Happy Birthday Adah Patadah Derartu!!!

That's our pet name for her: Adah Patadah (potato) Derartu. She's two today!!! Happy Birthday you little firecracker. :) I'll take & post "official" pictures after my camera is done charging.



Here are two pictures from last year. She had only been home about three weeks when we took these. When she was in Ethiopia she grabbed her ears and cried. You can see her tugging at her ear because she didn't like the flame. At least she wasn't crying!

Look how bald she is!

Our Saturday & Sunday

I know we weren't going to play soccer this year, but we are. Joel and John both had games at 8 and Joe had one at 9:30. We parted ways with Steve and some of us headed to the Ethiopian church for the Saturday children's program. We were late, but got there in time to go in to the younger children's class. The class is taught by Betty, short for Elizabeth. She is sold-out for God, a very passionate woman. She kept those kids in the class for a good hour to hour-an-a-half. If John didn't know the answer to a question she said, "Mom!" Like I have been negligent in his spiritual teaching. I guess I have much teaching to do!

Betty zeroed in on Joel and told him his name meant "prophet." And since his name was a prophet he needed to do good things for God and to do that he needs to know the Word of God. If you know Joel at all you would know he is serious as all get out and just looked at her right in the eye, but would NOT talk if his life depended on it. Very stubborn little lad that I have. No idea where he gets that from. Can't imagine!

After the class was over Abi Mulu, Addis, Joel, John and I headed for the Red Sea Restaurant for a late lunch. I found that I LOVE zilzil, it's beef strips with fried onions, Addis loves her steamed peas and Abi Mulu loved her salad with injera. The boys had brought Jack-in-the-box in with them.

I found out while at the church that the Awash Market was JUST around the corner. We headed over there and bought 20lbs of teff, bebere seasoning, olive oil hair dressing (Addis saw this IMMEDIATELY-she said her father used to put it on her hair in Ethiopia, of course, we had to buy it, if for just the sentimental value for her. We bought some injera that was already made and some Ethiopian bread. All very tasty. The girls have found they like Tapatio hot sauce on the injera.

After all that excitement I barely made it home and COLLAPSED onto the couch for a quick nap before we headed off to Sarah's U19 soccer game. That was fun. Shad & Caren, Debbie, Zac, Jean & Nathan were there. Sarah headed off with Nathan to go to dinner with the Butchers and we went and picked up pizza for dinner.

We went to bed early since we had to be up early, which was for naught, the next day. We had an 8am SS teacher's meeting. Our road was closed due to an accident and we had to go through Ramona which took an hour to get to where we needed to be. So we made it in time for SS, but not the meeting.

After church we had a VBS recap meeting. Then we went to Marechiaro's for lunch where we hooked up with the Butcher & Fulcher family. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!

Biplane ride

http://www.barnstorming.com/documents/44.html

That's what we did Friday night. Steve & I went on the Sunset Special. We took off from San Diego around 6:30pm and headed towards Mission Bay, then over Downtown San Diego with Petco Park and all the highrises just below us. Then we continued south to Coronado; turned around and headed north up the coast towards Del Mar/Solana Beach. We saw three sunsets. We saw one and then our pilot took us higher to see it again and then higher again to see it one more time. He said he saw a green flash when we landed. We didn't know what he was talking about, but it has something to do with the sunset. At one point we flew just above the clouds, it was so cool, like we were floating on the clouds with the sun just to the left of us. We were out for a whole hour and enjoyed every minute of it!

You go girl!

Dear Mr. Obama

School, Awana & Class Day started

We started school on Tuesday for everyone. This is my 20th year of home schooling! Yikes! I've learned so much in that time. I've been challenged beyond belief. You try educating teen aged boys, adhd boys, a boy on the autism spectrum.......and babies in there in the mix.

Addis & Abi were excited to start. We did some math and phonics. Capital I, little i. Teaching six kids with two babies and a teen who is teaching herself is not for the weak. Making it through a morning is a huge accomplishment.

We did have piano lessons our first day so had to be out of the house around noon. So much to do and only me to do it. Do the next thing. One foot in front of the other. (Can you tell I'm talking to myself here?) (I'm just including you on the conversation I'm having with myself.)

