Chinese New Year, Superbowl, Groundhog Day, Setsubun party

 We started at 4 PM, and had a surprisingly good turn-out of neighbors and friends.

 Of course, I didn't have time for pictures.  I forgot to photograph the "Sweet Vermouth Station."  If you haven't seen the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell, well, it is a wintertime classic comedy!  Sweet Vermouth is Rita's favorite drink, and she likes to toast to world peace.

 The red envelopes are Hong Bao (lucky new year money) that we've collected from Mr. Lee since Ariel joined the family.  Xie Xie, Mr. Lee.

 Grace Lin is a favorite author and illustrator.

Desserts went on top of the piano to control little-hand-grabbing.  We had vegan chili and cornbread, and a plethora of chips, dip, and drinks.  Of course, no party is complete without Jehangir and his friends and relatives.  New little boys down the street enjoyed downstairs playland, so we hope to be playing with them more often.

Groundhog Day

 Groundhog Day was fairly warm.  Jeff took Ariel to Mount Vernon while I prepared for our party.

Jeff said they walked all over the grounds, met animal friends, watched a film in the museum, and had lunch.

Chinese New Year dinner

 coloring for the new year (the little girl I colored as our little friend Mae)

 We went to a Chinese New Year dinner in southern Maryland for other America World families.  This little girl's mom pointed out how much our girls look alike.  We had a blast bouncing around the room and meeting new friends.  It was at a large buffet restaurant.

Group photo (Ariel is on top.)  This photo doesn't do justice to this good-looking group!  Toni is the lady on the right, and she hosted the dinner.  She and her husband have seven children from China.

an update to Ralph's vegan kitchen

I don't find much time lately to cook from recipes, much less update the blog, but I had some quiet time to try these delicious cookies (inspired by the creator's short and funny You Tube video demonstrating how easy it is, hence her new cookbook Isa Does It - play on words "easy does it.")

Rosemary Chocolate Chip Cookies

a day at the National Mall

 Jeff took care of Ariel one Sunday so I could have a quiet day downtown.  This atrium is in the National Art Gallery, one of my favorite places in DC.

 It was a very cold day!  

 There was a big group of Chinese (or Taiwanese?) tourists.  I enjoyed hearing them speak Mandarin.

 This is the Smithsonian Native American Museum.  It covers natives to all the Americas: North, Central, and South.  My favorite part is the top floor called "Our Universes" with stars in the ceiling.

 But they have a confusing message about buffalo.

The Sackler Gallery had a special exhibit on the origins of yoga.  The Sackler is one of the subterranean art galleries behind the Smithsonian Castle.  It's usually very quiet, but was full of people learning about yoga that day.

Year of the Horse

 Welcoming Year of the Horse, and getting ready for our party.

 Getting ready for Setsubun (Feb 2) when you throw soybeans to chase away devils (bad luck) and bring in happiness and good luck.

 Reading a new favorite book, Cat on the Mat, about Cat and her friend Rat who take gymnastics.  We've decorated the pictures with glitter and stickers.

 We think we have a mouse!  I don't blame them coming in during the very cold weather.  I hope the mouse survived.  Ralph & Nene were vigilant.  The white thing is a piece of paper towel and cat fur they pulled out from under the fridge.

Ralph had a dental cleaning.  Nene comforts him during his recovery.

snowy days

 Ralph likes the Klip Klop Stable (made better with Anpanman characters.)

 Watching critters

 Last week we got a fairly big snow.  We saw our neighbors Marie and Charlie out tobogganing, so we joined them and another little one, Max, for some snow fun.  Most everything shuts down here for a few inches of snow.

Ariel & I hit the thrift store that morning before the snow started to find snowpants!