Saturday, January 31, 2009

2009- The Year of the Ox



The dragon roars





Today we celebrated the Chinese New Year by attending a celebration in Seattle’s International District. Lily loved watching the Dragons dance through street and kick off the Year of the Ox with firecrackers at the Gateway to Seattle’s Chinatown. We had an opportunity to mingle with other adoptive families and Chinese families who were also sharing the tradition of the “Spring Festival”.

The director from Lily’s orphanage sent us a special “New Year’s Greeting” and shared pictures of the orphanage all decorated for the occasion.

Last weekend we had a very special visit from another Xuzhou mommy, Kathleen and her adopted daughter Mia. In mid-February Kathleen will be traveling to China to bring home a second adopted daughter, Marika. (Marika is one of the little girls in Lily’s birthday picture) Who would have ever guessed that one of Lily’s best little friends from the orphanage would be living in Seattle! We can’t wait until these two little girls are reunited and we look forward to a wonderful new friendship with Kathleen and her two beautiful little girls.

Kathleen and Mia visit us last weekend


Waiting for the dragons


Seattle's China Gate


The big dragon slithers on by


Lily shielding her ear from
the firecrackers


Lily in her traditional Chinese clothes to celebrate the New Year




Painting Lily's Chinese name- Chu Fu Rong ("beautiful flower")



Talking with Chinese families





Lily with Dad in the Chinese pavilion



3 comments:

Jan said...

Pam, What beautiful pictures! Reminds us of being back in China!! Wishing you all a Happy Chinese New Year!! And, it's so exciting and wonderful to have another Xuzhou family living so close you!!

sue williams said...

I love the picture of the four ladies, such beautiful smiles! It is so much fun to put names with faces, and how lucky that Lily and Marika will live with their forever families so close together. This should be a wonderful year for the Xuzhou girls ;-)

sue

sarahthefantastic said...

What beautiful pictures. It's so great that you live close to these celebrations and Lily can see them and enjoy them, loud noises and all! I am so glad you have a Xuzhou friend coming to live near you. I hope for the same some day. I did hear today from one of YaYa's friend's mother in St. Paul and she is happy to keep in touch, so that is great. Will you go to the airport to see Mari come home? Exciting days! xoxo from Ottawa