“Mummy, how many days till Chinese New Year?” the small one asked. “About a week” I replied and he went “Yeah!” while he glanced longingly at the Chinese New Year cookies and goodies laid out temptingly on the table.
The kids have been banned from touching the cookies until the eve of Chinese New Year. (no matter how much they plead). This is all part and parcel of the fun and the build-up and suspense towards Chinese New Year.
We have completed our home-made decorations. This year we decided to make angpow rabbits. We will be stringing and hanging them up on Monday with plenty of instructions from the kids. “Hang here, mummy. No, it looks nicer here.” etc.
Despite all our preparations, the cleaning up, making decorations, storing up cookies, buying new clothes, we actually celebrate Chinese New Year on a small scale with little or no visitors. Well, there is no law that says you can’t put up decorations to admire yourself right, so we do it year after year. We do balik kampung but it does not mean that this house where we stay should be neglected.
Though it is just the four of us, we make it into a big thing and create a big fuss for the kids delight and for ourselves too as a result. When the kids are happy, we are happy. So, we’re all set now to usher in the Year of the Rabbit…. well, almost. Still a bit of stuff to do here and there.

I like this…folding it now. Cool, I can hang it with my lantern.
I intend to string them up in threes and hang as well. Hehe.
oh thanks for the tips… was looking for something to liven up our mood! 🙂
This year we can make rabbits, next year I think we have to go back to fish angpow as dragon would be a challenge. Haha.
Oh…will definitely look this up and give it a go. At least this year’s zodiac is achievable. Agree last year’s tiger and next year’s dragon would be quite tough! 🙂
have a great CNY celebration. yr kids r great. my cny goodies r depelting by the day 🙂 hahaha … jus donthave thes strength or heart to scold Benghui jus pretend i dont know
I must praise you and your kiddos for your strong will power not to touch and succumb to the temptation of the CNY goodies. Me? I can’t even resist them myself, what more my kiddos. We normally start buying & eating CNY cookies about 1 mth b4 CNY and when CNY comes, we will all get fed up of the goodies hehe.