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.
Sara had a star fish and Ruth a dolphin-her favorite. I guess we are getting away from horses.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
--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!
- - after the game
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.
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.
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.
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. 
Check it out at:
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. 
This morning Sara and I were up early and the day was beautiful, so we sat outside and watched and listened to the birds. We have a mating pair of Cardinals living in the yard and Sara caught some great photos of them!
We had a beautiful day today and the girls and I were spending time outside playing with the dog and the girls on the trampoline, and Ruth got the idea to make a great leaf pile and jump into like she had hear of. FIRST, she began with one handful of dead leaves, then after studying the probablilty of it, decided that she would probably do better if she had some more. 
Then she had made her mighty pile, all 6 inches deep (city girls living where it used to be grazing land for cattle and thus no REAL treel) and went for it. OH....the look in her eyes! Jeff asked if it hurt, and she said only the bottom of it, but it was fun the first 5 inches.
Then Sara thought she needed to do this too, even after having watched her sister's pain....always has to try everything. The last thing I told her was that it was going to hurt, and off she went with a running leap.....and totally missed the leaves! I laughed so hard, couldn't help it.....then she had to sit on my lap, because her butt hurt too bad to sit anywhere else.......then Ruth decided that it was not a true experiment unless she tried it again. . . . same result!
We have finally completed the 4th grade science fair with Ruth. Since she is in the gifted program, she could not choose a topic from the list given to the other 4th graders...she had to be original. She chose to explore weather ice melts at different rates in different fluids. She chose 6 fluids and...the ice melted much faster in the tequilla ( with adult supervision) and in Coke the slowest. She did not win an award, but she did a fantastic job and we are VERY proud of Ruth.
