Very, Very Random

Sam has had an explosion of vocabulary over the last few weeks and is talking way more! It's all very exciting, but most of his conversations go a little like this..."What is this?" Mommy answers. "What is this?" Charlie answers. "What is this?" Daddy answers. "What is this?" Mommy answers. "What is this?" Mommy ignores...don't judge me. It's mentally exhausting to label everything in your house. Forty-seven times a day.

After reading a story from our children's Bible the other day, Charlie informed me that it was Jonas that had been swallowed by the whale, not Jonah. He was quite certain I was wrong and there is usually no point in arguing with him when he thinks he is right. We have a friend named Jonas, who is coincidentally also from Ethiopia. I'm not sure that Charlie remembers meeting Jonas, but I am certain that Jonas would probably not appreciate being swallowed by a whale.


Charlie & Sam like to watch Dora & Diego. And I don't mind because they are picking up lots of new words. Never mind that some of those words are Spanish... The other day I caught them dancing to the theme song. Kinda looked like they were having seizures. I'm thinking it might have been some kind of tribal dance. It never rained, but snowed later that day...

So, it took Kenny almost 4 hours to get to work the other day (normally takes him about 30 minutes) because Kentucky decided to act like the State of Alabama and resorted to a state of confusion, pretending like they had never seen ice or snow before.

One of Sam's favorite things to do...walk up behind you and give you a little pat on the hiney and then laugh hilariously. I'm honestly not sure where he got that from. Maybe Dad is letting him watch too much basketball and he's picking up on the "good game" pat.


I took Charlie to an open house for the school we are anticipating that he will attend in the fall. As the teacher showed us around, we entered the computer lab were Charlie promptly picked up the mouse from the computer and wanted to know what it was. And when I told him it was a mouse, he refused to agree with me, telling me "No mouse!" ...We have a laptop...with no mouse...

In our attempts to move away from our current potty language of "shinting", Sam now says he has to go to the "batram". That's bathroom for those of you that don't understand English with an Ahmaric accent.

While Charlie was partaking of a homemade enchilada at lunch the other day, he wanted to know where the ground beef came from. I told him the store, but that wasn't the answer he wanted. So I told him a cow. Want to know the fastest way to totally disgust a 6-year-old? Tell him where ground beef comes from.

We got a CD player for the playroom from Gammie & Papa for Christmas. The other day I heard them singing along to one of their children's CD's..."Triangle, triangle, little star..." I'm not familiar with that version of the song...


When Charlie wants to really stress a point, he uses the word "very". For example..."Mommy, VERY, VERY stop it!!" if I'm tickling him. Or "Yummy! Very, very pizza yummy!" or "Sam! Very, very stop it!!"...I'm thinking I very, very love him!!

I'm lovin' it!

No, this isn't a McDonald's commercial...

Call me out if you like. The end of this video has a picture of two of the most precious people in the world, but I'm sharing it because it just gives me chills to watch it...to see the kids who have been brought to Louisville, Kentucky from places near and far just ROCKS MY WORLD!! And to attend a church where adoption is in the forefront of all minds...I love it!!



(This was shown during this past Sunday's service at all our campus' and a lot of the footage was from the Adoption Sunday Service last May.)

Some fun...

So, I hated on winter the other day, but I'll take some of it back since we did get out and have a day of family fun at the zoo on Saturday. The boys had fun, we got to be outside for a little while and daddy was with us!!



Charlie taking down a komodo dragon. Don't worry, it's not real.



Sam's favorite..."Es slide?"



Love that grin...




Still have a little ways to go to catch up with the gorillas...

At one point while we were playing, Sam wanted to take his shoes off, which was not going to happen because it was still fairly chilly outside. A kind (and nosy) gentleman pointed out to me that it was fitting that he want to be barefoot since he was sporting an Alabama sweatshirt. I guess he thinks we Alabamians skip the whole footwear thing...I was just thinking, "Fella, you don't know the half of it..." since the first couple year of his life he had limited access to shoes. By the way, this sophisticated observer was sporting overalls, a plaid flannel shirt and a scruffy beard. He did have on shoes though. Nice.

And we thoroughly exhausted Sam by skipping his nap. Don't worry...we paid for it later. But between his foul mood that evening and the pure exhaustion, he feel asleep in the bathtub at 7:15. I found it pretty stinkin' funny, while he was a little less than entertained by the whole thing. Notice the scowl on his face. That's his "don't cross me" look! Don't be scared though...he's only 2.

'O Winter, that I may see you go...

We were going to the zoo today, but cancelled our plans due to the yucky chilly rain and fog (again) we woke up to this morning...

I'm feeling a little cooped up and restless since winter has hit us full force. Even though the last week or so has been warmer than the teens we were experiencing, I must remind you that our African born sons are used to a winter that might hit 50 degrees as a low and have not been fond of going outside for any length of time. I'm finding the downstairs playroom has ceased to be overly entertaining (could be it's overly filthiness...is that a word?) and the boys want to be where I am at all times, whether that's cleaning the bathroom or using the bathroom.

So, here's my wishing that spring would grace us with its presence in a timely manner. I love thee, 'O Winter, your snow, your crisp air, your warm clothes, but you are pressing my patience...

Psalm 33:4

I am about to burst with pride right about now...!!!

Charlie is back to learning his Bible verses for his Cubbie class on Wednesday night at church and this week, Sam decided to help out a little! He learned the verse, too...except I didn't realize he knew it so well until tonight when Charlie was saying it and needed a little help and SAM was the one to help him finish it!!!



In case you didn't catch all of that, it was Psalm 33:4: For the word of the Lord is right...

Yeah, I cried a little, too.

Walking Pharmacy

Took Sam to the doctor yesterday...left with a nebulizer and prescriptions for albuterol, steroids and antibiotics for an ear infection.


