Savoring Each Minute

For one last time I was able to see Aser in the south this weekend. We meet in Dallas to help make this time pass. He has been such a trooper and does not complain ever. He loves his job, but it has been hard to have it sooo far away. He has only been seeing the kids once a month so we are excited to be a family again. We will see him again in 13days. I admire Aser for how well he has handled being apart and doing this even though it is hard.

Aser has gotten to know the men that work at the car rental place and they gave us a really fun car for a small car price. If you are ever looking for a travel deal try Priceline. We have gotten such amazing deals that include hotel and breakfast:)

We are able to do Dallas on a tight budget and still have a fun fun time. Saturday we walked around White Rock Lake. It is actually over 12 miles around but we made it for 9 miles. This was our longest walk/run together ever!!! We are trying to get ready for a 1/2 marathon together this spring. We stayed in Addison so Aser took this picture as the nickname for the capital of Ethiopia is Addis. We can dream! I love Dallas for the food! Wow-- can I eat while I am there... Here was a special dessert from Grand Lux. Simply delicious!

I am so thankful to my mom, once again, for making this happen for us. She so lovingly takes over with the kids so I can go. I always come home to such happy kids.

I am so excited for you to be home baby-- I am on the countdown:)

Growing Up! Happy 13th Birthday Nehemiah

I spent an amazing day with my growing son today! What a treat... I have shared how he loves history, and we got to spend the whole day involving that topic. ( this was what he wanted to do) At the Discovery Center in The Dalles they found out that he was 13 today and they called the park ranger in and took him on his own personal tour of where the BALD EAGLE lives. We were so so close to him and then there was the lively Red Tail Falcon and two owls as well. The cool part was he was just assigned a project on the eagle so we were technically doing school today. The time today went so quickly and I know the next 13 years will go even quicker. I savored the time with him and think he is one amazing young man! Happy Birthday Buddy! Today was PRICELESS!

First for Everything

Today we decided to start Nehemiah's birthday celebration early and head to Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. This was the first time Malachi has tried a bite of something so yummy. He did not like it, but he thought the hat was great! We live so close to this place, but can only eat this high of a concentration of sat. fat on birthdays. The kids were remembering when they first opened and how we waited in line for about an hour just to taste one bite. I was so embarrassed to be in the line that day and feed into to this hype ( they even had people camping in front for days before). the kids had watched the countdown to this big opening and there was no way I could resist their little faces pleading for a doughnut. There was nobody in line today!!!!

Would you answer this call?

This is the strangest thing I have seen in a very long time!!! Aser received this in an email (I have left out the names of those involved) from a business program here in town for contractors. I would love to know what an Ethnic Regular Person is??? We have some training to do--oh my!!!

CASTING CALL

Ethnic ³regular² people age 5-12 also adults 28-70. We need regular looking truly ETHNIC people for a well know high tech
company photo shoot. We prefer people who are new to America so they still have the look and feel of their country of origin. The pay will be $500. For about 3 hours. Please bring lots of kids and adults new to America.

Ages 5-12 to be students
Age 28-70 to be teachers and parents

Ethnicities we need are:
African, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Indonesian, India, Malaysian, Mexican, Hispanic, Scandinavian, German, Spanish, Italian.

The CASTING CALL is this Saturday Feb 14th from 10am-2pm
Come to 431 NW Flanders #300 Portland Or. 97209

Happy Birthday Oregon - You are Old Now!

Today the kids and I were able to go to the Oregon Historical Society's Museum. Since it was the birthday celebration of Oregon the admission was free! Nehemiah has created such a love of history in our home that we could not miss this.( you can tell in these pictures he wanted to take this very seriously and even had his sibs take notes while we were there-- I am sure I looked like dictator mom, but it was not me!!) It delivered! And even Malachi pretended to be interested as long as the fish crackers were being sent in his direction. We missed the cake so I decided we had to finish up Oregon's birthday in style and I found the cupcake bakery I had heard about. What a fun place!!! It is called Cupcake Jones on 10th and Marshall. The cupcakes are HUGE and so we split them up. The kids had cupcakes with cookie dough filling and it was topped with a mini cookie! This place was fun and great for a special treat. The last picture is showing how much a party can wear out a toddler.

Slice of Life

Conversation with a nurse at the hospital:

"Where did you adopt your son from? "
"Ethiopia, " I replied.
"My best friend is adopting a baby from there and has an adopted son from Guatemala. Why did you choose Ethiopia? "
" Well, my husband is from Ethiopia and it made the decision pretty easy."
"How is that working for you being married to him?"
-- I will let you guess how I answered her:)

Realization... but too late

Tonight after the dust settled my heart broke for my Anna. With Aser gone I have been trying very hard to stay upbeat with the kids and not trying to feel sorry for myself:) However, tonight I BLEW it! Sometimes life is crazy how difficult things can happen one after the other. These were not big things, but in the matter of an hour they felt big. I am still tired from the hospital and having kids and myself feeling under the weather so my threshold was not good. Usually Aser takes care of anything that requires any artistic ability as I am completely inept in this area. One of my children needed a Valentine box that was designed at home and that was all starting to happen as I was cleaning up from dinner, washing clothes, and starting lunches. So I did what every artistic person does and grabbed the glue gun-well lets just say... then once we got past that and some burned fingers I gave Malachi a bath and got him in bed and then he started to cough. I went into pick him up and he started to vomit everywhere and then again in the bathroom. It was all over him and more than you want to know I am sure. Well out of my mouth flew, " I just wish your daddy was here!!! ( He usually takes the cleaning of these jobs) My Anna jumped from her bed and ran and started getting warm towels and things to start cleaning. She had just had a bath and for some reason it broke my heart to see her trying to fill her daddy's shoes. It is good if I don't put this on them to carry and she just kept asking me if I was OK. I never want to put this on my children. I was touched by her love and care, but this is not her load to carry right now. I am humbled by her. Then as I was getting ready for a Valentine's class party and getting platters ready one fell and broker all over the floor right in front of her and she went into action again. I had gathered myself enough to stop her and tell her it was no big deal. Sometimes I do not think we realize how much our lives impact our kids. I have got some work to do, but I have a God who seems to find grace for me daily.

