Getting the Party Started for Chinese New Year Celebrations

On Saturday, we bundled up to visit the American Art Museum in DC for the Chinese New Year celebration, where we saw puppeteers, dragons, and even watched video of the new baby panda at the National Zoo, Bao Bao. Evie and Ellie made some fantastic paper lanterns.

Ellie proudly holds up her lantern.

Later she took a break and watched the dragon dances and puppeteers while eating her sandwich.

Ellie thought the drums during the dragon dance were a little too loud.

We made pictures and signed the greeting cards for Bao Bao, the new panda cub at the National Zoo.

Evie also got into the craft-making, and then took over as official photographer while listening to the Chinese musicians play on the guzhengs.

Then on Sunday we visited Auntie Mailan and Uncle Tung to celebrate the new year and Kevin's birthday.  Evie and Ellie dressed in their Vietnamese ao dai and were very excited to open up their red envelopes. 

Ellie is thrilled! 

We all gather around and sing Kevin Happy Birthday! 

Ellie digs into the birthday cake! 

Snowbound! Two Sisters with different feelings about going outside...

We had quite a snowstorm last Tuesday and as a result the girls had almost the whole week of school off!  However, as you can see from these pictures, one sister is a lot more enthusiastic about playing in the snow than another! 

Evie cannot resist a quick taste of snow from her glove. 

Meanwhile, Ellie looks like she is ready to go in. Enough with these temperatures! 

She is patient enough to watch Evie make one snow angel but then insists on going back inside.  Hopefully next week things will return to normal!

More of Ellie's Modern Dance

Here are two more videos of Ellie's modern dance routine. Enjoy!

Ellie's Modern Dance Routine

Ellie loves to dance and I think modern dance is her favorite style. Here are two dance selections she wanted to share with others.

Beating the winter doldrums...

We have had quite a cold spell lately but thankfully some snow (an inch?) provided some entertainment for the kiddos.  Unfortunately, Evie's snowman was a little short, but she had an authentic carrot nose and two button eyes.  Not too surprisingly, the carrot has disappeared by the next morning. 

Ellie liked being pulled around the yard in the sled, although we quickly found out that gloves would have been a smarter idea. 

This past weekend, we invited some kids over for a "Spa Day" playdate. Evie had gotten the idea from Fancy Nancy Ooh La La Salon Day book, so we got out the blender to make fruit smoothies and cut up some cucumbers for the water.  Then the kids got into their swim suits and jumped into the bubble bath and turned on the jacuzzi (while spa music played in the background) and the parents watched enviously. Evie, Jack and Ella made some "bubble beards" in the tub.

Ellie loved playing in the bubbles and with Leena was the last one to leave.

Next step was getting a foot scrub with apricot scrub which of course tickled everyone's feet.  Then it was onto the pedicures - the girls had their choice and of course most veered towards pink. Meanwhile, Daddy had found a youTube video called "Spa Music" that played in the background and kept us all serene.  Alas, no one was brave enough to try the banana/honey mask or cucumber eyes, but perhaps for next time! 

What I Did on my Holiday Vacation

 

The family has been having a great time between Christmas and New Year's exploring the city and seeing family and friends.  On Thursday we checked out the Newseum with Bebe, Popi and Uncle Patrick.  Ellie loved getting in front of the green screen with Mommy and Daddy, although she was a little tongue-tied when given the microphone.

 

 

Daddy does the weather with Ellie, loving the opportunity to demonstrate a low air pressure front coming in on the map. 

 

 

Daddy interviews Evie on her Christmas at the local news desk of Channel 4.  And yes, she did get everything she wanted for Christmas!

 

Dad has a fun time mocking Ron Burgundy in the Anchorman Exhibit. 

 

 

On Saturday, we were off to the Kennedy Center to enjoy a musical based on some of the girls' favorite books: Mo Willems' Piggie & Elephant series. We had prime seating in the second row which put us right up front with the action!

 

Evie and Ellie got a kick out of pretending to be the Elephant and Piggie pretending to be a frog (the newest book).  Ellie made a pretty good frog.