Frustration

I am SO FRUSTRATED!!!!!  I REALLLLLLLY dislike how blogger updated posting.  I think that is half the reason I don't do it anymore - loading the photos and typing text is SO DIFFICULT and cumbersome I get exasperated!

Before I start screaming, even though these pictures are out of order, I am putting a caption on them and uploading it.  I give up trying to figure out how the durn program puts the pictures where it wants NOT where I want them and then I can't move them!  Grrrrrrrr!

Chicka catching snowflakes.

Chicka after a few minutes of goofy medicine!

Dad and Zabi pretending they got a
dose of goofy medicine!

Chicka engrossed in a library book at the school.  How could she have grown up so fast?????

Chicka and Zabi with their snowman - he lasted for nearly a week before he left his scarf laying on the ground.

Zabi posing pretty in the snow.

IBoy's 17th birthday bash dinner - a simple burger and fries.  To serve 18!!!!!

His little bit of burger.  Yikes!

Nothing Much Afoot

 
Wow.  Exciting.  NOT - which can be a good thing, right?  Nothing much going on.  Everyone is doing well - besides an annoying cold that has been passed around.

 
What a WAY COOL Daddy to let his girls dress him up like a princess AND then dance!  (and to let Mama take pictures!!!! - AND to post them so the world can see!!!!!)

Not very good photos of our youngest sweeties, but I wanted to share them with you.  They are wearing the clothes that they had on when we first held them in our arms.  Surprisingly, Chicka was still able to wear her clothes (minus the shoes!), nearly 3 years later!  At just over a year ago, Zabi has not grown a tremendous amount, but she sure is a happier little girl!

Nero went to the dance at school last night - handsome dude, isn't he?

 
The girls decided that they wanted to make cupcakes to have a Chinese New Year party.  So - they have planned the party.  We are going to drink tea out of beautiful tea cups from China, eat cupcakes and play some games that they have organized.  Should be a hoot!

Quick Milk Magic Straws

OK guys - this has GOT to be the COOLEST product since sliced bread!!!!!

• All Natural: No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Colors
• 100% Gluten Free
• Low Sugar Content
• 100% Lactose Free
• Zero Fat; Zero Cholesterol

http://milkstraws.com/nutrition/

Really - look it up and order some - they are YUMMY!

I am trying to see if we can do a fundraiser at Friday School with these - I'll let you know!

Will it work????

Well, I did it.  The blog is now private.  I guess this is a test to see if it will work this way now - please leave a comment if your invitation worked and you can see this!  I know some of my friends had commented that they wanted to be a part of this, but didn't leave an email - and that is the only way I had to invite them.  SO, if someone was left out - many apologies - I did what I could!  Let me know if you know of someone who was left out by accident, please!

Nothing exciting to report - which in our case, is usually good!

We had to all change into our jammies to take our Christmas Eve photo op!

Of course, Dad needed a little help opening one of his Christmas gifts.

Fun in the snow.

Nero ended up not being upright for most of the day, but he sure had fun!

Once Chicka decided to actually try the sled out, she had a blast.

IBoy surprised even himself, I think, that he was able to do some pretty awesome moves on his snowboard.  He really wants to go to snowboard camp coming up next month in a really big way now!

Miss Daredevil Zabi couldn't go fast enough!

And then we come to the true wild one.  As you can see, MissE approached that huge jump of maybe 1 foot with anticipation and aggression. Uh, NOT!  She actually landed it.  For a second!

Our friend Michelle, who lives in China, sent two adorable jackets for the girls.

MissE assembled a "doctor kit" for Zabi's Christmas gift.  It has been a huge hit with Zabi, but the rest of us are not so enthusiastic more recently. there is only so much blood in each of us to be drawn.  Fortunately, Joanie was a good sport and let the girls doctor her for awhile.  I do notice a bit of a forced smile below, though!  Grin and bear it?????

A Time to Change

Although not a prolific poster, no doubt you have noticed that I have not posted at all recently.  It began to bother me knowing that complete strangers could look at us and see what we have been up to.  Like we usually are up to nefarious escapades all the time!!!

At any rate, I am now taking the blog private.  All of you, my dear friends, are not strangers though.  I have set a date of January 10th to change over to private settings.  SO, if you would like to peek into our beyond exciting family life (ha!), you need to send me an email or post a comment that you would like to be included in my exclusive club (hee hee!) before that date.

Abundant blessings to you and yours for the 2011 year!

Basketball and Bell Ringin' Times

Nutcracker Ballet and Christmas Cookies

Grandma treated Chicka, Zabi and a neighbor friend to tickets to the local Nutcracker ballet performance.  Not only did the girls REALLY enjoy the ballet,

 

 but Zabi was the lucky recipient of Clara's tiara!  When her name was called, she had a grin on her face the size of Mars and couldn't get up the stairs to the stage fast enough!  So much for my shy little girl!

Don't you just LOVE the dresses that the girls are wearing? You guessed it, Grandma made them!  I am so lucky to have a talented, generous woman that I can proudly call Mom.  Thanks, Mom, I love you!

 Miss Joanie came up for a quick visit, so of course we had to make cookies!  Ahem, Joanie - the chocolate chips are supposed to go ON the COOKIES, NOT in the mouth!

and what is that on her shirt??????  someone thought it might be excess oral liquids, but alas, it really was just an extra splash of water from just having done the dishes!

yup - pictures do the process justice - she had that much fun!

uh - Joanie - you have a contender for chocolate chips!

proud cookie makers!