Our Next Project!

 

 Most of the decor in our house is (thankfully) pretty bland, BUT the bathroom is pink with an angel border.  It's coming down!

What we found to work best was to strip off the top coated layer.  Then we sprayed the paper backing with windshield wiper fluid, let it sit briefly, and scraped away.  (I found it best to dampen it, but not soak it!)  Definitely work in sections and wipe the while afterwards to removed any sticky residue!  Works like a charm.  Glad the bathroom is so small--the kitchen will be a much bigger project!

Field Trip!

 Last week all of Shepherd got to go to Kelsey Farms.  This farm has been in existence since the 1830's and milks over 500 cows three times a day!  Our city slickers loved seeing the cows close up and watching the milking. 

 They had a corn pit for the kids to play in--never seen that before, but the kids LOVED it!

They had a straw mountain complete with tunnels and tires.  Good way to get rid of excess energy!

They had snack, lunch, went through a corn maze, and petted baby calves.  Not to mention picking out a pumpkin to take home.  This wore most of them out.

Here's the little cutie I got to sit with.  After showing him all the other pictures he wanted one of us together! 

Ana Wants You To Know...

She lost her first tooth!! She's very pleased and we're happy that the tooth coming in behind it can move up.  She's all set for the tooth fairy tonight!

Fall Break

 On my Fall Break I painted some very dark brick in my kitchen white--it will eventually have a tan wash over it as well.  Really brightens up the kitchen!

 Sewed kitchen curtains from some batik material.

 Covered Ana's blinds with some cute material.

 Scraped and sanded a bathroom window.

And worked on a shelf for the hallway--that gets it's own post later :)

Basset Cuteness For Your Day!

The stare

 Placing all her toys in strategic places on the stairs!

The what are you thinking look--she's got it down.

 

Mei Mei has been missing Ana (who is away at the Grandparents).  Ana is our general taker outer and runner arounder.  For a bassets Mei Mei is pretty stinkin' fast.  Our house has a short stair case into the kitchen so that you can run in a circle around our bottom floor.  (It's actually a really good work out with the stairs and a barking puppy nipping at your heels!)  She caught me a couple of times much to her delight!

 

We're so thankful to have a house, a yard, and a dog!

Solving America's Education Problems

Last week I had a student (4 yrs. old) come to school with his breakfast and lunch.  (Shepherd provides an extremely nutritious breakfast/lunch for free!)  His breakfast was a large container of chocolate milk and a double fudge chocolate cookie.  His lunch was a sprite, a bag of bugles (chips), and a entire roll of oreo like cookies.  Seriously--these kids aren't ADD or ADHD!  They just eat too much sugar and processed foods. 

My own kids are getting sugar from their teachers at school and church.  A little won't kill you--(I grew up eating sugar), BUT we've seen huge differences in their abilities to concentrate and behave well when they eat sugar. 

So I guess I'll be that evil parent/teacher and refuse to add to the already loads of candy my kids eat!  I don't mind being the bad guy--it's already resulted in Ana's love for fruits and vegetables.  I hope this is a lifetime habit for her!

Ahh...Chicken Rice!

 Just before we left China, a Singaporean Auntie passed us this box of chicken rice mix.  We are so glad she did!  Last night we enjoyed it to the fullest.

 I think the American chickens are a little bigger, but it still turned out all right.  (We also had to use Mexican rice--as the Asian is TOO expensive!)

Ana really enjoyed it!  Too bad we didn't have our favorite chili sauce.  Nothing can compare to our Lai Lin's Roasted Chicken Rice Stall.  We may have to import some more boxes soon :)