Minutes and Hours with My Baby Boy

Malachi has been sick since last Wednesday or so. By Friday I was starting to worry about his cough and went to the dr. and they said he had pneumonia. By Sunday his fever was increasing and getting lethargic. They decide it is not pneumonia, but reactive asthma to some virus and have us stop antibiotics. By this time he is refusing all food and water. The diapers were drying up and by bedtime on Monday I was starting to get worried as he was really having a hard time breathing with ease. By 3:00am we were in the children's hospital and I thought they would do a breathing treatment and give his some fluids and we would be home by the time the kids were leaving for school. WRONG! He was admitted for the "day" as his O2 levels were not doing very well and he was so dehydrated.He has RSV which is common and most kids have it at some point, but for some it is much more serious. ( if you ever need to know about nose suctioning please ask me:) ) He was not rallying the way they needed him to and decided to keep him overnight. I am so thankful to my mom for helping with the kids and everything. Also, so many prayers and kind words from friends-- Thank you! Here are some pictures of my cutie... as hard and tiring as this was, I don't get the chance to cuddle with Malachi very often as he is one busy boy. I think this was very monumental in our bonding. He needed me! I loved holding and taking care of him without life swirling around us. The doctors would come in and let me know the nurses were all talking about him and how cute he was. We had many visitors that were not working with him:) He always charmed.

Facebook Frenzy -- oh so trendy!

I have been on Facebook a few weeks now. I resisted for a very long time. I must admit it has been fun reconnecting with friends from over 20 years ago and also keeping up on daily news from friends now. It can be consuming and almost addictive wondering who has posted what and when. At first there was a real pull to be "checking in" with my friends, but I have finally gotten myself under control:) I hate to admit I even like FB... it is kind of a love/hate thing. I also have this relationship with the airport. Last weekend I LOVED the airport as it was bringing my man home. Today I HATED it as I had to send him back to the south.

This type of tagging has been going on on FB lately. I have so enjoyed reading about my friends and their random things. Here was mine and I will try to keep my Facebook life away from my blogging life:)from now on.... If you have 25 random things to write I would love to read them.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)

1. My first date with Aser was when he took my 5th grade class skating with me. I am not sure what I would think if one of my children's teacher did that now--oh my! yeah I wore 501's. ( still my fav jean)
2. I burned myself at 18 months by getting into a hot bath of water that a neighbor girl started for me. I still have scars.
3. I am most terrified of earthquakes and tsunamis.
4. I was in a 7.5 earthquake in Costa Rica-- CRAZY!!!
5.I once passed a police officer speeding. He had a prisoner in the back and I thought there was no way he would pull me over. I was wrong!!!
6. I was followed and pulled over by a helicopter in LA while in college on my way to a Michael Jackson concert. Yeah another ticket-- I seemed to catch them when I was young like a cold.
7. One year in college I lived with two other Kimberlys on one SMALL room.
8.I stayed in South Africa during Apartheid and lived in a township there. Life changing!
9.When I was a young child my daddy would give me two quarters to buy goods from neighbor's garage sales and I thought I was on my way to Disneyland. I loved those days!
10. I hate hate hate fish.( smell, texture, and looks) Our one in a bowl at home is ok... but nothing that has been in pan. I have had two allergic reactions so I have a good excuse now.
11. I love steak! I was pretty much a vegetarian until I had kids.
12. My car was shot by a student when I was 23 first teaching in California. He was mad at me.
13. I miss my sister... complicated story and dream of hugging her again. Truly!
14. Foreign languages are not easy for me. I wish I could speak Amharic and Spanish.
15. I am crazy in love with my man Aser. Would marry him all over again...
16. I think my kids make my heart beat each day because they bring such joy and wonder to my life. I am humbled to be a momma.
17.I had plastic surgery at the solid age of 5!
18.I am trying to go natural with chemicals in hair stuff, cleaning supplies, detergents and lotions... but am not there 100% yet. This will be life long I think!
19. In high school I got asked to go back and meet New Edition after a concert. I know you are so jealous! I was taller than they were--
20.I love God and can't really explain my thoughts and feeling about him in a coherent way. I think I will fall on my face when I meet him unable to speak. He leaves me in awe frequently.
21.I love houses!!!! I love it when someone walks in and falls in love at the front door. Makes the long searches worth it.
22. I fall asleep almost every night in the bath reading. Aser has gotten my bath ready for me for years every night. He is so sweet to me!
23. I love to read nonfiction. I am not a novel -type girl...But love to read about God, religion, politics, health, parenting, and the real estate market.
24. I love STRONG STRONG coffee with no masks of sugar or cream. I can out drink Ethiopians on dark coffee.
25. I no longer live in fear after being so close to death this past year. It is so freeing! ( I still have my moments, but nothing like before)

Melting my heart--

Zipp of the Clippers--

Daddy is back in town for a week so off to the clipper my boys went!!!!
They look less than excited! Nehemiah would love to have long curls or braids, but he has a ton of thick hair and with basketball it is easier to get a fade with a line in the front. He looks sharp! Malachi was very unsure of this so we just had him shave it for now and we will do a more fancy fade next time. He was not sure what happened to him! The girls just took it all in! Anyone famous that comes into Portland tends to make their way through Genevas so the photos on the walls are always fun to see.