Three Years Ago Today...

Three years ago we were at LAX, about to start our travels to Ethiopia. Armed with photos, passports, and nervous stomachs, we boarded the plane.

When I texted Steven at work yesterday to confirm the exact date, we had a brief exchange. He ended it with:


I've known them forever.

That Steven, he doesn't say much, but when he does...

Yeah, I feel that way too honey.

New Vocabulary.

For the first time in at least two years and three months, Steven and I are having a date night. Nana is in town, and we are taking advantage of her expert babysitting skills. We are going to check into a local hotel, did I mention that we co-sleep? see a movie, and maybe get a bite to eat. We will see a film that Steven chose, or maybe the one that looks more uplifting, the one that I chose.

We may eat spicy shrimp. I have high hopes that no other diners will pelt us in the head with a piece of tortellini. We may even stay up later then 8 pm. We might.

2 years!

Father's Day

I love you forever. You are my dad forever. I like you. I love you. Will you love me forever? - Meazi

I love this picture. To me it epitomizes why he is such a wonderful father. Minutes before he had asked Meazi to stay out of the zen garden directly behind her. She fell in, he helped her up, and gave her this look. He manages to make them feel safe, to make them laugh, but also to keep them in check.

They adore him.

He reminds me of someone...

Dear Dad, I love you forever. You are my dad forever. I like you. I love you. - Jules.

We are off for a mini road trip today, to see my sister Kate and her betrothed. The kids will see their first modern dance performance, and enjoy their dad's favorite road trip food.

Have a lovely Father's Day.

Oh, and don't forget to vote!

They really did drag this contest out didn't they? Enough already.

Steven...

Steven, who has never taken much interest in this blog, keeps texting me to tell me where I stand.

Don't forget to vote daily until the 21st.

Still don't know what the prize is.

Hopefully...Booze.

Hi Steven! Welcome to my blog! xoxo

Birthday Boys

Today is Steven's Birthday. I don't have a big post written, which is just as well because the best gift I could give him is more privacy.

Oh I have to say at least one thing...

Last night Meazi asked me if you have to floss your teeth in the Underworld. Steven had been reading her Greek Mythology to, in his words, balance out everything she was learning at school.

After the kids were finally asleep, he went to the store to buy ingredients to make Melese a Garbage Truck cake for his birthday. He stayed up past midnight baking it.

He is a mensch, which I think is French for fantastic.

Happy Birthday Steven!

Knucklehead Wednesday

These are our Knucklehead pumpkins. Do you have them where you live? I think they should be renamed 'Bukowski' pumpkins.

Also does your spouse or partner use power tools to carve your pumpkins?

And did he/she purchase said power tool to file the dogs nails?

I didn't think so.

In Case You Are Wondering...

In case you are wondering what the exact number of years a couple must be married before they resemble one another completely...

It is eleven years.

Happy Anniversary Steven.

Last Year

Last year we brought M&m's referral pictures with us.

Today we didn't have to.

Imbi! Andellem!

When we came home from Ethiopia,"Imbi" and "Andellem" (I am guessing at the spelling), were the only two Amharic words that Meazi spoke to Steven. I think the translation is, "NO" and "No fucking way," roughly. It was very hard on Steven. She rejected him, repeatedly.

Someone gave us one of the Little Mr. and Miss books like the one pictured above. There are dozens of titles. This is the one we have...

They are cute little books. We have taken dozens of them out from the library.

Meazi decided she'd like to make a book like this for Steven, for Father's Day. I asked her what the title would be. She said,

Mr. Amazing

She couldn't wait until Sunday to give it to him.

She wanted him to have it today.

I was going to post everything she wrote, but I think I'll just keep it between them.

Have an amazing Father's Day.

Student of the Day...Now with Bees!

Today, as I mentioned, was a big day for us. It was also, coincidentally, Meazi's turn to be student of the day at Pre-K. (That means that either Steven or I volunteer in her classroom). Since Melese is still a barnacle, Steven has to take off work so we can do this. We don't leave Melese with anyone. The class has been studying insects, and Meazi's amazing teacher, who heard us talking about our bees one day, asked if Steven might talk to the kids about beekeeping. So today he did.

First a Happy Referralversary morning hug...

A quick story...

Dental hygiene...

Suiting Up...

A lot of the kiddos were reluctant to try the honey, but the ones who did certainly enjoyed it...

Meazi helped...

Then we went home for lunch, and that cake I mentioned...

Unfortunately World's Best Dad was already speeding off to work, and missed the cake.

Kids are now having a nice, long, sugar induced nap.

Photo Every Hour (ish)

I thought it would be fun to do this again with the new additions to the family. Remember last year's post? Did I mention that I had forgotten to take my medicine that day? That explains some of the lethargy and laziness. As most of you know, I don't have a thyroid, and although mine is a slow acting med, my body definitely feels it when I forget to take it. (And you thought I was just depressed because I didn't know who my kids were yet. Silly you.)

Friday, April 10th, 2010.

Steven leaves for work at 5:30.

6:00 am ish...

