Last post of 2008

To any of you that may read this - HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm home "celebrating" with my kiddos... there is no place on earth I'd rather be than with them! Now, in all fairness, I wouldn't mind being at Time's Square, but today, I'm happy to be here. T could be here and that would be the icing on the cake, but I'll take what I can get.

I've learned SO much this year. My patience has been tested beyond belief but my trust that God has our lives in the palms of His hands has never been clearer.
For those of my praying friends, please remember us this year... we are preparing for a year of hope and growth.

Many blessings to you all!
Love,
jodi

Our Christmas 2008

Even tho' our Xmas was sadly spent without extended family, the 5 of us managed to have a good time. Big Daddy showed up 2 days early as a BIG surprise to all of us. We've baked and cooked together and the kids are thoroughly enjoying their Daddy being here.
We all got up and went shopping the day after Xmas - LOTS of bargains!
Mimi was about to run out in the road while going from store-to-store; I pulled her back and she hit her nose on a bag that I was carrying and got a horrible bloody nose. The night before she skinned her knees while we were visiting friends - Santa should have gotten her a travel-sized first-aid pack!
We went to Stars 'n Strikes (arcade) last night with Xian's 'free' tickets.
Today we installed LB's zip line in the back yard. FUN!!!! She loves it!
Xian is busy playing Guitar Hero.
Mimi is enjoying time w/ the neighbor girl.
T leaves on Monday but will be back next weekend as we celebrate our first-born's rite of passage into teenagedom.... YIKES.
Miscellanous pix from the past week:

Elf on the Shelf

This was our first year participating in the GENIUS concept of 'Elf on the Shelf.' Have you heard of it??
It is basically behavior bribery at its finest! Our elf, whom the girls named Lolly, acts as Santa's eyes and ears. He observes the behavior all day and then magically flies to the North Pole every night to report to Santa. He 'lands' in a different spot every morning when he reappears.... my girls had a blast with him throughout December!
Check out some of Lolly's favorite spots...

Happy GOTCHA Day Mims

3 years ago today our lives were blessed w/ the addition of little Mims. Those early days were VERY rough (to say the very least.)
You are such a happy, smart, wonderful child, Mims......... We love you!!!!

Tu tu cute

The kid's at our church had an opportunity to sing yesterday during the services.

LB was super excited to do this!

Adorable Xmas clothing all around!!!! :)

This is what a 12-yr-old brother does w/ a tutu:

Miscellaneous December pictures

Xmas decorating

The kids love it. Like me when I was young, they are oblivious to the amount of work it takes. If it was up to me - this year, I wouldn't have decorated. I know, ba humbug! For the first time EVER, I fully let the kids decorate the (ugly) tree (some artificial thing I bought at Walmart.) I didn't go behind them and replace every ornament making sure each and every one was evenly spaced, etc. (I know you've done it, too!) Anyway, this is what you get - 90% of the ornaments are at the bottom!

Nanny's care package

When Nanny sends a care package, the girls go NUTS. She does it OFTEN, so the girls really look forward to them! The best ones, in the girls' opinion, are when Nanny has cleaned out her junk drawers - the excitement doubles!

Thanks Mary Ruth for the 9,000 Hilton shampoo/conditioner and lotion bottles. The girls instantly wanted to bathe and used every single one of them!

The jingley necklace, bracelet, and hair accessories ARE very cute.

Trumpet playing (beware)... - video, click arrow -

A man stuck in a dirty, foreign country with not a modicum of entertainment will do just about anything for fun when he returns!

Daddy's home

T arrived yesterday - home at last!

The kids were thrilled!!!!!

Some men have a goatee.

T sports a MONSTER-tee!!!

Welcome home, honey, we love you!

Videos from CA

We had so much fun at Drake's Beach in northern CA!

Xian and Uncle Jer jammin' in the garage.

Fun in California...

Our trip was wonderful! San Fran is so beautiful; I love this city! My bro, his wife, their lovely daughters are all so much fun to be around; I wish we could live closer to them.

