Yet another birthday post

So.....Xan wanted a birthday party with her China friends but since her birthday was at the beginning of a 2 week school holiday we had to wait until her friends returned to actually host her party.  She invited 5 little girls and 4 were able to make it....we had princess games, princess dresses, princess cupcakes and all things princessy......(can you guess the theme?)  Anyway...here are the pics.

The Royal Table

The Princess and her Prince waiting for the party to begin.

Princess Tori entering the Ball

Princess Xan making her announced entrance.  

The princesses (less a few shy ones) were dancing and twirling away as one of the moms cheered from the balcony.  

Princess Elizabeth did enjoy her twirly ribbon wand.  

Many, many kisses were planted on the Frog amidst giggles galore.  

We passed the poison apple.  

Princess Alessia and Princess Elizabeth were often caught laughing.

Princess Tori thought it quite funny to mix the games and act like a frog while passing the poison apple.

Princess Xan really wanted to eat the apple but alas her request was denied.  

Cupcake Goal:  Princess Xan selected these for her party.  Her mother was quite nervous about completing such a daunting task.

But......they turned out pretty darn cute (if I do say so myself).
 

Princess Kallie's castle is right next door to Princess Xan's and they can each often be found at the
other's if not at their own.  

Princess Alessia was quite beautiful in her Aurora dress.....the envy of one Princess in particular.  

What a sweet group of little girls.....it was a blessing to have them in our home and celebrate these beautiful princesses.  

Chat with you later.

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, celebrations officially began last night with incredible fireworks and an international televised "gala" displaying the best of China's talent.  We enjoyed both from the warm, cozy home we have here in Suzhou on the 11th floor of a high rise apartment building with 3 sides of windows.....perfect for watching a bazillion fireworks.  Unfortunately, I did not get my camera out to take any photos of all the wonderful displays but rest assured that we thoroughly enjoyed them. 

 The Chinese have a very old custom (ok....they are all really old and they have a lot of customs but.....) that loud noises and the color red will scare off any bad spirits that may be hanging around so that is how they begin the new year-lots and lots of fireworks and red decorations everywhere.  There were fireworks and firecrackers going off pretty much all day yesterday but they really got going full blast at about 11 and went strong until about 1am.  Midnight was the pinnacle for sure.  Today there have been sporadic bursts of loud noises as well but not near yesterday's levels.  

The Chinese also place red banners or signs on their doors to express what they hope for in the new year.  These are placed not only on private homes but also onto entrances into businesses, apartment complexes, and even cities and villages.  We tried our hand at this last year while we were still in Aiken but this year we have a better understanding and friends to help us with our calligraphy.   We made our signs earlier this week and placed them on our door.  They will remain until the end of the Spring Festival celebrations in 2 weeks which culminates with the Lantern Festival.  (another blog post for sure).

Here's a little peak into our home.

The bottom 3 are some traditional Chinese wishes and the top 2 are just a few we wanted to include.  

This was pretty sweet-Xan's wish card was a picture of Caed, her cousin in Texas.  Maybe, just maybe, he will come to China this year for a visit.  

A Day of Celebrating

Xan's birthday yesterday was literally an entire day of celebrating.  Turning 5 is a very big deal you know.  So for those grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (and few really good friends) ----Here is the play by play.  

We started the day with a candle on her requested pancakes with purple sprinkles.

A quick snapshot in her birthday shirt and "stylish" scarf.  

Cupcakes for her class at school.....all ready for Mom to deliver.

Happy Birthday sung in 2 languages and then blowing out more candles.

Her classmates enjoying the sweet treat after nap time.  

Happy friends all around the table.

A great big card from her class......so sweet and pretty too.

Her class (with the traditional Chinese gesturing of course).

She loves Ms. Brittney!

Ms. Leelee

We visited some friends after school for more cupcakes and they sang Happy Birthday to her in 4 different languages (very cool but very uncool that Mom forgot her camera).  Then we came home for a yummy "requested" dinner of pork chops and mashed potatoes with salad.  For some reason, she wanted to open presents right after we finished dinner.  So........we did.

She was very happy about the purple sparkly fingernail polish.

But even more excited when she opened her eyes and saw her new kitchen.  

After cooking up several meals she decided it was time to cut her birthday cake.  Some of Stan's Chinese friends had this cake delivered (we were all so surprised and grateful) that afternoon.  It was almost like a cheesecake....very tasty and came with LOTS of candles which, of course, she thought needed to all be used.

  

We finished our day like we began....with candles for the birthday girl. 


Chat with you later.

Memory Lane

In honor of my baby girl's birthday coming up in 2 short days I decided to do a little walk down memory lane.  I was able to find a few pictures from her previous big days and have to admit.....a couple of them made me tear up just a bit.  I really can't believe that she is almost 5 years old.  Everyone tells you, "It flies by and then all of a sudden your baby is graduating."  Well we aren't buying any cap and gown just yet but I have to agree that it has flown.  Thanks for indulging a proud Momma.  

Number 1

Her very first birthday party.....just the three of us in South Carolina.

Her second "1 year party"  chocolate chip muffins with Reid and Anna Grace-----sweet memories!

Number 2

I know we had a small little birthday party at our house but for some reason there are no pictures from that day.  So.......just imagine her wearing a cutesy pink hat and eating a pink cake.   PS....I loved her bob!   

We went to the circus for her 2nd birthday and this was a favorite pic of mine from that day.  She was so excited to see the elephants and this is when they came out.  

Number 3

Her 3 year birthday party while we were visiting family in Texas....thanks to Baba,  cousins and Nana b/c Mom had stomach flu.  Only those already "exposed" to the yuck I had attended this little soiree.  

Her pink cupcakes and full princess get-up.

Her "second" 3 year birthday party at my sister's house. We had it again with my Dad and Judy and all her cousins on that side (can't imagine why they didn't want to come to stomach flu central) and Xan certainly didn't mind having 2 parties.    

Number 4

Her 4th birthday was the year of THE CAKE.  We didn't have a party but this is the cake that her  Baba got for her.  She is definitely his princess......always has been! 

No party, per se, but of course Eva came over to help eat the large castle.

The princess theme continued this year as well......she asked for gloves and new crowns and shoes.  

More birthday posts to come.........

Chat with ya later.

Snowing in Suzhou

About 1 o'clock today it started snowing here in Suzhou.  Xan was very excited about it when she got off the bus this afternoon and we stopped on our way to our apartment to take a few pictures.  There is just something really pretty and tranquil about snow.  I'm not sure if we'll get much more or if this will be it so we're just going to have some hot cocoa and enjoy it.

From our balcony.

The "fountain" in front of our building.  

I liked the contrast of the tropical foliage covered in snow.

 Xan had just commented that is was "no fun" that her bestie, Eva in Wisconsin, was going to get all the snow.  (More on Eva and her casa in a post coming soon)

Chat with you later.