Here is what our week of celebrations included.........
School Parties......
A week before Chinese New Year started, Preston came home and exclaimed "Do not ask me what our Chinese New Year surprise is at school, because I'm not suppose to tell you!!" With big smiles, and even bigger anticipation, we counted down the day that this special surprise would be revealed...
The day of the party when all the parents arrived at the school, we were not disappointed by our Chinese New Year dragon "surprise" performed by all the students. We also loved the homemade spring rolls, fried rice, and dumplings the kids had made for our lunch. Preston was THRILLED his dad was even able to make it to the special event!
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| The famous red "hong bao"---a Chinese tradition of giving $$ to small children. Preston wishes his teacher "Gon xi fa cai", or Good luck and Fortune before receiving his hong bao. |
Yu Yuan Garden
A traditional Chinese New Year celebration spot in Shanghai. We believe the entire city comes here to celebrate every year during this week, and so why not the Wilde Family?? --says the woman of the house :)
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| Notice how John has learned to master the crowds, and cut through millions of people like a pro----the rest of us are being trampled behind!! |
Dumplings, Dumplings, and More Dumplings......
Another traditional Chinese New Year activity----devouring delicious dumplings. A couple days of eating dumplings, and even being part of a dumpling making party at our friend's house made our feasting as traditional as the Chinese custom.
Making Our Own Chinese Dragon Delicacy
It's amazing what a quiet day at home,a couple of clever helpers, and a little leftover Halloween candy can help you create.....
The Chocolate Wonderland Museum
Looks like Willy Wonka has moved to China and taken a job abroad as well!! EVERYTHING Chinese made in a delicious chocolate form found here. We decided this museum was a perfect place for a Chinese New Year outing.
Preston tries his luck at drawing the "golden ticket." Apparently the year of the dragon is in his favor as seconds later he was indeed announced "A Golden Ticket Winner!!!" His face shows it all....Pure BLISS, and a grand prize chocolate camel to go with it :)
And Our Greatest Chinese New Year Celebration of ALL....WE LOVE YOU HUA LI!
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| By Far the BEST and SWEETEST helper/friend a family could EVER have!! |
5 comments:
Wow! A chocolate CAMEL?? That is awesome- never seen that before! Everything is made of chocolate? Hershey Park does not even have that! Looks like so much fun. Love how John left you guys in the dust! Happy New year! xxoo
This post just made me happy to see that first, Chinese New Year is over so that poor little Roscoe doesn't have to be scared to death any more. That made me so sad to hear he was shaking so badly and his little heart was beating so fast. Second, I, too, laughed at how John was so far out ahead. He and your dad are two peas in a pod! I know the feeling of being left far behind! Third, I loved Preston's cute school idea with the dragon. And his Chinese was just perfect--at least as far as I could tell. Hah! He is such a little cutie with that big smile. Fourth, seriously you and the kids are so clever at making the best cakes. That was adorable. You could market them! Fifth, I want to go back to YuYu Gardens and have dumplings. That was so much fun! And sixth, well, I could go on and on. So glad to hear about Chinese New Year. You will always celebrate it wherever you are--maybe just not with all the fireworks. Right!
I thought about you when BYU had its Chinese New Year celebrations. They would have been great except for knowing what the "real" one is like! Loved all your pictures!!
What a wonderful cultural experience to add to the long list of "The Wilde Family Adventures!" That little Preston is the cutest!! Your pictures of Yu Yuan Gardens brought back so many great memories of our trip to China with your parents and other family memories. I can see how you are sad to leave Shanghai. Knowing from past experience, however, your family with "bloom where they are planted" once again!
An absolutely beautiful new family photo!! Your family is growing up, Alison, and they are all such handsome young men, even John. I loved reading all about the Year of the Dragon. It makes me appreciate China even more than I did before. You have given us an entirely new culture to see through your eyes. Thanks for sharing a great post.
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