Still here

We got the breakdown and check from the insurance claim on the hail damage and I am ready for that fight. They depreciated parts of the house that were less than a year old, assuming that they were original to the 6 yr house...I will be changing that tomorrow. Of course the check will not nearly cover the damage, so we will adjust to what will get done and what will not or we will have to do ourselves, like the fence.

The girls are fine. They came in first in their age division and will get their trophy soon. We had our soccer party with this new team and instead of, like the old one when we went to someones house and swam in their pool and did pot luck, we went to a game hall and the kids both breezed through $40! Next year, we may bow out or let them know that there is a cheaper way to do things. The coach commented to me that my girls were hanging out too much together and not spending time with the other girls.....how much sharing can you do when you are trying to win games and collect the tickets for the cheap toys that you cash them in on.... I ask you! Only one other set of parents stayed, so even the parents could not "mingle", of course most of them drop the kids off at practice and run, returning the second it is over and scoop and run. Most parents I have no clue who goes with what kid! SORRY, DONE RANTING!

BIG HAIL STORM

We had a very bad storm last night about 9 pm and we spent part of the night hiding in our storm closet. The bad part also was that Jeff was still at work and did not get home until this morning. I am glad he was not driving home in this!

We had 3-6 inches of hail that ended up in our city. Luckily our car was in the garage, but it stripped the leaves off everything and the mulch from the flower beds is somewhere far away by now. It all looks like a science fiction scene. Since we live downhill from our back neighbors, we had a river running through the backyard. We were very lucky that all none of the windows broke, but some of the solar screens covering them will need repair .I could not open the front door when it was over because it was too deep. The city had to bring in bull dozers to clear the ice off the streets and it is piled up on the curbs.

There are leaves plastered all over the walls and overhangs of every house. The wooden fence looks like someone took a chain to it and had a great time. We will have to see if it will need to be replaced. Today it is nice and cool with a beautiful blue sky. The kids are off school and still downstairs sleeping....they get to sleep on the floor of our room during bad storms.

Thank God we and all of our neighbors are alright!!!!

This is now clean up time. The roofers are out all over the neighborhood but we feel that ours is OK for now...besides they predict another storm on Tuesday! Yes, we are ready for another round since we have had so much practice so far.

4th grade Austin trip

Upon making it to the 4th grade, all of the schools send their 4th grade classes to the state capital. They study the government, having a study guide with them that they have to fill out for a grade. They also get to tour the capital and the government chambers and a museum. They get to ride a fancy charter bus with a bathroom and TV in them....of course they all had to try out the bathroom on wheels. They were the gold team which included 5 girls and two boys and two parents.

Ruth had a great time and was totally tired when she got home. . . just in time for the storm

Ruth's birthday party, etc

We had Ruth's 10th birthday party. Three of her friends came for the even, including time on the trampoline. Then they did karaoke singing upstairs. We had a yummy ice cream cake from Kroger's, and they all spent the night, getting quiet around 1 am....I was long asleep by then. Jeff said that he was almost into bed when her heard a crash! We had put a baby gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep the animals from waking the girls up, and the girls knocked it down for their second midnight food raid.

When I went upstairs in the morning to get them up, they were sleeping in the chair! NOT on the nice mats I made on the floor in the game room. There was also evidence that at some time, they moved their sleeping bags into Ruth's room, and left them there, trying so nicely not to wake Sara up. The next morning needless to say, they were quite tired and a little stiff.....good thing they are young because if I had done this, I am sure I would need to have my whole body professionally straightened out. LOL! We finished the party off with the usual donuts.

Ruth now has a respiratory infection and has begun antibiotics...the only problem is that since she began the meds, she has a daily nose bleed and her gums have turned purple. She has one more day and I will need to tell the Dr. that next time, she will need something else.

In the mean time, Sara played their game on Sat and they won 5-0. Sara was playing forward for the first time and almost made a goal. I stayed home with Ruth.

just having fun

We brought home some masks from Disney World and today we decided to paint them. We had a great time and it was not too messy.

I even had fun. The girls also painted some other wooden figures we had picked up, each had a turtle, and Sara had a star fish and Ruth a dolphin-her favorite. I guess we are getting away from horses.

13th Anniversary!

Today Jeff and I have been married for 13 years. That time really flied too. Jeff and I met on a blind date-set up by a family that both of us had known for over 25 years, but did not run into each other. . . I guess it was all in the timing. Jeff proposed to me 5 months after we met and we were married 5 months later. It was a long distance romance since we lived 200 miles apart. We did honeymoon at Disney World and that was so much fun!

