Urban Chicken Coop

As we were delivering baskets, we parked next to this "farm". I've seen some chicken coops in my time, but never in the middle of such a dense population. I'm sure the neighbors love it.

Baskets of Blessings

Together with some friends we delivered food baskets to some less fortunate. This is some of the prep work before we delivered them. It never ceases to amaze me how those who live with less are big on hospitality. Every home we visited offered us tea, sweets, and conversation we barely understood. We were definitely blessed.

Official Christmas Picture

One of the malls in town has a life-size snow globe you can walk into and take a picture. Here are the kids in a Santa snow globe! The mall also has a life-size hot air balloon in the atrium, and there are Santas in it, so Mike and I have our official Christmas photo by the hot air balloon Santas.

70's country music...it's baaaaack

Today I was at a large grocery chain, and I couldn't believe my ears. They were playing Kenny Rogers & Dottie West. I immediately had flashbacks to my mom's 8-track player and my sister and me singing all the songs. That was one of my favorite 8-tracks! (Hey Wont' You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song, Let It Be Me, 'Til I Can Make It On My Own, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling. I was lingering in the store because I was enjoying the music! I must really be experiencing culture shock to be hanging on to every song just hoping and praying it's another Kenny Rogers & Dottie West duet. The first song I heard playing in the store was She Believes in Me. The next song they played was Coward of the County. I seriously slowed my pace so I could hear the whole song. The CD switched gears from Kenny Rogers and went to Just Call Me Angel of the Morning, Angel. Another country oldie. The song Feelings followed that one. When Willie Nelson came on next, I was in the check out lane. I guess it was a Sunshine Country Hits of the 70's CD. The scary part is after I left the store I was craving more country oldies. I may go to itunes and download Kenny Rogers and Dottie West. Mike's gonna love that. Maybe I'll surprise him and have candlelight dinner with Kenny/Dottie serenading us. I'll even feather my hair.

Why in the world would country hits from the 70's even be remotely popular here???

I'm Five Years Old!

Yesterday Lisa and I were getting ready to leave, so I told Emma to get her shoes on because we were going shopping at the open-air market. She said she did not want to go right now. I told her we needed to go now because Daddy had to go to language class after we shopped.

Still not quite ready, she told me, "I can stay here." I reminded her, "Emma, no one will be here with you. You need to go with us." Still not wanting to leave, Lisa asked her to get ready and she promptly told Lisa she did not want to leave yet either. When Lisa told her she need to go with us, she blurted out as only Emma can, "But Mom, I'm 5 years old now!" The exchange mad me laugh and also got me thinking about what else we should allow: staying home, keys to the car, checking account and ATM card, American Express card, etc?

So, we are now taking suggestions from YOU on what else she should be able to do now that she is 5 years old!!

Kids' Feet

Note to self: If kids get their shoes muddy and you have to scrub them clean and you want them to dry out before the morning... if you place the shoes on the radiator to dry, the room will begin to smell like kids' feet.

Birthday Princess

Emma got a new dress for her birthday. It's actually handmade, and I paid $25 for it. It's her "princess dress" and she wants to wear it every day. So here she is in front of our Christmas tree (with the lovely fish tank in the background) as the birthday princess.