Our first Christmas party with local friends… Last night we hosted our first Christmas party here in China.  We invited two Chinese families we know (one was our house-helper’s family).  A friend with our company also helped plan this event and was the main "speaker" since she’s a LOT more fluent in the language than…

Some friends from the States sent this great Gingerbread House Construction set.  The girls obviously were in heaven.  Not only could they work on a Christmas craft project, but the materials were sweetly edible.  (When you think about it, it’s a wonder more MEN aren’t into building these types of structures.  I guess if you…

Constructing the house was no problem.  Shrinking the girls down so they could live in it was a little trickier…

Mary (modern remix) No vacancy -blinks- neon (no room, no room) no reservations, no room even for pregnant women (great with child) from out of town. Sweet Joe rushes about cursing the Census Bureauand its new "in-person" methods of counting. Best Western, Hotel 6, Holiday Inn all full to overflowing, no coat closets, laundry rooms…

The gift that keeps on giving… Happy 5th Birthday, Anna! We love you so much and are so proud of you… Among other things, this year you stopped sucking your thumb AND you learned how to READ!  Pretty amazing accomplishments before you even reached your 5th year. Here’s a re-post about the day Anna was…

Christmas is about WARM feet… This probably says a lot about me, but one of the most memorable Christmas gifts I ever received as a semi-adult (college student) was a nice pair of house slippers. Wolf house slippers!  Kind of looked like these… My mom and dad thought I needed these.  They were great.  When…

While You Were Sleepingwritten/performed by Casting Crowns Oh little town of Bethlehem Looks like another silent night Above your deep and dreamless sleep A giant star lights up the sky And while you’re lying in the dark There shines an everlasting light For the King has left His throne And is sleeping in a manger…

Based on some of my favorite Christmas movies:My Top 10 Things To Steer Clear Of during this holiday season… Sticking your tongue to a cold flag pole.  Ouch. (A Christmas Story) The Bumpus’ hounds or any other pack of ravenous mastiffs bent on eating your Christmas turkey. (A Christmas Story) Scott Farkus.  Oh, those leering…

Surprise!  Anna’s arrival was no surprise to us when she came just before Christmas in 2001.  (According to her due date she was late!  According to her she was right on time…) Today we threw her a SURPRISE PARTY for her 5th birthday.  Her birthday isn’t technically until December 13th, but today was Saturday so…

Hey Joe, What can one say to you (after all these centuries) that hasn’t already been said?  You had a part to play in all of it, but in most people’s minds you’ve always been reduced to a minor (bearded) character–an extra or backdrop.  Step in line behind Magi and Shepherds, pal.  You didn’t carry…