn’t look like rice at all but a wet dough that you flatten in the palm of your hand and put the black sesame seeds in the middle.  Then you roll it all into a ball.  The MC was sure to come to our table with mic in hand and “teach” me how to correctly make the balls and judge my attempts.  He said they were acceptable. ;o)  While the rice balls were cooking they passed out paper lanterns and paint so that we all could design and color our lanterns.

Jaden did very well.  We were at a table off to the side so we climbed the stairs and went for walks when our little legs couldn’t stay still.  The staff loved sneaking pictures of him and trying to hold him.  We were even able to paint a lantern without getting it all over our clothes…score!

Afterwards we then went to the restaurant that our neighbor owns and had dinner together.  After 4 hours of being together our language was quite spent so dinner was a bit quiet (or focused on the babies) but I think we all had a good time.

Some of you probably know, but Josh turned 31 this past week!  We had a hard time figuring out how to celebrate but in the end we had local friends over for lunch.  I made home-made pizza and a chocolate cake.  Then that evening we splurged on some beef at the supermarket and I made a beef stew.  Josh was able to get some guys together and they all played Settlers until midnight or so.  Not too exciting but we made do.  Next is Jaden’s birthday..the big 2!