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January 30, 2014

Getting ready to celebrate Year of the Horse!

I have to thank my blogging friend Kareena from "Let's go Fly a Kite".  She sent us a Chinese New Year package filled with red envelopes, as well as festive "Year of the Horse" decorations.   
While we were home from school earlier this week, we assembled the red envelopes and chocolate gold coins that Josie will give to each of her classmates.
You can find more information on the red envelope tradition at this link.
 Josie's classmates will also be decorating red lanterns for a mini lantern festival.   In case you're wondering, red is a key color for New Year's celebrations.  It symbolizes a bright and happy future.
Josie and I pre-assembled the construction paper lanterns so that her classmates can spend their time decorating horses.
We made a few extra lanterns to keep at home.
If we were in China, we would also hear lots of firecrackers being set off to send out the old year and welcome in the new year.
We made our own firecrackers using a cardboard tube from a roll of wrapping paper.
The tubes were cut into sections and painted red.  Even big sister got in on the crafting fun.
Lines of glue and glitter was generously sprinkled to decorate our firecrackers.
Red string was taped on the inside and they are now hanging in our sunroom window.
Chinese New Year lasts for several days, so we'll be sharing a few more pictures.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
.

32 comments:

NanaDiana said...

I LOVE this post,Kim. What a fun thing for Josie to celebrate. I love all your decorations and how fun for the school kids to share in it, too. xo Diana

Tammy's in Love said...

Blessings on you and yours! We have our Korean version of Chinese NY vignette out and will have Bulgogi, rice and fresh strawberries for dessert (very little 'dessert' in Seoul)!

Margaret said...

I love this post too! I love Josie's smile :) the color red is so festive. The Chinese New Year posts are so much fun!Josie's friends will have ball decorating those lanterns and horses while learning at the same time. It's crafts like those that make China a not so far away place after all! Hugs, Maggie

Lee said...

You have such a talent to making everything such fun! Your family is so lucky. Enjoy!

~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

How very fun! Such sweet decorations!! Love all your decorations for this special event!! :) :) xo Holly

Lutka And Co. said...

How wonderful to be celebrating two New Years! Happy Chinese New Year to you and your family!

Debby said...

So much cuteness in this post. Love the red envelopes and the horses and firecrackers. What a treat for her class to learn more about China.
I love Josie's up do. Her pink outfit is adorable.

Pam Kessler said...

The last photo of Josie, the horse by the tree and the cat by the tree is adorable. I bet the kids at school get a kick out of celebrating the New Year!

Nellie said...

How beautiful! Such fun for everyone! xo Nellie

Lil Raggedy Angie said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR ...And what fun the kids will have at school...enjoy the fun hugs lil raggedy Angie

vivian said...

why did I think the chinese new year had come and gone already? I LOVE Josie's shirt! I would wear that. so cute!
have fun celebrating!
xoxo
vivian

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a wonderful gift and how I love seeing both girls crafting. They love it, too and it will mean so much to them in years to come! Stay warm during this terrible weather! Sweet hugs!

Lynne said...

Happy Chinese New Year.
Enjoy your friends Josie and have a fun day! I like all the things you and your family have been crafting. The firecrackers look almost real!

laurie -magpie ethel said...

A great tradition for Josie to grow up with! Enjoy the festivities! (do any involve snow?)

Jodee said...

You gals rock! That looks like so much fun! Happy CNY to your sweet family!

Pam~ Virginia Retro said...

Just love this post! Enjoy your festive celebration. Looks like her classmates will really enjoy it also.

Love the last photo of Josie, looks like the year of the cat is trying to horn in on the year of the horse! Cute! :)

Lynn said...

Happy Chinese New Year! Looks like everyone is having a great time:@)

LBP said...

Happy Chinese New Year. What great decorations! I love that your girls craft with you. That will be cherished memories for them!

Blessings

Linda

Lynn said...

Kim,
I so admire all the time you spend with your girls. Especially during this age of when so many let TV, Video games, I-phone,I-pads, and internet entertain their children. I always tried to keep my kids busy doing projects with them and letting them use their imaginations. I can remember even after Dana outgrew her Barbie car, Eric and her would play like the were Nascar racing with it. Eric made numbers out of construction paper and put on each side of the car, he would push her around the yard and hold a sign up for her to come to the pits then he would pretend to change tires, put in more fuel, and then send her out. They would also pretend to have a computer by making one on a piece of paper with the keyboard and everything! I loved those times! Hard to believe that they will be 31 and 27 this year! Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Lynn

GardenOfDaisies said...

I love your glittered-up-chinese-horsey-lanterns! And the smile on Josie's face is just precious!

Perfectly Printed said...

I'm sure Josie's classmates love celebrating Chinese New Year with her! What a wonderful tradition to craft with your girls for the holiday! Love this!!

PixieVintage said...

Josie is absolutely adorable, and the tree you decorated is incredible!

KJ@letsgoflyakite said...

So many beautiful photos in this post!! I love all the preparations, I hope that everything went well at Josie's school. The glitter horses are fabulous. My daughters had an amazing and very full celebration yesterday . It is a very special day at their school. Happy New Year to all of you!

Courtney said...

Lots of fun crafts! Hopefully you guys are warming up a little. We were up to 50 today but more snow is expected tomorrow and into next week.

A Little Creation said...

Kim,
I just found this site with a DIY Year of the Horse paper toy. I thought Josie might like it.
Chris =]

http://faltmanufaktur.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/2014-year-of-the-horse-papertoy-freebie/

ImagiMeri said...

I saw a really cute idea in a shop recently. Someone cut red and white striped straws into short lengths (about 2" long) and then strung them on lengths of twine......they looked just like strings of firecrackers. Maybe this is something you can try.

Hugs,
Meri

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