Easter Rabbit came

No words necessary.

Blessed Easter

Easter arrived a day early so the family could be together, but I know the easter bunny will come tomorrow.

We spent Easter at my parents. My three sisters and their spouses and their kids, and some of the boy friends attended. Once again my mother cooked an outstanding dinner, and my sisters that lived locally brought wonderful dishes....and I for one ate like a starving pig!

Ruth and Sara dyed Easter eggs-the first for both of them. They had a great time, but what a difference between the two. Sara had done her six by the time Ruth did two, taking her time and enjoying the experience. I got to do a few too, the first time in a very long time and adults-do it with your kids because it is still fun!

After dinner and the dishes, we played a wicked game of croquet. The underdog ended up winning-way to go Steve! Yes, the one the began out first ended up losing-maybe he should not have shown everyone how to send the ball when hit by another's. So much for all the golf he plays because it did not come in handy today-sorry Mark. BUT---fun was had by all, along with many, many laughs.

We are still the old fashion family-we still hide easter eggs for the kids-age 10-25. Of course it helps that we now put cash in some of them. I was shocked to see that my dear Ruth found the two $5! Every one decided that Sara was too skilled any next year---she goes out last!

In the evening we played a card game our family learned many years ago called Nertz. We play partners and it is a very fast game based on solitaire. We do get a little loud and vicious, but it is so much fun. The other table held the Spades competition.

Now she is10!

Our little girl is now 10! Not sure how she got that old overnight, but I think there may be tooth fairy magic still in her room that is working it's magic on her and she keeps growing! Yes, I do remember the first time we saw her in Majuro, RMI at the age of 10 days. She was so little and they just said here, take her and we will see you in 3 days in court...and the birth mother will meet you in your hotel room in an hour to meet you. It was a time of much emotion.

Now she is almost as tall as me, keeps taking my shoes and slippers ( I guess I have some sense of style) and luckily she is too skinny to wear any of my clothes!

Birthday countdown & so much more

Ruth's birthday is coming fast-on the 20th, and she will be double digit! No more little girl single digit. It makes me sad that they grow up so fast, yet, each stage is beautiful.

The girls had a good soccer practice yesterday. The first game Ruth got defensive player of the game, the second week Sara got the honors. Actually after last game, the opposing coach told our coach that with #20 on the field, they were doomed . . . Sara is # 20 midfield defender and she is a lightning bolt coming out of nowhere and striking the opponent. Jeff and I are amazed at how well both girls play and that they instintivly know what to do and where to be to make the strike.

We have rain today . . . not the let's water the flower rain, but the let's wash away the cars rain. So far they said it is 2" an hour, and it began this morning! I am sure the lakes will be thrilled to fill before the summer shortfall of rain. . . if you hear hammering, it is us building a boat so we can get to my parent's house for Easter. Sara is also glad that it is her rabbit's birthday too.

This morning we gave our dog Cooper a bath in the girl's bathroom. They both put on their swim suits and crawled in to hold him. He did very good and smells and looks a ton better ~and we saved $23 too. Now if it will stop raining long enough for him to do his business!

Tonight Sara has her tumbling II class. Last night she got moved up to gymnastics II class and they may move her straight to III in a few weeks.

SNOW-in March?

You heard it right. . . snow in March-and twice in one week. Who said there is no freaky weather going on? BELIEVE IT!!





Our dog Cooper joined the fun and tried to eat the snow and got a cold wet snowy snoot.



Yes, he is next to his summer pool, trying to figure out why he can not get his drinking water . . . it is covered with ice. WHY you ask is his summer pool out, because it was just 80 and he was swimming in it. FREAKY!

Next - Easter

This afternoon we took the easter things out of the attic and the girls immediately attacked the eggs. They wanted me go do an easter egg hunt today. . . yea! I told them when they got home from school on Monday I will have one ready for them and they want to make sure that there is money and not necessarily candy inside. . . I think they will be filled with air for now silly girls.

SOCCER

--before the game. We had our first soccer game this morning. This year they play 11-12 yr olds and on the full size soccer field. I was amazed that they were able to cover the complete field. They also play 11 per team on the field. I am sure that later in the late spring when it gets hot, they will suddenly learn to pass more than the running with the ball, but only time will tell. This first game was an exhibition game and did not count. They lost 2-0, but did play well. Ruth still plays defense and Sara plays mid-field. This year we have bleachers with a shade cover which sounds good, but when the coach is standing in front of you with the girls waiting to go in, and the sun is at an angle, well, we do appreciate the effort, but I am looking for the A/C!