Yesterday AWANA started, but first we went to SDCC to watch Jesse's team play soccer. We ended up eating our dinner on the grass so we could make it to AWANA on time. I had made fried chicken the day before and made some potato salad to go with it. Yummy! That Abi Mulu loves her some potato salad. My goodness that girl can eat.

Cubbies went well. We had eight children in our club. We went over the wordless book, what sin is, and they met Cubbie bear. J.H. and H.S. AWANA started back for the first time in a long time. We pushed for this because at SDCC they give scholarships for AWANA memorization awards. Every scholarship counts when you're paying $$$ for private Christian college. So James, Joe & Sarah are in those two groups. Addis & John are in T&T and Joel & Abi are in Sparks. Sparkilators as I like to call it.

We had Class Day today. That is where we get together with other homeshcooling families for classes twice a month. I teach Living Books 1-3 where we are reading Charlotte's Web. The kids got a kick out of me talking fast like the goose in the book. I gave them a coloring page to color on while I read. They did FANTASTIC!!!!

For second period I led the learning games class. Oh Mylanta! 44 kids were in there with a good dose of them being boys. Then Anna & Adah were brought to me by the 2&# year old teacher. Sarah had them first period, but when she disappeared they went in to melt down mode. Not unusual for the circumstances. I had brought my two umbrella strollers to contain them and they came in most handy. I have some tweaking to do for this class, because I want it to be more than controlled chaos. I want the kids to love it. I want it to be relaxing and fun for them. I want to do some smaller groups if I can get more helpers.

For third period I had ALL boys! Fourteen of them! Can you believe it? They were in grades 4-6. We read the first three chapters of My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George. James gave me a thumbs up and said he really enjoyed it. I gave the boys permission to lay on the ground, sit at the table, whatever as long as they weren't disruptive. Some of them layed on the ground with their chairs over their heads, um okay...... I gave them notebooks, a pencil and crayons to doodle with. Many of them drew things from the book that they imagined in their minds. I couldn't have asked for a better group of guys. I was so proud of them!

Oh, and by the way, I dropped my classes at the college. I just could NOT keep up with the discussion group part of the online class. Jesse on the other hand is doing quite well at college. He received a 97% on his first paper in NT Survey. Good job, Jesse!

Now I have chili cooking on the stove, the cornbread is hot in the cast iron skillet and the house is quiet. Such a nice time of the day. Enjoy your evening!

You are most like: Normal
We're going to pretend your 'normal' this time around. You have a brain and use it but nerd things just don't interest you...or you can't be bothered to try and understand.
Take this quiz: How Nerdy Are You?
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You are most like: Apple
You are an apple! You have a smooth outter appearance and your friends are never suprised when you walk in circles. It doesn't matter if your green or red ... your still sweet!
Take this quiz: The worlds simplest fruit quiz
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You are most like: You are Blue
You are cool and soothing, with a hidden spontanious side. You are deeper than most people percieve, and you care a lot for those whom you surround yourself with.
Take this quiz: Which Crayola Box of 8 Color Are You?
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Wedding reception

We had Jake & Arianne's wedding reception here Saturday afternoon. I think there were about 200 people. Wow! I wasn't sure what hit me! We had so many of our friends and family here it was wonderful! Unfortunately I didn't get ONE picture because I was busy. Busy doing what you ask? Getting ice, making punch, lemonade and tea when we ran out, finding band-aids, throwing trash away, meeting and greeting, and taking care of babies. The food was fantastic. We had Mexican street tacos, beans, and rice. The cake was fabulous, chocolate with a Reese's peanut butter cup filling and whip cream icing.

Jake & Arianne looked so happy. All the people that they love and have supported them in one way or another in one place. It was a sweet and memorable day. We couldn't have asked for more! If you were here, we thank you for making their day special, if you weren't here, we missed you!

The winner is......

He said the whole office clapped when he came in. HAHAHA!!!

Why we do what we do.........

http://www.kristinjphotography.com/Slideshows/Day4_Slideshow/Ethiopia_Day4/

http://teamalexander.blogspot.com/

It's been a year!

We've had Anna Mihret and Adah Derartu for a year now! It seems like they've ALWAYS been our daughters and I cannot fathom their life in Ethiopia. Anna still remembers some things as she is still apprehensive and ambivilent at times.

