Thank you for the replies and suggestions.  We are trying different font colors, as I am fond of the background style.  Let us know if it is better!  

Well, we Hilburn's  are up and running this fine frosty Saturday morning.   

I was actually up at 6:15 a.m. so that I could drag myself to the gym.  Eric and I joined a gym in December.  It has been kind of fun.  I just was not motivated to take walks around the neighborhood.  My only free time was after 9 p. m.  It was just too cold.   Plus, walking at night around here you are more likely to encounter wildlife than people, and wildlife scares me more!   I took an early morning jaunt last summer and nearly walked into a deer.  It was munching on plants in someone's yard above our house.   Anyway, no deer, raccoons, stray dogs or coyotes prowling at Gold's Gym! 

 I am trying to learn all the machines.  I work out in the special section for women.  It is smaller and less "open to the public."  I am only afraid of the treadmill.   I cannot seem to stay steady on that thing.  I had it set on about the lowest speed and I still could not walk without holding on.  I'll stick with the elliptical device!  Eric has been a few times.  Doesn't he look great in his new workout clothes.  Check out the Chuck Taylor's!   I am hoping to find some more appropriate shoes for him. . .  

New Year & New 'Do for Two!

It's a new hairdo for both Katy and Emma today!  I knew that Emma wanted a shorter length but Katy surprised me with her choice.  Both cuts are quite cute, don't you think?  Both will enjoy the easy care of their shorter hair. . .

We celebrated the Year of the Ox by going out for Chinese food earlier.   Potstickers, Kung Pau, Orange Chicken and Beef Chow Mein filled us up.  It also reminded us of our trip to Vancouver's Chinatown in late December.  We enjoyed eating Dim Sum with Kem, Etta and our niece, Natalie that day.   We experienced the sights & smells of the neighborhood markets and the interesting items that were presented.  It was a real treat!     

Things that I am thankful for today. . .

My friend Heather for helping us start this blog!   She is one of the most talented women I know!   Thank you being in our little world!  

My own "Joe the plumber",  aka Joe-Eric,  for installing a new kitchen faucet and new shower head.  The faucet is probably the 4th one we have installed since we moved in 11 1/2 years ago. We have hard water here and it seems to "eat" the insides of any hardware we buy!   

I have not yet tried the new shower head, but Katy & Emma have given it their approval.   We had the head that came with the house.  It was old and also had hard water damage.  There were only so many more vinegar soaks in its future.  The new item is supposed send the water out like a "gentle rainfall."  I'll give my review after tomorrow morning.  

Last, but not least, my darling girls!  They always show me what unconditional love really is. . . no matter if I am nagging them to pick up after themselves or telling them to be nice to each other.   They seem to see through my grumpy demeanor and love me just the same.  Today,  I attempted to make a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Eric and the girls were excited.  I have not made a decent batch of said cookies in at least a year.  I continue to bungle them--they turn out as flat discs with only the chips sticking up.  I generally scrape what I can off of the cookie sheet and dump the entire mess in the garbage.   Emma was checking out my progress when she started smelling the cookies baking.  She could hardly contain herself.  She told me that she knew I would do a good job this time and could she please try one as soon as they were out of the oven.  Well, I took one look at the first cooked pan and knew I had failed, yet again!  Emma looked and commented that she was going to try one anyway.  She recruited her sister and they sat at the kitchen table and ate one of my sad cookies.   After washing them down with milk, they let their dad know that the cookies weren't "that bad!"  Eric had at least one, and although I noticed no one took seconds,  I was not feeling quite so frustrated after all.   What sweet girls I have. . .  

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