Happy Birthday, Scoog! (01.31.2007)

Today is Yummers' birthday! We made cupcakes for her class snack last night. It was fun, a wee bit messy and delicious!

More later! :O)

EDIT: Her classlmates LOVED the cupcakes. We did bring a few home and the serving tray. All cupcakes should have cream cheese frosting.

Here are a few pictures from our birthday party at home!


The birthday balloons from Granny and Groom-Gram!


Last, but not least, the birthday girl!
(If you're wondering what that long dangly silver tube is, it's part of our Unico system that provides central air in our house. It will be put back up, don't worry! :O))

The GWL Experience (01.27.2007)

We went to The Great Wolf Lodge (GWL) in Mason, OH on Saturday as a surprise for Yummers' birthday. We sent a letter to Yummers in the mail that said that there was a birthday surprise for her, but she had to solve some clues to get to the answer. She solved the questions and wanted to see Wiley Wolf and the surprise. We drove up to the GWL, and Yummers said, "I'd really like to stay here next year for my birthday" still not realising this was for her! We walked through the long corridors to get to the room where the surprise was ("Kids Kamp") and saw a present wedged in the door. The kids saw a white shoe, went inside and realised it was Granny and Groom-Gram! LOL! The kids were tricked!

It was a lot of fun going down the waterslides, and the food for a resort park was excellent. The sushi-grade tuna and greens that I had for dinner were delicious.

Anyhow, on to the picutres!

The kids at the entrance.


Yummers taking a pause in fun to pose for the camera...


and so is Minnie!


Dinner time! (Nice hat, Minnie!)


Here is the clip I took of the surprise dessert. They came earlier then I expected as you can tell! :O)

The 25th Annual Plymouth Ice Spectacular (01.20.2007)

We walked downtown to the Plymouth Ice Spectacular on Saturday night to take in the sculptures. It was crowded and smaller than in past years, but Michael, the kids and I enjoyed it. At least the weather held up (21 degrees) and kept the sculptures from melting which has happened before as some of you might remember - LOL.

Enjoy the pictures and video below!

The kids are all bundled up with snowpants, hats, mittens, scarves and boots.


Here is Team Japan's submission. A team from Japan comes every year to the event to carve out a work of art. They never fail to impress. It was a visit to Japan's ice festival that inspired the one in Plymouth. Apologies for the blurriness!


This team is from Macomb Community College if I recall properly. They are working on a replica of the Mayflower which ironically is kitty-corner from the original Mayflower hotel that now is condominiums and shops.


The Plymouth Ice Spectacular on Saturday night.

Fai Leaves / Farrand Fox (Part II)

Well, like most of the nation, we are finally feeling Old Man Winter! The high was 19 degrees this week for goodness sake. Yes, I actually did turn the thermostat up to 62 degrees. Even I have my comfort level. LOL! ;O)

A couple things of note for the past couple of weeks. Fai left during the first week of January back to Guinea. She's been in Conakry and keeping us up to date on her blog. She's been chilling for the most part. Here we are at the NWA terminal at DTW. Sniff, sniff.



Today, I had lunch with Minnie who was the Farrand Fox this week. Minnie invited his friend, Geoffrey, who enjoyed his lunch as well. I cringed when I ordered the french fries (instead of apples), but that's what Geoffrey wanted. Obviously, if he had them, Min had to have them, too. Argh. They had a raucous time together.



edit (01.22.2007): Fai is not the dictionary definition of prodigal. Apologies, sis ... that could be further from the truth.

Christmas 2006 - NYD 2007 (Happy New Year!)

Well, apologies for the delay in posting ... It has been a busy few weeks for us with Fai being home, Santa, Granny and Roger visiting, holiday parties, gearing up for the new year and getting back to normal. It's been a whirlwind of activity and fun. We hope that you and your family / relatives / friends have had an equally relaxing time. On to the pictures!

Christmas Eve 2006: Yummer and Minnie enthusiastically decorating our bubble-wrapped staircase.


Christmas Eve 2006: Here we are experiencing the hustle and bustle of shopping on Christmas Eve at Laurel Park Place and of all the people to see there, David Boldrin! LOL!


Christmas Eve 2006: We baked cookies for Santa Claus. The kids put some cookies, carrots (for the reindeer) and milk out on the porch with the Christmas lists.


Christmas Eve 2006: The kids and their stockings.


Christmas Eve 2006: The kids and their new digital cameras from mum & dad.


Christmas 2006: Christmas started at 2.52 AM EST for us this year. Here are the kids with their new fishing poles and fish pillows.




Christmas 2006: At 4.35 AM EST, we went back to sleep for a few more hours.
Zzzzzz ...


Christmas 2006: The kids woke up and put together this little portrait of their new animals plus Bug and Lambie.


12.30.2006: We are getting ready to head over to the Michaud holiday party. Here is Granny and Yummer looking at me.


12.30.2006: Braylynn, Morgan, Yummer & Jenica at the holiday party.


12.30.2006: Minnie is being ... well, Minnie.


12.30.2006: No party is complete without a card game.


NYE: Minnie didn't last past 8.00 PM EST...
Seems like a repeat from last year!

and Yummers almost made it to 10.00 PM EST. LOL!


It's almost the new year ...


Happy New Year!