Thanksgiving Day was exciting, to say the least - LOTS of people - 30 I think.

These random pix tell our story in CA.

Lizard bite

Thankfully LB's lizard bite didn't result in some deadly, grotesque, reptilian disease and she is fine. She'll have a nice scar on her finger, but Xian thinks it is "cool" as it is in the shape of an "L"!

A donkey, a rottweiler, now a LIZARD........ what next?

You aren't going to believe it. I can't believe it.
Do these kind of freak things only happen to us?
We went to a b-day party tonight at some friend's house. They have 8 - 6 week old puppies - SO cute! We had a blast playing with them.
Then some cake.
A gift.
Kids depart to go play while adults sit at the table talking.
No screaming, just Xian in to report, "Mom, LB got bit by the lizard and it is bleeding badly!"
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They have an 'African fat-tailed gecko' - I'm sure you know the rest of this story.
Yes, she got bit. Blood everywhere. She never shed even ONE tear; she is amazing!
Thankfully there was a man there who could deal w/ blood better than I could, so he took over. He poured witch hazel on it. We called the pet store and poison control. Poison Control recommended she get on some augmentin as this lizard carries salmonella (don't they all?)
Plus, I actually think she needs stitches - but I don't have much experience in this arena....?
Her Dr's office finally called me and stated that typically the only people that contract salmonella from lizards have comprimised immune systems. She didn't think the augmentin was necessary. We will wait 'til the morn to see how the wound looks as to whether or not she needs stitches. Maybe it is okay w/o them?? LB is fine = trooper!
I must have a healthy heart as I've definitely stressed it out a lot since we've lived in GA.
BTW, hubby was 2 hrs late taking off out of Qatar, so got to DC 2 hrs late and missed his flight. He has to spend the night in DC and is NOT happy about it!

Title meaning: since living here in GA, Mimi has gotten bit by a crazed donkey at a petting zoo, Lily and friends got attacked by rottweilers, and now this.

Happy - early - Thanksgiving

I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
We'll be leaving tomorrow for vacation - long overdue. I'll post more about it when we return.
In the mean time, the most exciting thing happening RIGHT now is that hubby is USA-bound! He is in the air right now headed to D.C. Then to N.C. Then to F.L.
How I wish we could be at the airport to give him the homecoming he deserves - the flags, the banners, the hugs, etc. The kids SO wanted to do this for him!
The poor guy met some other contractor on the plane who is going to give him a ride home from the airport.
He'll be alone for Thanksgiving, also.
I'm so sorry we won't be able to see him 'til we return.
He knows we love him and miss him. He even encouraged us to still go on vacation and have fun.
All this to say that even tho' all of this is FAR from ideal, we are still thankful.
Thankful for our family, our friends, our home, our freedom, and for each other!
We love you T and will see you when we return.

THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

Rumor patrol

We're NOT moving back to SD - at least not any time soon!
A long-lost friend from SD (hi Heather) called the other day to tell me she had heard 'our news.' Apparently the word was out that we were moving back to Rapid City and she wanted to know the details:)
I wish.
Not happening.
Now now anyway.
I think this was started by the overactive imagination of a child whom shall remain nameless :)
NOPE, we're here in the good ol' south 'til this house sells.
Now that the Democrats are in charge and going to fix the economy, this should be next month or so. I better get packin'!

My band student...

Xian is in the 6th-grade band at his school. For those of you that don't remember what a 6th grade band - performing for the very first time - sounds like... please enjoy! :) They actually sounded great!!!!!

Ingles has arrived!

Ingles is a grocery store. There is a brand new one right down the street from us. My kids have been SO excited for it to open.
GRAND OPENING was Saturday. WOW! Thousands of people. It is really a beautiful store; we're luck to have it in our neighborhood.
Some features: lots of organic selections; beautiful, huge wine selection; book area w/ comfy seats and benches (and 25% off all books); big, imported cheese selection; HUGE salad bar that you buy by the lb; gorgeous olive bar; peanut-butter-grinding station (you pick your nut and grind it yourself - can even mix it w/ chocolate. YUM); beautiful display of candies/nuts/granolas/grains - all in bins; produce looked glorious; cafe; coffee; flowers, etc.
Is this a sign of a boring life when we get this excited over a grocery store???

