Gong Hay Fat Choy!

I love Chinese New Year.  I especially love this huge party a friend of ours here in Colorado puts on every year because the Dad served his mission in Hong Kong and they have visited there multiple times. Because I am half Chinese I feel a special affinity for all Chinese traditions - by that I mean all Chinese foods and large family/friends gatherings. (This is probably because my mother is Hawaiian-born Chinese*). I have always been too lazy to put on my own organized events.. So in an effort to turn over a new leaf and actually celebrate ancestral holidays (which I just realized means I will need to actually celebrate Pioneer Day this year too for equal representation), we really did learn about the New Year this year.

We = I taught K.

I think I must have needed something as a pressure outlet from my work-from-home job, because we spent all week talking about it.

We talked about Goats - Happy Year of the Goat!

K learned to say "Gong Hay Fat Choy" and "Happy Chinese New Year".

We watched Malaysia's World Champion Lion Dance - it blew my mind.. so we made this:

Step one, spray paint a cereal box then cut to size and find decorations...

Almost done.. just missing its tail and nose.

 K actively participated so it took 3 days. Lucky me, I didn't have to think about what to do for entertainment for 3 whole days.
Lastly, we made Almond Cookies. Oops, no pictures. But they were beautiful and delicious. Well, the ones we didn't make together were.
And we went to the New Year Party. Oh Man. So yummy.

Happy New Year!

K wouldn't wear it long enough for a photo, but it looks good on J too.

They even gave out Red Envelopes with candy inside. Yum. 

I feel so inspired, I may even celebrate Moon Festival this year too. At least, we may eat moon cake.

* Modern-day Hawaiian culture tends toward celebrating via large family gatherings where food is a necessity and comes in extra large proportions. Friends count as Ohana, so the more the merrier. Oh, and a low-key serve-yourself style is also a part of the culture.