Yes, even though we were still in boxes, I decided (I take full responsibility, the Sasquatch agreed under protest) that we should have a party to celebrate Rain Dragon's first birthday! Even though it was a belated birthday party, I was afraid if I waited until we were "ready" she'd be a teenager.
So we had Rain Dragon's Lucky Destiny Birthday Party! It was themed in red, for luck:
As well as dragons:
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| first time I baked in the new house! |
It was a mad scramble getting the house in order. The Sasquatch's mom very kindly sewed the curtains and pillows for the living room:
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| it's still a work in progress |
But what got the most comments was how I color-coordinated the books on the shelves!
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| I did this for effect, but it's actually a really great organizing system. Easier to reshelve than the alphabet and I always remember cover colors! |
And old friends and neighbors-no-longer traveled the distance:
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| with new baby! |
and needed immediate nourishment:
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The swingset was a big hit:
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| it came with the house and distracted from our rather sad landscaping! |
And Cousin Lily played "Happy Birthday" on her flute:
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| I feel like it was just yesterday when we were celebrating her birthday! |
But the big event was when it was time for Rain Dragon to choose her destiny!
If you've read my book Year of the Rat , you'll remember how one-year old Max chooses his destiny at his birthday party. That is a real Chinese custom! A one year old is presented with a variety of objects, each one symbolizing his/her future vocation.
We had Rain Dragon choose from money (finance manager), wrench (contractor), computer mouse (computer programmer), book (author/librarian), thermometer (doctor), paintbrush (artist), ball (athlete), spoon (chef/baker), solar lamp (new energy engineer!).
After much hesitation, she chose....
The spoon!
Yay! Rain Dragon is going to be a chef!
Well, even if her lucky destiny isn't quite accurate, at least we know she had a very lucky birthday party!
If you've read my book Year of the Rat , you'll remember how one-year old Max chooses his destiny at his birthday party. That is a real Chinese custom! A one year old is presented with a variety of objects, each one symbolizing his/her future vocation.
We had Rain Dragon choose from money (finance manager), wrench (contractor), computer mouse (computer programmer), book (author/librarian), thermometer (doctor), paintbrush (artist), ball (athlete), spoon (chef/baker), solar lamp (new energy engineer!).
After much hesitation, she chose....
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| she was a little overwhelmed by all the attention |
The spoon!
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| maybe she will fulfill my cupcake dreams! |
Yay! Rain Dragon is going to be a chef!
Well, even if her lucky destiny isn't quite accurate, at least we know she had a very lucky birthday party!
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| everyone clapped, so she clapped too! |
Thanks for coming! Happy Birthday, Rain Dragon!