Ni Hao

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

We invited some friends over for a sweet Chinese New Year Dinner. Everyone had a great time saying the only Chinese phrase anyone knew (ni hao = hello) and Tadd working "beat boxer" into the conversation anywhere he could...adjective, verb...you name it.

Here is "Z" raising the roof near the zodiac garland where everyone figured out what sign they were.

Randall: dragon Angi and Addi: monkey...no surprise there.

Miss "Z" is super cool, she's my go-to gal when I need someone to pick up Addi from Sunbeams while I'm finishing up and she has an infectious smile, when she walked in the house she said, "This is going to be AWESOME!!!" ...and indeed it was!

The food was great, (thanks to Stacey and Trader Joe's)

And We learned that according to the Chinese oranges are lucky.

ni hao, beat boxer!

Addi insisted on wearing her party dress...of course.

Theo, playing with Addi's cool shades

After dinner we made Chinese yo-yos out of wooden dowels and wrapping paper. They were pretty sweet!

"G" all wrapped up

I just have to tell you about this cool kid for a second. He is definitely all boy but when Addi asked him to play house with her he nicely obliged...what a cool kid. And anyone who will play house is an immediate favorite of Addi's.

Julie, showing off her yo-yo for the kids.


Everyone left with a red envelope filled with chocolate coins.

Tea for Two

Addi begs me every day to have friends over and finally this week we had Hazel over for a tea party. These girls are hilarious the english accents started immediately, even before they decided on their tea frocks. They also have impeccable manners during tea time...as any distinguished lady would.

The Hostess

The "Guest"

Little Ladies

cheeks full of buns

Lion's Den

Due to the aforementioned freezing weather we've been indoors a lot! So to avoid cabin fever we try to keep it interesting. This day we made a fort...it turned into a den for lions. Mama Lion

Roaaaaaaaaar

Mama and baby cub

Feeding Time

Snow Day

We've been enjoying single digit tempratures here in Boston and it has made us appreciate those warm 30 degree days. On the only 30 degree day this week we took full advantage playing in the snow and building a mini-snowman (the snow was too dry for a big one).

Strike a pose, there's nothing to it.


Prepping the snowman area.

Ta Daa!

Chilly kisses

Addi loves to eat snow...and so did I when I was her age, so if there's no discoloration I let her go for it...it's good for the immune system.

Snow Angel

Toasting our wet gear under the ratdiator while we toast ourselves with some berry tea.

Idol Hands

You all may not know this but my trusty Phaff sewing machine died (and no megan it had NOTHING to do with you). Now I don't know what to do with my evenings! So, as I am so prone to do, I got a little obsessed making hair cips. The big brown buttons on the flower clips came from the cushions on my couch...no one will notice right?

(I made duplicates and in some cases quadruplicates of some of these to give away)

And I did all this while watching the season premere of American Idol, sadly I wasn't that impressed, I'll probably watch the Salt Lake show and be done.

Lunch is Served

Addi: Mom, I made you a lunch
Mom: Ohh what IS it (a little alarmed)
Addi: butter with butatoes and wheat bread...wheat bread is good for you
Mom: It looks really good, (choking down a bite) tastes good too, why do you take such good care of me?
Addi: It's my job.

Rock Star!

Addi has wanted an electric guitar for months and on her birthday she finally got one. After our band's debut concert she informed me that she wanted to be the lead singer...she'll probably stick me with a dumb tambourine!

Rockin' out!

sweet rocker

The mosh pit.

Addi's Fourth Birthday

First of all thanks and credit for the pictures go to my good friend Stacey, it was so nice not to have to worry about pictures in the midst of the party mele.

Birthday Girl


The stage is set
(more comprehensive view can be found on our Crazy Lemon Band post, below. Also, I must point out that the flag banner was made by my good friend Megan...she rocks!)

We wasted no time getting into the games, everyone is listening intently for the musical chairs instruction.

Happy musical chairer

Next up the popcorn dig!

four kids, 1 minute, and all the prizes you can stuff!

The hottest prizes were the rocket launchers

Addi sporting her new shades

J dug out a slinky.

Showing off their ill-gotten booty.

We had a balloon pop and this is the best view of the dress.

(Megan and Ashley)

Getting ready to blow out the candles

...she'll huff and she'll puff...

Enjoying the cake and ice cream

Again thanks to my friend Megan for the awesome party hat!

Thank you to all Addi's friends and their Moms for making Addi's fourth birthday a

SWEET one.