I just crack up looking at this picture. It looks like Kei and the ref have been practicing their synchronized running!
What a handsome little devil. Such a poser for the camera.
Kei receiving his second place trophy.
There were just too many photos to choose from so I threw them on this page to make it easier.
Can you guess which one is his son???
How were you able to guess it was the boy in the middle? Just kidding, I'm sure you guessed correctly. Little clone on the end with his sport drink. Ky was the first to spot the hideous hairstyles. I'm not sure if there is a name for this follicular atrocity but it has to be a cut-from-home. No barber shop would commit to doing that cut, no matter how much they were willing to pay. I'm just trying to figure out what kind of cooking bowl or object was used to mold this fine hairdo. 
Kei received numerous gifts, too many to name off. He did get a new set of golf clubs and several video games though and over-all was well pleased with all of his gifts. Whew, Santa didn't fail!
Christmas wouldn't be complete without some of the classic traditions. We went out for Chinese food on Christmas Eve with the Olson's and played some games afterwards. Christmas day they also joined us for a movie. Ky gets a puzzle every year and I help him put it together. He typically does the majority of the puzzle with Kei adding 3 or 4 pieces. And the holiday wouldn't be a success without all the face-stuffing, weight-gaining, yummy to your tummy snacks that are found everywhere. Rachel saved the day with the goodies she made for us. Can you tell how much I was enjoying the caramel corn???
We hope all of you had just as much fun for Christmas as we did. I can't wait until everyone gets back on their regular blogging schedule. Come to think of it I can't wait until my shows get back on their regular showing schedule. Resolve the conflict already! 
I had to improvise while making the bags but they turned out ok despite my inability to do crafts. For you crafty people out there, I know you could do a much better job with your bags. If you put one together email me and show me what you did. I always need ideas to copy from!
Lemonade..
Round the corner, fudge is made!
In the bathroom pull the chain, Down goes chocolate chooo chooo train!
Tilt hips so funnel faces slightly downwards.
Relax and pee (relax? with a cardboard urinating system between my legs? not likely).
Dispose of properly.
It seems sorta disgusting but so out of the ordinary that you just want to give it a try. I've always wanted to write my name in the snow and now that a blizzard has dumped some on us, I could give it a try!
The battle is opened up to 4th grade student to come watch along with parents, family and friends of the participants. Each different team is sitting in front of their poster. Kei blends into the black curtain to the far left! He has a white shirt on so you can almost make him out.
The 3 books they were required to read were: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, The Ravenmaster's Secret by Elvira Woodruff and Shark Lady: The Adventures of Eugenie Clark by Ann McGovern. I'm really not sure how the scoring was figured because Kei's team only missed 3 questions out of the 8 rounds and the 2nd place team also missed 3 questions. Hmmm. 
This is just a close up of the above picture. Do you like my Chloe bag I got for my birthday? No one has to know it's a knock-off from NYC!
I tried to get a modeling job at the Maserati dealership. The competition was too stiff and I didn't get it.
This punk beat me out! I definitely need to practice my poses. It obviously works for Kevin =)!
Ok. So I love random faces in places. I see them everywhere. There is a blog already dedicated to such wonderful finds (link under bodacious blogs). This little face was near Kevin's house and of course we had to take a picture. 
NYC had the best food. Even the hot-dog vendors are yummmy. I tried to get a picture of the restaurant where we had Thanksgiving dinner but it just wasn't working out. Anyway, you have to check out the website. It was amazing. I'm use to having Thanksgiving in a canvas tent (similar to a tee pee) in my parents back yard. This was just a little bit different, don't worry mom, different, not better!
Oddly enough this joint serves mac n' cheese. Not like the kind I make out of a box, but mac n' cheese that actually has cheese in it. S'MAC was awesome.
This is how you get your mac n' cheese served to you. Oh, it is sooo good.
I'm not sure how many caramel steamers we had but it was a lot. We needed something to keep us warm while walking around the city.
Kei had the same reaction to the steamers as others do to coffee. I had to check a couple times and make sure they didn't throw a shot in there. He was WILD! 
Thank goodness for the fat food, I mean the fast food joint-McDonald's. Kei would have died without it.
Have you ever seen the movie, Big? This is the piano he played on. Kids could line up and take turns playing the notes. I think Kei wanted to do a solo.
"Ah, that's a little better. Now I have some breathing room."
"Oh wait, here come dad and Uncle Kevin, aren't they too old to be on here?"
"Get out of here guys, you're stealing my thunder."
"Ah, forget it. We can all play." - and that is what they did.
This could be used for Kevin's "jump" project. Look at the precision and timing of that start. They must have practiced on their over-sized,floor piano at home before coming (ya, right). I love this shot of them. They decided to play chop stix and show up all the little kids. Show offs!
I must admit that they put on quite a show. Hey, they should've asked for money when they were done. Why didn't we think of that? It worked for the guy in the subway.
Ok, here comes the ending. It is going to be a stretch to hit the notes.
Can they do it? Ky looks like he's pulling a muscle. Will he make it? 
YES, they did it (loud thunderous applause), and all muscles and ligaments are still intact. Hey mom, I guess all those piano lessons paid off after all! 
Here we are at the Rockefeller Center. I wish the tree was finished but they had the lighting ceremony the Wed. after we left. It was still fun to see and the story of how they pick the tree and transport it there is amazing. Look it up.
We really wanted to go skating but the line was horrendously long. It's so cold right now I could probably make a rink in my back yard. Hey, it can work. My brother made one when he lived in Michigan-burrrr.
I think we just got caught. Isn't this the face you give your kids when they do something they shouldn't but what they did was so cute and funny, that when you try to be stern it just doesn't work. Ya, this is that look. (ky's mom)
Kei's favorite part of the trip was a stop at Ripley's. It was interesting, I'll give it that, and more importantly it entertained Kei.
Ky, messing around AGAIN! He looks way to happy to be in a guillotine.
This was far worse than trying to walk through the "spinning walls" at the local fair. The bridge actually stayed still but the walls were moving and no matter how hard you tried, you just couldn't walk straight. You will do better if you close your eyes. (the man in this pic...don't know him) 
Some shots from inside. Real alligator bones from a true man-eater. Yikes!
Some of the pics from inside. Who do you think wipes her butt?
We also checked out the Fashion District. Kevin thought he would give the designer a few pointers. I have a pointer for him...get a new machine
Kei just had to climb up and give the guy a hug. Ahhh.
I think the second best thing to Ripley's, for Kei, was the street entertainment. He wanted to stop and watch, and give money, every time he saw people putting on a show. We did stop for two. How could you not when Michael Jr. was performing.
The most impressive thing about this impersonator was the fact that he didn't use half of his routine to get people to donate money. He was good. 
This guy was jumping over 6 people from the crowd. Pretty impressive but they were ones whose routine was half about getting donations. Boring.
That's all for today. Tune in next time for some more photos of NY. 
