Clarks: Fireworks for the B-Day Girls!

Apparently word has gotten around the neighborhood that tonight is Gao Yan's, and tomorrow Cecely's, birthday! To celebrate this "Double Happiness" （喜喜 for those of you studying Chinese characters at home) the people across the street are blasting us with several rounds of colorful fireworks [see fig. 1]. The view is impressive and the sound absolutely stunning.

Not to be outdone by these merry-making revelers, Jake and Shelley treated us all to about $100 (USD) worth of Papa John's pizza this noonday meal. We had two pepperoni pizzas, a(n) Hawaiian, and a Heart-Clogger's special. [I believe the menu identifies the latter as "Meat Lover's"] Besides that, there was a rice dish - because, you know, we live in China, so how can you say you've really eaten without having some rice? - and, like, four pitchers of soda to wash it all down. Good guy, that Jake.

As for presents, Cec has a number of wrapped items on a table here in the living room [see fig. 2] to go along with the books we bought her this afternoon [fig. 3]. So, not a bad birthday weekend.