The Year of the Rabbit - Chinese New Year Festival

2011 is the year of the Rabbit on the Chinese calendar.  And while our family doesn't go by this calendar, we thought it would be fun to meet up with the Hodders for some cultural fun at the Chinese New Year Festival in The Valley.

The novelty of riding the train never wears off with these kids.  I know I will get willing contenders if I say we're riding the train into the city.  So easy to please...well, sometimes.

Cuddles with daddy on the train.

Arriving in The Valley.

 A bit of the local flavor.

I think we picked the hottest day of the year to venture out, so we sought refuge almost immediately at a {go figure} Chinese restaurant, where Cory & Matt had a little Tsingtao to cool them off.

Then we headed back out onto the mall to wait and see if there would be another dragon performance. Little did we know we were in for more than we bargained for...

Waiting to see what will happen.

They pulled right up to where we were standing, so we got to chat with them 

while they waited to go on stage.

The beautiful drum.

Ally & Marin.

We got an up close vantage point for the fun performance.

A little bit too up close and personal.  I think our new pal thought he was doing us a favor, 

when in fact these were the results...

 I wish you could see sweet Marin's face.  Bless her heart, she was absolutely terrified!  

Mom couldn't help laughing. 

So that was pretty much the end of our sweaty venture into the city.  It was fun to see something that we probably wouldn't have seen back home in the States, and spend time with a great Texas family.