Here's a look back:

Anna Mihret in Ethiopia with her nanny, before we had ever seen her. She did NOT want her picture taken. Another adoptive family was taking the picture for us. Adah Derartu. She slept in that chair for I don't know how long.
This is how the girls looked when we got to CWAE to pick them up. They woke them up out of a dead sleep and handed them to us. Poor babies.
Sheka going over feeding instructions for Mihret with Sarah.
Nanny & Adah (who isn't at all sure she likes what is going on.) Look at how little she is. Thirteen pounds at eleven months. Wow.
Adah Derartu in the hotel in Ethiopia.
Anna Mihret in the Ethiopian hotel.
Home for a few days. Arianne & Anna Mirhet
Adah Derartu at the same picnic. She's so serious. :)

Getaway!

Steve & I went away last week by ourselves. GASP!! We went for three nights and four days to the Palm Springs area. We were able to go to Cheesecake Factory, Babe's, The Yard House, Serenatas, IHOP, and Baker's Square. Can you tell what we did most of the time? We also went to a couple of movies and when it was dark we hit the pool. We played Mexican Train dominos a few times and just lounged around watching the Olympics. It was too soon back to reality, but we've been busy, busy, busy ever since we came back.

Jesse, Sarah, Joe & James did a great job keeping the house going. Sarah was sick for a few days and Jesse had soccer here and there so Joe & James stepped in and helped get toddlers ready for bed and diaper changes. It's wonderful to be at the stage in life when I have older kids to help with younger kids.

Stupid Award

Today's award goes to an ebay seller with listing 230104506441. I don't get the humor of some people. Why in the world are people so stupid?

Getting injera ready

I started my sourdough starter yesterday.

Ordered the grill http://www.bethanyhousewares.com/products11.5-735.html and lid http://www.bethanyhousewares.com/products11.5-735.html

Ordered teff http://www.teffco.com/products.html (it was quite the dilemma to decide on the grain or the flour: I decided on the ivory grain.)

Ordered a cookbook: Exotic Ethiopian Cooking : Sociey... Paperback by Daniel J. Mesfin


Between their hair and the food, I'm learning quite a bit here. :)

Keyboarding

I started my keyboarding lessons yesterday. I can't believe how lazy my fingers are. Good refresher course. :)

They're droppin' like flies

We're having a "sick" week here at home this week. James was first with a 102* fever. I thought it was related to his mono that he had in December, now I'm not so sure. Joel came down with a 101.9 fever yesterday with a vomiting episode, he seems a little better today. Adah had a 102.1* fever last night but nothing else. Anna had no fever, but threw up in her crib about midnight, just in time for me to watch USA win Gold in gymnastics. We were supposed to go swimming at a friend's house today and the bay tonight. I can tell I won't be doing either. Oh, me and the babies ended up sleeping in the living room, them on the floor and me on the couch. At least our couch is comfy. :)

Great Cubbie Resource

Yesterday I was working on Awana Cubbie material for the coming year. I have the year planned out on paper; typed and everything. Can you believe it? One of the time stealers for me last year was trying to figure out what Betty Luken felts went with each story. I would look and look through panels of felts and didn't have much time to practice if at all with them to tell the story.

On this blog I have a resource link to CommanderBill.net which has this AMAZING list of required felts for EACH story. I think I died and went to heaven. I had even brought home the Betty Luken storybook that goes with the felts hoping to figure it out and to no avail. This list is a lifesaver. Thank you CommanderBill. I owe you one!

Are you the babysitter?

That was the question on the table yesterday when I went to the college bookstore to confirm a book that I had bought was the right one. The clerk behind the counter surveyed the situation, one white mom, one white boy, four black girls. hmmmmm...............Are you the babysitter? Um, no, I would be the mom. :-)

She thought they were all so adorable that she was giving them handfulls of free gum samples. I can't seem to go around discreetly even if I try.

Face painted

The girls had their faces painted at our company picnic last Saturday.

Cute!!

My little warriors

I wouldn't want to meet them in a back alley, especially with that bottle. :)

The girls have been donning those helmets for two days now. They get the swords and other weapons out. (Like their matching dresses?)

Jake's last day at work

Jake decided it was time to change jobs. He's been working for our family business for about seven years or so. The guys he usually works with decided to have a little fun with him. I heard it took like six or seven guys to be able to tape him up like this. He broke a $300 pair of sunglasses and gave one guy a groin injury. I also heard he was very strong. :)

Pondering Injera

So Mulu wants Injera and it seems to cost about $80+ when we go out for it and bring some home. Time for mama to figure out how to make this mystery bread.

