Kickin it off with a bang

Today is Saturday.

And as with most holiday weeks, this means that NZ headed back to the office today, to make up for the time he and his employees had off to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The fireworks around our apartment building have finally slowed down, and I can't say I miss them.

We've had enough fireworks to last us many many years, and there's a good possibilty that next Chun Jie, the Zentil's of Wuxi will not be in Wuxi. Yep--we may skip town like everyone else, and holiday somewhere where fireworks are illegal. Our poor cat. I think I swept up a coat's worth of fur this last week. Where's my ayi when I need her? On holiday of course. Fireworks and thirteen year old cats do not mix. We owe him many sweet snuggles when he finally emerges from his bunker behind our bed.

With the beginning of the New Year over here, and today being the first day back to work for many companies, it's customary to you guessed it, light fireworks. The fireworks symbolize the hope for a prosperous New Year, with good fortune for the business.

take a look at all them 'crackers!



Light em up

group effort. Even the driver is lighting some

Here are the fireworks that NZ's company set off this morning upon arrival to the office.  May this year be full of prosperity and good business!

Chun Jie

By the sound of the fireworks outside our window right now ( it's 7:45p on Saturday night), the celebration of the Lunar New Year has officially begun.

front row seats on the 25th floor

NZ is off this next week for Chun Jie, as it is a government approved holiday week. It will be nice to have him home, although we don't have our driver at our disposal this week, as he is with family, enjoying the holiday. We've been told to expect the new District, where we live, to be a bit deserted ( you won't hear us complain!), and that many restaurants and shops will close for a few days.

NZ picks a line. We always pick the slowest one!

We stocked up at the local super megastore earlier this week, and man it was a zoo! This morning we walked to the produce market and many vendors had already closed down for holiday. Thankfully, our fruit lady was open, so we stocked Sal up on his fruit of the week--cutie tangerines. That boy eats so many tangerines he might just turn orange! Heaven forbid he go a few days without his beloved cuties.

fireworks stand by the produce market

As for our plans while NZ is off?

Nada.

Well, not exactly nada.

We plan some long leisurely walks once the weather warms up ( it should get warmer as the week progresses--we had snow and -5c yesterday), and I plan on continuing my 30 day shred video ( I'm on day 15/30) and might just get NZ to try it with me. We're hoping to grab some noodles with friends, and just enjoy having time to do nothing.

Maybe next year we will leave the firework madness of Chinese New Year, and holiday somewhere where we can get sand between our toes, saltwater in our eyes and a real good tan.

Did I just describe California?

Why yes, I think I did.

Parrrrrrty's heeyah

 

I've been sitting on the computer this evening, editing pictures from yesterday, and I can not believe our son just turned one.
 

I am ONE.

We had a couple other birthday celebrants join us for a small lunchtime party on Saturday. NZ had a birthday last Wednesday, our friend Pere had a birthday on Thursday, and Anna shares Sal's January 13th birthdate, so we had them over to join us for spaghetti arribata, sushi, cookies and cake in celebration of all their years of life.

Cookies from sweet creations by Stephanie

 

Sal & Neil (newest baby on the block)

            
            Sal ate cake, opened gifts and played with his new toys before a nice long nap.



yes,  that's most definitely a boog hanging from the nose.
(He's had a cold all week and finally gifted it to me today)

Dad had to help with the blowing out of the candle.
Sal was obviously mesmerized by the mamarazi.

 

As the day turned to night, we met up with more friends from our apartment complex to light off fireworks to celebrate Sal turning ONE!
  

This one's for you, kid.

Out with a bang

Our friends, the Royals went out with a bang .

Literally.

The farewell crew

Last Saturday, a bunch of us gathered together with enough fireworks to make our Chinese neighbors jealous, and set them off as a farewell for our friends, Donna and Kyle.

As I have noted before, fireworks are an every day occurance here. In fact, just about 5 minutes ago, my sky lit up like the 4th of July--and it's 9:00p on a Thursday here. No reason, whatsoever. No national holiday--just an average Thursday evening in Wuxi.

Most new expats learn about fireworks within their first 24 hours in China.

Usually at some inappropriate time..like 5:00am on a Monday.


Mr. Royal is ready to set this place on fi-yah!

View from above. Front row seats on our balcony.

What better way to send a bunch of expats home, than ending it the way they arrived.