The rest of us are up. The beasts want their feasts...

Meazi helps feed Melese...

I check out the laundry...

Meazi manages to find a few remaining clean items...

7:00 am ish...

8:00 am ish...

We have a second breakfast. Mommy is hungry. We are out of eggs. Meazi usually has cheesy eggs every weekday morning. We go through more than two dozen eggs a week. Today, no eggs= frozen waffles...

9:00 am ish...

Since it is a Friday, Meazi does not have school. Her Pre-K is Mon-Thurs, 8:00 am- 10:20 am. I put Melese in the Ergo. I attempt to get him down for his "dishwasher" nap, (the nap lasts as long as it takes to load or empty the dishwasher).

Melese in the Ergo...

Meazi colors in her Highlights Magazine while Sitota and Sam hang out with the World's Most Patient Dog...

Nap fail. Melese can't bear to sleep if Meazi is around. He worships her.

10:00 am ish...

Meazi may not have school today, but the grand unveiling of the new Wonder of Reading Library is happening, so off we go. Meazi is also obsessed with her nails today. We told her she could get nail polish for the first time this weekend. (Still working on her dad for the pierced ears).

Melese is surprisingly good in the quiet auditorium...

Meazi sees some of her friends, and we enjoy a third breakfast, croissants and strawberries.

11:00 am ish...

Meazi sees one of her favorite teachers, "She is chocolate like me." They talk accessories for a moment.

Meazi takes her first spin on the big kids' play structure...

12 noon ish...

Lunch. Organic pasta, organic ground beef, and, uhm... RAGU... NICE.

Melese is very clingy. He helps me cook. Meazi says, "Mommy how do you feel about a picnic? I am fine with that Mommy. What do you think?" Meazi makes us a special tea with some bottle brush plants.

Melese, Mr. Nature, is saddened by what happened to the bottle brush. He eschews the tea, and tries to repair the tree...

He puts the branches back, and gives them some water...

1:00 pm ish

Nap Attempt.

I actually made a recording of the rambunctious shenanigans that occurred. It was loud. Very loud. After Melese finally fell asleep, Meazi wanted to talk about some big subjects. She said, "Mommy, what happens to your body when you die." Sigh. Can't we talk about Dora the Explorer or something? This, I believe, has been brought on by the recent passing of my grandfather. We have been talking a lot about him. I did not go to the funeral. I know that Meazi is already dealing with so much loss and grief right now, and I also had no idea how to actually travel with the two of them by myself. I lighten the mood by telling her one of my favorite stories about my grandfather. She, still processing so much of her own stuff, tells me a detail about her life that makes me cry. I tell her how sorry I am to hear this and she says, "Mommy, I am sorry that your grandfather died." She wraps her skinny arm tightly around my neck, we put our foreheads together for a moment, and she is finally ready to go to sleep.

Seven minutes later Melese wakes up. He still seems exhausted, so I put him in the Ergo again. He falls asleep and I place him here...

By taking the above picture I inadvertently wake him up. (Damn you Nikon and your loud shutter!) Naptime officially over for Melese...

The above is my favorite picture of him from the day. That face!

He gets Ted a diaper.
He gets Moses a cookie.

2:00 ish...

Melese wonders why Meazi is still asleep. He misses her. She gets up.

3:00 ish...

Meazi puts on my sister's old swimsuit, and gets busy making a birthday card for the Wonder Twins.

3:30-5:00 ish...

I forgot to mention that at 9 am Steven texted me from work to say that he got the date wrong for our tax appointment, and that at 9 am tomorrow we are doing our taxes. I am in a panic. Luckily, a dear friend and her baby whisperer mommy come over to distract the kids. After Mimi gives Melese his saxophone lesson, they all go out swimming in the turtle pool. (No pictures due to much nudity, my preoccupation with finding every single receipt I can, and wondering out loud, "What else can we write off now that we have kids?"

5:00 pm ish...

Speaking of nudity...

Dinner.

Which unfortunately for them is the same meal as lunch. NICE.

6:00 pm ish...

Pajama chalk drawings, and good news about the laundry...

It is clean. Laundry crib is full. From the hamper, to the crib.

7:00 pm ish...

The above is my favorite picture of Meazi from the day. I yelled out, "Meazi, what are you doing?" She yelled back, "RAKING MOM!!" Duh.

7:30 ish...
Mr. Huggable lets me know he is ready for his bottle.

I get up from the spot in between them to take this picture.

8:00 pm ish...
Daddy home at last.

I am quite fond of that in between spot.

9:00 pm ish...

For the first time ever Meazi said to me, "Mommy, I can go to sleep by myself." Usually I stay with her in bed until she is sound asleep, and I inevitably fall asleep too, hence my lack of blogging, or laundry folding, or grocery shopping. I had said something to Meazi about how worried I was about getting my tax stuff done in time. She said, "What will Tom the Tax Man do if you are not ready?" I said, "He will be upset." I think this is why she said it was okay for me to leave the bed.

10:00- 11:00 pm ish...

Friday, April 10th, 2010.