Author: Jolanda Garcia February 7, 2008 — The Year of the Rat. For many people, Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration of the year. It is a time of celebration, eating special foods, cleaning and decorating the house, giving gifts, fireworks, and getting ready for the coming year. The color red is believed to be lucky, so people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money" in red envelopes. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals. Festivities usually end with the lantern festival, highlighted by a dragon dance. With your children, ring in the New Year with the following fun Chinese New Year Activities Chinese New Year Dragon The dragon symbolizes strength, goodness, and good luck. Help your child make a simple dragon. Use an egg carton with three cups and have children paint the cups with red and yellow colors. Draw a dragon face shape and decorate with cotton balls and wiggly eyes. Cut yarn

Feel busy now with baby? Fast forward the tape 5 years…you’ll be dropping your baby off at Kindergarten with two more kids in the backseat. Ah then, you’ll be really busy! Life doesn’t slow down. A better time will not exist in the future. Now is the time to get in the fabulous habit of exercise. 3. Involve a friend. If you’re meeting a friend for lunch, insist on taking a walk after your meal together. Look for ways to be active with others. Meet weekly with another mom to workout, either with the kids or take turns watching the kids while the other mom exercises for 20 minutes. 4. Plan for it. On Sundays, take your calendar out and schedule in your exercise times for the week. Exercise DVD during baby’s Monday morning nap. Walk 45 minutes with baby on Wednesday after lunch. Put it in your calendar and stick to it.

Author: Jolanda Garcia February 7, 2008 — The Year of the Rat. For many people, Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration of the year. It is a time of celebration, eating special foods, cleaning and decorating the house, giving gifts, fireworks, and getting ready for the coming year. The color red is believed to be lucky, so people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money" in red envelopes. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals. Festivities usually end with the lantern festival, highlighted by a dragon dance. With your children, ring in the New Year with the following fun Chinese New Year Activities Chinese New Year Dragon The dragon symbolizes strength, goodness, and good luck. Help your child make a simple dragon. Use an egg carton with three cups and have children paint the cups with red and yellow colors. Draw a dragon face shape and decorate with cotton balls and wiggly eyes. Cut yarn

Feel busy now with baby? Fast forward the tape 5 years…you’ll be dropping your baby off at Kindergarten with two more kids in the backseat. Ah then, you’ll be really busy! Life doesn’t slow down. A better time will not exist in the future. Now is the time to get in the fabulous habit of exercise. 3. Involve a friend. If you’re meeting a friend for lunch, insist on taking a walk after your meal together. Look for ways to be active with others. Meet weekly with another mom to workout, either with the kids or take turns watching the kids while the other mom exercises for 20 minutes. 4. Plan for it. On Sundays, take your calendar out and schedule in your exercise times for the week. Exercise DVD during baby’s Monday morning nap. Walk 45 minutes with baby on Wednesday after lunch. Put it in your calendar and stick to it.