Gong Xi Fa Cai! Year of the Rabbit

Our New Year celebrations started off this year with a gig in Nanaimo at a Chinese New Year /Robbie Burns Celebration.  Gong Haggis Fat Choy!  Harp and guitar.  Dawn-Marie even sang a song in Mandarin.  Rosa came up on stage and played the finger cymbals for that particular song.  Afterwards, we zoomed to Duncan to have dinner and enjoy festivities with our FCC gang.





That was a fun party!


 


Rosa playing finger cymbals on stage with us.





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Hong Bao, red envelopes of "lucky money" and treats are lots of fun! Rosa had 16 envelopes this year!  We sit together and enjoy the end of the evening's festivities as Rosa opens her envelopes.

Thursday, February 3rd was New Year's Eve.  Grandma Dolly came over and we all headed down to Ding Ho's in Chemainus for a special New Year's buffet.  Penny and the girls, Hannah and Hailey joined us.

Lion Dancers in Victoria February 7th.  We met friends for Dim Sum at one of our favourite Chinese restaurants in Victoria, Don Mees.  Afterwards, we enjoyed the dragon and lions dancing up and down the streets of Chinatown.  Every business hangs some lettuce and hong bao envelopes for the lions to dance and gather.  This will bring each business good luck for the coming year.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone!

 

We celebrated with a few friends, lots of music and good fun.  Rosa entertained us with a few numbers solo and duet with Mom.

 

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Some old videos of Rosa

Found videos of Rosa!  Thanks to Auntie Donna who had kept all the little videos we had sent in years past. Will post more in days to come.

Pictures of this Christmas

Yesterday afternoon, we went to Jia Nelson's first brithday!  She arrived home from China to her new family, the Nelson's in October, 2010.  What a sweetie.  Takes me back to those wonderful days.  Our little baby has grown up so fast!

Last night, we had a long overdue and wonderful visit with friends Ed and Gail Peekeekoot.  We enjoyed an evening of good conversation and good music!  If you listen carefully, you'll hear Dawn-Marie telling all about our cycle trip this past summer!  I didn't know Rosa was taking a video.  Too bad, the music is far better than my voice.

Rosa's favourite song from Ed's new Christmas CD.  A Prairie Christmas.

I thought I'd add more pictures of this Christmas - not in any particular order.

Just at the end of November, we made the big bedroom switch - changing rooms with Rosa.  She has the big room so now all her toys, table and dollhouse are out of the living room and into her bedroom.  She was excited about her new loft bed.

In early November, we had to put our dear old cat, Jasper, down.  Rosa found the body quite interesting; she watched with fascination as the fleas jumped off.  We buried him.  Rosa found a few, special prayers to read and put some flowers on his grave.  He was a good cat and lived a long and healthy life!


In early December, Rosa had her school Christmas concert.   Grandma came to watch and Santa came to visit at the end of the concert.

Our annual Gingerbread Man and Gingerbread House afternoon and evening.

We had a greening/decorating the church and potluck caroling party.

We had an early Christmas dinner with Grandma before we had to take her to the airport.  She spent Christmas with Jodi-Lynn, my sister and her family. That night before bed, Rosa said "Mom, I had two little tears in my eye.  I miss Grandma".

Christmas Day was quiet, relaxing and lazy!  Except for cooking the turkey.  But even that was slow and relaxed!  Rosa was up earlier this year - about 7:30.  She managed to get us out of bed by 8:00.  We made coffee, hot chocolate, a fire, opened a box of chocolates and proceeded to open stockings.  After breakfast and opening gifts, the rest of the day was spent playing, going for a walk and eating!  Each of us enjoyed new books.

This year, we had a mouse in the house.  Our Christmas mouse!

Visit With the other Eskelsons

We spent another delightful afternoon and evening with Dee, Izak, Cayden and Austin on Monday, December 27th. Austin amused us with his antics.  He loves to throw balls and is REALLY good at it.  At 18 months, his overhand pitch is long and accurate.

Rosa tells of our Christmas

I would like to tell you about my Christmas.

I had lots of fun putting up the tree while Grandma watched Greycup.  She was so interested in the game, she didn't even look at the camera.

We had a busy advent month.  We trimmed the tree and had a party at church.  At home we made a gingerbread house and gingerbread men.  We went to Winterharp concert with Grandma.  I had my school Christmas concert and our school choir sung at Ladysmith Festival of Choirs.  We went to the Nutcracker Ballet and to a party at Jennifer and Michael's house. We spent all day Wednesday with Izak.

Hi! guess what when I heard that we were going to go swiming with Izak and Dee, Cayden, and Austin, I was so excited! When we got there (not at first) but I did go down the waterslide 13 times!

On Christmas day I woke up so early that when I got up to go the bathroom, I took my little nightlight and bumped into my stocking because I forgot to turn my nightlight on.  I was so excited when many of my presents were homeade and mostly what I've been wanting.  Grandma made me a big photo album just like my Mom and Dad's wedding album.  I got of lots of candy too.  Grandma made me and Alexi, my Maplea doll, new housecoats that match.  I got five new books and an M and M gumball machine.  I also got a remote control puppy, a puzzle and some crafts.  Our family gift was a karaoke machine from Grandma Joyce.  I am having fun singing into the microphones.

On Christmas Eve, I lost my third tooth.  Now I sing, "all I want for Christmas is my three front teeth".  The tomten came to our house Christmas Eve.  I left out a bowl of rice porridge for him but he was still mischevious.  In the morning, I found he had messed up my advent calendar and knocked over my basket of Christmas books.  He also had been reading one.

December 24, 2010 Christmas Eve