Landy's blog at the kwang's family

Year 2003 2004 2006

2/1/2006

Wednesday

Chinese New Year is the most important holiday of the year for the Chinese. The Chinese will settle all the debts they can, buy oranges for good luck and kumquat trees to decorate their homes, and clean the house. There will be a family feast, and the older people will give little red packets of luck money (ang paus) to the youngsters. Usually there is a parade, including lion and dragon dances, stilt walkers, floats and acrobats. And there is noise: fireworks at midnight, gongs, drums and cymbals at the parade.

Doorways get a fresh coat of paint and the windows get decorated with paper cut outs. Happiness, wealth, and long life are the primary themes. Many families will play cards and board games on the evening of the February 1st while they wait for midnight. Every light in the house is traditionally left on. Early the next morning, the red money packets are given out. Then people go door to door to wish their neighbors and relatives a prosperous new year.

Fifteen days later the lantern festival marks the end of the month-long new year season. The Chinese are not the only people who celebrate the holiday. The Koreas, Tibetans, and many other Asians keep the holiday. In Vietnam the holiday is called Tet. So, cheers! Happy Chinese New Year!

10/20/2006

Friday

Here's a dramatic story happened to my home! Yesterday evening when I came home my house was flooded. The pipe to the tank in the toilet was broken! That was inside my master bed room. All the water came out ruined my master room, walk-in closet, Andrew's room, the hall way and most of the down stair area except the family room and the living room. That was a nightmare to my family. We were moved to hotel last night. According to the head of the worker, that we may have one month to live in hotel. Anyway, this going to be a different life to my family. The good part is the hotel just right across from my office. Is that cool? Anyway, life is full of changes. Besides, Charles is ready to see the Orthodontist in Nov. 2nd. He is going to put the new braces to his teeth. He just done his 10 years old birthday celebration last weekend.

12/15/2006

Friday

Year 2006 is almost towards to the end. It’s beautiful, nice and cool weather at -Los Angeles in these days after the heated summer time. Before the Halloween arrives at the end of the October, I have at least two birthdays need to celebrate for my family. One is for Charles, one is for me. With the current tight schedule, I wish my family can skip the celebration for me. Since I wish I can find more time to play Chinese Violin-Erhu in stead of having party…

My kids are growing fast like all other children. Charles is now at 5th Grade, Andrew is at 3rd grade, and my baby girl Nellie isnow at 2nd grade. At this period of time, they require lots of attention from parents. They have all kinds of questions in their mind and eager to find the answer. Edward and I have been trying hard to lead them to the right direction. Daily reading has been promoted at home and still reinforcing. I take them to library weekly in order to get more new books to read.

Playing instrument is very important to my kids. Since Edward and I are both music lover. Currently they are focusing on play piano, bamboo flute, violin, and flute. Besides the Tae Kwon Dow three times a week for exercise, my kids also joined the Golf class with daddy Edward on weekend. We just started to pick up the taste of the golfing with our coach Jeff at Diamond Bar Golf Court since September 23rd. We will complete 9 hours beginner training before we run 18 holes. Edward enjoys a lot of golfing now. He even plays hard and practices a lot every weekend at our backyard when he has time. I guess soon he will become a good golfer. Even my mother is very exciting to play at the golf court as well. So do the kids. This is what Edward likes to promote, he likes to make Golfing as my family’s game. But, there are lots techniques need to learn in golfing. Indeed, we need to find more time to practice!

It’s the harvest time. Are you ready for the holiday? I am ready for that. Life is beautiful and busy here at the Kwang’s family. Warm regards to you & happy holiday.