Yumm-O

We went to my new favorite restaurant last night, Meskerem. Who'd of thunk my family would be loving Ethiopian food? I mean, if you know my kids, you know what a picky crew they are. If we go to our favorite Chinese restaurant, Ansley eats steamed rice and that is it. The boys eat nothing. If we go eat at or favorite Mexican restaurant, they will eat chips and Ansley eats the tortillas. If the restaurant doesn't have french fries, my crew won't usually eat. So what's up with this restaurant? I don't know but if anyone has a recipe of injera (that doesn't take 5 pounds of teff flour and 3 days to make), send it my way please. I think it has to do with the novelty of the injera AND the pleasure of not having to use utensils!Sawyer ate his weight in yellow split peas. Ansley concentrated on the injera. (which is best described as a sour dough crepe) AND Judson (the pickiest eater this side of the Mississippi) tried Lettuce, Tomatoes, Green Beans and Carrots. Oh yes he did! I was almost giddy when Judson started trying the food. He didn't consume a lot but he tried it all and said he liked it.Now Momma, she likes the veggie platter, with collard greens, split peas, cabbage, green beans. While Daddy, he likes the zil zil tibs. Oh yeah, we loved it! Who knows, I may get brave enough to take them to the vegetarian Indian restaurant just down the street. Gotta love living in a metropolitan area with such diversity!

Enjoying the Weather

We are LOVING this weather. (all but the sneezing)We have Friends come over to play.We love riding bikes (adorned in the latest fashions of course)

We love mountain climbing!












We get summer hairdos!
We go swimming! (Judson passed his class. He can't take the next class until he turns 6)




This is Sawyer. He fears NOTHING, which makes me very scared.

All Craftsy

Just in case you think I sit around and eat bon-bons all day every day, think again. There are some days when I actually do something else.

Take the day (or two) it took to make these:



How bout the times we go here:

Bragging on my Growing Boy (Yes, Evie, another post in less than 1 week)

J is growing up way too fast. He is such a wonderful kid to hang out with. (Of course, my ears sometimes hurt because he never stops talking) Here are some great things he's been doing.

Writing Haiku poetry. (Now, he's male and only 5 years old, so emotion is not really part of his 'being')

1st attempt (He called it Judson Haiku because he didn't want to count syllables)

Swimming:

I swim good
I learn stuff
I like bobbing

I suggested he follow the proper syllable count, so then he came up with: (still on Swimming)

bobbing makes me smile
i like using the kickboard
water is cold then warm

Then on playing the game of Risk (on the computer) with his dad

Risk

risk makes me happy
increasing risk is tricky
risk is a good game

He's also reading books to his sister. It makes a mommy and daddy smile.
He's also trying to learn to jump out of the swing and turn back flips and hang upside down on his swing set.
Can't brag on him without a little bragging on the other two. A is doing wonderfully. She seems much happier and at peace with life right now. Don't get me wrong. She still likes to 'start' fights with the boys and 'innocently' get them in trouble. Hey, isn't that her job? Here she is riding her bike in her pink tu-tu and purple sparkle shoes.What can I say about S? The boy is coming along like gangbusters in his speech. Saying things like "MINE" and "MY TURN" with authority where others listen and understand. This may not seem like much but it is HUGE to us.
We are very proud of all three of our children.

Nice Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGoCTKIRRdo

News Release

From the Office of the Governor of Alaska:
"

Palin Family Welcomes Fifth Child
Trig Paxson Van Palin

No. 08-060

April 18, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd welcomed the arrival of their fifth child this morning. The Palins were thankful that the Governor’s labor began yesterday while she was in Texas at the Governor's Energy Conference where she gave the keynote luncheon address, but let up enough for her to travel on Alaska Airlines back to Alaska in time to deliver her second son.

Trig Paxson Van Palin was born at 6:30 a.m. and weighs six pounds, two ounces. The Governor and Trig are both doing well and resting comfortably.

The family released the following statement:

"Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed."

The Palins have four other children including Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and Piper,"

Congratulations to the Governor of Alaska! A blessing of new child in their family. They later released that their child was born with Down Syndrome. Exciting and wonderful times are in store for the Alaska Governor's Mansion. (Perhaps, even the White House??????)

Out of the Mouth of Babes

So, Judson comes up to me today and says, "When are we going to add more girls to our family". I say, "Judson, we are not planning on adding more girls to our family. Besides, this morning, you wanted Ansley to move back to Taiwan. Why would you want more girls?" To which he replied, "It seems so empty without more girls here".

A few minutes later, "Mom, I've got it. Maybe when Ansley starts making babies, she'll have a girl!"

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

I am SO not ready for that conversation!

Things We Like to Do (lots of pictures)

There are lots of things we like to do. Seems like lately, we've gotten to do many of our favorite things. Here's some high lights. (you should be able to click on the picture to make it larger.)

Practice our penmanship and catch caterpillars. Look for 4-leaf clovers while playing with our furry friends. (who need a haircut)
Go here with our friends from our local Down Syndrome group.



