Last Week - Snow, This Week - 60's

We made dumplings again. Brooke kept asking for them and I figured I could use the practice. They turned out really well. And we steamed them this time. That worked better than boiling. I rolled out the dough and cut the wrappers, and the kids filled and pinched them. Olivia is actually pretty good at it! Brooke gets so excited about dumplings. I asked her if she did that with China Momma (foster mom in China) and she said yes. It certainly must be a good memory for her! Brooke likes her dumplings plain, while Olivia prefers soy or ginger teriyaki dip. Mark and I love spicy peanut sauce.



Brooke is very maternal. She loves to see the babies at the daycare center Olivia attends for pre-k. She also loves baby dolls. Here she is doing a feeding. She'll feed the babies yogurt and all sorts of foods. She must have seen plenty of this at the orphanage.

Sunday was gorgeous and we went to the park. It's a really great park with fantastic playgrounds. It's split into 2 sections. One is for kids ages 1-5 and the other is for kids 6-12. Of course, the kids play where ever they want, but the little playground is easy for the little kids to navigate. They can go wild without getting scared or hurt. First, we walked on the nature trail next to the playgrounds. But we didn't get very far. Seems the flood waters from all the rains have ruined it for now. Better luck later...

I am convinced that if they made adult playgrounds (and gyms and bounce houses) that the adults would come. Don't these look like fun?? I love the recliner-swings!

Mark had fun swinging with Olivia.

I just thought this was a cute pic. Brooke was pooped and never even woke up.

Monday, this is what Olivia wore to gymnastics. Last Monday? Snow was on the way! (And she had pink-eye.)

Tuesday the neighbor's daffodils were blooming! It felt just like Spring! We got some yard work done, cleaned out the car and took a walk before lunch. Last Tuesday - snow!!!!

The yard work, car cleaning and walk took their toll on Brooke and this is what happened at lunch...

After Olivia got home, we washed the car and truck. My little helpers were very excited and proceeded to drench each other (and mommy).

Mark got into the habit of lying down with Brooke at night. Now that he's on afternoon shift, Smoochy has to take over the job. Brooke doesn't seem to mind. Smoochy is in heaven.

Today, Dr. Myers gave Brooke's baby a check-up. She's a stylish doctor, wearing a flower headband to keep her look snappy. The girls play really well together now. I can leave them alone and they won't even kill each other. Of course, they destroy any room that they've been in, but... that's kids. Olivia's two lower teeth are getting more and more wiggly, especially one. She has put in a request for a Scooby Doo coloring book from the Tooth Fairy. I think the TF can handle that...
The kitchen still isn't painted. Somehow, by the end of the day, I just don't have the desire to patch and sand. Maybe this weekend I can send Mark off with the girls and get some work done during daylight hours...(yeah, right...)