Sunday Snapshot {mid-autumn moon festival}

To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival this year, we headed to NYC with some friends to check out some of the festivities in Chinatown.  We are so glad we went.  The weather was beautiful and there was A LOT going on in the city!

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Our first stop was the Museum of Chinese in America (or MOCA), which had several activities for young kids, including lantern making, slide puppet making, and play-dough moon cake making!  All of which Cadie thoroughly enjoyed.  We attempted to watch the traditional puppet show twice, but she said it was "too loud and 'cary!" The wall Cadie and Christopher are standing in front of have the names of donors to the museum.  The engravings are of their Chinese name, english name, and where in China they are from and where they currently live.

Cadie and Daddy reading her new book "My Chinatown" by Kam Mack

Cadie showing Daddy the beautiful lantern she made.

A very old Lion Dancers costume (MOCA).

Some old movie posters featuring Chinese-American actors and directors (MOCA).

Cadie waiting patiently for the Lion Dancers to start at Sara Roosevelt Park in Chinatown, but the previous program was running long...we never did get to see them. We had to get back to the museum to "meet the author!"

Cadie had her new book, "My Chinatown" signed by the author Kam Mack.  Kam was born in Hong Kong and raised in Chinatown, NYC.  His book is a collection of poems and pictures depicting his life as a child growing up in Chinatown.  Kam also designs the Lunar New Year stamps for the U.S. Postal Service and takes great pride in sharing his Chinese heritage with other.  Thank you Mr. Mack for taking the time to share your book with all the kiddos!

My little Monkey King!  I should have bought this mask, she looks so darn cute in it!  And, she was jumping around like a little monkey saying, "I'm the Monkey King, I'm the Monkey King!"  Would have made a great Halloween costume. Hmmm....

Our friend, the Snyders, being interviewed by a local TV station for a piece they are doing on Chinatown.  This totally took the Snyder clan by surprise!  Christopher and I just kept shaking our heads, saying "only the Snyders!"  How exciting for their kids (3 adopted from China and 1 homegrown)!  After their interview, I got to talking to the reporter and he told me that he lived in China for 1 year and worked as a volunteer in an orphanage that only housed special needs children.  He said it was a life-changing experience.  I told him we felt the same way about our adoption experience.  We are truly changed!

Enjoying a delicious meal at Amazing 66 on Mott Ave. in Chinatown.  I read about this place on line and we decided to give it a try.  Clean and quiet, large tables, good food, excellent tea, and great prices.  This was a much appreciated respite from the hustle bustle of Chinatown.

Ethan and Emily...I promised them I would post this on the blog!

This little boy, just 4 years old, was singing karaoke in front of a bakery.  He was so adorable. Cadie was so ecstatic that she knew this popular Chinese children's song...she started clapping and singing along.  (Wish I knew the name of it, but the CD is all written in Chinese)! The red tins contain yummy moon cakes (4 for $15)...so, we bought some!

Cadie and daddy walking the streets of Chinatown, checking out the markets and food stands.

Locals congregate at Columbus Park to play games, socialize, play music, and exercise.  It is quite a busy place!

Walking through Columbus Park, heading back to the car.  A young lady was singing in the park, and this made CadieXin want to stop and dance!  Goodbye Chinatown, see you soon!

Sunday Snapshot {walking}

Anyone who knows us, knows we've got a pretty high energy girl on our hands!

So, we do A LOT of walking!

Mostly to the playgrounds nearby...

But sometimes, just through the neighborhood.

Cadie has become such a "sophisticated" walker, that she waves and say "thank you" when motorists let us cross the street...

And says "Hi" to any and all neighbors that may happen to be in shouting distance!

We know just about every dog in the neighborhood, and they know us!

We have found some treasures on these walks...

acorns, leaves, twigs...

but mostly smiles and memories.

These walks were a big part of my girls 3 year old summer,

and I hope walking is something we will always share, no matter how old this mama gets!

 

{survivor}

While I’ve always preferred to keep our blog very light and much more like a memory book, sometimes the transition’s in this little person’s life are just too much to handle for her and she goes into survival mode.  So I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share our girl’s most recent challenge.  You see, today was Acadia’s first day of preschool. And while we have been really “talking it up,” she was having none of it.  This girl was really digging her heels in. She did not want to go to “pee-school!”  So after getting her dressed this morning and really cheering on her first day of pre-school, this is what I was up against…

 

How sad is that?  Can you see where I am going with this?  Right!  So, one hour of holding, several hugs, a hundred kisses, and a thousand tears later, we parted at the pre-school door.  I stopped by the office for a tissue and some encouragement from the staff, and made it safely to work where I counted down the hours and minutes until I could pick her up.  And when I arrived back at 3pm, she was so happy to see me that she ran and literally jumped into my arms!  Day 1…done, over, checked off the list, completed, and mission accomplished.  So, we came home and promptly posed for this picture…

 

While I realize this isn’t the most optimistic, positive viewpoint for most parents, for some kiddo’s this is just how it is.  Survival.  Not joy, not excitement, not fun.  Just surviving, minute by minute, fearful of the next big change or unknown.  But hopefully, this will be the last transition for her for quite a while.  And hopefully, she will continue to thrive as she has been and maybe someday, she will be excited to be part of something new and different.