We had a great time this weekend celebrating Chinese New Year!  (a couple weeks early – but as our Host “Oh Rob” would say, “Who has more fun than us??!!)

Such yummy food… like these crunchy egg rolls,

the MOST AMAZING homemade dumplings and dipping sauces,

fresh crisp lettuce wraps, oranges (for good luck), and of course fortune cookies,

along with tender tangy teriyaki beef skewers to start of the festivities.

And after our bellies were satisfied with tasty treats and wine and Moscow mules,

and we all received our special hat and learned what animal our birth year represented (I’m a tiger in case you couldn’t have guessed – LOL!)

and we were wished good luck by our happy hostesses (Mimi and Ella) in matching smiles and attire.

We learned a new game that, though we all had heard of,  none of us had ever played.

Bunco!

and though we don’t believe it has ANYthing to do with Chinese New Year,

we patiently listened to the instructions,

fought to hang on to the “Bunco Sheep,”

and had a great time.

Then, of course, it was time to eat again!

So fresh veggies got tossed into…

Chicken Stir Fry…

and Shrimp Stir Fry, with lots of fluffy steamed rice.

We visited some more,

hugged some more,

and ate some more,

and more…

until the end of the evening, when we we lit Chinese lanterns,

and made wishes,

while we watched them float away over the lake – carrying our hopes and dreams for good luck in 2015.

Thanks for a wonderful time Joyce and Rob!  xoxo

Cheers & Hugs for a Happy New Year,
Jodi