Happy Chinese New Year!

Carli is learning about China in school. She is just awed and simply excited to be learning these things. It really amazes me the level of her excitement for suddenly anything Chinese. After growing up with this girl and her mom (who was born in China) it is so neat to see my daughter's excitement to learn more about this country.

She is learning so much so fast. This morning she said, "Do you know that for New Years in China, they give out little red envelopes with money in them?". ...Oh! I almost forgot about that. Every year my Aunt would always give us a little red envelope with a dollar tucked neatly inside. It was my little Chinese gift. I loved it, but don't think that it is a tradition that I could keep up with as well as my aunt did.

Today, as soon as she came inside the house, she flung off her backpack and pulled out a restaurant placemat with the Chinese horoscope on it. The kids were just ecstatic as we talked about who was born in what year and what animal they were.

This is what we found out:

Mom: Rabbit, Dad:Boar Nolan: rabbit, Carli: snake, Bridger: Monkey, Jack: Boar

What are You???

B-Ball Babe!

Carli has been in Basketball for about 2 weeks now. On Sat. she just had her first game! She was AWESOME! She scored 2 baskets! I was amazed at her talent. Once she got the hang of it, she just got better and better. My Girl Rocks!

(But I suck at pix.- I took a bunch of pics of her and they all turned out dark. This one is the only one that tuned out! Carli is wearing the green shirt underneath her red jersey. As soon as I get a program to edit pix- I will be able to make them brighter!)

Love my Mush!

My friend Saralyn, has been trying to give me a bag of mush for quit some time! I finally accepted it. Now every 10 days, I get to turn this mush into yummy Amish Friendship Bread! If I don't give any starters away, I can make 8-10 loaves. That is a lot of bread! If you would like a starter, then let me know! We do have it with breakfeast just about every morning and are LOVING it! (the bread, not the mush) Thanks Saralyn!

I'm Gonna Post About It Anyway!

Here is a book (that I had on my Christmas Wish list) that Jonny bought me. Although, I didn't know too much about the details before I read it. Jonny read it before I did, mostly because he needed a book to take with him when he went to Wa. DC last week. He warned me of how gory it is. Although I REALLY liked this book, it is NOT for everyone. I wasn't even sure if I should put it on my blog, but in the long run I thought, why not?! (My blog is about things that I like)
It is very similar to the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. So much so, that people are wondering if her idea came from Battle Royale. (However, she said she got her idea from a Greek Mythology tale). I loved the personal stories in here. There are 42 students that are put on an island to fight one another to death until there is a winner. The author tells the story of the "game" from (almost) each student's point of view. (I was really impressed by that). Did I mention that all the students are Japanese? Their names are confusing at first, but not so bad once you start. And did I mention that I LOVED the end? Well, I did! (YOU may not like this book due to the gory bloodshed, the strong language (although I have , unfortunately read worse- by accident- long story) and the sexual implications. (It's not for the skweemish!) Of course I can't stop thinking about the endng!

Down and Derby Year 2

This is Nolan's 2nd time doing the Pinewood Derby race. (Check out last year here!)He had fun even though he came in 5th or 6th (We guessed), out of about 14 cars,. But he still did better than last year and got pretty excited during the race.

The competition was fierce!

Nolan designed his car to look like a Liopleurodon.

What? Don't you think it looks just like one?

(I told Jonny that we need to coin the phrase, "As fast as a Liopleurodon!")

In the end, Nolan won the award for the "Most Original Design.

Ah! Now to start planning next year's car. (How does the evil laugh go, Bahawhahaha)

With Love,

Dear Baby Carson,
I am so excited to be your aunt. Uncle Jon and I have waited so long for you and are soooo excited about your arrival. My arms long to hold you and introduce you to your cousins. You were sent to very special people who will love and care for you. (Your Momma is a dear lady and your dad is a cool and super nice guy!) Don't grow up too much until we get to see you. You are all the talk at our house! We love you already! Love Auntie T-

P.S.- Please tell your mom and dad that Auntie T and your 4 cuz's desperately want to see a pic of you. (I mean come -on-it's been 3 days already!!!) Auntie T is NOT known for her patience. Just ask your Uncle Jon and your 4 cousins (and anyone selling food)- lol!

(It will not be posted on this blog unless otherwise said and then only your first name will be mentioned!)

Soon! Soon! Soon!

I will be an aunt soon! My SIL was gonna be induced today.(I'm glad it's her and not me!-LOL) I will see a pic of him soon, but will have to wait for a few months to steal him away suck up his delicious baby smell and kiss his sweet baby chub-ub cheeks!

