We took care of the first “official” task for the Chinese New Year preparations tonight: taking down the decorative banners hung around the entryway and gates and putting up new ones for the coming year.

Whenever I’m here for Chinese New Year, this is for some reason a task my Mother-In-Law specifically wants me to do.

We also had a visitor tonight; one of my Wife’s best friends from grade school stopped by. She brought with her what was meant to be an appetizer, but ended up–at least until lunch tomorrow–being a sort of small aquatic petting zoo for the kids. I don’t know what those critters are. They strike me as being sort of mud puppy-type amphibians crossed with an eel, a tadpole, and a muppet.

My Wife’s Younger Brother Takes Down Last Year’s Banners:

My Finished Work:

My Wife’s Friend (Left) and My Wife (Right):

My Nephew and My Two Daughters Examine the Creatures:

A Close-Up of, Mmm, Whatever Those Things Are: