Scrapbooking

I finally found a friend who has an interest in scrapbooking. We spent a lazy summer afternoon, just exploring the art of scrapping. I almost forgot how much fun it is to share a hobby. Maryann and Cat love to scrap, but neither one is local, so I have to wait for those special times when we are together. As I think of it, every holiday weekend is a scrap weekend, usually with one of the two or sometimes both.

This year I missed the Scrapbook Convention in Northville because I didn't want to go alone. Let's face it....it is BORING to someone who isn't into it. Kind of like asking me to go to a football game. So the thought of a local scrap buddy is wonderful.


I have tried to convince Deb, Valli, Ruby and Carol to give it a try. No takers! I continually hear that they are too busy to begin to even organize, muchless scrapbook their photos.

I have boxes of old photos (previous to digital) and all are categorized and ready for the mood to hit to document the days of the past. I have online storage, photos on discs and a computer full, but I know where every photo I have ever taken can be found.

As we sat exploring some of my albums, I was thankful for every page I had ever put together. My heritage album brings a lump to my throat as I look at all my favorite photos of my parents and grandparents. It isn't finished, but I doubt it ever will be. It is a life project.

Each child has an album and they are filled with wonderful memories. Some of them are absolutely ordinary days, which are the best of all. I look back and wish I had taken more photos of Karen. I don't think you can ever have enough. My Christmas album begins in 1971 and it is so much fun to watch the years drift by as I turn the pages. Each year there are more children and yes, sadly, some faces disappear. It is documentation of my life.

Somehow, it just wouldn't be the same with all those photos piled in boxes.

CAT BITES and TETANUS SHOTS

Even though I have my own private ZOO at the House of Chin, I agreed to let Sabrina stay here while she waits for her "passport" to go to London. I didn't know she would bite me!

Today the neighbor knocked at the door and when I opened it, her dog ran in with her.

Josie barked. Rocky barked. Frankie barked.........SABRINA WENT NUTS!

She began hissing and attacking everything and everyone in sight! The dogs were running like crazy trying to get away from her, but she was going to kill anything she could get. It was insane! As Catie began scooping up dogs, I reached for Sabrina to comfort her. WRONG MOVE!

She attacked ME! She bit me so hard that I had two very deep puncture wounds in the flesh of my thumb and hand. It hurt like hell. I was really mad, but more dismayed that this cat who has been in my lap for weeks had actually attacked me. Then I got the bad news......to quote the Dr. "Cat bites are dangerous. You MUST come in immediately to get a shot and be put on antibiotics or within hours you could have a very dangerous infection."

DAMN IT! I hate shots!

I also had a day planned that was about to be further interrupted by driving to Charlotte for medical care. So I am now taking Keflex, my hand hurts like hell and Sabrina knows we are not friends at the moment.

Lazy Days of Summer

Summer is a synonym for "lazy days". I am convinced that we sometimes forget that and I intend to change this year. I have spent the past years working so hard all day and running around at night to keep up with my responsibilities, that I am sure I missed far too much. One thing I have learned since being off work is that my kids are fun!

Andy is hilarious! Today he was grounded and out of boredom began to do one thing after another thinking if he aggravated me, I would let him go out. NOT! I wonder how many kids can bark exactly like a Chihuahua?

Justin and I went out house hunting, since he and his Mom need to move. Then we had lunch together and we even invited Andy. (We feed him when he is grounded.) We got all the puppies out and let them loose with toys. I don't know the last time I spent an hour playing with puppies. Of course, they got into my knitting and unwound two balls of yarn.

Laura alerted me that Cat was on Yahoo Messenger and we got to chat online for a few minutes. She informed us that an apartment is going to cost over $6400 a month in London!!! They are still hunting and hoping to find something by the weekend, since Paul has to go to Germany on Monday. They need a home! Otherwise, London is great.

Catie had gone to the lake with the neighbors, so I took the luxury of an afternoon nap. aaaaaahhhh Then I sent Andy to the store for everyone's favorite ice cream.

Today I DID NOT clean the house, do the laundry or even meet a single responsibility. Instead, I just took a day off. Now tomorrow, I will pay for it, but who cares?

Puppies Rollin' Out the Door!

Yesterday I discovered Craig's List. Unbelievable! I had about a million puppies yippin' and it was time to get rid of the Porch Monsters. In desperation, I posted them to Craig's List.

Within an hour I was getting emails and phone calls. Wow! I wish I could say that they were gone, but I can say they are going! People wanted me to email pictures, so of course I ran for the camera. When I emailed them, I found I had to identify them, otherwise I got another email asking about "the brown one on the right". Try to figure THAT out when you have a million photos.

Soon I was getting emails asking about "Brutus", "Little Andy", "Mimi" and "Edgar" (or as the boys say when they imitate Catie "Eggger". A man called to say that his little girl was deaf and going off to a special boarding school. "Brutus" would be her reward for this tough journey. Why did she pick him? She loved his name.

Mimi continues to be a favorite and may join Little Andy soon, as the new owner can't pick between them. Edgar has 2 people coming to see him tonight. Of course, Andy is keeping "Wendy Wu" and Mike is still begging for Mimi. HELP! Laura may have one sold for us. God bless Laura, as usual.

On another note, Andy finally found a car, so we spent ALL day getting the minor repairs done on the "new" car. I got a bit tired of calling for prices and finally got smart, sending Andy. The Jeep rolled down the street, courtesy of CraigsList and Catie tells me the neighbors are interested in Cat and Paul's car. Hmmmm maybe I need to keep this up.......could I have a career in sales?

Three Years Is a LONG Time

OK...today is the day that Cat, Paul and Tate leave for London. Yesterday she warned me not to get sad. Sure, Cat...no problem! I was instructed to pretend it was just like the days when she went off to college, off to the Air Force or off on a vacation.

She forgot one minor detail. During all of those times, she was just hours away if I really felt that maternal need to hug my kid. This time we have an ocean to cross. Oh, and by the way.....our daily telephone contact is just a tad bit more expensive. I am already finguring out which things to cut form the budget in order to afford that addiction.

I lay here in the night last night thinking about just how long 3 years is. Hmmm, 3 years ago Andy was a 13 year old kid just getting out of Jr High, Mike was a Sophomore and Catie was a 10 year old fourth grader. Tate wasn't born yet and I felt a helluva lot younger. Three years is a long time!

How much will life change in 3 years? Andy will be graduated from high school and hopefully in his second year of college. Mike will have graduated, I hope! Catie will be a Jr in high school and driving. Oh, my......Joe will be 60 years old!

Tate will be a 6 year old first grader and maybe have a brother or sister? Yep, 3 years is a damned long time. I will swallow the lump in my throat all day today and carry on, hoping that I get the guts to board a plane for a very long flight and see London some day. Otherwise, 3 years will seem like eternity.

The Month of June

June began with Prom....Sooooooo much fun to watch the beautiful couples dressed to their best going off for that magic evening. We gathered at Island Park, parents and kids, to admire and take a million pictures. I was so sick with some kind of cold from hell that I could barely walk (but you KNOW I took pictures anyway).












Most of these boys are the same guys that I have watched sweat and grunt as they wrestled their way to the State Championship this year. They sure clean up well! As for the girls? Well, let's just say, I have never seen a prettier bunch of girls! They are a far cry from the taffeta gowns of the 1970's and all I could think of was they looked like HOLLYWOOD....then I found out that the theme of this year's prom was....HOLLYWOOD!

These past 2 weeks have been spent apartment hunting for Grandma. She arrived in Michigan and decided to stay, so off we went in search of the perfect home. Once we secured it, the wrestlers to the rescue....(oh, and Mike too!). Those guys had her moved in within an hour. Muscles come in handy.

