The Inmates are Running the Asylum

To sum up the last several weeks.... (and yes the photos are probably worth a thousand words)






On the streets of New York, this might be a talent



You are supposed to nurture their talents, right???? All things considered, they didn't sound *that* bad, and the girls were really into it. They may be A and X's first groupies.




I can't even begin to explain this (and yes, X is half naked- but at least he isn't answering the door that way- there is at least one Girl Scout who will never forget selling cookies to us...)





And then there was the best one of all (warning: this is not for those with weak stomachs). I came home from a meeting to find the girls in the bathroom playing in the toilet paper. I grabbed the camera and thought "oh how cute" and then after snapping the first two photos noticed the potty chair. Or more specifically, the part of the potty chair that is removable to allow for "dumping". It was upside down on the floor and yes there was "pee pee in the potty", along with it's companion "oo-ey" (as D proudly told me). Needless to say, it was straight to the bath tub

You Must Be Thinking of Someone Else

So one thing you always hear about from other parents who have adopted transracially is the strange comments and questions they get about their children. So far, I haven't had too many really bad ones but I had a weird one today. I teach Sunday School at our church and I always teach the pre-k class so naturally I now have siblings of kids I had previously. So today in class is a little guy whose sister I had for the last 2 years. Their grandmother brings them to church and hangs around the room "helping" us out. Today we had a lesson about families and how families are all different and once thing I mentioned is that sometimes families don't always look alike (as K was sitting on my lap at the time) So we finish the lesson and the kids are all eating snack. I am holding K and Grandma comes up and says "I remember when you were pregnant with this one" Huh????? I sort assumed she meant when we were waiting, or "paper pregnant" but no. She looked all surprised and said "Oh is she adopted then?" (I resisted the urge to be snarky and say that she was just on loan to see if it would work out for us) She said "well I haven't seen you for a while and the last time you must have been pregnant" Yeah, except that I have had your granddaughter in my class for the last 2 years and the last time I was pregnant was 5 years ago- I don't know who she has me mixed up with or maybe it is really time to start that diet I've been putting off.

Although one hand I am glad she doesn't seem to hung up on kids matching their parents, on the other hand she knows all 3 of my youngest kids so I have to wonder exactly what she thinks I "do" in my free time


Not matching but totally mine!

Does It Come In My Size Too?

D has become something of a fashionista lately- She is now going through 3-4 outfits a day (and at least one is always pajamas) This is one from her latest collection. A red and white (with a few sequins) kitty sweater, purple cow pajama pants and knock off pink Crocs (on the wrong feet, no less). She actually had on the pants that go with the kitty sweater before we left for school, but in the time it took me to gather the backpacks and put K in the car seat, she had changed into this outfit. I took her pants to school, but when I got back to pick her up she was still in her purple cow pajama pants. Her teacher said "I wasn't about to try to get her to change" My thoughts exactly.

73 hours

is exactly how long it took me to go through one full tank of gas this week. I filled up on Monday after X's swim lesson and filled up again today 73 hours later (after A's swim lesson) So for those of you still guessing on the poll- that means 320 miles in the last 3 days. I love my car, but honestly, enough is enough. It's a 4 day weekend at A's school and he suggested we drive to a neighboring state (5 hours away) for the weekend to "explore" I told him it was fine with me but he had to buy the gas and drive.

Luckily though, I did spring for Sirius/XM radio and that has been a real blessing. I only listen to 3 stations, but they are good ones.

Coming soon (maybe tomorrow??) The Difference Between... version 2.0

First you put your PJ's on backward, then you flush an ice cube...

and that's how you get a snow day. I am sitting here hoping that tomorrow I will be able to sleep in (till at least 7:30) They are forecasting our next "storm of the century" which means anywhere from .5 inches to 3 feet of snow. But in honor of the potential for a snow day and as an offering to the snow day spirits here are some photos of the kids playing in the last "storm of the century"










and for those of you who have the fortune of living someplace warm who might not know what a snow day is- consider yourself lucky (and it's a day where it is too snowy for the buses to be safe on the roads and/or too cold for kids to be safely walking to school

A Fun Diversion

I am currently the only person who can drive in the family. Luckily, my trip odometer reset during the "power outage" in the hospital parking lot

http://pullthisblogover.blogspot.com/2008/12/we-interrupt-our-previously-scheduled.html

so I know exactly how many miles I have driven since B broke his leg. So I thought I'd have a poll to guess how many miles I will drive before B is cleared (by me) for him to drive the kids safely around. Feel free to vote and/or guess a number (and maybe I'll send a "prize" to who ever guesses closest)

I will give you some clues to help with guessing
B broke his leg on Dec 17
I was on winter break until Jan 5
The odometer is currently at about 2200 miles since 12/17


Coming soon (maybe)
How many inches (feet) of snow will I have to shovel before spring??

祝你未来的一年里，心想事成。事事如意。

XIN NIAN KUAI LE
Happy Year of the OX

Things are busy here so we will actually be celebrating later this week and I will post the photos then. The kids aren't performing this year so let's go in our way back machine to see last year's performance.

*edited to add- I didn't take the video and it is a little choppy. Those prone to motion sickness have been warned




恭喜发财. Gong xi fa cai!!
Wishing you good fortune and prosperity