New Friends

The girls had their eyes checked this year.  We used a new eye doctor because he accepted our insurance.   He is a very nice person and we were talking during one of the exams and he mentioned that his family has a friend who they met through Washburn's Friendship Program.  She is from China and even though she has spent her time here in Topeka and has returned to China, they are keeping in contact with her.  COOL!

So I asked him how could we sign up for this?  He gave me the name of the person who is in charge of the program.  Mark sit down that night and emailed him.   Next thing we know there are three Chinese students arriving in Topeka January 10th.  They wanted to stick together, would we be interested?   YES!

Emails were exchanged and last Saturday we picked them up at the college and brought them out to our house.   They are Ava, 21 from the Shandong province.  Iris and Yoyo from Shanghai.  They all know each other because they have been attending the same University in Shanghai.

We got to know each other and then the kids took them to the basement to play on the Wii, board games, puzzles, Uno and watch a movie.  The girls are so excited to have three "big" sisters!   They said that they were really into Cheeseburgers and French Fries.  So we took the to Conrad's in Overbrook cause we love their FF's there.  

When Mark was taking them back to the dorms Saturday night they decided that they wanted to come out Monday morning and cook for us.   And WOW did they cook!  They brought chicken, all kinds of vegies, egg noodles and they stirred up a lot of good food.   It was kind of a soup with the noodles and vegetables all cooked into it.  Y.U.M.M.Y!

They are only going to be here for one semester and will go back to college in Shanghai in May.  So we hope to keep them busy getting good grades and learning about Kansas and the USA!

Cookie makers

The girls love to bake cookies.   I bought several different kinds of the pre-mixed kind at the store because they were on sale and for the price they are really economical and super easy!

Of course, we were baking some for Santa.   We had enough for an army.   But you would have never know it because the next morning they were all gone!!

Nothing like a sugar high on Christmas morning!!

Mom is a total klutz

The day after Christmas we were going to have surprise guests.   Surprise for the girls that is.  Uncle Colin and Aunt Melissa were coming up from Lexington to see Dad for his birthday and to deliver a present to Nick's girlfriend.   So I needed to get some long awaited painting done.  And I do mean L.O.N.G. awaited.   I started painting RaeAnne's room soon after we moved in.   Then the girls started playing musical beds/rooms.   It was quite a while before they finally decided who slept in which bed in which room.   And sometimes that is subject to change.  Once we were pretty much done with musical beds I had Rae pick out the colors she wanted her room painted.  Her comforter is orange, pink and yellow.   So she picked a bright yellow and orange.   Paint was purchased and then chemo started and my energy level dropped to nil.   So I decided to get it painted once and for all.

Then she decided she wanted to paint it different colors...Really?   She picked a bright pink called "Hot".   She wanted to paint the whole room that color.  Nope, can't do it I have other paints and I had already painted one wall the bright yellow.   So Christmas day I was painting like crazy.   We had "Hot" all over two walls.   Really it is not that bad of color for a 15 year olds wall.   Then we finished with the yellow.   Now it is time to put the orange called "Carnival" up.  I didn't sleep last night and I drank two glasses of "Spark" which has caffeine and vitamins in it.  I was buzzing right along.  Had a half gallon of Carnival in my paint pan.   I am up on the ladder carefully painting along the ceiling.  Time to get down and move the ladder a bit more.  And I moved my left foot.   I immediately felt the ladder shift and the WHAM, BOOM, SPLAT!   I started yelling for help!  The orange paint is dripping off the mattress, the headboard and all over the floor.  I am almost screaming, I am tangled up in the ladder and both legs feel like they are broken.  I can't move because I am afraid too.   Finally Zora came in and I said get your Dad NOW!  Kendalan walked in the room and started crying and wanted to know if I was going to die.  

Okay the room wasn't quite ready for company, but they were great about it.  Colin even offered to finish the painting for me!  I am going to get back up on that ladder, I will not let it scare me I may have someone holding it very tightly as I stand on it this time.  Unless they make it wiggle and then my life will flash in front of my eyes again.