Winter at the zoo

Mimi and I went to the zoo the other day and it was great.

When Mimi was little we went all of the time to the zoo in the winter, just for a brisk walk and the tranquility.

The polar bears were in heaven. They were playing in the water and Barhle, the mother bear was enjoying a long winters nap on a bed of snow.

We also visited the reptile house and for some mysterious reason, the turtles were all marching right up to the glass to get a good look at Mimi. One variety after another tapping their little claws on the glass...crazy.

The Fairy Tree and sight words

Fairies have moved into our tree in the side yard and it has caused quite a commotion.

Grandma discovered them about a month ago. Every day after that ,there would be some little woodland creature perched on the front step of this fairy dwelling.

This greatly disturbed Mimi to a point that she wouldn't come downstairs by herself in the morning, not knowing who or what would be waiting out there.
The fairy activity died down for awhile and this morning she discovered one of her sight words was cleverly hung on the we fairy window.

I can't tell if Mimi is afraid or simply annoyed that the fairies are now trying to help with her homework.
Mimi simply heaved a little sigh and walked away.

let it snow

We have been bombarded by snow. I know it is Michigan but gosh darn it, we have a ton of snow.
Midwinter break had come to an end for Mimi.She raised her weary head and began to make her way downstairs to prepare for school when grandma came in to say that it was a snow day!!!!!!!!!

Mimi and Annabel spent the day sledding. Yesterday, more snow, we took Zelda out for a long winters walk. Her pudgy, pugsly body was completely covered.

I love being insulated in a blanket of white.
I took some photos of Aunt Julie and Uncle Dan's backyard, so that they could feel comfortable knowing that indeed they are in a warmer place.

Iggy's Purr Sounds Like a Chirping Bird

Good morning blogoverse,

I think it's very cute that my mom and I share a blog - don't you?

I woke up this morning feeling very under the weather (it's been growing steadily all weekend and culminated this unfortunate morning). I couldn't make it to my 8 am lecture but I am determined to make it to my 9:55 Management and Human Resources class.

I have 3 exams this week, a paper due and a French sketch to memorize and perform. Eesh. BUT! After that's all finished I get to drive home with B and have a nice relaxing weekend at home - how nice is that? I'm looking forward to shnuggying with MiMi and mom the most.

I would love to bring both of the cats home (oh how they hate to be apart) but I don't think the weekend is long enough to warrant the stress that comes along with car-traveling with two cats. I will bring Iggy home so he can meet the family and Baby Zelda.

Hopefully our next post will be full of photographs of the family (and the pets) all together. For now, here's a photo of B and I with the cats on a lazy Sunday.

tribute to childrens shows/ captain kangaroo

This show has nothing to do with Mimi or Jie Jie but it is the best. I watched it for most of my childhood and I loved picture pages. It was a special little segment hosted by Bill Cosby. I think that you could get your free picture pages books from a gas station or a local big boy.

Blog Take-Over

Evening readers,

Jiej, here. I've changed the layout of Ma's blog because the old one was giving me a headache. How does it look? I much prefer it.

Ma's been hassling to update with photos of my adorable new kitten, Iggy. He and Baby Django (the old, blue one) get along swimmingly.

Recently, I've been working on renovating my apartment in downtown Madison, Wisconsin. I live on the fourth floor of a ridiculously old apartment building that suits me and my two cats well (though it's often full of hair of all breeds and species). I'm saving up for a sheepskin rug, a see-through mod coffee table and a more convenient way to store my stacks and stacks of books. I've included an aerial view of my apartment, as well. Please pardon my mess, I am a college student after all. Speaking of which, I should be practicing translating middle English right now - but I have all night, hey!

Though I have not the funds, time or energy to dress myself these days (right now I'm dressed in my oh-so-fashionable paint-splattered over-sized flannel and cotton shorts) - I have recently stumbled upon some amazing websites that you all may enjoy:

www.renttherunway.com --- this one offers a service where you can rent runway dresses for special occasions! Or just a night on the town (if you have the means). For anywhere from $50-$200 they will send you (two sizes!) of a gown along with a package in which to send it back. You love it, you wear it and you send it back (they take care of the dry cleaning). Ingenious!

www.giltfuse.com --- signing up for this one gives you access to the best deals out there. Each day they offer a new sale of amazing shoes, bags, clothing and accessories and a MAJORLY reduced price. Completely legal, too. The only catch is: things go fast so you have to be ready as soon as the sale opens up, with credit card in hand!

Bill recently invested in the new MacBook Pro and all of the accouterments to go with it. Logic Studio (for music recording), an iPod Nano, iWork, One-to-One, etc. Though the final price nearly made him wet his pants, the boyish grin on his face since Friday proved it well worth the monetary set back. We've been working on exchanging music which has introduced me to all sorts of cool things that I hadn't been exposed to before (old Flaming Lips albums and gangSTAR).

Recently, though, I've been indulging in Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire -- an old-timey sound that makes me all cozy whether I'm cooking, cleaning or working. Please look into it, it's phenomenal.

I must be off, Geoffrey Chaucer is calling my name.

Be good,

Jiej

The return of Sade

When JieJie was little, I pretty much brainwashed her to listen to what ever I wanted her to listen to.

For years I have been a Sade fan not just for her vocal style, but also for her restraint and elegant style.
Just in time for Valentines Day, Sade has returned with a new album(after 10 years away).
Paulina used to love listening to Sade. I told Mimi stories of Jiej listening to and singing Sade and she wanted to see her , so I went on you tube and showed her a particular video that Jiej loved with Sade as a mermaid. Well Mimi is hooked and asks to listen to Sade all of the time.
The subject matter may not be the most childlike but is sure beats kidzbop 179where little kids sing along to beyonce and miley cyrus.

