Kentucky Fried

Howdy from Kentucky!  We finally made it here to visit Grammy and Grandpa Root.  After the standby flying fiasco last year we made sure to buy tickets this year.  I ended up managing to get a cold, and by the time we got into Cincinnati I was super congested.

We went to White Castle, a fast food chain based mainly in the east.    Josh said, "White Castle has a sandwich they call "Sliders".  I couldn't figure out why at the time.  After a few hours... I found out.  They have little fried sandwiches on dinner rolls mostly grease with a little beef and onions (mine was fired halibut and cheese).

Yesterday, we started out with Grammy's big southern breakfast with ham, bacon, fresh eggs, toast, cinnamon rolls, and a fruit salad.  Unfortunately she realized to late she was out of grits.  It turned out she had three boxes of corn meal instead.

Then we got a tour of Grammy's garden.  She showed us her flowers and trees in all their variety.

She's most proud of her crépe myrtle and her her redbud trees.

Grammy says that she has 30 different roses in her garden, and that it is a pity we visited after they were done blooming.

They showed us the rocks that they had.  Many of the large stones that make up the paths in the garden are fossils they dug up on this very property.  You can see the fossils of shell fish, showing that this area was probably underwater at one point.  

The other notable rock was "The Pebble" a rock that Grammy brought with them from their home in Crown Point, Indiana.  It's got a beautiful layers on it that sparkle in the sun almost like a granite crossed with an oyster shell.

Grammy also loves to decorate with seashells they have picked up over the years on their trips to Florida during the winter.  Grammy calls Panama Beach their second home.

Two Charming Ladies

It's amazing how children grow and change.  Until you are around them on a regular basis you never remark on what things must be taught, but also what they pick up.  I've heard children compared to sponges, always observing and mimicking the behavior they are surrounded by.

Recently I've been working on manners with the girls.  Please, thank you, your welcome and best of all chewing with our mouths closed.  Mirna was so proud of herself for being able to eat politely like a big girl.

Released from Bondage!

It's amazing how changing one's appearance can liberate one's soul.  It's been about two weeks since I cut 14+ inches of hair off my head and I feel amazing.  It also helps that I was able to fit into a skirt I haven't fit into in over a year and a half yesterday. 

 I think a body goes along comfortable in a set routine and forgets what it is to take pride in one 's appearance.  Enough with complacency, as Marina said to me on Saturday, "You need some refreshing!"  I definitely feel refreshed after not only shedding the weight of all that hair but in donning a new do and embracing change.

Passed With Flying Colors!

Charm, elegance and poise, that's what I had hoped to get out of my ballet class this semester.  Unfortunately I ended up with a broken foot.  I guess that shows my degree of determination to get good marks in a class I felt ill equipped to take.  It paid off too, because I got an A- out of the class even though I broke my foot halfway through the semester. 

In many ways I needed to take that class, as well as the other classes I have taken over the last two semesters coming back to school.  Ballet taught me to value my own efforts.  I learned that hard work does pay off even and especially if you don't have the best body alignment, or are the most graceful to begin with.  It changed the way I look at myself.  Even though I felt myself to be the most clumsy, awkward and uncoordinated female in a class of about 29 females and three males I learned I was still okay.  I was able to work on my own weaknesses and help others with the things I am good at.  Ballet helped me to acknowledge and like myself better.

Here's to straight A's in all my classes!

~ Fraise

Happy Birthday to a Little Lady

Yesterday, Miss gabby turned two.  It's hard to believe it's already been a year since they left for Croatia last year.  It's amazing to see how much this little girl has changed since then.  Kids grow way too fast.

It was a nice party at home with all her closest family and friends.  We sang Happy Birthday first in English and then in Croatian, because Gabby asked her mom to.

We had Brazilian, Togolais, and Croatian food, with some good old fashioned sugar cookies by yours truly.  To top it off we had a strawberry and chocolate cake just for the birthday girl.

Happy Birthday Gabby from all of those that love you!

~ Fraise

Crunch Time!!!

So I'm sure most of the world knows that school has started for most universities, colleges, high schools, etc.  Work was hectic for the first few weeks of school but fortunately it has calmed down some.  Just in time too since I myself am finally going back to school, this time hell bent on actually finishing.  So yeah it's a re-balancing act now as I figure out school, work, homework, family life and some kind of minor social life.  Pretty hard core.  Now I know why most people try to get their schooling done before they get married, and start families, etc.  It's a roller coaster ride without all the extra stuff, and now I'm finding a better appreciation for those moms who manage to balance their lives with everything they do.

So yes, onto English, Astronomy, Pre-Algebra, and Anthropology.  I have finally gotten my schedule worked out and things are now stable, so full steam ahead!  Here are some fun photos of Marina and the girls I've taken on my shortened visits in between work and class.

Yes that's a goat on a doghouse staring at Gabby.

Taken with camera phone.

Marina decided to get braided hair extensions for fun.

Gabby just started pushing Mirna in the little car.  It was so funny to see them going around the backyard like that.

It is hard to get good picture of this little girl.  She just won't stay still long enough.

We were having a picnic in the backyard.

It's rare to get good photos of these two together.