Gong Xi Fa Cai

[Violet]

Nie Hao, Ledgies! Just wanted to wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year of the Rooster! We celebrated New Year's Eve tonight with Chinese food, including some shrimp for wealth. We also prepared Lucky Money envelopes for the kids in my daughter's class with chocolate coins and Lucky Candy. Before bed we're going to step outside to set off "firecrackers" (actually those little snap 'n pop things, which was all I could find) to scare off evil spirits. The housecleaning (sweeping away the old year's business) will have to wait until tomorrow, because I still need to make cupcakes tonight. My daughter's 6th birthday is Thursday, but we're doing it tomorrow at school because of a field trip on Thursday. So I'll be making red cupcakes with gold icing and red sparkly sprinkles on top. We also hung various couplets around the house for Harmony, Health, Education, Happy Family and Wealth.

Unfortunately we'll be missing the Lion Dance parade in Chinatown this Sunday due to a prior committment (neighbor's birthday party).

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Everyone!

Zai chien,

Carol