some of my monsters

all that's missing is a corsage

here's the one picture i managed to get pete to have taken of us on saturday. we were fixed up all fancy for this benefit dinner in chicago. it was a fun night despite the fact that we were a tad bit out of our element.

Mission Accomplished

Yesterday I spent the day doing something I do not really enjoy. I went shopping. For 8 hours. Normally, my kind of shopping is done in front of the computer, ordering things, trying them on in the safety of my own home. By safety I mean protection from flourescent lighting. No, I did not take the kids with me because this was serious business. Thankfully, Pete's mom had them for the afternoon and then Pete got them after work. The goal? To find something to wear to a "black tie" fundraiser that Pete and I are going to next weekend. I think I tried on somewhere around 30 dresses. My shoulders hurt today. It's a bit tricky to find a dress as I'm 3 1/2 months pregnant, definitely showing, but not enough to look right in a maternity dress. Well, I left the mall tired and with aching feet and back, but I also had in hand a dress, shoes, hose, earrings, and lipstick. So I think I'm ready! Maybe I'll remember to post pictures afterwards...

Inspired

I've never been a fan of glitter and glue and messy crafting with kids where you make junk that you don't know what to do with. That's why we have been loving this website for art project ideas lately! Check out artprojectsforkids.org

Here's a picture of our Rainbow Collage-

Injera Love

Here are some pictures of our Ethiopian Feast last week. Teshome was grinning from ear to ear as he expertly ate his injera and tibs.

Tutu Cute

For a little Valentine's Day fun we gave the girls each a tutu.

My Saturday

Sweet day at home after a full week.
Slept in until 9!! - thanks, Pete.
French press- thanks, Pete.
Eggs with veggies- again, Pete.
A little kitchen clean up.
Shower.
Pete left with the boys.
Girls play and play and play.
For me, some reading time.
Tea.
Knitting.
Listening to the Babies, Adoption and Family Logistics cd's from Vision Forum.
Pizza dough in the breadmaker.
Library soon.
Movie tonight.
Sleep.

Thirty Something

Well, Friday was my birthday.

The day was pretty normal except for the fact that we had gotten a big snow storm the day before. Since the kids have all been just longing for snow (especially Teshome), I declared it a snow day and they played outside for HOURS.



Peter and Kate had to take a break and come inside for their piano lessons and then they were back out in the ridiculous cold to build forts. In the afternoon we headed to the YMCA for the homeschool gym and swim and my elliptical time. In the evening we went over to Pete's parents house where his mom had made us a delicious meal and I received a couple of new baking pans and a wonderful African cookbook that I have wanted (and had checked out of the library atleast 4 times).

Saturday morning I had a lovely (and early) time of knitting at Starbucks with my friend Andrea. The next stop was Target by myself- fun! At home Pete and the kids played in the snow and did some chores.




Pete also went to the grocery store with all of the kids (just for a few things) and then came home and baked me a rich and yummy super duper chocolate cake which we ate after lunch.


(and no, we did not eat taco sauce on our cake :) )

Then our babysitters extraordinaire, Joel and Carrie, came over for the rest of the day while Pete and I spent the afternoon at the boat and rv show in Chicago and then when out to eat. All in all, a sweet birthday weekend.

And now I will try not to lament the fact that I am closer to 40 than 30 (big gulp!) and take joy in the following poem from Peter's card-

The Highlight of Yesterday

She's always wanted to be a race car driver so when my mom arrived for a quick visit last night I knew that Teshome's request for her to play Mario Kart would not go unheeded!

This and That

It's 7:30 am and half of my children are already playing outside. Some asked if we could start school yet to which I say no. We start at 9. I am busy filling up on coffee. I should really start the week's laundry. The goal would be to start wash Tuesday afternoon and have it all folded and put away by Wednesday afternoon so when CC starts on Thursdays, we atleast have the laundry under control.

This week I started reading Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates to my two oldest. We have been learning in history about the African slave trade. It's too easy to not acknowledge this horrifying part of our nation's history. To not recognize what really happened. It's hard to even begin to try to understand how there were so many Christians who had a skewed idea of owning a person and treating them as no better than a caged animal! And how so many are still affected TODAY by their great grandparents, grandparents, and parents passed down prejudices.