Fathers Day was a nice relaxing Sunday and Cat bought Dad a membership to the Lansing Boat Club. What a perfect gift! He drove straight there and secured his dock. Now it is time to get the boat ready for the water and it makes me miss the days of the past.....Cat, Karen and Joey out scrubbing down the boat with Dad. Ok, that was a tear jerker of a memory!

We just spent our 37th Wedding Anniversary together this week and took 24 hours to hide away together. Joe surprised me over and over from the beautiful roses to the diamond necklace....I am going to keep that man around for at least another 37 years. Seriously, I am a lucky woman.

Off to London

With Cat, Paul and Tate moving to London, a goodbye BarBQ was a must. As usual, we enjoyed Joe's skills at the grill and the dishes everyone brought, but the good part is just being together with those we love.

It was hard saying goodbye this time, even though we are used to Cat jetting about the world. It was no big deal when she went to Austrailia, Pakistan or moved about the US since we knew we would see her shortly or regularly. London is another story.

As many talked about maybe making the trip, we all knew that only the lucky ones will be able to jet off to Europe and three years is a long time. I have her cat as collateral....she has to come back! I should have tried snatching Tate.

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We spent a busy week together. As we tried to get ready for the BarBQ, Joe was replacing floors upstairs. Both Cat and Paul pitched in to help, but it was Joe on his knees for 5 days.


Cat spent a morning with Laura and Daniel at playgroup, visited Charlotte to see old friends, made it to Northville to see Aunt Dot and we made a shopping and dinner trip to Detroit and Canada.

Melanie coaxed Mikey into providing our entertainment and Daniel ran for his guitar. Not that we needed any more entertainment, as Jim kept us all laughing as usual.




With 21 adults, 14 kids and assorted teenagers, it was a typical Saturday at House of Chin. To top it off, Daniel and Tate got along for the first time after 3 years of Tate screaming when he saw his cousin. It is hard to believe that they will be 6 years old the next time they see one another. Catie informed Cat that she will be able to drive when they return. (groan!)

So, after a fun filled week, lots of hugs and a few tears, we waved goodbye this morning as Cat, Paul and Tate headed out for their next adventure.

Pool Day

Andy and Justin sun bathing, while Catie and Joe have fun in the pool.....until the frisbee came out and everyone got in the act.

After a fun, but exhausting day at DisneyWorld, we headed out for a more mellow day at Universal Studios today. We didn't actually get started till about noon, since everyone was SO tired this morning. Then we had an HOUR wait in line. Joe had gotten a "Savings Certificate" for buying his tickets online (to save time). We waited and waited....and then didn't use a single coupon that we got!

Catie had one thing in mind...meet the characters. Ok...Andy told her "You KNOW they are just people in costumes!" She didn't want to hear him. She wanted their autographs. Thank goodness the lines were not as long as waiting for Mickey Mouse.

EVERYONE wanted their picture with Bart and Maggie, but they cut the line off after Catie.

We saw a 4D production of Shrek, which was great and complete with getting very wet when the donkey sneezed (gross!). Rode bikes in the air to rescue E.T. and had to explain to Catie just WHO was E.T. and why he wanted to go home. (ahhh the 1980's)

Then we headed to see Twister and explained another old classic movie. Catie is petrified of storms and had a fit. She didn't want to go and we couldn't just leave her on the street. She was clinging to Joe as the tornado raged, conplete with fires and explosions.

After the live animal show, a roller coaster that I chickened out on and a trip to see JAWS, we were ready to head back to the pool. Joe and I relaxed in the hot tub and soothed our aching muscles to get ready for tomorrow's adventure.

Dreams Do Come True

Ever since I can remember, Catie has said her dream was to go to Disney World. This summer, when the days were long and tough to get through, I told her to have a garage sale and earn the money....she did it!

Catie worked like a dog, dragging things out of the crawl space, cleaning her room and getting rid of everything possible. She was the sales lady, bargaining over prices on her old dolls and counting her cash. She raised enough to pay for TWO tickets.

Then Uncle Dave and Aunt Maryann gave her the plane ticket for Christmas. The trip was on.

More to follow.....

ER Wrestlers Head to State Finals

Eaton Rapids Wrestlers are now the REGIONAL CHAMPIONS and are headed to STATE Competition today. For a woman who used to say "I hate sports", surprising this has become a really BIG deal. I don't know when I have enjoyed myself more than this past few weeks as I cheered (screamed) and took photos at every match.

As the boys prepared for their last 3 matches to be held in Battle Creek tonight and tomorrow, the parents made signs which are posted all over town and arranged for meals, snacks and all the rest of the details necessary to take our champs to the meet. They were featured on TV as the Team of the Week this week. Michigangrappler.com has predicted the Eaton Rapids boys to win the State Tournament. We think they are right,

Andy has 8 consecutive "Pins" and Justin had the 100th win of his wrestling career this week. You KNOW there will be many photos to follow.

Typical Chin Sunday--Catie Goes to Camp!

We spent the whole weekend getting Catie ready to go to camp. First the Walmart trip....HUNDREDS of dollars later, Catie started packing. She needed new boots, shoes and extra warm clothes since the temp around here is sub zero.

Nobody wanted to go out, but I did manage to get Andy and Justin to the store once and Joe made a trip out. We had to have cleaning products as everyone cleaned their rooms today and then Joe made a big breakfast AND dinner. Aaaah, it was good NOT to cook.

It took Catie 2 different bags to settle on one, then a re-pack when she found she couldn't lift it. We informed her that there are no bell hops, porters or others to carry her bags, so she trimmed down her load.

Her camera is ready for lots of pictures, which will be posted here soon!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

What a winter! The kids have had FOG delays, below ZERO temperature days and SNOW days all within the past 2 weeks. The tough part has been convincing the boys that if the buses won't run to school, the Chin cars do not need to run either! With 1 smashed and 2 crunched, we just don't need any more issues. (No more comments about flying Christmas trees)

I pray we make it through a whole school week next week, especially since Catie is going to 7th grade camp and I hate to think how cold it could get. Poor Catie!

The Suessical

Catie has discovered the theatre and we attended another performance tonight. It was absolutely wonderful with talented students singing and dancing. Characters were all from the Dr. Seuss books and the costumes were great.

It was an unexpected pleasure to find out that 7th and 8th grade students could perform so well. Joe, MikeO and myself were all impressed and of course, I was snapping tons of pictures. Catie's role as the baby kangaroo was just perfect for her and she could not have been cuter. The kids have rehearsed every single day for the past 6 weeks and it showed!

Another Wrestling Saturday!

Eaton Rapids returned with 2nd place in their Division from the Michigan Duals on Saturday night, missing 1st place by 6 points. 16 schools attended and it was hard, tough stuff from 8am till about 8pm. I am still telling Andy that I hurt worse than he does after slipping in a puddle of water on the gym floor and ending up on my back in front of about 500 people.

Andy did well, as usual and the team continued to power through the day ending up in the finals against Goodrich (from the Flint area and ranked #1 in the state). Goodrich had 2 female wrestlers that none of my readers would want to challenge, which made it an interesting match.

We left for Bay City on Friday night at 5:30 with 5 boys that had to weigh in by 8pm. The boys were exhausted and hungry as they had just finished practice and were not to eat until after weigh in. We made it just in time and then raced to Subway to fill them up before bed.

Morning came all too early after the parents stayed in the hotel bar until after midnight. We assembled for breakfast at 6:30am! I really hate morning scheduled events!

The first match was exciting and the day was stacking up pretty good until I hit the floor. The boys had been throwing their "empty" water bottles off the mats and the water was spilled on the floor.....of course, I slipped and fell as I was on my way to take photos.

I then lay in the van and rested between matches, hoping I didn't have a concussion, after hitting my head on the gym floor or wall...who knows what I hit? However, I am a true wrestling Mom and returned for the finals. Eaton Rapids didn't have to warm up the bus until the end as they fought for 1st place, missing it by ever so little.

After eating junk food and Subway on Friday, "wrestler food" from the cafeteria tables all day Saturday, we rounded off our evening with.........Wendys! UGH! I was starving for good food, craving my own coffee and of course a cigarette. I was oh so glad to see my own coffee pot, bed and puppies at about midnight last night.

So today, we are arguing about who is hurt the worst....me or wrestlers! I am not moving today.

South Beach Diet

It is the New Year and time for all the resolutions. Yeah, I am going to do a lot of things differently.....sure, I am. Let's start with the diet....the Atkins nearly turned me into a raving maniac last year in search of carbs, so this time it will be the South Beach Diet. THEY allow some carbs.

It began on Sunday with stir fry of some kind. I say, some kind, because I kept adding vegetables to make enough food to eat! By the end, I failed. I realized that we had 2 extra guests for dinner (not a surprise on Sundays) and I couldn't serve this without rice! Ok.....I only ate a small spoonful of rice.

Monday will be a new day. I had shopped for this, right? I bought $260 worth of damned vegetables. There MUST be a meal in here somewhere. Due to my very own European heritage (French/English/IRISH) there MUST be a potato to make a meal! How to do it without? I began with ground round burgers (no bun, of course), Onions sauteed in just a bit of olive oil....now to the veggies.

Portabello mushrooms stuffed and baked seemed to make a good sidedish. They were stuffed with mushroom bits, onion, cheese and tomatoes. NOT A HIT! Everyone tasted them and said, "No thanks". They WERE however, left on the table and SPIKE finished them off, or so I thought.....the dog actually ate the stuffing and left behind HUGE mushroom parts all over the house. Not a repeat recipe!

Slices of zucchini and yellow squash, tomatoes,onions and mushrooms seasoned with olive oil and spices and baked....Joe ate it. Catie ate the green squash only. Mike and Andy just looked at it. Brussel sprouts steamed in soy sauce....bowl empty!

Ok, by this time I was dying for a Pop Tart or a bowl of Cheerios. I had eaten a can of tuna with lemon for breakfast/lunch and now this culinary feast of dinner was not satisfying me. The Sugar Free Jello didn't get it either. I began to search in a frantic mode....BEEF JERKY!!! It is MEAT! IT IS OK!!!

Does anybody want to start placing bets on how long this lasts?

A True Vacation Day...Sort of

When you stay in your PJs for 24 hours, it is a TRUE vacation day. Ok, I admit to cleaning up and changing PJs, but no trips out into the sub-zero temperatures yesterday for me. It didn't even matter that I went into high gear on organizational and cleaning projects, it was a choice, not a "must". Joe hooked up his "Surround Sound" gear in the living room....(I wasn't consulted on that project) and enjoyed puttering around all day.

He accused me of going from one project to another...who me? However, I am in the midst of packing up all heirlooms, china, etc. I also wanted to clean up my bedroom, which led to making piles....bills and filing, tax records, stuff to shred, stuff to throw away...you get it, right?

Then I continued to try to put away things that had made their way into my room. Hmmmm, where to put them? The first hall closet is stuffed....better straighten it up...what are the tableclothes doing up here? I'll make a pile to take down to the OTHER closet. I will clean that one too....maybe tomorrow?

Have to run downstairs to check on some laundry...hmmm....I have an idea! I will take the HUGE TV that Joe doesn't want to get rid of (even though it is broken) and move it into the utility room so I can clean the family room! I just found my scrapbook scissors that I have been hunting for! (Mikey had them)Then I will go out to the back porch to put them away and let the dogs out....I think I will just sweep up while I am here! Oh yeah...I forgot....I was cleaning the bedroom, I think.

Hey Catie! It is time for Dr. Phil! Let's just lay on my bed and watch.

Yeah, there is a pile of tablecloths in the hall, a bin half filled with china in the living room, a half cleaned family room, half swept porch and it is time for a nap. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh.........

Happy New Year!

I was happy to say goodbye to 2007 for obvious reasons, but the final week was a pretty good one. There is nothing more fun than grandchildren and I had a great time on Saturday night with Alexis, Catie, Nick and Cam. They all spent the night and we did nothing but PLAY! (Except eating pizza and homemade chocolate chip cookies....they wiped out 2 dozen in about 2 minutes!)



As soon as I heard they were coming I went to Target in search of fun things to play with that would work for the entire age group of 6-53....and I found it. UNO ATTACK was a so much fun that we could not stop laughing. For once, it wasn't a night of video games or TV or movies...just family fun and laughter. Every time someone had to push the button on the game and the cards came flying out...the kids could NOT stop laughing...which just made me laugh harder!


PlayDough was next....yeah, I got into it too. I hadn't played with it in years and I think it just might be good therapy. It still smells wonderful, the colors are better than when I was a kid and I made Alexis laugh at my creations!






Even the big boys got into the party when Mike, Andy and friends Justin and Kyle showed up and got the video games going just about the time this Grandma was getting tired. The kids headed upstairs in new PJs from Aunt Cat, invaded Andy's room where multiple games were being played. Cam, Catie and Alexis were singing their hearts out with a sing-along game on the Play Station in her room and laughter could be heard from every room.

Since I had to get up and have Joey to the train station by 7:30 am, Papa felt sorry for me and cooked a big breakfast for all the kids while I got a bit of a nap in the morning after my return. You KNOW it was a fun visit when all the kids are whining when it was time to go home....as for me, I had a wonderful time!

Merry Christmas From the Nuthouse!!!!

It was a traditional Chin Family Christmas, even though we sure missed our girls this year. The boys kept it VERY lively and Catie and Alexis kept the giggles going non-stop....Christmas Eve wouldn't have been complete without Mike Ohm and Justin joining us. Once again, I was surrounded by boys! Thank God for Alexis and Catie!

Catie picked out the Hannah Montana wig for her gift to Alexis and she was squealing in delight as Catie helped her put it on. She was SO excited that Catie got a BIG hug!






For once, Joe got to play Santa and the gifts were handed out one by one. Josie found the Doggy Bag and stuck her head in to get her own gift. First thing in the morning she was hunting around for the new dog treats and toys.



Mike got a "toy" for the first time in years...a new XBox 360 and he had that same trance-like look on his face that he gets when he plays the guitar! He was lost in the game for hours...like from the time he opened it on Christmas Eve until about six oclock on Christmas morning. After a sleep break until 2pm, he was back at it again!



Catie and Alexis were very quiet as they crept down the stairs early this morning to see what Santa had left. Catie then left to go to brunch with her Graham family and Alexis played quietly while the family slept in! What a great kid!

It wasn't long before Laura and Daniel joined us, Justin came back and we had a delicious dinner of ham AND turkey with all the trimmings. Everyone played with new toys, watched old Christmas videos and ate and ate and ate! It was a good day.

Happy Birthday Alexis!

This family LOVES birthdays and Alexis turning 6 was a good reason to celebrate. If you think about it, with a family the size of ours, we can get together, have fun and eat cake on a pretty frquent basis. Last night was no exception, as Alexis celebrated being 6 years old with a Hannah Montana birthday cake, lots of dolls and lots of family.




Now she actually missed eating a piece of cake, which she realized on the way home. Good thing Gram had taken the rest home. Alexis was so busy opening gifts, playing with Chuck E Cheese and playing games that cake was forgotten.

Daniel NEVER forgets cake!



We all laughed as we watched him trying to steal licks from the main cake, eat as many pieces as he could get and lick every drop of frosting from EVERY plate he could find! You would think he was related to Junkfood Grandma!