Welcome to America and Happy New Year

Weird title.  I agree.  Couldn't think of anything better though. 

We are nearly smack dab in the middle of the Empress' month.  Last week was her 2nd grade play.  She was so excited.  She had a solo singing part.  The Empress loves to sing and happily sits in the car singing along with the radio, belting out Adele songs from her bedroom, or singing Karaoke in the living room, when she thinks no one is watching.  So, the 2nd grade play popped up.  She auditioned and got a tiny solo.  She talked about it non-stop for a month.  When the time arrived, she marched into the gym with the rest of the 2nd graders.  Smile from ear to ear.  On her, and on me!  Then her moment arrived and she sang the most glorious little piece of the whole play.  Wow.  My girl can sing.  She was loud and proud.  The play, or more aptly described, musical, was about the folks coming over on the Mayflower to the new world.  In my humble, non-biased, mom opinion, she was the star.

Quality of the photos is poor, sorry.  Darn iPhone.

Sunday (10th) was Chinese New Year.  Yahoo.  Year of the Snake.  We put up our meager decorations and I cooked a lovely little dinner of Beef and Broccoli, egg rolls and spring rolls.  The children were given their red money envelopes, chocolate coins, and zodiac animals.  Cute little snakes.  And after dinner we all ate our fortune cookies.  Yum.  We didn't do fireworks this year.  Bummer.  On Monday, the Empress, dressed in a beautiful blue Chinese silk dress, took books, Pandas, zodiac animals, red envelopes, chocolate coins, and fortune cookies to school to share with her class.  We have been so blessed with teachers.  Ms. Hash devoted the whole day to Chinese New Year and they did calligraphy, watched videos, and read books.  Grayson shared her Chinese story and answered questions for the class.  Surprise....my girl was the center of attention...and she loved it!!

The Month of Grayson

The new year has been by and large, uneventful.  Then in rolls February.  Next week we have the Empress' first school musical.  She has a singing part and is more than excited for the performance.  She is a good little singer and of course loves, loves, loves being the center of attention.

The Empress' "Gotcha" Day is February 7.  This is her special family day.  We will read her the story of our journey to becoming a family and present her with a small Chinese gift.  This year is her 7th "Gotcha" day.  Hard to believe as it seems we have been together forever.  This day holds memories of the very best day of my life! 

The 10th is Chinese New Year.  We have celebrated this Chinese holiday since bringing G home and it has become quite the production.  Of course we have decorations.  The Empress dresses in a silk dress and shares a bit of her culture with her class.  She brings books about the celebrations and hands out red envelopes containing gold chocolate coins, and fortune cookies.  At home I make traditional Chinese dumplings and we enjoy a feast.  Both kids get red envelopes with real money and small animals in the shape of the Chinese Zodiac.  This year is the Snake.  Some years we light fire works, however, this year we have none to light.

The 14th is Valentines Day.  No explanation necessary.  We generally celebrate as everyone does, with valentines and a lovely dinner.  Sorry to say it has become more of the kids holiday than the parents.  

The Empress' 8th birthday is on the 18th.  She is growing up toooo quickly.  This year we have decided to let her get her ears pierced.  She has relentlessly begged us for pierced ears for the last 4 years.  This year we are going to cave.  I had originally told her that she would have to wait until she was 12, but have decided that she has shown me the maturity necessary to care for her ears.  I have also promised to "redo" her bedroom for her as a gift.  We have talked about the color scheme, bedding and decorations and have agreed on what we want it to look like. Now we need the time to accomplish the task.  Instead of a big party, the Empress has decided to invite her best friend, Sophia, to a girls lunch with Mom, followed by an afternoon at the Fun Zone with Dad, and a family dinner at Wasabi that evening.

So, Mom, Dad, and Greer will sit back and watch our lovely Empress enjoy "Her" February!

The Rip Van Winkle Fall/Holiday Post

I am going to claim Rip Van Winkle syndrome.  If there is no such thing, then I am making one up.  Apparently, I fell asleep at the blogging wheel and just recently awakened.  Things have happened.  Moments to remember.  Call me the ginormous slacker that I am.  So, an update...

Turning the pages back to Halloween.  It was a nice little holiday.  The Empress went as Super Girl.  Sorta fitting, don't cha think?  Dude, well, dude was an astronaut.  The most adorable little astronaut, EVER!!  Dude and his buddies visited us at work.  Always sweet.  Grayson had dress-up at school.  Then, we jumped in the car and headed to Halloween mecca, Buffalo Stage.  As it was early, there weren't many folks home from work yet.  Perfect.  So, we hit a couple of blocks before dark and then loaded back in the car and headed for the Hazletts.  Then, home for mummy dogs and passing out treats.  Short and sweet.

Picking up speed.....Thanksgiving.  We dashed to Dillon for Thanksgiving.  It was several days of overeating and visiting.  Nice.  Dad made his delish oyster stew.  A delight I dream about.  It is always soooo yummy!  Grayson had a play date with her cousin Claire.  We don't get to see Claire much and it is a real treat when we do because she is Grayson's closest in age cousin.  She is 8.  Grayson and I were able to help Papa and Nana decorate for Christmas.  Their house looked lovely and festive when we were finished and we couldn't wait to haul out all of our Christmas decorations when we got home. We are all so thankful for family.  Like always, the trip was way too short and before we knew it we were saying goodbye.