Book Recommendation!

If you have already guessed, I seem to be into sci-fi. Preferably teen-sci-fi. (And nothing too kooky. Just vampires and ancient curses and alternate universes and such- lol)

The book, Impossible, by Nancy Werlin intrigued me from the start!

I found it was "Impossible" to put down.

I even found a book trailer for it.

I didn't even know they made those!

Book Recommendation!

My Jonny gave me 4 books for Christmas. This book was one of them. I really liked it and thought it was pretty funny and very creative.

Well, I'm off to read the next of my Christmas presents!

What? It's Over Already?!?!

These are just some pics from our Christmas vacation this last week. It was soooo much fun and so relaxing. I am actually sad that the kids have to go to school all day tomorrow.

Jack got a train for Christmas that he crawled on for a couple of days before we opened up the box. The boys look so handsome in their matching Christmas outfits from Grandma. And Carli Loves her dress.

Dad and Jack do a puzzle together. (No Jack, you can't eat the pieces).

Mom and Bridger cuddle!

Oh! I will miss them everyday while they are at school. It sure has been fun!!!

Super Late!

It is super duper late. I was just about to head off to bed when I noticed that my lil guy was crying. He wasn't happy going to bed again, so we snuggled for awhile while I tinkered on the computer. I went to my blog to check comments (always interesting) and noticed that my "Aunt" ticker said that my new nephew has arrived. He has not. Since it was super late, I thought it funny that he is super late too. Okay- maybe it is not that funny. Maybe I just need some sleep!

(I thought for sure that he ws gonna come b4 the new year. Now he is gonna make his parents look like poor finacial planners.-LOL)

To Wii Or Not To Wii

Well, we did it. We cracked. We finally bought the kids a video game system. I know. I know. I said I NEVER would. But we did. And you know what? I don't regret it. (well, not yet anyway).

Nolan can get so obsessed with games that I thought that it would be for the best if we never got one. But we let him play computer games. Only that tactic backfired on us. What started out as educational, quality computer time turned into obsessive-hog -the-computer-and-download-all-kinds-of-games-from-the-Internet-constantly-breaking-the-computer-and-putting-viruses-on-it-and-inevitably-turning-little-brains-into-mush.

But with the wii- the kids can all play a game, they can get up and move about, and Nolan comes to me now and says that he has had enough of it for awhile. Hahahahaha- I CAN'T believe it! He has had enough of playing a video game!!!! I LOVE Wii!!!!!!!

De-Santa-Fi-cation!

Have you ever watched The Santa Clause 2? Do you remember the part where Tim Allen starts the de-santa-fication? Where he isn't gonna be Santa anymore until he gets married. So to find a wife, he starts to de-santa-fy, and looses his big tummy, white hair and beard. This all make a BIG difference with his appearance.

From this

To this

And finally to this:

That is what I feel that we have to do every year just after Christmas. It is a lot of work to lay out those Christmas decorations, all over the house with decor and music (and this blog) and every other touch of Christmas that you create during the month of December.
But now the hardest part of all! The De-santafication of your "December body"! Every new year is a new plan to make yourself and your life and definitely your body, better! If only it was that easy to be Tim Allen and to slim down within a day or two. To change your bad habits and create a "better" you! Are you ready to start fresh? Then let the De-Santa-fication process start working on all of us! (And may the good Lord help us with all our goals this year!- I know I am gonna need it!) Goodbye Hot Cocoa- I shall miss you as my mid-morning treat!

T's New Years Goals!
#1 Loose this $@%# weight that I can't seem to get rid of!
#2- Read Scriptures as a family again- we have taken too long of a break
#3- Wake up earlier- I don't like leaving my cozy bed in the winter!
-My other goals are personal ones like being a better wife, mother and person!

What are your New Year Goals?

Soon! Soon! Soon!

Just days left until I'm an aunt, Jon is an uncle and the kiddies have a cousin! OOOO! I am so excited!

(You are almost there Amy! We are rootin' for ya!!!)

Book and Movie Recommendation

Thanks to THIS girl, I was able to borrow and read this book! It was a great book! I really enjoyed it and can see why it is a popular novel to read in book groups. Now I am excited to see the movie!

Oh! And speaking of movies, (Thanks to the same gal, who celebrated her birthday and was kind enough to let me tag along)I saw this movie.

It was really sweet (and a little sad). The ending really touched me as a mother and a wife! There is a little adultery in it which I wasn't loving- but other than that, it was a really neat story of living life with an unusual circumstance!