New York

Sick Days

past two months - five people

sore throat cough runny nose congested head fever body aches amoxicillan augmenten tamiflu albuterol breathing machines chills more aches cough drops two bottles of tylenol cold and flu

we miss summer

Excellent Chinese

i went to ella's class to correct papers right after the kids went back to school from christmas break. ella came running up to me and said . . .

mom, you are going to have the best birthday ever - you know why? I got principal's pride!

{with mimi}

she was recognized for . . .

{and i quote}
speak a lot of chinese always happy

if i could say * great job * in chinese i would. but since i can't, i'll just quote strongbad and say . .

great jorb ramrod

Resolution for 2011

I am really bad at resolutions. I think because there is so much I really need to resolve to accomplish, I become paralyzed with the depth of the ever growing list. Unlike my highly organized, efficient husband who sets goals and actually works toward them, I sort of just do what needed to be done 5 minutes ago. This year I changed tactics.

No resolutions - not specifically anyway. I chose a word from a talk by Elder Uchtdorf:

Create

That is my word for this year. I can do a lot with it. I can create order (organize all those dumb closets in my house). I can create health (get back in shape). I can create memories (trips and time with the family). Lots to do with this word. And it doesn't matter how much or how little I do, I can still accomplish.

In Elder Uchtdorf's words:

improve
beautify
extend
smile
cultivate
develop
CREATE

Christmas Greetings

Thanksgiving

Our first Thanksgiving dinner at home with just the 5 of us. It was actually really great and we may have caught the "stay home" fever for future Thanksgivings. C was very nervous about my first attempt at a Turkey but as anyone knows, anything can taste delicious doused in that much butter.

The "Thankful Pig" that we stuffed full of notes about our favorite things about each other. We read the notes after dinner. A great tradition.

Gugg and His Blanket

Mom: Grant, that's not a blanket you use. It is a blanket that sits on the couch.
Grant: Awww, I thought a blanket was supposed to be a blanket.