Chinese Thursday

The fifth day of the week isn't just an ordinary day in our house, it's Chinese Thursday. Or, more recently, Hibachi Thursday. 

For at least two-and-a-half years now, we know what's for dinner on Thursday nights and that our good friends (and Ryan's co-workers) Matthew and Emmy are coming over on their dinner break. This past year, others have joined us as well, like Yvette and Sarah. And sometimes others drop in too. Of course, Clara got in on the tradition in early 2010, and Luke became a regular later that year. 

The numbers have grown (yet the table has shrunk) and the food changed from Chinese to Hibachi Express, but you can always count on Thursday night (except when there's breaking news of course - they're all TV news people!).

Tonight, we said goodbye to one of our founding members, Matthew, who is moving to Florida. He's been a great friend to our family - he was there when we called to say we were definitely going to adopt Clara, and was Clara's official photographer for her first year - and he will be missed.

The Chinese/Hibachi Thursday crew was much bigger than normal tonight since everyone wanted to be there for Matthew's last night (it was also literally his last night in Richmond), so that means an ungodly amount of yum-yum sauce...

This is just half of the crowd...

And the rest had to eat outside. Good thing it was a beautiful night!

Lukie was very confused Daddy wasn't eating near him...

But he made a new friend in Gene...

Clara loves Matthew and is definitely going to miss him...

I'm sure she's going to be saying, "Matthew's here! Matthew's here!" as everyone pulls up outside for many Thursdays to come.

Matthew gifted us his infamous Black Friday free gift World Market monkey ornament, since Clara sadly broke ours this Christmas. We're just lucky it survived this photo...

Gene, trying desperately to keep Clara from the cupcakes...

But Emmy, wanting Clara to love her best, gives her what she wanted...

Poor, sweet Sarah puts up with Clara yanking on all of her jewelry...

Matthew and his parents, who were on hand for his final Chinese Thursday/last night in Richmond...

Ryan with Matthew and Emmy...

Yes, Luke and Matthew are both rangas...

We will miss you, Matthew! You are a wonderful person and an awesome friend and Chinese/Hibachi Thursday will never be the same without you. We'd keep a chair empty in your honor except, as you know, we always have just enough chairs.