The Year of the Monkey

It is the Year of the Monkey.  This is Mommy's year - Madison and Daddy are the Year of the Dog. Mommy thinks we should celebrate by having a "Planet of the Apes" marathon.  I'm actually okay with that!  Last night, we saw the Monkey King in China, the one who visited with Big Bird.  Madison posed for a picture with a sock monkey this morning, but that's been about it for our monkey theme.  I will say though that the Monkees are coming out with a new release soon, and we'll probably be getting that.  Mommy liked listening to the Monkees when they were first on television, and lately Daddy has been enjoying their music too.

Today we celebrated a bit more as soon as Madison got home - it was a great surprise!  She came home to see a display put out on a kitchen counter, with all kinds of Chinese New Year goodies on it.  We've been saving some of this stuff for several months now, so it sort of piled up.  Additionally, Aunt Shain came by and had a few things that she picked up for Madison as well.  There were cupcakes with gold coins on them, stencils to make Chinese symbols, Mulan discs and the figure for the Disney Infinity, oranges, and of course a red envelope with money in it.  There was candy too - including some in a decorative red Chinese takeout box with Hello Kitty on it.  Best of all, she got a new dress which you can see above.  It's the one Mulan wears, one that Madison had to put on right away.    Again, all of this stuff has been sort of picked up here and there for the past several months, to the point that the display almost looked like Christmas morning!

This morning, we watched some of the dragon dances and parts of the San Francisco Chinese New Year parade, before heading off to work and church, and the dentist.  Yeah, Daddy has to get a new cap for his tooth.  To the tune of $700.  When it rains, it pours.  Oh well, it has to be done.  Too bad it has to be done right now, but there it is.

Anyway, we had ballet this afternoon, and when we got home, it was time for an epic feast.  Mommy cooked a large part of the day today, almost as if it were Thanksgiving Day.  Seriously, there was Chinese food everywhere, and when we got home, the smell filled the house in such a glorious way.  She had the special Chinese plate ware out, with the traditional long noodles and fish, and a new orange chicken recipe that she was trying.  It was delicious with the homemade fried rice.  Earlier today, Daddy picked up egg rolls for Madison.  She loves egg rolls, especially with that sweet and sour sauce.  Finally, there was the oolong tea served in these wonderful traditional tea cups that we don't use very often - it was all very nice.  Mommy did so well with all of this, and it was so nice to come home to.  She was all dressed up (see above), and so Daddy and Madison had to follow suit, quickly getting changed to go with the theme of the evening.

After dinner, there wasn't much time tonight.  Madison checked out Mulan on Disney Infinity, of course.  But there was also this FDR paper she's spending time writing.  She did a bit of her homework, and soon it was time for bed.  We read a few more books about Chinese New Year, said our prayers, and not long after that - all of us were heading off to bed.  It's been a full day, must like it has been these past three or four days or so.  But we've been blessed and highly favored!

Happy New Year, or 恭禧發財!