OH WOW!

"I ALWAYS WANTED THIS UNCLE DOO DOO!!!!!!!!" screams Daniel. It was one of those moments you wanted to film for youtube. Then I found out Andy DID film it.

THEN the assembly began! (Not like Joe hasn't assembled at least 100 of these after 3 boys) However, he did advise Laura to leave it assembled and put it in a huge trash bag to transport.




Aunt Cat and Uncle Paul sent the Magic Cupcake Baker to Alexis and Catie and of course, they HAD to bake right NOW! So adding to the Christmas mess was the scene below:

A Very Merry Christmas

The pictures will speak for themselves. We just had a wonderful Christmas! All was according to Chin tradition from the snacks on Christmas Eve, to the mountain of presents under the tree. We certainly missed our 3 Musketeers, who were not with us, but kept in touch with Cat and Joey constantly by phone and Karen was in our hearts. (I swear I heard her laughter a few times.)

It was a high-tech year with Mikey and his computer related recording stuff, Andy and his laptop and Catie with the Nintendo Wii. Everyone got in the act with the Wii and they played late into the night. Of course, Joe decided we need a bigger TV so he can put ours in the family room for the kids to play. Doesn't everyone need a huge one for the living room?

Even the dogs got multiple gifts and my bed is now filled with gnarly bones.

Alexis Has Her Mother's Gift

We just got home from the Central Free Methodist children's Christmas program. The soloist above is none other than our beautiful Alexis and she truly can sing. The program was wonderful and every child did such a good job, but I cannot tell you the shock when Alexis began to sing. It was beautiful. Yeah, I cried.

You Know You Are Getting Old When.....

You know you are getting old when you have the time and inclination to baby all these dogs! When I had all those little children to raise, I did not have the time for four 2 year olds and that is exactly what you see here. They need attention constantly or they whine and cry, they get into everything (especially if you leave them alone) and they have to sit in your lap and get lots of love!

Yesterday morning, as I tried to read my email, all 4 of them were fighting for lap space. I took off my robe and went to refill my coffee cup. When I returned, they had all cuddled up in my robe and refused to move. I had to take a photo.

See! When you take pictures of your dogs because they look so cute, you are OLD and crazy!

A Relaxing Thanksgiving

Joe got 4 days to kick back, watch TV and cuddle with his 4 chihuahuas. He especially enjoyed the new oversized chair in Dave and Maryann's living room, where they all could fit nicely. Dave and Mike O made their annual "Black Wednesday" trip to the local watering holes and amused the boys when they returned about 2am. Mike did say he thought they might eat the turkey, which was already roasting in the oven. Maryann cooks them overnight and although we had an early dinner, it was soooo good!





Everyone pitched in to get dinner on the table, although Maryann and Elizabeth did most of the cooking and started the morning off with a delicious pasty.



Mike and Steve spent most of the weekend in the basement, as usual, playing video games and coming up only to fill their plates....over and over! Catie, Andy and Elizabeth were more mobile, but it was just a great family weekend.