Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year was officially last Sunday, on Valentines Day, but most of the festivities took place today. Today Craig took the girls to the Huntington Library to enjoy all the wonderful things they had planned. They have a gorgeous Chinese garden there. They met up with their friend Karina, and her mom, Karin.

I had to stay home. :( I've had the stomach flu for the past 4 days! I wish I could have gone! But, alas, I can only picture myself there in a wheelchair! :)

Olivia and Ceci got dressed in their outfits that our friend brought us back from China a few years back. I got Bella her dress just last Monday in China town. I had been eagerly anticipating today!

They all got to watch the Lion dance. They also got to see how their names are written in Chinese characters. They got to hear some live music. I know they had a very fun time!






































On another note, I just wanted to wish my mama a "Happy Birthday!" I am really missing you today . . .

Home School Valentines Party!

It seems like the partying never stops around here! Today we had our Valentines party with our home school group! We had to make 40 Valentines each! It was really fun passing them out. There were so many yummy treats! My girls had a BLAST! Happy Valentines Day! . . . Is it really over?! :)

Fun

We watched the first two hours of Emma last night and then the last two hours this morning. It's a great version! You MUST see it if you have not!

We had a super-fun day. It was sunny and warm in Hermosa Beach! We drove along the coast a bit but didn't get out because it was really crowded!!

We went to one of our very favorite places, Olvera Street. We just like it there. I was also on a quest for a new red blouse!! We wandered Olvera and it was really fun. I tried on at least 6 red blouses! :)











But then, we decided to check out China town!! It was soooooooo much fun to go there! We haven't been in ages, I almost forgot how wonderful it is there!! They have the most attractive trinkets and bright things for sale! Paper lanterns, lucky cats, paper dragons, china doll shoes! I can't wait to bring the girls back here! And I found a totally beautiful red Chinese blouse that I had to have for a very small price. I LOVE LA!!

We then went back to Olvera. I got the other red blouse I wanted-- had to give Mexico my support! :) We got some delicious unhealthy Mexican food-- (bad for the body, good for the soul!) We soaked in the ambience as much as we could before we ran off to see "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus." It was pretty good! Story was a little shaky, but the art direction and TOM WAITS made up for that. Not to mention Heath Ledger!

We had a fun 12th! Happy Anniversary to us! :)

Valentines Day and our 12th Anniversary!

Like I said before, we really like Valentine's Day around here! We started our day making Valentines for our friends at church. The girls helped cut them and stamped them. It was fun to hand them out to our friends!

After church we made lots of Valentines for each other. I love making Valentines!


Later, Grandpa gave a card and some $ to Olivia for her birthday. Then he gave the girls each a See's truffle heart and they gave him his Valentines. Then, Grandma gave Olivia her birthday gift-- fairy paper dolls! Then the girls and Grandma exchanged Valentines.

Then, I gave the girls their Valentines and they gave Craig and I our Valentines. Today is our 12th anniversary!! We are going to celebrate by taking a small break from three wild girls and spend the night at Grandma's house. We are going to watch my new BBC Emma DVD that my sister sent me! Craig has tomorrow off so we're going to celebrate some more!

This is the Valentine I made Craig. :)

More Birthday with Grandma and Grandpa

Today we celebrated Olivia's birthday more with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa took us to Twohey's for the best Sundaes you can get! We got to sing "Happy Birthday" to her again. Then Bella, Olivia and Grandma and I went to see "The Princess and the Frog" at the $2 Academy theater in Pasadena which I thought was really cute. We had a great time!

Olivia's 7th Birthday!!

Olivia had a great birthday! We started the day by letting her open the present that her cousins, Yazi, Ari and Harold sent her-- it was a "Chipettes" DVD! She LOVED it! She then opened a present from Daddy and I-- a t-shirt (second-hand, but brand-new looking!) that says "Birthday Girl." :)

We then got ourselves ready for a trip to the snow! We drove up to Mt. Baldy. It was a great time. Not without some difficulties, but overall, very nice. We sledded, made a snow-girl and Bella even dug a "polar bear hole."

We stayed for quite a while until the girls were worn out!

We then came home to some chicken soup! We also baked a yummy cake. We sang to Olivia and let her open her special present from Daddy and I. It is a fairy treasure box that she chose herself so she LOVES it!

Believe it or not, we also went to a wedding reception tonight for our friend Scott Elder. He and Craig went to school together and we are sooooooo happy for him! He found himself a gorgeous wife! The reception was REALLY fun because we got to see tons of our friends from BYU! It was especially cool to see our friends, Drew Champion, Ken and Anna Foutz, and Holly Chase!!

What a full day!