Year of the Nemo, I mean the Snake!

Nemo hit us hard, starting Friday morning and ending 24 hours and about 24 inches later.  It took another 24 hours for us to look this good:

Unburying the cars took many hours, with the edge of driveway holding at least a yard of snow.  This storm was why heavy equipment was invented, but our two shovels did what they had to do to at least get us out.  More than 1/2 the driveway is still buried, but we'll just chip away at it over the next week or two. Fingers crossed there's no more snow anytime soon, because there just is nowhere to put it!

Meanwhile, back inside, there was no cabin fever for this girl.  She could be inside for weeks and be thrilled. She played and played hard. These getups yesterday make me think she may have some Romani blood in her somewhere.  She was carrying little bags full of "stuff" too.  Oh, and those stains all over her shirt are from thoroughly enjoyed hot cocoa.  'Tis the season, after all....

Saturday night, Quynh sent us a Happy Lunar New Year email with this gorgeous photo.  Beatrice quickly asked to drag it to our desktop, and then said "It's a good thing Quynh sent that picture because I keep trying and trying but I don't remember Vietnam!"

Unfortunately, our plans to attend the Tet festivities at the temple this weekend were canceled, so we tried to make up for it at home.  After a yummy breakfast and the opening of a lucky red envelope, we headed outside.  Today was beautiful and clear, lots of melting and the icicles everywhere are dramatic!

This girl loves to eat icicles and snow!

Just had to take a picture of this beauty, who has been a trooper being flexible with nowhere private (or warm) for her to "go" if you know what I mean....

Our friends the Schultzes had a little cabin fever so they came over for a spontaneous playmate, which we turned into a Tet party.  Here are the Ethan, Brandon, and Bea playing a chopsticks game:

Here's my girl, a champion "chopsticker" who moved her pencil case under her as a seat.  Readers who know Vietnam should get a kick out of that!

Next we balanced dragonflies on our fingers!

No party is complete without a lion dance or dragon parade.  We opted for the latter:

I told you we had some kickin' icicles!  They are so loud when they fall too! Here's the scene from Bea's bedroom window:

With all the time on her hands, our little author has been hard at work.  This "mail" came from out of nowhere yesterday:

I wonder who it's from?????

Her newest thing?  Playing school.  She's the teacher, of course, and I get the joy of being either Bree or Alice, depending on whether or not she's in a Fancy Nancy or Angelina Ballerina mood:

                                  (the sunlight streaming in through the window was gorgeous!)

Many tents were built this weekend, and this makeshift swing/jumprope:

Our new (to us) piano arrived on Wednesday, and all three of us have been enjoying its beautiful sound!

 The days inside gave us the time to complete our 2-week long Valentine making extravaganza.  Putting the candy on is all that remains:

And it gave me time to put the finishing touches on the Tet presentation/party I'm doing for Bea's class tomorrow morning.  Please oh please let there be school!!! I'm not steaming the little rice cakes or cutting up that melon until I know for sure....

                     

And here is the "reason for the season" in her beautiful ao dai straight from Hanoi (thank you Quynh!)

Anthony worked on this Duck dish all afternoon, and man was it delicious!

                                Up close, for posterity.  And the sesame green beans were to-die-for as well!

                                                 chúc mừng năm mới!