Chinese New Year Photo Shoot

Anna and I had fun doing this "photo shoot".  It was the week of Chinese New Year and I wanted to get a picture of her in a traditional Chinese outfit.  Anna loved the ones with her hair down.  I thought she looked too old.  I'm quite fond of the the two buns. 

They were out the moment we were done... darn!  She looks so cute that way!

Silly Anna... so her!

That's more like it!

my favorite

Happy Valentine's Day

from my giggly little Valentienes. 

I've always loved Valentines Day!  Such sweetness in the middle of winter.  Something to look forward to with all of the snow in January.  This year since Abigail is in preschool she got to make valentines too!  I searched online and found a cute idea.  So on one of the many snow days I took pictures of the girls holding out their hands.  Once I chose the picture, Scott added the words and some hearts.  I ordered the pictures and the girls taped a piece of candy into the picture of their hand.  They turned out darling.  Here's the final picture (without the candy and the construction paper background).  Anna used a silver sharpie marker and wrote out the envelopes.  I asked her if she wanted me to do fancy letters and she said, "I can do it mommy."  I was amazed at her curly letters.  Beautiful. 

Gone for Good

So, it wasn't a mouse.  That's good.  But it was a squirrel!!!  In our playroom!!!  It was horrible and I'm just so glad it's gone!  Oh how we love our finished basement.  Playroom for the girls, my desk, calendar, and everything I need to be organized, extra refrig and pantry, cedar closet, exercise area,  huge extra closet for toys that Anna has always called "feels like new" because I rotate toys so they always feel like new. And we were locked out.

So no computer for 5 days put me behind a bit.  I could have used Scott's laptop but I kept thinking, I'll be down there tonight for sure.  And then another day went by. 

So after the squirrel was gone operation clean up as Scott called it began.  This playroom has never been so clean.  I love it even more.  So now I attempt to catch up with photos and all of your blogs.  It feels so good to be back! 

Chinese New Year

This year we had a little celebration on Chinese New Year.  After the girls had taken a bath and were in their nightgowns the opened a few small things.  When we were in China almost 7 years ago we bought a ton of "little somethings" knowing their would be special occasions such as these.  Anna was thrilled to bring her traditional Chinese Red Envelopes to school for all of her friends and even more excited about our party at home.  

Wish I had a cute little post with great pictures of what was really going on in our house right now... you'd all love it!  Scott is loading mouse traps with peanut butter... he'd never let me get a picture of all of this.  Yikes, tomorrow HAS to be a better day!

Endoscopy

There were some fun times!  Abigail loved the attention.  She loved riding the Little Mermaid car.  She loved the special jamies and the big girl bed that sat up.  She loved the nurses and the blue band. 

She loved her two special bracelets.

She didn't love the decision I made to not give her the versid (sleepy medicine).  So this time instead of not caring about the IV going in as she was half awake, this time she knew exactly what was going on.  It was such a hard decision for me to make.  But after watching her try to wake up after the procedure too many times; pulling out tubes, thrashing, and crying for hours I thought I'd give it a try.  So this is Abigail mad.  "I'm never, ever, ever coming here again!" 

She really was a trooper.  She sat still and just cried a little while they tried each arm. 

And after...  she did wake up much better this time.  Here she is in daddy's arms. 

I was so proud of her that day.  Unfortunately we didn't get the results from the biopsy that we were hoping for.  Her eosinophils are still there.  So we're not sure what the next step will be. 

I was also so very proud of Anna this past weekend.  I do love seven so very much.  The morning after the endoscopy Abigail woke up so sick with a fever and yucky stuff to clean up after all day.  Anna was my special helper.  Getting me everything I needed.  Distracting Abigail and loving on her.  I love that they are sisters. 

Views from my Kitchen Sink

I have to say happy one year blogaversary (is that a word yet?) to Pam.  I love her blog to pieces. It's one of those real life ones.  When I read it I really feel like I get to know her down to earth personality.  I love her home and it's home -e- ness!  It seems to ooze with yummy smells in the kitchen to warm family gatherings in the dining room.  Pam has inspired me to try some new recipes, try out new traditions, reattach my self to some old ones that I'd let go, and just remember to soak up every minute with my little one at home.  Thanks Pam! 

So here's my view from my kitchen sink. The window looks over my back yard.  I can see the Middle School that Scott once taught at years ago when I was first a stay at home mom.  I can also see the girls playscape.  (the one they love in the late fall and winter but would never go on in the summer for fear of spiders), and snow, more snow than I've ever seen out this window.  Oh, and the white picket fence with the arbor.  So pretty.  I really do love my kitchen.  Sure there are tons of things I'd change.  I've got a running list in my head but kitchen changes are oh so expensive! 

A Big Day

We're going here tomorrow.... and when I told her about it tonight she was so excited!

"Special Jammies", the blue band, pretty bracelets, what day could be better? 

She seriously loves it!  I can hardly wait!