Happy 5th Birthday, Elle!

We usually decorate the dining room with all-things birthday just to see their faces when they discover it in the morning. This year, it did not disappoint our Elle-Belle, who decided she wanted a princess theme. During this past year she discovered Cinderella -- the book, movie, music -- and it's been all about dressing princess and roll-playing the drama. Eric has become quite good at playing all the parts while Elle dashes about in her pink and blue gowns. You'll often hear Eric yelling out, 'But wait, please wait...your shoe!'

So, Elle's big day had finally arrived. Before Daddy left for work, we all enjoyed eating Elle's requested chocolate chip pancakes, and watching her open up a violin that she's been wanting for months (ever since she played one at her friend's house). She even let Zane try it out. But the biggest joy of her day was when she opened up a package of gum and had her very first chomp of the cinnamon sweetness. It's a five-year-old privilege in the Wolfe home and she's been counting down the days for over a year. It was everything she had dreamed of, and she only swallowed one piece between breakfast and lunch.

Zane LOVED the pancakes too!

Elle's first piece of gum!

After much gum-chewing and talk about gum-chewing, we met Daddy for her requested lunch -- pizza! We stuffed ourselves and had more talk about gum and how life is so much better now with gum. Noteable was Zane's behavior at lunch; he has definitely found a new peace about food and we are seeing far fewer temper tantrums over finishing a meal. We still have to have verbal preparation to transition away from meals, but his new attitude has definitely made eating-out much more enjoyable.

Then it was home for naps, play and more gum-chewing before friends and family arrived for a chili/cornbread dinner. Now Elle had been anticipating her fifth birthday since she turned four. There hasn't been a prayer of hers -- and she prays out loud at least three times a day -- that hasn't started with 'thank you for my birthday'... for a year's time! It's like she has just always known that she should be five! :) I really do believe this will be a BIG year for Elle and you can tell she is glad to have 'arrived' and happy to be living in the moment, finally! Has to be the gum, everything truly is better with gum.

Party friends.

The evening concluded with her requested chocolate cookie and ice cream cake, presents and pictures with her buddy, Isaac. Isaac is a dear friend, who has been on furlough from Africa (with his parents) for several of Elle's birthdays. Elle thinks it's very cool that Isaac was born in a far away country like herself.

It's hard to believe that our baby is five. Seems like yesterday that God performed a miracle and placed her in our arms. She is our perfect match and we are amazed by His spirit within her. There's something very dear, kind and soft about her nature, her care for others and love for Jesus. We are so grateful to watch our precious child grow in His grace.

Before putting her and the day to bed, we talked about her birth story, God placing our family together, His special plans for her... and, of course, gave thanksgiving for gum. Glorious gum!

Valentine's Day

We did Super Bowl Chinese style and made such a spread, it wiped us out! The food was good (still not completely satisfied with my dumplings), but we just took on too much! Homemade egg rolls, dumplings, egg drop soup, stir fried rice, bok choy, sauces.... whew! With little ones that needed their mommies and a game that we didn't want to miss, next year it'll be pizza!

Enjoying his Chinese New Year chocolate coin.

But I'm a glutton for punishment and determined to improve my dumplings, so I tried them again with another batch of egg rolls for a family Valentine's dinner. Again, crazy! Eric had just an hour between getting home from work and leaving for class (first semester of MBA program). In the end, we pulled it off, and had to cut Elle off of the dumplings -- she loves them! Throw in a cherry dessert (from our neighbor's tree) and some homemade cards, and it made for a short, but sweet, Valentine's Day.

I was able to forego butter and gluten (and some calories) by making the cherry filling with Xylitol (naturally occurring carbohydrate, 40% less caloric than sugar, and fights cavities). I served the sweetened and thickened cherries with a pizzelle -- it was very pretty and yummy. Because Zane is allergic to cherries, he enjoyed some pumpkin on his pizzelle.

Elle and I had the best craft time ever making Valentine cards. The coordination of cutting, taping and gluing has definitely been a challenge, but with steady progress and practice, practice, practice -- she really has improved and her pride nearly matched mine for her determination and creativity. Even Zane got in on some of the fun -- in fact, Elle is a great teacher and, of course, Zane loves to do anything just like big sister.

Zane's face when you tell him to smile.

When Eric finally got home from class, he installed a new garbage disposal and I ran to the grocery store for last minute birthday items. The day finished early in the morning, but we were ready for Elle's big day!

Year of the Rabbit

"Snooooooooow." That's how Zane says it and most appropriately because it's just everywhere. We experienced the 2011 Blizzard and survived. Not as bad as we imagined, but impressive at 12 inches with drifts at 3 feet.

Our road is private, but with help from the sun and a few neighbors that have tractors, we headed out this morning to shake our cabin fever and have some fun on Chinese New Year's Day. Really, you can only mush playdoh and pretend to be Cinderella for so long.


We met up with Aunt Alicia and Titus at one of the largest Asian markets in town. We are making plans for a delicious family Chinese meal in a few days so we wanted to get some key ingredients and fun items to help in our celebration. While cruising the isles, we saw familiar things from our time in China and Taiwan and just had to throw them in the cart as well.

About 50 heads of garlic - we're smelling yummy baby!

Yes, that would be Zane throwing a temper tantrum. As if we weren't already interesting customers. ;)

What is that duck-thing? A rice cooker? A trash can?

There was also a cafe there where we dined on pork dumplings and egg rolls, but the standout was a green onion roll drenched in butter - OH.MY.GOODNESS.YUM. Zane and Titus could not get enough of that!


Elle and I are fighting a cold, so we were super tired when we got home. Zane had mercy on us and took a long nap so we too could rest - sweet!

After a late nap, I fixed up a pot of bok choy that tasted just as good as it did in Fujian where I 'fell in love' with it. Using an internet recipe to go off of, I sauteed fresh garlic and ginger in a tablespoon of walnut oil, tossed in fresh bok choy, added 2 tablespoons of chicken stock, 1/2 teaspoon salt, covered and steamed for three minutes. Drizzled it with a little sesame seed oil and served with a side of chopped chicken fixed up exactly the same way. It was delicious!


Zane had some texture issues with the bok choy. Maybe if I cover my eyes, it'll disappear....

Argh, still there!

All done, all done, all done!

For dessert we had dragon fruit, but unfortunately, not as good as the platefuls we ate in China.

Yes! Dessert!

Aunt Alicia saw tons of these in Taiwan, but don't remember them in China...soda sealed with a marble.

Push down and the marble releases.

Cool!

Today was fun...talking about China, remembering our time there together, and tasting our favorites from a part of our family's culture.

Gung Hay Fat Choy
Best wishes and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.