We did it!

We did it!  We pulled off a halfway decent, albeit, Caucasian-laced, Chinese New Year celebration.  I am proud to say we all had a good time, learned a little and got even more excited about plans to celebrate with and for baby sister in the coming years.

This picture is of the bowl of tangerines, the red envelopes and gold coins, and the vase of narcissus for good fortune and luck. The sweets tray was very Caucasian and was almost too much for the boys. They just sat at the table looking at all the treats and talking about how they would divide and conquer.  Or, rather, devour!  Don't look too closely though as I admit, I used a few things that weren't exactly traditional CNY treats, nor were they even Chinese.  A few Japanese treats and one or two made in Singapore.  I promise to plan ahead next year and make sure to get it spot on.  But for this white chick's first attempt, I say, not too shabby, eh!    The boys loved the little lovey pandas and all the tasty, chewy and gummy treats.  The colorful fortune cookies were fruit flavored.  Interesting, but I think I like the more traditional version.  The boys slept with their red envelope/ hóngbāo under their pillows and already have plans on how to put the money to good use.  I wish I could say they want to do something useful or thoughtful with it.  But they don't. They want to go to this crappy little restaurant in town and spend it on junk from the toy and candy machines in the "game room."  Oh well, they're excited.  And the gold coins are now "gold doubloons" aka pirate treasure.  I tried to explain that they're Chinese coins and to look at the dragon on one side.  Little guy cocked his head and said "Yes, but mommy, there are pirates in China too." Good point.  Maybe not are, but were.  Close enough.

We also hung a couple of different strands of garland and a big, dragon that the boys giggled at. They thought he looked like some sort of "weird, mustached man."  He kinda does.  It's the best I could do in the time I had.  Next year we'll get something a little more authentic. Or maybe, just maybe, I'll pull out my inner Martha and create one with them.

I mentioned before that I got the okay from my CNY consultant to go out for dinner.  We went to our local Asian restaurant, Asia Palace.  It's Japanese and Chinese.  A funny little spot.  But so yummy!  We feasted on sizzling rice soup, potstickers, kung pao chicken, salt & pepper prawns, crispy duck and chow mein.  Unfortunately we didn't have the fish we had hoped/planned to. No cooked fish on the menu and it seemed weird to add sushi to the mix.  So, next year, along with traditional Chinese sweets, and an authentic, less creepy dragon, we will add fish to our dinner.  Maybe I'll be able to pull off a home cooked Chinese meal by then.  See, it's a good thing I'm putting all of this in writing. I'm committing!

As good luck would have it, we also heard back from our social worker yesterday.  She needed a laundry list of details.  She said it was due to the new hague requirements but pffft, I know better.  There aren't any new requirements.  It's a little offensive that she thinks we know so little about the process.  What a jerk.  A tardy and slow one at that.  The most frustrating part, aside from this keeping us from progressing forward, is that it cost us $3,000.  Yep, three!  Thousand!  DOLLARS!  The least she could do is show up on time, be honest, and turn in her work in a timely manner.  Shoot, I can think of dozens of people who would jump at the chance to do 8 hours of face-time work and a written report for 3 grand.  The worst part, however, is that all of the details she asked for are in the paper chase documents she already has.  Just too lazy to look them up herself.  So, tardy, slow and lazy.  I'm being mean but whatever.  Don't judge. I may even pour myself a glass of wine and it's not even 5:00.  Neener, neener, neener. What's worse, a meanie, or a wino?  At least I'm not a nag!

Oh and she also dangled a carrot that I hope she drops sooner, rather than later.  I have a feeling she'll snatch it back up before that happens.  The carrot - "You'll see when you get to proofread it.  :-)  Almost done" and her parting words "Hang in there.  We are getting close."  You're killing me Smalls!