Spider-Ham and the Year of the Pig

Madison likes Spider-Ham, one of the characters from the Spider-Verse, so this seemed like an appropriate design to make.  Daddy took a few preexisting designs and put them together to celebrate this remarkable day, one that will bring back warm memories.

You can see here how we had decorations set up in the kitchen, along with a few gift items.  Of course there's the red envelope with some money in it for her, but there are a few other Chinese gift items, including a Mulan ornament and a Mulan figurine that Daddy picked up from the online Disney Rewards program back in November - it is her character from the recent "Wreck-it Ralph" movie.  Also in there are oranges, and the book, "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon."  We can't wait to read this one.  Also you'll see a little Piggie there, as this is the Year of the Pig.

Of course, it was a school day today first.  Madison had yet another heart on her door, and I promise you'll see them all soon.  Today's had a picture of Jackie Chan on it, complimenting her on her taekwondo.  School started out with Live to Give club before school, where the kids were preparing for a week of pushing for donations for various causes, basically tagging along with Valentine's Day to hopefully teach kids about a "heart for giving."

In school, Madison did some acting today, both in her ELA class and in her Health class.  The ELA class featured a drama, one where she was part of an ongoing mystery.  The Health class had her acting in response to doing things that the kids knew were bad.  The kids were seeing the results of stealing, or cheating on tests, and acting these things out.  She had a great time today - on the way to taekwondo, Madison was talking about her acting today and the fun week she had.

Taekwondo featured more sparring, which again looks a little rough for the parents, but Madison herself said she's having the greatest time, and it is so much fun, and you're like... "...okay!"  Seriously, the body armor helps a lot.  And she's just getting started on learning and having a great time learning new moves.  Her instructor, Mr. Bart, has a black eye this week from an errant knee, so one of the bigger things we're learning this week is "how to take a hit sometimes."  And that's a big lesson Daddy never really learned, actually.

On the way home, we stopped by for some egg rolls (and hot mustard!), and zoomed straight to our house for a wonderful Chinese New Year celebration.

You can see Madison here all dressed up for the big day, complete with our little pig, Pua.  She's wearing another gift from the day, a necklace that has her name on it written in Chinese.  We sat down immediately after this for a delicious, delicious, delicious meal!

Mommy put so much work into this, cooking more than she did for even Thanksgiving.  Everything was made here, and all gluten-free I might add.  We had egg drop soup, and the egg rolls, and rice along with sweet and sour chicken and some kung poa chicken as well.  All of this, including the sauces and spices, was made by Mommy today.  She even had some oolong tea for us too.  It was such a magnificent feast!  We had some Chinese music playing in the background, and Daddy was wearing something he got for Chinese New Year a few years ago:

It was a remarkable evening together.  We were up a little later, but it was so very nice together.  We read tonight, and we prayed, and were so thankful for our family.

We were about to go to bed, but right there and then it was time for the State of the Union address, which was well received, it seems.  The usual bits about opposing parties not standing for various good news items still happened.  I told Madison about this ahead of time that the opposing party never celebrates anything that happens that is good for the country, like increased employment or veteran's benefits and so on.  But tonight, there were plenty of moments for all to be standing in that room, including celebrating survivors of the Holocaust, Buzz Aldrin, a ten-year-old girl who survived cancer, and former prisoners who gave their lives to Jesus, finding forgiveness, purpose, and even freedom with a Presidential pardon.

Madison watched a little of this for historical educational purposes, but it was a long speech, so we said our prayers somewhere in the middle and finished watching elsewhere.  It was a later night tonight, but it was a good one, and I think this year will be a good one, even if it has a pig theme to it.    Pigs seem to have a negative sort of vibe - nobody wants to be called a pig.  But when you think of Pua, and Spider-Ham, or other members of this noble species, then perhaps we'll find something unique, heroic and fun.  Which is what we're wishing for ourselves, and everyone else in this upcoming year.