Our new team is the Fillies and their colors are green, white and gold. - - after the game

Daddy Daughter Dance 2008

After much anticipation and preparations, tonight is the big dance. Sara picked out her dress last fall, size 14, and it did require quite a bit of alteration to size it down. Ruth picked hers out a few weeks ago and I had to do a few alterations to hers too, such as add blue. We were lucky to find a necklace the matched's Ruth's blue trim and Sara wore my grandmother's diamond choaker and Ruth's fancy tiera. Jeff look great too, buy you know it is all about the girls! Jeff said they danced almost every dance and when Jeff and Ruth rested, Sara kept on dancing and they had a great time. Just in case you are wondering, Sara was covered in body glitter. I had to finally take it away from her...she is all girl. After taking the picuures, Ruth was walking back into the house and I noticed some black under her dress and I thought that she still had on her white soccer socks with the black emblem from this morning....she still had her soccer pants on! What can I say. . . love them both.

Chess tournament

Sara and two boys were invited to a chess tournament. Jeff took Sara while I took Ruth to the first soccer practice with their new team. I kept watching for Jeff and Sara to make it to practice assuming that Sara would play one game and then come home. . . SURPRISE! This girl is really good and took home a huge trophy.

Valentine's Day

Ruth had a fun Valentine Party in 4th grade. She won for best box and I was proud of her. She is very creative. They had an ice cream sundee party. Sara was a little bummed because in 5th grade they are in Intermediate school and have no formal parties. This did not stop her from bringing valentine candies to all of her teachers, card to all the students in her languare arts class-her favorite and most liberal teacher- and small bags of candies to her 15 best friends LOL!

We also made valentine peppermint cookies, which Sara was excited that we made good pepperoni cookies - a little off on the words causing often laughts.

Talented girls! ! ! !

Sara has been invited to a chess tournament at a nearby school. She has been moved to the upper level at her school chess club and is the only girl....and I assured her that someday this will be good, but for now, she wishes there were a few more girls.


Ruth is one of three students in her school invited by Duke University to join their TIP program for the gifted. She got 100 and 99 on her state mandeded tests last year! Not sure yet what this program will involve, but I am very proud of her. Check it out at:



http://www.tip.duke.edu/talent_searches/grades_4-5/

Chinese New Year-later

We opted to celebrate Chinese New Year at our local Chinese market. They had drummers with marshall arts exhibitions, including dancing with knives and sworts. They had the little dragon dance, then the huge dragon dance, followed by the largest strings of fire crackers I have ever seen! It was loud but a lot of fun. The girls were dressed in their outfits and both were beautiful!

"hot" daughter and EMERGENCY

I was outside trimming the bushes waiting for Sara to walk home from the bus stop. She was very excited and yelling....."mommy, a boy on the bus told me he loved me! He said I was hot and pretty.....yuck! ! ! ! " I asked if he said she was hot because she had on her big coat. She said no mommy, I had my coat off...it means I am realllllly pretty....(all smiles)

I was teasing her about it, laughing like you all will do some day, holding the bush branch in my hand so it would not blow as I cut it with my super sharp shears, and I sheared off the end of my finger! By the time I got into the house, Ruth already had Jeff on the phone, not making much sense, I was crying, Sara was asking if I was going to die....just like a circus. Jeff said to go on to the hospital and he was on his way, from an hour away. So into the car to the hospital next to Sara's school only 4 miles away. I can not stand the sight of blood, but I did pretty good. I did make sure the girls grabbed a snack and water and we were off. I was driving like a "safe" maniac speeding too... and of all days not to see a cop to escort me there!

After waiting an hour, the Dr said it had already begun good clotting, so no stitches, but also nothing else...like dishes-yea! Jeff arrived as we were finishing up and home we went.


No posts for a while because I can not type with one finger! More later.

Chinese New Year- 2/7/08

We are preparing for Chinese New Year. Since Sara came to us at the age of 9, she can tell us what was done in her China home for the New Year. First, this is when everyone got a haircut. They also got 120 yuan (@20 dollars) to buy all new clothes, shampoo, other needs. Giving money is very important for this holiday. She said they did a lot of fire crackers, ate well, and stayed up all night. This is the most important holiday for her, so we are trying to celebrate it with much enthuseism too. We have decorated our house with lanterns, banners, and whatever else we can find. We have made gift boxes for her teachers and put chocolate coins in each.