Feed the Animals and squeal with glee when they take the food right out of your hands!

Wonder?????
Feed some more.....












Admire....

I have more great pictures. I've added them to a slide show below. The kids loved it. Ansley was the most fun to watch. She loved that the deer and the squirrels would come up and eat right out of her hands. The squirrels would just come up and 'ask' and the deer would nudge you if you weren't paying attention to them. Judson was taking it all in. I think it bothered him that the animals were in cages. We explained that most were rehabilitated or rescued animals and some could not be left to roam around and most would not make it out in the wild. Sawyer wasn't liking the animals so close but he loved the socializing. We'll definitely make this a regular outing.

Day Out

The kids and I met Kimmy and Olivia (mom and daughter from Dumplings class) for a play date today. We met at a kid's place and boy did the kids have fun. Judson was a bit older but still had a good time. Ansley wanted to be all shy (but I wouldn't let her) at first but she warmed up after a while. Sawyer, marched right in, said HI to everyone and started playing. Here are some pictures.

I swear, I thought she'd flip over. Alas, she never did.

Take a Look

I want you to go to this link: http://www.reecesrainbow.com/homecomings.htm

I want you to scroll down about 1/3 of the way and click on the Cornish's Blog. I don't post it here as I do not know them personally and don't want to publish their blog without permission.

Emma's mom has created a button to link to their blog. I've posted it on the right side of my blog. You can click on that and follow along. If your time is short, just read the post about Emma's cardiologist visit and you'll get the picture.

I want you to read about their daughter, Emma. Emma's medical story is much like Sawyer's, which is why I have been drawn to their blog. The difference is, that at the beginning of this year, Emma was lying in a bed in an orphanage in the Ukraine. She had little hope of life outside that orphanage. Now she is in the states. She has a heart condition that would most often be corrected by surgery at birth or soon after. However, she is 5 years old and has not had the surgery. By not having the surgery, her body has done some things to compensate. These things may prevent her from having surgery and may greatly shorten her life. (Like she may only have months to live, shorten)

This story amazes/touches me on so many different levels. While I'm not an overly 'religious' person, I do know what FAITH is. I hear so often people talk of their faith. I know of no one who has lived their faith more than this couple. They chose 2 children with medical conditions (On top of a diagnosis of Down Syndrome) to adopt. They knew nothing of the prognosis of these conditions but suspected that they may only have a short time with Emma. They chose her anyway. They did this because their 'faith' in God led them to do so.

They chose 2 children who have Down Syndrome. At home waiting on these 2 children, were 2 more children. One of these children also had Down Syndrome. The strength of this couple astonishes me. So, I ask you to read their story. (Have tissue ready) It is one of unselfishness and hope and faith. It is one that should inspire you to do more than you think you can.

More Pictures of "The Bow"

After her "Tap" dance: (Notice, the 'tap' shoes on the wrong feet)

Arms Out!
Dramatic Hair Swish and she bows forward
And....THE FINALE! (head swishes back and arms out, preparing for the next bow)

Everyone gets in on the act.

The Thing with Pooh

As Ansley's personality continues to emerge, it is becoming ever apparent that she will be 'outgoing'. Nothing could be farther from my personality than that. I'm a shy introvert, preferring small groups to large crowds. So what is a mom to do but suck it up and do things that are out of her comfort zone. I see endless recitals (dance, music, etc) in my future.

My daughter has been perfecting her bow. Not sure where she learned about a bow but I do know she is working on it, constantly. She begins with her hands on her chest, elbows up and out. Then one hand goes out and then the next. THEN, the head slings back (making sure the hair swishes properly) and then down to her chest as she bows from the waist. Then she raises back up with a very exaggerated head swish. It's something to behold. I can see her on stage now after a particularly rousing dance performance. People applauding and THE BOW.

Here she is beginning The Bow. (Only 1 hand, since the other hand was holding a prize possession) She is wearing her favorite house coat. It is one I had when I was a little girl. She loves it!

New Judsonisms

First:
J: Have you ever wanted to trade places with someone, just for a day?
M: Sure. Who would you choose to be for 1 day?
J: Maybe a 70 year old person, so I can see what it's like to be older.

Second:
J: Why can you pause a video but not life?

If I could pause life, it'd be right here for just one more minute to enjoy 4 of my 6 babies. (the other 2 were in their crate) Of course, I'd fast forward through the "Yes I am", "No you aren't" moments.

Easter 2008

Growing up, I remember going to my Grandmother's every Easter. We would go to church with her and then have a big lunch with all my cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, sister, grandparents, parents, and whomever else showed up. Then we'd have an Easter egg hunt. I LOVED IT!

I am so happy my kids can continue the tradition. I am happy there are more cousins to help with the tradition. We have such a great family!

All the cousins...such a great melting pot of 'flavors'....
The hunt is on!After the hunt, more play! They played on the inflatable jumpy thing ALL WEEKEND!After all that play....you just HAVE to have a nap....