Grandma's 80th Birthday

Grandma flew from Ohio & we celebrated her 80th as every American family should with steak, potatos & salads for lunch, & a delicious chocolate cake mom made topped with ice cream.

Ok here we go.....

Me & Angie

Julie, Violet & I

Tiny cute Violet

Baby Judah

Me & Sam with Stephy & Judah in the back

Finally got my pix. Thanks Mom!!
Here are a few of me bonding with new members of my family (babies) & catching up with my brothers & sisters. And just so you know, we all hate taking photos so if any of us look gross, it's the picture, not us. TYVM!

Honey, I'm home

I just got back the day before yesterday from my two week trip to LA. --Good times!
Amazingly I slept all night last night & did not have jet lag.
As soon as mom sends the CD of the photos we took, I'll post them.

New Years Holidays

Well, the holidays are over & the kids are going back to school now.
We had a fun restful New year's holiday. On the 31st the kids stayed up until 12:00, I didn't think they could, but they did. We had snacks & chocolate cake & I drank a whole pot of mulled wine since I'm the only one who drinks around here. Good times!
Our family tradition is to sit & watch all the videos we took of the kids when they were babies. We have about 14 hours worth so we spread the viewing out over a few evenings.
We went to parks & played soccer, Kiki practiced rollerblading & Carole played with her remote control car she got for Christmas. We went shopping & ate out a few times, cooked yummy meals in & played scrabble & poker with candies.
The hardest thing about going back to school is having to get up early again & it's freezing cold. Can't wait for spring.

NYEve eve dinner

Kids making sushi.

My year in a nut shell! (courtesy of internet)

January - Took new scarf back to store because it was too tight.

February - Fired from pharmacy job for failing to print labels.....Helllloooo!!!.....bottles won't fit in typewriter!!!

March - Got really excited.....finished jigsaw puzzle in 6 months....box said "2-4 years!"

April - Trapped on escalator for hours.....power went out!!!

May - Tried to make Kool Aid....! .Wrong instructions....8 cups of water won't fit into those little packets!!!

June - Tried to go water skiing.....couldn't find a lake with a slope.

July - Lost breast stroke swimming competition.....learned later, the other swimmers cheated, they used their arms!!!

August - Got locked out of my car in rain storm.....car swamped because soft-top was open.

September - The capital of California is "C".....isn't it???

October - Hate M &M's.....they are so hard to peel.

November - Baked turkey for 4 1/2 days. Instructions said 1 hour per pound and I weigh 108!!!

December - Couldn't call 911....."duh".....there's no "eleven" button on the stupid phone!!! What a year!!

Christmas Day

the finished product

We sort of gauded out our tree with all the ornaments we could find. And we actually put presents under the tree this year. Usually we're too busy for that & do our present buying at New Year holidays.
Kiki wrapped Caroles hula-hoop in blue tinsel.

Our tree

Here are the girls decorating our new tree. (We finally bought a big one, it's not real, but you can't really get a real one here unless you are prepared to trade your arms & legs & internal organs for one, or you drive about 10 hours to Niigata & chop one down hoping you won't get arrested.)

Merry Christmas All

Wishing you all a happy christmas.

Thanks guys

Thanks everyone for the cards, emails, presents & calls on my birthday.
I love you!
I had a good birthday dinner with Mac & the girls. We ate in because Leila came down with C. Pox that evening.
Our birthday family tradition is pizza & sushi. This time Mac also bought dessert pastries.
It feels kinda weird turning 30 when you are a girl, but it was bound to happen one day.

Backstage pics of the girls

Until I get some photos of the kids on stage here are some I took backstage.

Where can a buy a youth potion?

So everyone, today I am 30, wondering what kind of age defying stunts I can pull to prove to myself that I'm still 18:
Pigtails?
Mini skirts?
Stay up all night talking & drinking?
But no. I will get ready for work trying to find an outfit that hides the curves I have accumulated, work, have dinner with the kids, & go to bed early smearing on the anti-wrinkle eye cream I have fallen in love with. Ah.
And maybe one day I will say with a toothless grin, "Gee, I was so young & beautiful when I was 30".

Chicken Pox girl.

Kiki came down with Chicken Pox last week & has been resting at home. She had a very mild case with no fever or cold. She & Leila have been playing all day in their PJ's & having a good time.
As you can see Kiki doesn't look very sick & has been eating & playing all day. The doctor said she can go back to school tomorrow. Argh! I was just enjoying not having to go out in the early mornings.

Dad's Birthday soon

I know D doesn't even read this blog but anyway I can't just not write anything about his birthday. It's on the 3rd but I'll be working so I'm posting this early.
It was great having D & M over for a visit earlier this year. I was touched that D played with the kids so much.
Anyway, hope Dad has a nice birthday. rar! (Inside joke)

We love you, Grandpa Buddy.