Chinese New Year - Year of the Ox

Well, it's been a mostly chilly Jan/Feb 09 in Atlanta, but that hasn't stopped Ella from enjoying her usual full compliment of activities, mostly centered around Chinese New Year where she enjoyed 2 celebrations - one the FCCA celebration where she is pictured with Mom enjoying the Lion Dance (well OK enjoying it may be a stretch!). Also, we made it to the Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown (Atlanta) the following weekend and met my friend Judy and her family. Other activities included seeing Miss Dawn (pictured with Mom) for her 40th birthday and taking in her first live sporting event - a thrilling UGA upset win over Florida, where Ella is pictured in the crowd with family. By the way, she behaved perfectly - enjoying the game and cheering along.

December in New York...

We closed out 2008 with our annual holiday trip to NY, which always includes a visit to Arthur and Millie's to celebrate Christmas (on Christmas Eve). Christmas day was spent opening presents and then at the movies (Ella sat that one out with her mom) and following another boys night out at the Islanders game, Ella visited Delaware to see her Nona and then New Jersey to see her cousins Briana and Elyse. We also lit Hanukkah candles with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle David and cousins Alex, Sydney and Ethan in a crammed fun filled week in NY (thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa!). To top off our December, we flew home on New Years Eve for a New Year's party at the Ritchie's where Ella stayed up to 1am.