Rats and Ants

So, it has been an interesting past week.

It all began when we were at the "mall"--or a supersize Walmart, known as Carefour.
On the first floor there are all these fast food restuarants.

We were walking out of the store--after all the restaurants had already closed down for the night.

And lo and behold! You won't believe what we saw. The LARGEST RAT I have ever seen in my life. It was as large as a cat. It's pink tail was so long. It was hopping over all the fast food tables and counters and stoves. And scrambling into some drawers.

so sick. I vowed to never eat at one of those kinds of places ever again.

Then this past week, we got a swarm of ants in our house. I don't know how they made it all the way to the 13th floor but they did.

Got to hand it to them.

I am watching a handful right now as I type. Fast little suckers.

I am becoming a merciless smasher of insects. Using bare fingers if necessary.
Driving me CRAZY.

I have tried everything!!!

Any ideas???????

a little Christmas spirit...

At James' work...Sunrider

I finally remembered to take a couple of picts...

She's got SASS...

I could just eat her.

She loves pulling this face

She finally let us put stuff in her hair (at least for 10 seconds...)

Can I just say--I love this little girl. So much. We have so much fun. She brings such light and love to our family.

I love taking naps with her (which I do often now that I am a walking pregnant zombi)--we end up playing eye games and giggling for 30 minutes! She loves to tease me. She will wack me on the face (HARD sometimes!) and then burst out laughing--throwing her head back and all. Then I will smack her back--and that gets her giggling even more!

The best is when Daddy comes home. She gets so excited and runs toward him as fast as her little legs can carry her. Then he throws her around and she laughs her little head off.

Gingerbread House Decorating!!!!!

For the 1st Time in their Lives...

The Taiwanese did the unthinkable...

made the sweetest dessert they have ever had:

GINGERBREAD HOUSES!

With the works.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any powder sugar...Anywhere

Nor could I find graham crackers.

So we improvised...








No...it is not a snowy Christmas for these little gingerbread houses.

It is a very muddy one.


See that cute little baby in pink? She was loving the brown sugar "frosting"...

Joy is still eating ours. When I am not looking, she climbs onto our table and tries to rip off a candy as fast as she can. But I caught her this time!!! haha

Nativity Story in Taiwan!!!

Every year the English ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints puts on a Nativity Story.

With a REAL HORSE

And Angels that look like they are flying in the air

James and I helped "direct" the cast and acting.

In other words, we sat back and watched in awe...

The Guard Who Never Blinks

The Guard Who Never BLINKS!!!


We are at the Chang Kai Shek memorial. It is beautiful. Many people just hang out in the breath taking garden, pond with massive bright fish, and trees.

HIlARIOUS

The Star is Born

Joy is a natural performer.

She is such a hoot.

She will walk up to these groups of Taiwanese people -- right smack in the middle-- and start dancing and shaking her darling fanny.

And (like clockwork) they start squeeling and screaming and laughing.

Joy just soaks it in and smiles.

Then after a couple of minutes she is sick of the attention and blows a fuse (stomping her feet or swinging for their faces).

She keeps us entertained.