I found great instructions at http://burakaeyae.blogspot.com/2007/02/step-by-step-injera-instructions-real.html

Copying and pasting them to Word and off to hunt for teff and berbere seasoning (for the meats that go on the injera)

There are also videos on how-to make injera for any other ferenjis. :)

Show me the money!

Steve called the other day to let me know he won $1000 from our bank. Really?! He entered a drawing and told the clerk he wanted to know who won because he was sure that NO ONE ever wins these contests. Well guess what? He did. (giggling over here) They want him to come in and take a picture with the check for their next newsletter, seems some people don't believe that anyone ever wins. (GRIN)

Jesse called today and he's for sure on the soccer team for San Diego Christian College and they're giving him a $1000 scholarship for the year. YES!!! So far that's like $6500 in scholarships for 2008-09. He still has to work on the other three years, but for now our bill has been lowered enough that he can attend SDCC instead of San Diego State University. Yes!

Joe's 13th bday

Today is Joe's 13th birthday. Joe & I celebrated by going out to lunch with dad at Island's. One of the workers gave us a free basket of onion rings for some reason. (They didn't know it was Joe's bday.) When I pondered why Joe said, "When life hands you a free basket of onion rings don't ask why, just eat them!" Okay! So I dug in. :) We then took his broken XBox to Game Stop where he was given $30 for it. He put that towards a hard drive for his new XBox 3 that he is buying from another family.

Joe came into the world at 10.10lbs and he's always been our biggest boy, except for that moment. James also weighed 10.10lbs believe it or not.
He's taller than any of his siblings have ever been at each age. Jared & Jake are about 6'2"-6'3" so I imagine he'll be at least 6'5" or so.

By the way, I saw the CUTEST baby last night at a baby shower. OH MY GOSH!!! This baby is gorgeous!!! You can see him at http://itsasunnylife.blogspot.com He is so handsome it's unbelievable.

Jesse & I went to SDCC to get his school books for the next semester. He couldn't believe he has to study this HUGE biology book in a semester.

I heard from my niece yesterday. Hi Jazzy! I haven't seen her in years and years and now she has two children of her own. Wow!

I think the time has come that I have to learn how to make Ethiopian food. The girls, especially Abi Mulu wants it more frequently.

School

I went to our local community college and took the English and Math assessment tests. I tested as high as I could for English, but not so hot for Math. I need high school algebra. (I knew that.) I signed up for online courses in Nutrition, Child Development and Keyboarding. School starts in two weeks.

VBS

This last week we had VBS. Steve was in charge of the whole program and Sarah I were in charge of crafts. Joe, Jesse & James helped with games. Addis, Mulu, John & Joel participated while Adah and Anna played in the nursery. Great fun was had by all!

Sarah's birthday

I'll post in small posts since my long one was eaten yesterday. What a waste of time!

We went to the bay last week for Sarah's 17th birthday celebration. She shared a party with her friend Taylor. Taylor's dad rented a boat and gave the kids boat rides and rides on something he had hooked to the back of the boat.

Everyone had a great time with volleyball, swimming, playing in the sand, s'mores, croquet, playground time and visiting with friends. We roasted hot dogs and burgers with salads, cookies and cake.

I posted and cyberspace ate it!

I posted a long post yesterday and cyberspace ate it. Testing now.

First time at the ocean-any ocean!

Addis touching the ocean for the first time.
Mulu touching the ocean for the first time.
Getting our feet wet!Beautiful Addis
Anna Anna Mihret & Adah Derartu
Abi Mulu and her spectacular smile. See her new teeth?
Handsome Joel
Adah the spitfire
Mulu goofing off
Anna & Adah Sweet, sweet Anna Mulu and Daddy
Daddy and his girls
Addi & Abi discover how much fun the sand is.

More wedding pictures

Jake & Arianne before the wedding.

Arianne & Steve before the wedding.
Making their vows.
Exchanging rings.
Mr. & Mrs. Jake G.
Congratulations!

Vikki, Jake, Arianne & Steve
Vikki, Jake, Arianne & Stacy (Arianne's mom)
All of us but Jared & Miranda.
The beautiful bride!