Scott's worst nightmare.....

I've found there is quite an advantage to being the only blonde around. When I find a hair in my food, I immediately know whether it's mine or not.



A day in the life of Aubrey... go out and make new friends... Have new friends over to our house. All in a day's play!

Out and about

One day, while waiting for a bus, Emily decided it was taking too long and we should hail a cab. She's got it down! (Cabs cost about $2 to go all the way across town.)

Fewer calories than regular water

Living here means....

* ...you fear any amount of bathwater getting into your mouth may have a serious adverse effect on your health.

* ...there's not a dishwasher in our whole city.

* ...year after year, I never have to drive a car!! I really like this!

* ...when we do get in a vehicle, we don't have carseats or seat belts. Just guardian angels.

* ...no Mexican food. My kingdom for some nachos!

* ...no carpet. I really like this too!

* ...never wearing shoes more than 2 feet inside the door.

* ...the inside of your friends' homes are only 30 degrees (like outside) since they don't want to pay for electricity costs, even if it's accessible.

* ...buying a box of fireworks for 12 cents.

* ...you can pick your nose in public and no one minds. (Can't pick your teeth though.)

* ...it's acceptable to ask anyone about their age, salary, rent, and even their diarrhea problems.

* ...you don't have to stand in line. It's every man for himself.

* ...no worries if you forget your deodorant, everyone else did too.

* ...looking 360 degrees every time you cross the road.

* ...never watching TV (it doesn't speak English).

* ...it's very very easy to say the wrong thing and cause much laughter.

* ...dear friends are dearly missed, new friends are dearly treasured.

Happy Valentine's Day!

On Valentine's Day we hosted a Superbowl replay party, complete with Valentine's Day sugar cookies, and later enjoyed fireworks from the neighbors' New Year celebrations. It was a mix of cultures, holidays and party games. :)

Emily having a good time

Sometimes it is fun just to entertain yourself.

Emily mapping things out

Emily was quite excited about a new magnifying glass a friend gave her. She loves to try it out.

Studying, sharing, and slobbery smootchies

All things wise, wonderful and wooden

My teacher says....

My teacher says that most of what can be known about a culture is evidenced in their eating utensils.

Chopsticks - quiet, earthy, simple, peaceful, gentle, efficient

Fork and Knife - loud, violent (cutting, stabbing), aggressive, force-wielding, wasteful (so many sizes of forks and spoons), cold, etc.

And this strange feeling crept over me... of needing to defend my silverware drawer.

I kept quiet. In fact, I prefer chopsticks too (except when eating pancakes of course).

I really like my teacher.
She really likes her motherland.

to pull the pin, or not to pull the pin

Happy New Year!!

May your lives be blessed in 2010... the year of the Tiger!

Some of the fun things we did while Nana and Papa were visiting us

Emily was quite pleased to have another person to use all her tea party dishes with!

Emily chased bunnies through the grass, chased chickens and little boys through the bird market, and on another day watched fishes, monkeys, lions, camels, and even reindeer at a very depressing zoo we came across.


Scott and Dad fix electrical issues, sink caulking issues, toilet leaking issues, gaping holes in kitchen window issues, circuit breaker issues and on and on. Thanks Dad for all the fix-it help!! Home sweet home is running much more smoothly.... without running all over the floor. :)

Playing at an indoor playground while mommy shares with the other mommies about why Nana and Papa came to celebrate such an important holiday with us.

Grocery shopping...

A Fun Christmas Surprise....

My mom surprised me by bringing me this Irish Chain quilt that was a 3 generation project. I didn't know it was finished until she showed up here with it! 6 years ago I finished all the quilt squares by hand. But once Emily was born, the quilt squares never got put together... so my mom took them and put them together. Then my mom passed it to her mom, who did the quilting! I'm so excited to have it finished... and it is so beautiful! I can't believe how gigantic it is... and that is was all done by hand. Thanks to mom and Grandma!! We love it!!