Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Brooke gets dunked and joins tribe
Brooke was converted today at the American Jewish University. The official ceremony takes place in a Mikvah, a ritual bath, and witnessed by 3 rabbis (like a mini Jewish Supreme Court). Mom and dad (yes we wore bathing suits) got in the Mikvah with Brooke and 3 quick prayers were recited and before each Brooke was fully immersed (for like a second). She clearly did not like the water in her eyes but other than that she was a trooper and laughing and smiling with the good natured elderly rabbis who wished her Mazel Tov and to us a lifetime of Nachas. It was a wonderful day and a lovely experience for us.
In the future she will only be allowed to date American Jewish Chinese boys. She will probably need to hire a matchmaker!
In the future she will only be allowed to date American Jewish Chinese boys. She will probably need to hire a matchmaker!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Dragon Wagon
Last weekend we braved the 85 degree weather to march in the Chinese New Year parade "The Golden Dragon parade" through Chinatown. We walked with FCC as guests of the Chinese Historical Society and we were the 2nd entry to the parade. The formation was a killer in the heat with the two girls but we found a shady place to hang out. We took all our Chinese New Year decorations and decorated the wagon...Then we hung Sienna's dragon puppet over the umbrella and christened the wagon-THE DRAGON WAGON. It was a fun day but not one that I think we need to repeat in the near future. Sienna loved marching and Brooke enjoyed waving and clapping with the crowd. She looked so cute with her velcro sunglasses and hat!
We are so excited because our Cousins Joe and Tammy are in Hefei right now picking up their 2nd chinese daughter. We heard from them while they were touring Beijing and it sounds like they had a great time there. We can't wait to see their new addition, Jadelyn. Gotcha day is the 18th!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Chaya Leah, Dim Sum and the Lotus Candle
Saturday was the big day!
First we set off to TRZ for Brooke's Baby Naming with about 50 of our closet friends and relatives. Aunt Laura came out from Michigan for the event (where it was 17 degrees-not a hard sell!). We arrived at temple at 10:00am just as they were getting ready to read the weekly portion. I made Aliyah for the first time ever and read the Hebrew prayers. I did get nervous and choke on a section but I think it was unnoticeable. It was a day of honors as Brooke is named after John's late mother Betty and her Hebrew name is after Karen's maternal grandmother Clara. I think John's sister was a little choked up and so was my mom when they heard all the wonderful things that were said about their mothers. It was the perfect choices of names for Brooke. Uncle Herbie was there standing in for Karen's father and I think the event brought back a lot of emotion for both of us. There is a big missing without my father there. It was amazing looking out to the congregation and watching our loved ones as they wished us well.
After the ceremony we went to A&W for a Dim Sum Lunch that was just fantastic. This was an incredible way to celebrate both Brooke's one year birthday and Chinese New Year. Sienna was the belle of the kids table and was so excited to see her friends all gathered together for her sister's birthday. There was some pandamonium until the food was served. The food was in one word YUMMY. We had congee, egg rolls, fried rice, long life noodles with seafood, shrimp dumplings, chicken shui mei, Shrimp and scallop dumplings and mixed vegetables. There was way too much food and everyone got to take home care packages for the Chinese New Year. The theme of the party was Kai-Lin from the new highly anticipated Nick Jr. show Ni-Hao Kai Lin which ran for the first time on the Lunar New Year. We had puppet centerpieces along with dragon puppets and beautiful chinese music playing in the background. We were able to show the video of the trip on our lap top and dvd player. The lunch ended with a huge cake from the chinese bakery complete with a lotus flower candle that opened with many little candles on each petal after it was lit. As the guests left each child received a red envelope.
Brooke was a trooper for the event although she didn't receive well the folks that she didn't know who tried to pick her up. She loved the food, especially the congee. For her actual birthday we had a chocolate cake that she wanted to eat all by herself. We cut her a piece but she insisted that we give her a spoon and she proceeded to feed herself from the spoon for the first time.
Yesterday was also her 1 yr. check up and in one month she gained almost 2 lbs and weighs a whopping 22 lbs. She also grew one inch. Dr. B reported that she is in perfect condition and right on target in everyway.
We are so blessed.
First we set off to TRZ for Brooke's Baby Naming with about 50 of our closet friends and relatives. Aunt Laura came out from Michigan for the event (where it was 17 degrees-not a hard sell!). We arrived at temple at 10:00am just as they were getting ready to read the weekly portion. I made Aliyah for the first time ever and read the Hebrew prayers. I did get nervous and choke on a section but I think it was unnoticeable. It was a day of honors as Brooke is named after John's late mother Betty and her Hebrew name is after Karen's maternal grandmother Clara. I think John's sister was a little choked up and so was my mom when they heard all the wonderful things that were said about their mothers. It was the perfect choices of names for Brooke. Uncle Herbie was there standing in for Karen's father and I think the event brought back a lot of emotion for both of us. There is a big missing without my father there. It was amazing looking out to the congregation and watching our loved ones as they wished us well.
After the ceremony we went to A&W for a Dim Sum Lunch that was just fantastic. This was an incredible way to celebrate both Brooke's one year birthday and Chinese New Year. Sienna was the belle of the kids table and was so excited to see her friends all gathered together for her sister's birthday. There was some pandamonium until the food was served. The food was in one word YUMMY. We had congee, egg rolls, fried rice, long life noodles with seafood, shrimp dumplings, chicken shui mei, Shrimp and scallop dumplings and mixed vegetables. There was way too much food and everyone got to take home care packages for the Chinese New Year. The theme of the party was Kai-Lin from the new highly anticipated Nick Jr. show Ni-Hao Kai Lin which ran for the first time on the Lunar New Year. We had puppet centerpieces along with dragon puppets and beautiful chinese music playing in the background. We were able to show the video of the trip on our lap top and dvd player. The lunch ended with a huge cake from the chinese bakery complete with a lotus flower candle that opened with many little candles on each petal after it was lit. As the guests left each child received a red envelope.
