My Continued Birthday Celebration

On our last trip to Yakitoria in Moscow, the waitstaff gave us a little Japanese figure.  We had explained that it was our last visit and we'd be moving home.  The figure fit in your palm, was ceramic and looked like the above figure.  Somehow or another the ceramic figurine nicknamed "Chinaman"  again we need to work on our geography skills...became a game in our household.  Someone would hide it in someones' room, when it was found, the next person would hide it.  Until one sad day when Chinaman broke.  When we walked into the Japanese restaurant we saw a giant ceramic figure.  Then of course I had to look it up, it appears to be a Daruma Doll.  They are seen as a symbol of perseverance and good luck, a popular gift of encouragement.  <3 

There were three birthdays at our table alone, several others in the restaurant.  

My birthday sweater from Mom and Dad, thank you.