Photos in no particular order from the past month....

Our snowman...from the January 27 snow!

Fashion statement - snowbibs and apron!  And yummy cookies!!

Fun!!!  Hope he doesn't get lost!

Princess Doodlebug and her royal subject.

Our snow princess

TA and a friend from China - adopted at the same time and TA is older, but only by a month!

Argh Matey

Clean Clippies - there is a story...later.

TA and the "World's Largest Big Mac"

Our Cubbie!

Our Sparkie clubber of the month for Nov/Dec.

It was itchy - and went right back to the store...ahh my sensory girl!

Happy 5th Birthday Lucas David

Five years ago today I was in labor in Colorado Springs, waiting for our little boy to make his appearance. At 2:01am on Saturday, January 24, 2004 Lucas David was born still after my uterus ruptured. He lives in our hearts and EQ and TA know they have a brother in heaven. I think of him often and wonder what he'd be doing now - especially since he is 6 months younger than TA. At 8 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 inches long, he was a big boy...in my mind's eye he is forever my baby. I can't wait to hold him again in heaven one day!!!

Thank you to everyone who donates blood!!! Last Wednesday I was sent from my doctor's office to the emergency room with severe anemia.  I spent two nights in the hospital and received 4 transfusions.  I am feeling stronger, but still very easily tired.  The doctor said that it will be a few weeks before I feel 'normal' (what ever that is!)  

If you have only considered giving blood, please do.  My father in law has given almost 20 gallons...can you catch up to him??

Cookie Magazine is holding a contest for Smart Cookie 2009. The prize is $35,000 to the winning charity. Amy Eldridge from Love Without Boundaries is one of the finalists. LWB is an amazing organization. Please go to the site and vote for her. It is only one vote per email. This can help provide many heart, cleft and other surgeries so needed. Or help pay tuition for a student that otherwise wouldn't be able to go to school. Click here to enter.

More from Woot...


This is what the elevators are really like in China!


This is what I am ready for...wishing wistfully, like the snowman!

So, the kids were watching TV, mom had gone to work and dad was sleeping in a little. We have done this before. We can hear them and they come screaming to us if they are fighting, etc. On Christmas Eve, they decided to get some packs of fruit snack to eat - they usually bring them to us to open. Yes, we are talented enough to open fruit snacks in our sleep!

However, this morning, as a special Christmas present to us, they got out TA's safety scissors and cut open the fruit snacks. Then the story gets fuzzy...the results were two unplanned haircuts. Here are photos from their self-stylin' event:

Look at the notch over his left eye. At least it is on part and not very noticable!!!

The part you can see used to be the same length as the rest of the hair. Not shown are the 1 inch segments near her crown that is currently hidden by other hair!


We took her for an emergency haircut. This is the after...the stylist cut off about 3 inches and put long layers in to blend the cut part. But EQ's hair wasn't cut as short as the self-stylin'. It'll grow...slowly, but it'll grow!!!

...and all scissors are put up far, far away...

C and Kids

S. and Kids

National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in front of the White House.

National Menorrah on Ellipse

Our Tree

Talking to HoHo again.

A giant gingerbread house

Twins!

The easy way to wash your hands when you can't reach the sink.

A recap of the past almost two months - part 1

They do love each other!!!

More of the Kramer Crew in FL for Thanksgiving

Brothers playing guitar hero.

All bundled up to watch the Alexandria Christmas Boat Parade of Lights in the snow.

Catching snowflakes on his tongue!

Showing off her pink sparkle dress.

TA played soccer with EQ cheering on every game!

I feel so fortunate to live in a country where I can vote without pressure or fear.  Amazingly , I arrived at my local polling place and saw a fairly full parking lot.  I walked inside after being bombarded by volunteers giving out 'sample' ballots.  The end of the line was at the door.  

I opened my book to read while waiting, but the line was moving so fast I didn't read one word!  I walked right up to the H-O person, checked in, got my 'permit', walked over to get my optical scan ballot, filled it out, slid it in the machine, got my sticker and left.  

All in less than 10 minutes!!!  Miracles happen everyday.  I pray that more happen today as well.

My only regret was not bringing TA with me so he could experience this as well.  But he has a sticker!!!  And we are heading to Krispy Kreme later!

Halloween 2008

First the fireman had to rescue the kitty from the tree, then they happily went in search for candy. boy did they find candy!!! 3 pumpkinfuls each. fireman T loved looking for doortags and Kitty E loved saying 'Twick o Tweat' 

They already know that some of the candy is going to be put in our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Some will just disappear. shhhh...