December 28th: Music and Imagination

 

On December, 28th, we went to the Wellesley public library to attend the event "Music and Imagination".  Even though we were several minutes late for the event, our three kids managed to watch the blue fishes while the adults tried to figure out the event place.

Now we found the room. There was something going on there. 

"Five little monkeys sitting in a tree...". Tucker and Ella were totally absorbed into the story.

Elanie Kessler was the lady who dressed up like a snow queen and took us to an imaginary world. 

It was snowing!

 

Let's lay down and play snow angel on the snow.

Now, we can slide on the snow!

December 27th: PJ day

Mimi, Papa and Stephanie Gugu, David Shushu, Tucker and Ella Relle arrived at Boston in the afternoon on Dec, 26th. So the next day, Dec, 27th, became the Christmas day for our big family.

In the morning, we all dressed in PJs and tore the wraps off our presents. Mimi, Papa and Stephanie Gugu, David Shushu found a mandatory present that they have to go to town to watch "Nutcracker" in Boston Opera House. While they were enjoying watching the ballet, our kids were having fun at home in PJs.

Ella, you can have this little car. Just please do not touch my Fire Truck, OK?!

I am happy with these colorful fishes.

Tucker, I am waiting for my turn patiently with my teeth clenched.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

   

Christmas is coming, Christmas is coming! It is my third Christmas, however, it is the first time that I am able to say "Merry Christmas!".

On Christmas Eve, I received a special gift from Baba, a rocket ship, made out cardboard box. When I open the door to get in, I can sit on a wood stool and operate the rocket ship. It has a steering wheel inside which you can pull out all the way. It also has a fuse attached to the back of the ship to boost it. Baba is so clever!

 

 

Baba and Mama also added some Christmas decoration, Christmas tree and stockings,  to the house. It was a necessary preparation to welcome Mimi, Papa and Stephanie Gugu, David Shushu, Tucker and Ella Relle to our house for the joys of winter holiday. They will arrive the day after Christmas.

In the evening, we went to our neighbor's house, Eric, Jen & Brycen, for a Christmas Eve party. Baba and Mama wrapped my favorite Thomas train table that I did not get chance to play for Bycen as a Christmas gift. I cried for it for a little. Then, I submerged myself to Brycen's toys to relief the pain.

Oh, I almost forget to mention the cookies Baba made for the Chritsmas eve party.  Don't they look cute?

The cutest one was the batch that Baba made specially for me. 

It was full of my favorite characters: car, bicycle, rocket, train and ship.

After being baked, Mama asked why there was a strawberry in it.

On Christmas day, my old friend, Shichu, came to our house to celebrate it with us. Mama made two kinds of Dumplings, Chive and Chinese Celery. However, she skipped the step of making dumpling skin and used already made dumpling skin from the store. The dumplings still tasted good though. I proved it!

After being filled with dumplings, the entertainment started. The first program was Baba showing off his ukulele skills. 

The second program was I showing off my tea skills.
Adding tea to the tea-maker is the first step.

After Papa helped me add the boiled water, I watched the tea raise and drop in a proper way.

"Here is all yours", I said to her.

The last program was the ever-lasting board game playing. Those adults played straight seven hours to finish the Havre game. As an observer, I was even exhausted with a two hours napping in between. Shichu was the winner in the end!

Thanksgiving (II): All About Food

Thanksgiving is special and we got to eat all kinds of delicious food. Mama made traditional Chinese food, baked ribs, eggplant fish, celery shrimp, green vegetables. Liwei added her special stir fried hot and sour potato threads, especially DRY. 

When Mama accompanied Liwei for a special trip, bride dress shopping on the second day after Thanksgiving, Xijie made his special beef stew noodles. It was the best noodle in the world. He made it!

On Sunday, Liwei showed off her second specialty, making Tianjin dumplings. She was in charge of the main parts, making the fillings and the dumpling skin. Rijad was in charge of dumpling dough. Li Cao and Xijie was in charge of wrapping the fillings inside the dumpling skin. Mama was in charge of boiling the dumplings. I was in charge of tasting the dumpling and make sure every single one taste good. Ok, maybe not every single one.

This was the most complicated fillings I have ever seen. Let's check the ingredients, ground pork, raw egg, wood ear, napa, chive, shrimp, stir fried egg, ginger, sesame oil, salt, cooking wine, etc. They are all essential to make the most delicious dumplings in the world. 

You might wonder why there was no dumplings in the pictures. Care for a guess?
Yes, they were in our stomach once they came out of the pot!

Thanksgiving (I): Dinner & Boston

Thanksgiving must be a special day. Mama and Baba had so many friends come to visit us, Liwei and Rijad took a flight from Arizona, Li Cao and Xijie took a bus from New York. Baba made traditional Thanksgiving dinner for them, 16 lb Turkey,  pecan pie,  Chili soup, Angel food cake (maybe the last two items are not traditional).

After dinner, they played horse racing game. Li Cao was the winner. Look, how concentrated she was during the game.

The day after Thanksgiving, we took a train to Boston. They were going to take a Duck Tour to explore (for Rijad) or further explore Boston (for Liwei, Li Cao and Xijie).

We arrived in Boston early so it was a perfect time to take pictures near the Trinity Church area.

Lex, come over here.

No, no more pictures for me.

Four gangsters were hanging out in Boston.