Chinese New Year and Valentines

I feel at times that there is a storm cloud hanging over my head.
I don't know if it is fate or karma, but it is gosh darn annoying.

We have planned several events in the past year.2009 Chinese New Year was canceled when dad passed away, This year I planned a brunch with a special trip to the Chinese Ballet "Shen Yun" with some of Mimi's "little sisters" , my father in law passed away.

This past weekend was to be our annual Chinese New Year party, travel group reunion.
Mimi was at Annabel's playing and was brought home because she wasn't feeling well.

She had a temp of 104 and she was so lethargic, I could barley keep her conscious enough to get some Motrin in her.
She slept for three days. Party, postponed, school valentine party, missed.

She and I put together her "Wizards of Waverly Place" valentines, and I cut up about 5 lbs of fruit for a project I volunteered to help with at school.

We then assembled Chinese New Year treat bags for Chinese school.

We were thrilled to have Mimi's teacher unexpectedly deliver a stack of valentines and treats for her classmates.
She also got a get well, valentine bear with homemade cupcakes from her loyal friend Annabel.

On the bright side, all of our travel group can attend on March 6. It will be after the official Chinese New Year, but I am sure it will be great. I must remain optimistic.

I let my children watch tv

Here is another salute to childrens shows past and present.
Jie Jie loved a show called "The Adventures of Pete and Pete" and here is an example of what went on with Iggy and his daughter.
Yes, Iggy pop, dancing with his daughter at the school dance.... soooo cooollllll

tribute to childrens shows

JieJie had some favorite shows that I had to tolerate.
All in all she had great taste, and this is a classic that I often refer to in my day to day retoric.
It is a show called rugrats. It is the chronicle of some babies with really inept parents.

The old and the new.

I am old and my daughter is new. My daughters are both newer than I but Mimi is my testament that a new kid is different with an old parent.
Toys, are a great example of my change from a thirty year old mother to a forty five year old one.

When Jie Jie was five, it was all traditional toys.... wood preferably, no indication of style, ethnicity, or specific functions.
When Jie Jie was five she wanted a bear that she could write on with a marker.
I gave her a kit with which she could have her own restaurant, and this dollhouse, all made of wood.
Mimi has now intermingled some of her Christmas presents and her own style into a tiny Moxie girl town.

Adventures in Wonderland

As a part of my salute to children's shows. I must cover "Alice in Wonderland".
Basically, My mother forbade it. She thought that Lewis Carroll was an opium smoking child molester. My mom was not a fan off nonsensical and this writing beat them all.

I am kind of preoccupied with "Alice", I love the story, I love that she is a heroine, who kind of bumbles herself into crazy places with great courage.And who doesn't love a hookah smoking caterpillar?

I have a bit of a collection of things Alice.
Mimi, last year, even had an Alice birthday party.
I am revisiting a show that Paulina was in the habit of watching, and now that I look back eegads what is going on.It gets curiouser and curiouser.

wizards of waverly place

I am a forty five year old woman, with a five year old and a twenty year old.
I have lived through a ton of television.

I have lived through a ton of childrens television.

Sesame Street just celebrated a 40th anniversary.
My mom wrote a letter to PBS against Mr Rogers singing"Your body is fancy and so is mine".

I thought "Casey" on Mr Dress up" was a guy.

My five year old, my twenty year old and I are in watching a show on the Disney channel called "The Wizards of Waverly Place".


It is like a "Bewitched" or an "I Dream of Jeanie only with unbelievably great looking teenagers.

They are teens struggling with their angst and then they have powers that get them into wacky situations.
They also have the sexy mom and the ever so popular "sexy fat' dad.
So we watch, and Terry makes fun of us... but he watches it as well, out of the corner of his eye.

The Disney Channel in it's divine wisdom made a made for tv movie, that was a bigger budget and took the Wizards to an island holiday.
This movie was the highest rated cable movie of 2009.

Crazy ?
When I was five I was waiting for the "friendly giant "to rearrange his furniture.

and yet more daddy daughter dance

Where is that little girl I carried?

Daddy Daughter Dance

Terry and Mimi went to the Huntington Woods Daddy daughter dance.
Of course, all of her pals were there including Annabel.
They first dined at Nello's
Grandma ordered wrist corsages and Mimi decked out for the night.

The "theme" was Top Chef, so everyone was expected to follow suit.
Mimi would have none of it. She was glammed up with her finest giant jewelry. She insisted that Terry wear his finest suit.

I tried to talk her into a fancy apron.
Remind me to get rid of the red curtains.

Anniversaries

Today is the anniversary of my mom and dad. They would have been married for 52 years.
My mom was in the hospital over the weekend. Friday afternoon she had lunch with some college chums.
I was at Chucky Cheese, yeah you heard it right, Chucky Cheese with Mimi and Annabel.

The girls had the day off of school and I wanted to sit on my computer while they lolled themselves into a tizzy with tokens and video games.

I came home from Chucky's. The girls went upstairs to begin building their pretend New York apartment.
I found a little strip of paper on the counter.
The note read:
"I am at Beaumont(emergency), feeling a heart thing, see ya later love mom."

Well, I jumped in the car, propelled 2 little girls in costumes to someones house. I then went to emergency to find my mother, on a gurney in black cashmere, perfect red lipstick... "what are you doing here?" she asks.

2 days later....