Destroying the House, Chinese New Year Style

– Posted in: Holidays, Mawage, Parties, Personal Insanity, Tenzin, Things To Do with Kids, This Is Supposed to be Fun

So every year for I don’t know how many years (I’d have to look it up) we’ve had a Chinese New Year party. It’s something my husband, Tenzin, and I always wanted to do before we had kids but never managed to pull together. Then we tried to do it after kids and could never muster enough energy. And then finally, when the kids were old enough, they heard about it, thought it was a grand idea. So they pushed us into it.

Now that it’s become an annual tradition, we can’t stop. It’s mandatory. Don’t get me wrong — I love seeing our friends and having an excuse to get everyone together. But every year, about a week before the party, I start getting this sort of hoo ha from Tenzin:

  • So, I think I may drive out to Wadsworth (near Egypt) to buy fireworks — they’re legal there.
  • So, do you think live boa constrictors could get out of the dog crate?
  • So, how mad would you be if I made a 30 foot long snake out of paper mache?

And no, I’m not being hyperbolical.

Just to give you all a glimpse into my world, this is what our house looks like right now…

I think this is sort of his version of Burning Man without the heat, playa dust, and nudity, so I try not to say very much. People need their creative outlets. It’s why I get psychotic and throw ridiculously complicated birthday parties for the kids that involve neighborhood treasure hunts complete with costumes and clues that rhyme.

But this year, the Year of the Snake, I’ve been in a place where I’m happy to order some crap from Oriental Trading Company, get food from the restaurant up the street, and call it good. Meanwhile, Tenzin’s experimenting with sauces and buying material at the bulk fabric store.

I guess that’s why our marriage works. One of us is usually scouting ahead and dragging the other one up the hill. And the one being dragged may not be that thrilled at the time, but when we get to the top, the draggee is always glad the dragger decided they should come up to see the view.

Decorating for Chinese New Year

And the view looks bright… 

 

 

 

 

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10 Comments… add one

Mary February 20, 2013, 10:48 pm

That is actually pretty amazing and you nailed it on the marriage thing. That is exactly why it works!

Tammy February 21, 2013, 12:13 am

At least one reason anyway, right?

Andrea February 21, 2013, 5:35 am

That’s. awesome. The bulk fabric store bit made me LOL. At least he’s buying something useful in bulk. You could make curtains for your home when the festivities are over.

Tammy February 21, 2013, 5:23 pm

Yes, I could. If I wanted red curtains decorated with puffy paint. But hey, that’s what’s on the windows of most people’s homes when they have kids.

Verity February 21, 2013, 9:48 pm

Yay – it looks so great! Teamwork really helps. Can’t wait to see the papermache
(and again, as I said last year – love the low lighting – makes us all look great!)

Tammy February 22, 2013, 12:22 am

Lighting is key when we get to this age. I mean, we all look awesome!

Cheryl February 22, 2013, 6:18 am

That looks amazing! And I also throw ridiculously complicated birthday parties that wind up costing more than a weekend in Vegas and makes my husband cringe and ask why can’t we just throw down a package of oreos, some milk and call it a day? I never thought of it as my creative outlet, because I never considered myself creative, but hey, I like that theory. It’s my creative genius needing to unleash. Yeah, that’s it, that’s the ticket.

Tammy February 22, 2013, 8:08 am

I’m starting to think you and I really DID find each other. We’re so much alike it’s creepy.

Cheryl February 22, 2013, 10:02 am

Yeah, but creepy in a good way…almost comforting…like I’m not alone in my oddities. This year we had a Hunger Games birthday party. I tried to get them to fight to the death, but they refused, so I poisoned them with nightlock. Last year she had a rockstar diva party, complete with a real disco ball, and a dance instructor who taught them a dance to perform at the “finale,” the year before that was Eclipse, where as new vampires they had to hunt (stuffed animals)…my son had an off the chain Harry Potter birthday, complete with magician and treasure hunt, potions lessons, HoneyDukes candy shop (sadistically I relabeled all the candy with Harry Potter sounding names), custom wands, and custom Hogwarts teeshirts. I’m a freak.

Tammy March 6, 2013, 3:14 pm

Okay, I’ve been telling everybody I know about the Hunger Games and vampire birthday parties. You kill me. We could start a business with my other friend who’s just as crazy as we are when it comes to this stuff. She had a Mount Olympus party, got everyone to dress up as gods and goddesses, and made Hades in her basement.

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