Gingerbread House - Better Late Than Never!

Sorry to be so late with these photos! I actually only remembered I had them because in the car this morning Sarah started talking about next year's gingerbread house. She's already making plans! But here is the original. The three of us had a great time decorating it before Christmas.

(Powdered sugar "snow")

(Mom smudged the S.K.D.R. initials!)

Snow Family Bracker

(Every snowman begins with a single snow flake!)

This morning I heard the front door open and wondered just what in the heck Kevin was doing. He came back in to report it was perfect snowman making weather! Sarah has been waiting two years to make her first snowman! Not only did she get to make her first snowman, but a whole snow family. So we have snow dad Kevin, snow mom Debbi, snow daughter Sarah and snow cat Romeo! She put the pink scarf on "snow dad Kevin" -- glad he's confident enough in his masculinity to wear such a girly scarf!

(Kevin may be wearing a pink scarf, but it balances out with his fishing hat!)

(Snow Debbi having just as bad a hair day as real Debbi!)

(Snow Sarah with Snow Romeo the Cat right by her -- in snow as is life!)

(Sarah didn't want Snow Sarah's head to be cold!)

(We must have HAPPY snow people!)

(Snow Romeo the Cat)

Visiting Friends

Oh my! I was overwhelmed by the number of people who contacted me after my Christmas post (below). It was so wonderful to hear from so many people, many I've never chatted with before and many who befriended me on Facebook. Quite honestly, I wasn't sure if anyone was reading the blog anymore, but I see you are -- THANKS! So I'll try to be better about posting on here.

We just returned a few hours ago from a two day mini trip. One of the girls Sarah grew up with lives a few hours away so we headed there for a visit. The girls had a wonderful time shopping, swimming, chatting and eating REAL Chinese food! There is a small restaurant there owned by people from their hometown in China. The restaurant has two menus -- one mainstream and one "authentic" menu with all the good stuff the girls remember from China. This time we ordered very spicy crunchy chicken, crunchy fried fish (bones and all) in sauce, a mixed eggplant dish, a stuffed fried tofu dish (with gorgeous mushrooms!) and sauteed greens and tofu vinegar soup. The girls loved it all!

This is the second time we've gone to this restaurant and the girls just love it. The man and woman who own the restaurant always come by and chat for a long, long, long (!) time with the girls and are very interested in their lives. As soon as we walked in the woman recognized the girls. There's tons of quick talking in Chinese which Kevin and I cannot understand at all so we just sit and enjoy the food! Watching the girls have so much fun, laughing and giggling, is quite a treat.

Now, it's time to take down all the Christmas decorations and store them away until next year. I'm guessing there's no magic fairy that will pack them all up tonight and store them away before morning!?! Sarah has a few days left before school starts up again on the 4th. If the snow isn't too bad tomorrow we may head to the movies. Otherwise, we just plan to CHILL!!!

Merry Christmas!

It's been a LONG time since my last post -- so sorry! We've pretty much moved over to Facebook and if any of you are on there as well, please "friend" me (Debbi Bracker). On Facebook we post photos and tidbits and would love to share in your posts as well.

Here are a few Christmas photos. We had a wonderful holiday. We did not travel back to Iowa this year, but stayed home instead. We had a white Christmas with about 6+ inches of snow -- a HUGE snow for Southern Missouri.

(Yep, she got a Hello Kitty shirt -- silly girl!)

(Romeo, putting up with Sarah wrapping him in her scarf)

Happy Halloween!

9th Grade School Photo

Sarah's 9th grade school photo

Kevin's Arkansas Fishing Trip

Kevin is on his way home from a fishing trip with his Dad. Rick drove down from Iowa and they met up in Branson. They'd hired a fishing guide but the guide contacted them to say we've had too much rain lately for good fishing in the area. Instead, he wanted to know if they'd care to go down to Arkansas to fish. Kevin has wanted to try fishing in Arkansas but hadn't gotten down there yet, so this worked out perfectly. Except, it's COLD outside!

But, they did have some luck and while they didn't catch many, they caught big sized fish. Actually I think they are probably the biggest they've landed so far. I just love how happy he looks in the photo above.

Now, if we can just get him home to thaw him out. And, no, we won't be having fish for dinner as they practice the "catch and release" method so the fish can go on to live another day.