The Further I Slide

We have just returned from Saugatuk.

We have never been to the Bean cottage in Winter and we also had Daddy with us which was wonderful.

Lake Michigan was so gorgeous, covered in snow and ice, like a distant planet or the Snow Queen's lair,

Missy and I went snowshoeing down to the shore. It seems like 2 seconds ago, we were lugging beach chairs and bikini clad girls down the hill.

The best part of the trip was the sledding. The Beans and the Sipes enjoyed hours of sledding through the beautiful forest.

The Beans also acquired an amazing vehicle called an Argo. It looks like a tank and it can drive through any treacherous terrain. The terrain here being 4 feet of snow and ice.

Due to the fact that no one else in the area has an Argo, we had the forest to ourselves.
After a day of winter sports the girls and dads went in the hot tub. The dads had a good soak. The girls took it upon themselves to jump out, roll around in the snow and then return to the the steamy water.Missy and I looked on from the family room in our flannels and slippers.
It was truly winter at it's finest.

On the Road Again

We are on our way to Saugatuk for sledding.
Check us out @www.Mimiandjiejie.tumblr.com

Splendid Jubilant New Year

This Year of the Rabbit, was a typical eventful one.

Mimi and I had a class party, which included treats, crafts, stories and lion dancing.

We then had our yearly reunion with Mimi's little sisters and their families.JieJie came home from school, and we had friends and extended family attend as well.

We had crafts, and tons of food, Asian and not so Asian(we had JieJie's dad serve Great Lakes Hot dogs).
We also had an improvised Lion Dance, fireworks, and Baffling Bill the magician was there for more entertainment(he brought Gus the rabbit for some added New Year fun).

We all went outside and lit the Sky lanterns, it was a perfect "Tangled" moment.


The neighbors were circling the neighborhood to see where the beautiful lights were coming from.
It was a great day.

Sister Winter

Last night we were hit by another snowstorm.
A matter of days ago, we were scampering outside without coats on and admiring the emerging daffodils.

Mimi is on mid winter break, and Terry is on vacation so they dug us out. Uncle Randy also came to our aid. We couldn't even get the back door open to let Zelda out.
This is probably the worst storm we have had yet.But, in the words of Daddy"We live in Michigan, What do you expect?

These Days

Last week at Mimi's school there was a school wide celebration of 100 days of being in school.

The assignment for her class was to create a project, that displays 100 items.

After much hemming and hawing, it was decided that Mimi would do 100 hairpins. It was then that the creative duo of Daddy and Mimi came up with this clever way of making 100 hairpins interesting.

My Funny Valentine

Happy Day to all of my Valentines!

What means Valentines day more than a big bowl of chocolate with store bought frosting on top?

I Could Write A Book

On this, almost St. Valentines Day, I was out doing errands and I encountered something that screamed Valentines Day to me.

I must elaborate.

Paulina, Terry, and I were on a plane to get Mimi.
I had every single disc of movies imaginable, in a little book.(1) for Paulina's entertainment, (2) for Mimis entertainment

I,in a state, left a whole package of dvd's on our flight from Japan to China. Paulina(being 16 at the time), had the choice of watching the four movies that I always kept with me. "Roman Holiday", "Seven Year Itch", "When Harry Met Sally", and "Manhattan".

During those two weeks, (Terry)and we also got desperate and borrowed from our neighbors several Star Wars movies dubbed in Russian and the trilogy of Harry Potter in Chinese.
Paulina had probably watched "When Harry Met Sally" 45 times by the time we got home.
Paulina still watches this fabulous Valentine film.

It is one of the greatest Valentine movies,other than "An Affair To Remember"
I was very recently in this amazing store looking for swag for my Chinese New Year party.
I ran across this furniture made out of wagon wheels. I immediately texted Jiej, she was perplexed.
We are pretty much against the wagon wheel, unless you need it,for a wagon.

Happy Valentines Day.

Hotel Yorba

At the end of the story, Jiejie had had her chance to see White Stripes, on more than one occasion, and in better situations than the DIA on family night.

It just goes to show mama knows best,

Fell In Love With A Girl

As anyone knows, being a fan of White Stripes,they changed the way we heard music.
With Mimi's love of art and newly found love of legos, I am posting this.(Mimi wants to build the white house, in legos).

I Think We're Going To Be Friends

JieJie was in middle school, she was a member of music club.

I came to her and asked if she wanted to see this really cool band at the DIA, on a Friday night, it's only 2.00 dollars and you see artwork.

I was rejected.

Gung Hei Fat Choi

Happy New Year!!!!!

It is the Year of the Rabbit. Put on your new clothes, wash the house from top to bottom, get a haircut.
It is time to renew and refresh. It is the Spring Festival! How good does that sound?
This celebration lasts for more than 2 weeks so stay tuned.

She's Long Gone

We went to Nellos