This year's Chinese New Year is like any other, with the exception to having one more in the family! :D
Let's start with reunion dinner on 9 February.
Before leaving home, we got the children to dress in traditional-looking clothes. Blake wore the same outfit as the one he wore to school on Racial Harmony Day, while Nakayla wore a one-piece romper my mom had bought specially for her.
We then headed over to my in-laws place for our annual reunion dinner first. It's getting tougher and tougher to sit down and eat as a family. Blake kept wanting to get up and play with whatever he could find in the house. He seems more excited about the place than eating. And next year, Nakayla will be most likely join in too. Haha. Just as well, we would need that workout with all the feasting we were having!
Family photo from reunion dinner
After dinner at my in-laws, we headed over to my mom's place. Sean, Blake and Nakayla all fell asleep upon reaching, while I helped around the house, to get the place ready for the next few days of celebration. After Nakayla woke up for milk, we went home.
Day 1, 10 February: Woke up and immediately started buzzing around the house getting ready. I remember it was raining that morning, and I was wondering if we should only head out after the rain stop, but it stopped before we were even close to making it to the door. Haha.
First of the two stops that day was my mom's place. We would usually take family photos, and a big one with all in, but with one after another going overseas for work or study, it was getting difficult. So this year, the family photo-taking session took a backseat. I couldn't help but think back to Nakayla's full month. Everyone was present! Everyone came back to see her! We should've taken family photos then! Oh well, that time is over. I'm still very touched that everyone made time in their schedule to celebrate Nakayla's first month :) I'm pretty sure there will be plenty of photo-ops to come!
Here are some photos from the first day:
Don't need to guess who was the star of the day! Hehe.
Steamboat, an integral part of Chinese New Year. The pot just keeps cooking. Haha.
And those who weren't eating at the table with the steamboat, were feasting on Chinese New Year goodies, all packed in transparent and red containers.
My boys tucked themselves away in my mom's room to play games
Nakayla was drinking her milk when I thought, "great for a family photo here!"
Didn't turn out to be that ideal. Haha.
Gave up trying to capture all four of us on my own
Decided to get my cousin to help with the photo-taking. Haha!
Have absolutely no idea how to get Blake to look into the camera...
About an hour or so later, some of them left for more visiting. Those who stayed behind either went to take a nap, or played mahjong. I played with my two cousins and aunt. We don't play with money, it was really more of having fun and passing time. And yes, we're not very good players too. Haha. It was pretty hilarious. I remember my younger cousin winning most of the time, and I commented that it was because she was sitting in front of the window, and it was raining outside. Some people believe that water means fortune. And when the rain stopped, she stopped winning. My aunt, when she has yet to win a single game, said that she will go to the toilet to change her luck, also a thing that some believe will aid in a change of luck. She returned and won. Coincidences for both cases, I guess. Haha.
When dinner time came, we made our way to my grandma's place. It was raining again, so we drove my dad's car over. Everyone else had walked over, and my dad told us to take the car with the two children. So sweet :)
Only one photo was taken that evening, cos we were all busy eating and chit-chatting. Haha!
Days two and three were spent at home, playing with the children. It was a good time to catch up on every hour of lost sleep. Haha.
On the 7th day of Chinese New Year, my mom held another reunion dinner with my dad's side of the family. My sister had invited some of the ASEAN scholars in her class to join us. We usually have Yu Sheng, which my dad calls 'Chinese Salad', on the following weekend of Day 1. Haha. We arrived pretty late that day cos I was busy preparing things for the next day. We were going to celebrate my grandma's birthday! Hardly took any photos that night cos the place was packed.
8th day of Chinese New Year was also probably the last day of celebrations for us. We gathered at my grandma's place for lunch/tea.
Baked a cake for my grandma's birthday
And another for my aunt, who's birthday was a few days before
The feast we had
That is just about all the things we did, during the past week of Chinese New Year. Haha. Happy Year of Water Snake, everyone! :)
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