I'm knitting again- a hat for me.

I baked cookies yesterday. Then as they sat on the counter beckoning to me I remembered one of the reasons I don't do that very often. The kids woke up this morning in a hurry to see if the cookies were still there or if daddy at them all. Then they asked for cookies for breakfast. I said no. Ice cream for dinner, yes, but cookies for breakfast? I think not.

We started our new science curriculum yesterday. LOVE it! I have to say that I have not really truly enjoyed teaching science up until this point, but I think the Apologia "Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology" is changing that!

I am not enjoying teaching grammar. Maybe I'll quit.

Yesterday my newly retired father in law came over to mow the lawn. Mom came along and baked banana bread with the non nappers while the 2 oldest and I did science. Yay for a teacher's aid and lawn maintenance crew!

I need to buy a new pillow. Again. I wake up with a sore neck every morning. Last time I bought a new pillow my neck started feeling better. That was about a month ago. I guess maybe I need to spend more than $5 on a pillow.

And that's all for today's boring post. Maybe I'll try to post some pictures soon since I haven't done that for awhile.

On a Monday

Monday's are full of mayhem and whining. Every new week I think what can I do to simplify Sunday evening so we can enjoy our first work day of the week. I am so thankful for yesterday's sabbath rest, for a day of no work. How does the world do it, go and go for seven days and more? I need that one day off laundry, off busy activity. Just to worship, rest the body, be together as a family. Still, all that resting makes us a wreck on Monday. The house is a wreck from 8 people being home together all weekend. The kids are a wreck from all the sitting- in the van, in the pew, at the table, back in the van, back in the pew. Then we get home and urge them to eat their cereal super fast and get in bed! I don't know what I can do differently or if I'm just going to be dealing with crabbies until they're over the age of....what?
Right now I am taking a moment to enjoy that 2 are down for naps and 4 are outside savoring this coolish late summer day. I am quite enjoying the whipping cream- leftover from Sunday's dessert- in my coffee and quite sure that it's a good thing we don't keep that in the house! I'm enjoying having short hair again. Enjoying a clean spare room- and laughing as I remember the pediatrician's confusion when he asked how many bedrooms we have (he thinks we're crazy) and I said, "four, but we only use 3."

The Loot

Sorry I have no picture of my wonderful pile of garage sale spoils, but check this out. I spent somewhere around $32 and came home with the following-

-bread maker (which I am using right now to make homemade rolls for dinner- I don't know what else we're having, but there will be rolls!)

-roller blades

-roller skates

-clothing: cargo pants, swim trunks, cord pants, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 capris, jean shorts

-Columbia brand 3 in 1 coat for Kate for this winter in nearly perfect condition

-Lands End wind breaker for Teshome in perfect condition

-puffy vest

-tennis shoes that look barely worn

-bike helmet (in its original packaging)

-2 bandanas (we girls like to wear them on our heads especially when camping)

Wowzers- that was a good garage sale day :)

Strawberries...

...are coming out of our ears.
Yesterday we headed to pick strawberries and I was super excited that it wasn't sweltering hot. I have picked with these kids in some pretty ridiculous heat. Not only have I survived immense heat in the patch, but I also (barely) survived two years ago when Ella pooped out of her diaper and down her leg into her shoe and Charlotte had a nasty poop and gnats swarming her butt as I changed her on the ground. I made a rule that year that there were no more diaper wearers allowed to go strawberry picking. Then I forgot how bad it really was and broke my own rule. Anyway, yesterday my children were actually really helpful and we managed to pick SIX buckets. Charlotte and Ella ate so many while we were picking that today they both told me they don't like strawberries. My original plan was to not make jam, but I kind of had to with all those berries. I made strawberry surprise biscuits for breakfast this morning and tonight for dessert we're having a strawberry trifle. I also froze some for smoothies and plan to make sauce for sundaes and waffles in the next few days. And then I think I'll be okay if I don't see another strawberry for awhile!