December seemed to fly by. I was set to go to trial out of town the second week of December.  There were many, many hours of preparation.  At the eleventh hour, literally a day before trial, the Judge's assistant called to say that there was a current trial that was not going to be concluded in time for us to start, so the trial was vacated.  Feelings of relief and disappointment at the same time.  So, we plunged into Christmas prep.  Lots of shopping.  Wrapping and wrapping.  Decorating.  Parties.  Our Elf on the Shelf "Gus" arrived and the kids enjoyed daily discussions with him as well as the morning elf recon.  Who would find him first and what crazy place would our little guy be perched?  Of course the daily reports of behavior to Santa didn't even slow down our resident menace Greer.  Grayson went caroling with the local violinists.  They hit a couple of the assisted living places in the area.  G was fabulous.  Before we knew it Christmas Eve had arrived.  We rushed around making cookies, candy and preparing reindeer food.  We opened our PJ's, read Twas' the Night Before Christmas, wrote Santa a little note and left egg nog and gingerbread cookies for the big man in red.  Amazingly, I awoke at 7:30 to find both children still asleep.  Panic.  We had friends coming for breakfast at 9.  Eeek!!  So, we roused the kiddos and dashed to the tree.  We all got wonderful gifts....even Greer, who I was quite sure would be left with nothing but a pot of coal!  Our friends arrived and we spent the morning talking and eating.  It was lovely!!  After everything died down and everyone had a nap, we began to pack up the truck for an early morning escape to Dillon.  On the 26th we made our way down to Dillon.  It was a long drive and none of us were talking when we arrived.  Wondering if we call a moratorium on long trips until little dude is in high school?  But, we made it and were greeted by family.  We spent the 26th with Todd's family, opening presents and eating.  Do you see a theme yet...eating??  Grayson, Aunt Jodi and Cousin Kait went over to the cabin and made cookies.  I think I was in bed by eight.  On the 27th it was over to Nana and Papa's for third Christmas and more presents.  Sue and I made an AWESOME Prime Rib, that actually got Dad's seal of approval.  I believe he said it was the best he has ever had!!  So nice to hear and I think I would agree with his assessment.  It was melt in your mouth yum!!  The kids enjoyed Sue-Sue and their cotton candy machine, alot!!  Greer got to go on a snowy adventure with Aunt Jodi.  Again, such a nice time.  I even got another oyster stew from Dad.  Yum.  Again with the eating!!  Before we knew it we were home and the decorations were being put away.  Until next time....

Happy New Year 2013!!!

Pumpin Patchin It

Our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch with the Hazletts.

Grayson and Greer on the train.

Brad and the kids.

Greer was soooooo mad he couldn't do it himself.  He threw a flinging fit.

Sheri riding a big kid trike.

For the Love of a Friend

My dear friend Lanell was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer.  She underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction.  The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes.  Her treatment began with chemo and she was told that she would lose all her hair after the second treatment.  The night before her second treatment I cut off all my hair.  Anyone who knows me knows my hair.  It is really a big part of me.  A place I hide.  A place I feel safe.  It defines me.  People know me by my hair.  It was very long and blonde and very healthy.  I loved my hair.  But, I love Lanell.  What could I really do for her.  The answer was a profound one.  Cut my hair.  So I did.  On the day I decided to cut it I told my friend Amelia, also a co-worker and friend of Lanells, what I planned to do.  Without missing a beat, she replied, "I'm in."  Amelia also had very long, very beautiful hair.  So, we cut our hair.  When Lanell arrived at work a couple days after receiving her second round of chemo, there on her chair were two very beautiful braids in the shape of a heart.  Then, from around the corner we stepped.  She was shocked and touched.  She cried and cried.  We hugged and snapped photos.  Our gift inspired her.  She threw together a head shaving party.  All her friends gathered at her house on Saturday morning.  There was food and laughs and we all took turns shaving Lanell's head.  It is what she wanted.  She had changed a very upsetting event into a party.  Four men shaved their heads in solidarity.  Her dear husband Greg, now very bald, lovingly held her hand. She slipped on her new wigs and embraced her baldness.  I love Lanell.  She is an inspiration.  She will kick cancer.  It doesn't have a chance.  

Fall Fun



Greer and his buddy Lander enjoying the leave pile at Terri's house.



Papa Skip Turns 80!! Hooray!!

Papa Skip is 80!!  Do you know how awesome that is?  It is fabulous. It is wonderful and miraculous.  And, a definite reason to celebrate.  Sue and I had discussed bringing the folks to the Flathead for a few days.  Sue had checked out hotels and John had agreed to drive them up in his van.  To top off their mini vacation was going to be a trip to Spencers for steak, spaghetti and hopefully a chat with every ones favorite waitress Lynn.  Sounded good.  But, we were shot down.  And, I have to admit that I understand it.  When we drive to Dillon to visit, it is a major undertaking.  You don't sleep well and by the end of the trip there is the inevitable exhaustion.  They are comfortable in their home.  They are safe in their home.  They have their own beds and the stress level is much lower.  So, plan two.  Meet in Butte, dinner at Lydias.  Nope, shot down again.  In the end, Dad wanted to dine at the Den with his Family.  And, it was brilliant.  Uncle Mel and Bo came down and the lovely Lanes joined us.  It was nice.  Happy Birthday Papa Skip, we love, love love you!!



Uncle Mel brought the kids some great books.  Greer's favorite was Muddy Truck.



The Birthday Boy and his little Grasshopper.

Nana and her little man Greer.