Brrrrrr

It is cold here. The kiddos don't even want to stay out long. Today is especially windy, but bright and sunny. Not clear though, the horizon is always a shade of grey. Tomorrow the official Chinese holiday is over and all the chinese employees will return to work. Everyone from the U.S. has worked regular hours. The girls and I have enjoyed going to the office while it is empty. The schools do not start until the 18th. Can't wait! Oh, my phone is working again! Found out it needs a transformer for the power outlet. Why it worked for a year without one, who knows!

More from Cuero

Yesterday was a down-time day. The girls needed it, especially Lisa. The firecrackers kept her up all night, so, I was up all night. Even though she was snuggled up next to me, she would still jump everytime one went off. I cant't really explain how loud it is. Like a cannon right outside your window. ALL NIGHT LONG! We were a bit tired yesterday. However, Kathryn can sleep through a hurricane - not a peep!






Here are a few more pics from Christmas vacation. This is "Lisa's chicken, Brownie" it is blind and she loves it.

Chinese New Year

Today starts the Chinese new year. Year of the rat. They say it tastes like chicken and I will take their word for it. Although it is a toss-up for nastiest dish between rat-on-a-stick, fried fish scales and boiled chicken feet. But my opinion is apparently a minority over here. It is still cold and snow/ice is still everywhere. I am very grateful for my heat and lights. As I type, a million firecrackers are exploding all around the house, on every street in this city (and the country I am sure). It's not like our new year with sparklers and colorful, pretty fireworks. All blackcats, cherry bombs and louder - nothing pretty. All about the noise. Into the night and in the wee early hours of the morning. This will go on for the next few weeks. Lovely custom.


Here are a few pics taken at the catfish pond while we were at the Williams' place in Cuero over Christmas vacation. The girls loved feeding the fish!

We have Superbowl!!!!

I was so excited to be watching the superbowl at 7:30 this morning! It is kinda weird to wake up in time for kick off. Sure did miss queso and pigs-in-the-blanket. We had cereal and coffee! Very nice to have the house warmed thru a little bit and our lives settled into regular routines again. Now for the "Lisa-ism" for the day. Mark does the bedtime routine tonight: teeth, tuck in and prayers. Now, there are three distinct prayers said every night and as anyone who has ever had a 4 year old knows, routine is everything! Mark wraps everthing up by 8:30 and turns out the light and cracks the door (Lisa can talk Daddy into not shutting the door all the way). Then Lisa protests saying he forgot the prayer. After a 5 min. father/daughter debate, I am called in. Mark can't make heads or tails of what she is saying. Very frustrated, Lisa says, "You know Mommy, the farther sun spear wind." It took a second to register, then we closed our eyes and I said, "In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!" Mark was rolling with laughter in the other room. It was really hard to keep a straight face.

Cuero, TX

I snapped this picture while I was home for the holidays. This was taken at the Williams' place in the country (my dad's home). My Granny loves sunsets, so this is for her.

SNOW!!!

Warmed up...kinda

I purposely overloaded my bathroom outlet,just to see what would happen. Luckily, just my inside breaker tripped and I was able to flip it without going outside. That is a cause for celebration. After a full day of heat, I was anxious to see how the night would fare....great news...heat all night long. However, I still slept under a couple heavy blankets in a sweat suit! The girls did good. Their room is smaller and has a smaller window, so it keeps the heat better. They played in the snow yesterday while I had the joy of shoveling snow/ice from my walkway. That was a new experience for a girl from southeast Texas. My back is just a wee bit sore today. Especially since it snowed another several inches since. Lisa is just soooo happy that mommy need to shovel again and she can help. The definition of her help would be making snowballs from the snow on the walk and throwing them to the yard. Her aim leaves alot to be desired and I get to shovel snow, ice and little snowballs from the walk! I took pics and will post, I just need to download my card. It still has 437 pics from the US on it. Didn't want to mess with it until I knew the power was stable! Next, I will try washing/drying clothes...wish me luck and electricity!