Here's the recipe for Strawberry Surprise Biscuits (from Gooseberry Patch Family Favorites)

2 c. all purpose flour
3 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 T. sugar
1/4 c. butter
3/4 c. plus 1 T. milk, divided
12 strawberries, hulled
2/3 c. powdered sugar
1/4t. vanilla extract

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Add 3/4 cup milk, stirring just till moist.

Turn dough onto lightly floured surface, knead 4-5 times. Divide dough into 12 pieces. Pat each piece into a 3 inch circle. Place one berry in center of each, bring edges up, and pinch to seal. Place on lightly greased baking sheet (I used a Pampered Chef stone). Bake at 425 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Stir together powdered sugar, 1 T. milk, and vanilla for glaze. Cool biscuits and drizzle with glaze. Yum!

My picture doesn't do it justice, but here it is anyway-

Colorful

Teshome colors Obama

More About Girls Day in the City

Sorry, I'm a lazy blogger sometimes. While Brooke was here with 3 of her kids last weekend, we took our oldest girls to Chicago for the day. So that was my Kate and Maddie and her Emma and Lily. Peanut got to come along just because he's the baby and he's cute. They had a great time riding the train and seeing the sights. We had our work cut out for us keeping 4 little girls from podunk from crossing streets without looking, but everyone stayed alive and had fun too.

We visited the American Girl store- to look, not buy- and I found out the secret for doing the doll's hair so we will not be spending $10-$20 to get any doll's hair done anytime soon. Then we had lunch at Food Life in Macy's before heading back to the train.

The purse I'm carrying is one of my favorite things ever. I wish I could say it is something I made, but alas, it is not. It is a Vera Bradley. A couple of years ago I fell in love with the cafe latte pattern and allowed myself to purchase the little id/coin purse thingy. I had the plan to save some money and eventually buy a purse or tote. Then they discontinued my favorite pattern! I ended up buying the hipster (in caffe latte) on ebay- at no savings, really, but I was determined to have that pattern!!

I Wore My Ugly Shoes

Yesterday I took off for a three hour shopping marathon. It was not fun. I was on a mission to get pants. Apparently when you lose 20 pounds your pants don't stay up so I was desperate- I literally had not a single pair of shorts or capris that fit me. However, I don't exactly have the funds for a new wardrobe. To me, shopping is work. I don't have that skinny, pre-baby carrying body that could wear any style anymore. She is gone, never to return. And so, it is tricky to find styles that aren't "teeny bopperish" and muffin top baring, but also aren't "matronly." Seriously. Work.

When I got dressed in the morning, I knew I was going to be trying clothes on in a hurry. So I dressed for it. That includes no jewelry. And my ugly shoes. I wore Crocs shopping. And I couldn't help but think about how mortified my mother and my sister would be if they'd had to shop with me. When they go shopping they look super cute- lipstick, jewelry, cute shoes... It's okay- I got the job done and I now have pants that fit.

Saturday

It's a great day to clean the house, get some errands done, catch up on everything you didn't get done all week, right?

Wrong. My house will have to wait. That seems to be a theme lately. Oh well, I'm busy making purple poop and pink hair and green dolphins and blue spiders. And, yes, I know it's not a "school day" but I couldn't help but get out the animal encyclopedia and explain the difference between a spider and an insect. And there's nothing like hot chocolate outside on a cool and windy spring day and introducing Teshome to his first marshmallow.

My First Ever Giveaway!!

Hey Friends- I am doing a giveaway of one of our

ADOPTION T-SHIRTS

Wear it to display the message that God is glorified in Adoption!

It is super simple to enter- just do one of two things: put a link to my blog on facebook OR your blog for one entry. If you do both, it's 2 entries. Make sure you leave me a comment or email me to let me know what you did and tell me what size and color you would like if you win :) The giveaway ends Friday at midnight. I'll do the drawing and announce the winner on Saturday.

The Last Meal as a Family of Seven

Nothing says, "have a nice trip, Daddy," like a breakfast of fat and sugar. Yikes- I think we'll all be having salad for dinner.

Real Life

A sport at our house- jumping over a mountain of (clean) laundry.