TAYLOR MAKING HIS VALENTINES FOR HIS CLASSMATES

DADDY'S LEGS MAKE A GOOD SLIDE

HEY! YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO SLEEP ON YOUR TRAIN TABLE!

TRYING ON OUR HOODIES

THINGS ARE PRETTY LOW KEY IN THE HEWGLEY HOUSEHOLD RIGHT NOW WITH NO COMPLAINTS FROM US!! TAYLOR IS CONTINUING TO TRY DIFFERENT WORDS EVERYDAY. I HAD GOTTEN REALLY USED TO KNOWING WHAT HE WAS SAYING AND NOW SOMETIMES I DON'T. HE IS COUNTING TO 10 AND HAS FINALLY GRASPED COLORS. HE LOVES GOING TO DAYCARE NOW AND PLAYING WITH HIS FRIENDS AND ACTUALLY LOOKS FORWARD TO IT. HE IS LOVING CURIOUS GEORGE, SO FOR VALENTINES DAY WE GOT HIM A DVD. TAYLOR HAS BEEN POTTY TRAINED FOR MONTHS DURING THE DAY, BUT WE HAVE JUST KEPT HIM IN PULL-UPS AT NIGHT. WELL LAST NIGHT WE DIDN'T PUT ON A PULL-UP AND HE STAYED DRY. HE IS SUCH A BIG BOY. IT IS STRANGE TO BE SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM AND ME AND JAMES JUST LOOK AT EACH OTHER WHEN WE HEAR TAYLOR GO TO THE BATHROOM, TURN ON THE LIGHT, LIFT UP THE SEAT AND PEEPEE, THEN FLUSH.....ALL BY HIMSELF! OUR BABY IS GROWING UP!!!!!!!

OUR HUNTER TURNED 14 YESTERDAY!! IT'S SO HARD TO BELIEVE. SHE'S TALLER THAN ME, HER FOOT IS BIGGER THAN MINE. I CAN REMEMBER THE DAY SHE WAS BORN, AND BABYSITTING HER AND IT JUST SEEMS UNREAL THAT SHE COULD BE FOURTEEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Chinese New Year

Taylor is doing the dragon dance.

LOVE, FAITH, AND PEACE
SPRING, GOOD FORTUNE AND GOOD LUCK

Chinese New Year began today and we had my sister and her family over for dinner. We did not eat a traditional dinner, we are saving that for tomorrow night. I think James and I both would prefer that Mr. PFChang himself prepare our traditional dinner. Yummy, I can't wait.



Tonight we learned a little about our zodiacs. This year is the year of the Rat according to the Chinese zodiac and Trey and I were both born in the year of the Rat. I am copying this from someone else's blog but here is what is said about the Rat. (personally I am kind of thinking of it as year of the Mouse-sounds nicer). Though the Western rat is reviled as little more than a bottom-dwelling disease carrier, this animal is viewed much differently in the East. The Eastern rat is revered for its quick wits and its ability to accrue and hold on to items of value; rats are considered a symbol of good luck and wealth in both China and Japan. Clever and quick-witted, the Rat of the Chinese Zodiac is utterly disarming to boot. Possessed of excellent taste, this Sign flaunts its style at every turn. Its natural charm and sharp, funny demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone. The Rat likes to know who is on its side and will treat its most loyal friends with an extra measure of protection and generosity.



For crafts tonight we made signs to put around the doors, Hunter and Trey actually wrote them in Chinese caligraphy and they did a great job. They just put words of things we are thankful for or hopefull for in the new year. We also made lanterns. It is a Chinese tradition that the younger, unmarried people will recieve money in a red envelope, in even numbers except for 4 which is bad luck. So the kids all got a red envelope. Lastly, there is a old myth of a monster that comes down from the mountainside and to keep him away people shoot fireworks. We used a party popper for this effect which you can see from the picture sprayed confetti all over the kitchen.


We had fun learning about new holiday traditions which really when it's all said and done is all about the family and food! Sound familiar?

Giving Thanks to God!!

Above is close up of dorms and below is aerial of dorms.

As you have heard on the news Tennessee got hit hard by the tornadoes and my little brothers go to Union University and were on campus when one hit. They were in Patrick's dorm when my step-mother called them to take cover now (she was in Nashville watching the news). They decided to go to Neill's dorm room because it seemed safer. When they got outside they could see the tornado. They said it just looked huge and it looked as if it wasn't moving. They hurried to Neill's building and room and took cover in the bathroom. They said they could hear a humm and then the pressure started changing and their ears were popping and then it was over. So fast. It is just a miracle that none of the students lost their lives. I am so thankful my little brothers weren't hurt. I read that 80% of the dorms were damaged or demolished. Patricks car was on campus and was probably totalled. Neill's was off campus in the shop and was OK. My dad is there today helping them to gather their things if they are allowed to go back inside because as you can see by the pictures most of the dorms will be tore down and rebuilt. So many people have lost so much so quickly so please just remember those people today!

Our budding photographer....

Well hey...you gotta start somewhere!

Scrubba dub dub

Isn't it funny how much kids love a bath and for me going through my morning ritual seems like such a chore.