Year of the Dragon

The Year of the Dragon started this week.  Anna and Lily wore traditional Chinese dresses to school on Monday, the Chinese New Year.

Today we celebrated in our traditional way by watching the dragon parade and then enjoying lunch in our favorite Chinese restaurant.  The girls loved the dragons and were even able to deal with the loud firecrackers.

Two beautiful girls in their Chinese dresses

Two scary dragons

Waiting for the dragon parade with Dad

Seattle's Chinese gate





The dragons dancing around the firecrackers

Snowy Seattle

This has been a very wintry week in the Puget Sound area, which is something we don't experience very often.  Heavy snow and ice pretty much shut the city down. 

But for Anna and Lily it was FUN!

Flying down the hill

Playing with neighborhood friends

A Joyful Christmas

Christmas was a joyful time for our family.  How could it not be considering the excitement and fun that Anna and Lily brought to the season!  These two girls relished every moment.  Since Thanksgiving they were bubbling with Christmas spirit.  Lily filled the house with her beautiful renditions of carols, and Anna helped Mom and Dad put up all the decorations.

Chloe joined us for the holidays and the three girls continued to build their close bond as sisters.  Eric and Nana Barbara also joined us for a Christmas weekend filled with fun, food, and sharing of gifts.

We are so grateful to have been able to have our family together and to be so blessed during times that are hard for others around the world.

Lily at her pre-school Christmas celebration

A holiday trip to the Seattle Aquarium

All dressed up on Christmas Eve

Three beautiful sisters

Opening gifts with Mommy

Anna looking so different than when we picked her up at the orphanage exactly 2 years ago... such a beautiful young lady!

Presents for Dad