COLD again

Winter thinks it is back again. We have cabin fever for the weekend. Jeff and I went and bought a new sink and faucet for the kitchen--the last of the big spenders.

Ruth has been reading up a huge storm. We are back to the library every week to load her up again. I think next time we will get 4 books instead of two, which she finished one a day on the weekends. Jessie keeps Ruth warm as she reads.

Sara-she had a huge project and just finished it. She did a fantastic job and will post a photo ASAP. This is Sara with all 3 fur babies-Puff the cat, Jessie and Cooper. Though Sara is smiling, I suspect that the animals are ready to run away as fast as they can!

MY CUTE GIRLS

All grown up

Ruth and Sara meet and become sisters....friends.

fun weekend

Sunday we went to the trails in town and had a great time. The day was a beautiful spring day. I even took my turn on the scooter-what a hip mom I am!

Doggy dress up

Friday evening Ruth-in the teal blue-had her volleyball and they won 3 of 4 games...way to go Ruth!

We had a beautiful sunset Friday night---followed by a rainy Saturday.

News from afar

Our very good friend returned to the US today with her beautiful new daughter who is from the same island as Ruth. While there, she tracked down two of Ruth's bio aunts~they are the ones in the foreground. We also received some contact information that we will follow up on.

Beautiful tropical weather today-2 tornadoes last night but they were east of us, we didn't even get rain which was nice because the girls and I did wash the van on Saturday, and waxed it to. My dad taught me the correct and thorough way to wash a can, so I am forcing this info onto the girls, who want to get it done with quickly.....

still here...

Sara has been hitting the books very hard since during Christmas break. This week is mid-terms and it is amazing how much it covers-everything since the beginning of school for all 6 subjects. Ruth has once again another project which is due tomorrow. I am finishing putting away Christmas things. Now that the big freeze is over, the girls and I will get back into the attic and put the rest of it away....always to find more a few days later...you know what I mean.

I really need to wash the van, but rain is coming, so oh well....until another day. I really hate having a dirty van and even the inside windows are smeared with doggie nose prints in the back.

Happy 2010. May it be a year of happiness, family time, and good health. May you have strength to see the good in those around you and to not judge too quick.

snow again

As you can see, the snowman changed while we were gone..."I'll be back again some day"

Today we got up early to drive home before our snow started again and we made it JUST in time. It is nice to be home and unpacking seemed to take forever.

old friends

Today we got together with a family we met nearly 12 years ago in Hawaii on our way to Majuro to adopt a little girl ~ Ruth. Our friends adopted a little boy who was 3 months old and it was not a done deal until the last minute. You see, the mother had changed her mind but they went on faith and came home with a son. Today is his 12th birthday too.

WE HAVE A TEEN!

Today Sara turned 13. In looking back, it feels like she has been a teen for at least a year and you know what I mean. Today she will get her ears pierced (ear pokes she calls them) and she has been stocking up with earrings for 2 years in anticipation for this. We will have a small family birthday with grandparents and aunt & uncle....and another cake.

It is amazing how quickly they grow and I am grateful I take pictures constantly to go back and see how exactly this happens...

Christmas #2

We arrived at my parents with out issue-the snow area ended about 1 hour into our drive and the temp continued to climb. We were the first to arrive-2 dogs in tow. A few hours the masses arrived and first was a super delicious dinner.

Then it was on to the 3 hours of opening gifts.

THEN it was the hours of cards into the next day.

My 3 kids

The girls wanted to go to the cemetery to say hi to their big brother Bryan. We took his Christmas tree and Sara took a brush to clean off his marker. The kids like having a big brother that they say look over them.

Merry Christmas #1 at home

Merry Christmas to everyone. We got up this morning and opened the generous presents, sang happy birthday to Jesus, then headed out of town to my parent's house for the gathering of the masses.

Since we had a very heavy snow yesterday -the 24th-this drive will be a little scary. A second concern is the ice under the snow since it is about 20 now.

Summer to winter

IF you think your weather is strange......check this out. The saying in Texas is that if you don't like the weather, wait a little while and it will change.



WELL...yesterday it was 73 and today~~~snow. No wonder we are a flexable people...we never know what to expect. So far we have 2-4 inches and it is still snowing and it is 20 degrees-BURRRRR

back pains

I went back to my dr. yesterday and had X-rays taken because my back still hurts, so now we have an answer. It seems I have a muscle in my back that spasmed and then got stuck. Now, we will do 4 wks of PT to get it out and retrain the muscle. The worse part of pt--having to do the exercised in front of a huge mirror-I need to get back exercising!

The therapist said he will also work on my knee--yea!

Then, he was talking about things for Ruth's scoliosis...I need to have her X-rays sent over from her ped for him to look at.

ICE SKATING

Today I braved it all and went to our big mall to take the girls ice skating FOR THE FIRST TIME. They both did great. It did take a little time for them to let go of the wall, then they were sailing. We have decided this will be a monthly thing and each can bring a friend....also great exercise.

cute puppy pics

Jessie is the tan one

Cooper is the black one.

Sara's 13th B-day party

This evening was Sara's 13th birthday party. She had 5 girls come and 3 spent the night. We began with lots of giggles in her room. Then they made individual pizzas. Next they painted a letter for their first name and "blinged" it. Next they did sand bottles and most of those came out OK. Then the soccer cake-marble our new favorite. Finally a rush to make one last craft before the two sets of parents came for a pick up. Though we rented 3 movies for them to watch, they elected to watch some we already had. Sara picked out some sock slippers for each and also gave them a small rhinestone picture frame. Of course on Sun am it was donuts all around followed by some more movie watching. All were gone by noon. It was a great party