Fall weather in GA

It has been so wonderful here lately; the colors are spectacular. Fall in GA is certainly worth the wait thru the long, hot, humid summers!

LB & Mims discovered they can climb our little tree out front.

Xian is content to sit w/ good ol' Buddy.

Flu Shot

I got my flu shot Monday 11/10.

Is this a normal reaction?

Very sore, red, hot, swollen?

OUCH.

Veteran's Day

I have the utmost of admiration and respect for American vets.

I'm so honored to have a husband who gave 22 1/2 years of his life to the US military. I have a sister-in-law who continues to honorably serve.

I'm so grateful for these people in my life!

Wishing you (and all vets) a Veteran's Day filled with solace, memories, and happiness!

Recovering.... post-election blues

I’m still in shock and awe over the Presidential election. Never before has the concept of “Two Americas” been more evident to me. Never has it been more apparent that we, as Christians have to stand even more united and stronger.

I’ve never been more proud to be a Republican! I’m so proud to see how ‘we,’ collectively, reacted to the outcome. We responded with dignity, with reverence, with respect…. Can’t help but wonder what the response would have been had the reverse happened??!! Someone on conservative talk radio mentioned that '...never has racism been so apparent; exit polls show that 95% of voting African Americans voted for Obama….'

I know God is sovereign and in complete control. None of this surprises Him. I’m extremely saddened that liberals again have political control in my country! However, I will take the high road. This new President didn’t get my vote, but will – like it or not – get my prayers and I will forever respect the office of the President of the US!

Princess predicament

I tried hard to eliminate the presence of princess stuff in our house. WHY? Most of the princesses (and Barbi dolls) have blonde hair, big boobs, and little waists. I don’t want these negative stereotypes affecting my girls. Mulan is the only Disney character that remotely resembles my girls and one can only promote that for so long. ALL of their little friends love to play princess dress-up. I caved. We now have a box full of princess dress-up accessories. It is fun to watch them play like this.

Blast From the Past - 6/08 in FL

Happy Halloween

Cammo man, Cleopatra, & Ballerina


This is the way to do it - get some sucker to push you all the way!


LB and her lovely teacher, Ms Kay


Ballerina & Cleo

If I do say so myself, I really deserve it - MOTHER OF THE YEAR!
Actually, 'Mother/Father-fill-in of the Year!'
I worked at L.B.'s school yesterday - having fun w/ the pre-schoolers! No, really, I'm serious, it is a lot of fun - she has a good class.
Then to the store - it had been a few days.
Home to box up and ship 'stuff' for my burgeoning photobucket 'business!' :)
Pick up kids, clean, laundry, errands.
NAP - yes, you read correctly.
6 p.m. - the festivities begin: costume prep., dinner, packing up the stroller, heading out into the unknown!
I push the double jogger while Cleo & Ballerina have the time of their lives running up to every neighborhood home. Mind you - there are LOTS of hills in our area and each home has an average of about 30 steps leading to the front door.
It is now getting chilly - an added step to the process - get the girls back in the stroller and covering up w/ 2 blankies!
Proceed on our 4-mile hike through our village - more candy, more sweat, more sweets, more cold.
YES, finally, they're sick of it! HOORAY!
Let's walk 2 miles home!
Let's give out candy to the stragglers :)
It is a free-for-all w/ the candy upon return. I'm sure the kids think I've lost my mind as I let them consume 27 lbs. of candy - anything they want - eat it - go for it! "Are you sure?" they ask!?
I'm saving the best for last here - I'm sick. Quite sickly. Terrible sinus headache, sore throat, fever, runny nose, aches, pains - you get it.
I drop into bed last night at 11 p.m. or so.
Ready for more fun today:) (Not feeling much better.)
Happy Halloween!