Autumn Moon and Random Sillies

Hi Everyone,

I know-- it's been awhile. I've heard from a few folks about when some new picts would be posted. I'm sorry-- it is hard to find time between Josie, work and Josie.

This weekend is the Autumn Moon Festival-- a big Chinese Holiday. Next to Chinese New Year, I think this is the next biggest holiday in China.

A little about the Holiday. . . (this is from the web)

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festivity for both the Han and minority nationalities. The custom of worshipping the moon (called xi yue in Chinese) can be traced back as far as the ancient Xia and Shang Dynasties (2000 B.C.-1066 B.C.). In the Zhou Dynasty(1066 B.C.-221 B.C.), people hold ceremonies to greet winter and worship the moon whenever the Mid-Autumn Festival sets in. It becomes very prevalent in the Tang Dynasty(618-907 A.D.) that people enjoy and worship the full moon. In the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279 A.D.), however, people send round moon cakes to their relatives as gifts in expression of their best wishes of family reunion. When it becomes dark, they look up at the full silver moon or go sightseeing on lakes to celebrate the festival. Since the Ming (1368-1644 A.D. ) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911A.D.), the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration becomes unprecedented popular.

There are also some popular legends about the Moon Festival . . . (again from the web)

I. The Lady - Chang Er
The time of this story is around 2170 B.C. The earth once had ten suns circling over it, each took its turn to illuminate to the earth. But one day all ten suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved by a strong and tyrannical archer Hou Yi. He succeeded in shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess. However his beautiful wife Chang Er drank the elixir of life in order to save the people from her husband's tyrannical rule. After drinking it, she found herself floating and flew to the moon. Hou Yi loved his divinely beautiful wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon.
Note: Chang'e 1 Lunar orbiter was launched to the moon on October 24, 2007. The Chang'e moon satellite, named after Chang Er, will take 3-D images of the moon surface for yearlong. This is the groundwork for the next Lunar Lander (Chang'e 2) project in 2012 , Lunar Sample Return (Chang'e 3) in 2017 and Chinese astronaut on the moon project.

II. The Man - Wu Kang
Wu Kang was a shiftless fellow who changed apprenticeships all the time. One day he decided that he wanted to be an immortal. Wu Kang then went to live in the mountains where he importuned an immortal to teach him. First the immortal taught him about the herbs used to cure sickness, but after three days his characteristic restlessness returned and he asked the immortal to teach him something else. So the immortal to teach him chess, but after a short while Wu Kang's enthusiasm again waned. Then Wu Kang was given the books of immortality to study. Of course, Wu Kang became bored within a few days, and asked if they could travel to some new and exciting place. Angered with Wu Kang's impatience, the master banished Wu Kang to the Moon Palace telling him that he must cut down a huge cassia tree before he could return to earth. Though Wu Kang chopped day and night, the magical tree restored itself with each blow, and thus he is up there chopping still.

III. The Hare - Jade Rabbit
In this legend, three fairy sages transformed themselves into pitiful old men and begged for something to eat from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. The fox and the monkey both had food to give to the old men, but the rabbit, empty-handed, offered his own flesh instead, jumping into a blazing fire to cook himself. The sages were so touched by the rabbit's sacrifice that they let him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."

Most of what I post here is pretty light-hearted and fun-natured, but folks should realize, that there will always be thoughts of Josie's first family-- where they are, what they are doing. Especially during a holiday such as this-- we all see the same moon . . .

Many China adoptive families also pay special recognition to the birth family of their children during this holiday. Friday-night as I was making the potstickers, it occurred to me that Josie's birthmother might very well be making potstickers somewhere as well. This thought made me feel both happy and sad-- I wonder how Josie might feel some day.

On to the details of the Autumn Moon party we had at our house.

It wasn't huge, but a good base to build on each year. We invited a few other China adoptive families to come over and celebrate with us. I made the start of a few Chinese lanterns from construction paper so parents could help the kids make their own lanterns.

We had homemade potstickers, fried rice, a green bean dish, and crispy ducky. In keeping with the tradition, we also had some moon cakes from a local Asian market. These traditional treats have not been the biggest hit in our home-- so I also made some peach dumplings to appease the crowds looking for dessert.

It was a fun time and everyone enjoyed celebrating the holiday and hanging out watching the girls play.

We're Having a Party!
"Party! Party! Party!"

"When is everybody gonna get here?"

Josie's friends Carly and Claire came with their Mommy and her friend. They had lots of fun making paper lanterns. The really big hit were all the stickers to decorate the lanterns.


It didn't take long for the girls to get the party going full swing. Josie's friend Angeline was having a blast running around with the toys and was especially interested in the play purse.

The parents did a good job of kicking back and enjoy the enthusiasm of the girls running around and dancing to the Wiggle Giggly tunes playing on the CD.

"C'mon Mommy! Bust a Move and get Wiggly Giggly Groove Going!"

Earlier in the Week Josie Dong Dong worked on setting a super cool fashion trend for Fall. Her new line seems to working its way up the popularity charts and has wide target base.

"Get Ready. . . I'm gonna show you."

"It's Josie Cool. I'm all the Rage!"

It wasn't long before Josie 'Cool' Dong Dong found herself with a loyal following . . .

Xavier-- sporting the Ultra GQ look as a fashionable thinker for the 10 to 12 year old young men's base.

Miss Gabrielle, sporting the "WadUP?" cool ensemble for the teen girl interests.

And, OH Yes-- there is MORE!

This fashion even works to "spif-up' the Daddy line of coolnes.

Wait!

That's not all folks!

This market seems to be going to the dogs as well! What a fashion line!

"Thhhhhankkks! Josie Dong Dong--for making me a star!"

Even the cat had to get in on this action.

"Finally! Something as cool as me."

Lastly, some random silly shots from the past few weeks.

Josie Dong Dong licking the spoon from mixing cupcakes.

Whoaaa!! Where'd ya get those socks!!! We had some serious strutting going on in the house.

Oh boy! What set her off?

Josie Dong Dong has gone Mad!














"I don't know what came over me!"

Cookie snack time is always serious business in our house.

Josie was in an especially silly mood this evening and was pulling all kinds of silly poses on the futon in the den.

She was being so silly she even grabbed a pacifier and stuck it in her mouth (she doesn't use a pacifier-- don't forget-- she's got a really good thumb!)

I could go on and on with the silly shots-- there are so many of them~ I hope you'all enjoy them as much as we do.