Brooke was a trooper for the event although she didn't receive well the folks that she didn't know who tried to pick her up. She loved the food, especially the congee. For her actual birthday we had a chocolate cake that she wanted to eat all by herself. We cut her a piece but she insisted that we give her a spoon and she proceeded to feed herself from the spoon for the first time.
Yesterday was also her 1 yr. check up and in one month she gained almost 2 lbs and weighs a whopping 22 lbs. She also grew one inch. Dr. B reported that she is in perfect condition and right on target in everyway.
We are so blessed.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The new Los Angeles Chinese Consul General Zhang Yun CNY's Celebration
Today we attended what proved to be a wonderful event.
We were invited to this celebration by our Families with Children from China Chapter and it was incredible.
I would say about 20 families attended at the Consul General's home. Also in attendance were the employees of the Consul General's Office and their families, the P.R. China Press and Local LA Chinese newspapers. After a short reception we were treated to a wonderful presentation by the very gracious Zhang Yun which included an introduction to the Beijing Olympics (they had all 5 mascots there), a skit on the Chinese horoscope animals, and a musical performance on an ancient Chinese instrument. Then we had a very nice buffet lunch and the children played on the backyard lawn. Each family was presented with a bag of goodies when we left which included, Olympic pins, an Olympic stuffed doll, a book on the year of the rat, a DVD on China and a Chinese lantern. What a treat!
Brooke is the latest and youngest member to arrive from China. Both she and Sienna garnered a lot of attention. I do have to say that they each looked adorable in their traditional outfits. Sienna was even interviewed by the press separately. LA China Times is doing an article on our family and a newspaper reporter from Shanghai said he would be calling as he would like to do a story too.
Later in the afternoon we got the best surprise of all, Brooke's US Citizenship Certificate arrived in the mail along with a letter on White House stationary from George W. That was the best part of the day!
We were invited to this celebration by our Families with Children from China Chapter and it was incredible.
I would say about 20 families attended at the Consul General's home. Also in attendance were the employees of the Consul General's Office and their families, the P.R. China Press and Local LA Chinese newspapers. After a short reception we were treated to a wonderful presentation by the very gracious Zhang Yun which included an introduction to the Beijing Olympics (they had all 5 mascots there), a skit on the Chinese horoscope animals, and a musical performance on an ancient Chinese instrument. Then we had a very nice buffet lunch and the children played on the backyard lawn. Each family was presented with a bag of goodies when we left which included, Olympic pins, an Olympic stuffed doll, a book on the year of the rat, a DVD on China and a Chinese lantern. What a treat!
Brooke is the latest and youngest member to arrive from China. Both she and Sienna garnered a lot of attention. I do have to say that they each looked adorable in their traditional outfits. Sienna was even interviewed by the press separately. LA China Times is doing an article on our family and a newspaper reporter from Shanghai said he would be calling as he would like to do a story too.
Later in the afternoon we got the best surprise of all, Brooke's US Citizenship Certificate arrived in the mail along with a letter on White House stationary from George W. That was the best part of the day!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Look out she's crawling!!!
Happy New Year!
This month has rolled by in a flash. We had so many to do lists...and finally we are making some headway.
We had a mellow New Years with the neighbor and her children over for pizza, movies and cookie making. The adults had fun watching one of the DVDs purchased in China. But it was an early night and a mellow and quiet New Years day.
Since then we have had Brooke's pediatrican's appt, her first birthday pictures done, and planned her baby naming/birthday party.
On Jan. 8th we visited Dr. B. and his chin nearly hit the floor when he saw how bright, alert and healthy Brooke is. She weighed in at the 50% tile on the american charts and was also 50% for height. She recieved some immunizations and then we went to the lab for blood work. This poor kid was strapped down like she was getting a labotomy in One Flew Over the Cookoos Nest. The they proceeded to find a vein which didn't work and she had to get stuck again in the other arm. 8 viles and a bottle later we were on the way home feeling like heels.
Sienna is adjusting well now that she has been moved up to the pre-k room. she is enjoying the challenge and doing book reports and learning letters. she is turning into an athlete and I have been told she is the resident tomboy (who knew). They suggested getting her involved in athletics as soon as possible because she loves...get this...tag football. She even fakes out the boys! Based on this we bought a play yard from ebay. Getting it in the yard and up from Orange county took an act of god, similar to that of parting the red sea. John just finished it yesterday and it looks great. they kids should enjoy it for years to come.
We have also taken a few field trips to the zoo and the acquarium which both Sienna and Brooke loved. Brooke pointed to all the fish swimming by and said "that, that". Sienna keeps asking if we can go back!
Brooke is advancing daily. She is starting to crawl, can sit up from a prone position, pulls to standing in the crib, has great fine motor skills and knows how to get what she wants. She has picked up a few english words, in fact her first words seem to be "all done" with a wave of hands. she learned this immediately when I started teaching her baby sign language. Now we are learning milk and more. We are looking forward to her learning this rather than banging the table with her hands and crying for food.
The good news is that all her test results were perfect! She is healthier than all of us!
I am planning to update one more time after her first Birthday and then I am going to stop updating this site in order to protect their privacy.
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