HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We looked forward to the Chinese New Year Celebration with great anticipation. I really hyped it and Emmy's teacher had just happened to find a book to lend her about the Chinese New Year, so Emma was espousing all types of wisdom ;) We enjoyed our first family day since Christmas break and it didn't even matter that we missed the dumpling making demonstration and most of the events listed on the flier...
We DID catch the dragon (which terrified Laney!), saw the lion dance (Emmy decided it should be called "The Dragon Dance" and it henceforth became such in our conversations), and managed to score some half-price spring rolls when they got cold -- DELICIOUS!
There were many dancers in beautiful costumes, some dignitaries, and the unveiling of the Beijing Olympic Mascot! Our little friend Christine was one of the dancers, so that was especially neat for the girls to see.
Here they're posing with the dragon head after the lion dance. They also got traditional little red envelope souvenirs with chocolate money inside (traditionally it's real money!)

Here's the Olympic mascot... not sure what it is????