Fortunately he thinks he is Thomas the Train with his steam pumping from the nebulizer and he sits perfectly still while he gets his medicine!!

Unfortunately, once the meds get in his system, he is totally jacked up and bouncing off the walls. Literally. I woke up this morning with him sitting on top of me. He runs around in circles, bounces from one piece of furniture to the next, up and down the stairs... I can't decide if it's the medicine that is making him hyper or he has just felt so bad for the last four months and now that he can breathe, the real Sam is coming out. If it's the latter...please pray for us all...

Post Holiday Debriefing...Part 3

This is the last one, I promise...but I had to get everyone in...

We spent Saturday with Kenny's family and met our cousins from Atlanta for the first time. They played together great!



Cousins! All about the same age...well, we think...(And a big "ROLL TIDE", by the way, since I never acknowledged our 13th National Championship!!)



Add parents to the mix...and Kenny's Pop who just decided he would just sit. :)



Charlie & George..."Smile Monkey" (as Charlie calls him) goes EVERYWHERE with us. EVERYWHERE.



The boys playing Wii! Much to Charlie's surprise, he got Mario Kart from the grandparents and that has proven to be one of his favorites!!



Sam just happy to be Sam! He doesn't actually know what he is doing, but just excited to be holding the wheel and acting like he is playing...He usually doesn't even get past the starting line!

Tolerating the Snow

You know how some things are really fun while things are going you way? And then something happens that wasn't expected and it isn't so much fun any more??

That's kinda how our first snow experience has been...

The boy's begged and pleaded to go out in the snow and how could I possibly say no, seeing as this is their first experience with the white fluffy stuff. They went out for a little while on Thursday while it was snowing and the wind chill was about 47 below zero. That went okay.

Saturday we went sledding for a little while and all was good for about 10 minutes, until we got snow in our face by an unexpected snowball and it was all downhill from there. Our hands were cold. Our feet were cold. We could barely walk due to the many layers of clothes. We tolerated the snow, but like it much better if there is a window between us and the snow. Since Saturday, no one has asked to go play in the snow!

And being from Alabama, I was fairly unprepared for snow...which is why Charlie has on a pink and blue snow bib and pink ballet slipper rain boots. That's the kinda thing that happens when your best friend is a girl...


I'm smiling now...but I didn't know you were about to push me down the hill...



"'Dis way, 'dis way. Inside!" Translation: "Get me outta this cold!! NOW!"



BIG SMILE! This was before "the incident"...



The offending snowball in the face...it's all downhill from here...and I'm not talking about on a sled...



Grace was having fun!!



Grace and Emma on the sled...Emma always sat backwards on the sled. When questioned, she said this way the snow didn't get in her face on the way down...smart kid.



Emma and Sam waiting to go inside. Really, they just wanted the hot chocolate they were promised once inside!

Yummy!

Learning the fine art of dunking cookies in milk...



You don't really have to teach this kinda stuff...It just comes natural!

10 Reasons We Will Never Have A Real Christmas Tree AGAIN!

#10: The general mess the tree makes during the month it is up...pine needles in the carpet, pine needles in the kitchen, pine needles in the bathroom, pine needles in the bedrooms.......

#9: Why buy a live tree every year when we have a perfectly functional artificial tree stored safely away in the basement? I'm all for saving money!

#8: Who knows if the branches will support my lovely ornaments?? I don't want to hang all the ornaments at the very top in my effort of making everything stay.

#7: The vacuum won't pick up all the needles (and I've already had one vacuum fatality at the hands of pine needles). And I can't talk the boys or Kenny into picking them up by hand...

#6: After finally getting all the lights off the dumb thing, I actually found pine needles in my bra. That's just an offense that I can't pardon.

#5: There is just no easy way to get a half dead tree out of your house.

#4: Did I mention the pine needles...?

#3: I realize this will destroy the tradition of buying the Christmas tree/breakfast at Waffle House that we have worked for 2 whole years to establish, but I'm willing to sacrifice. We can still go to Waffle House and if Kenny wants, he is more than welcome to tie the artificial tree to the car and drive around.

#2: After finally getting the above mentioned hated tree out of the house, I then had to chase the tree through the neighbor's yard, in the snow, in my pajamas, as the wind blew it further and further away from me.

#1: Because Momma said so! (And I've discovered over the past 4 months, that is a perfectly acceptable excuse for almost anything!)

Post Holiday Debriefing...Part 2

We opted to stay in Kentucky for Christmas and were glad to have that time to spend just the four of us, but headed to Alabama to be there for New Year's Weekend. We spent time with both sides of the family and did Christmas all over again, which the boys were excited about!

But just an FYI to those in Alabama...the boys think they should get presents anytime we come to Alabama now, evident by Sam's persistent questioning..."Alabama? Papa? Gammy? Gran? PRESENTS??"...but then again, everything Sam says comes out as a question...



Taking a break outside from all the commotion inside...aka Gammy's entire family!



Sisters! I'm the oldest, but often told I look like the youngest...



Family picture on New Year's Day...I promise that Sam is actually smiling in the picture despite the fact that he looks like he is trying to get away! It's his new smile...



The boys were again introduced to their cousin Tristan. Tristan just wants to love and hug and touch and play...and the boys don't really know what to do with him!!



Tristan was so excited about his new jacket!! When he opened it, he turned himself around and stuck out his arms for Mommy to put it on for him...Hilarious! I've never seen a 20-month-old quite so excited about a coat...



After about 47 pictures, we finally got one where they are all looking! I could do a whole post with outtakes from this photo shoot...

As much as the boys act like they are annoyed by their baby cousin, I have proof that they do love each other!!

The Great Debate: Pillow or Roof?

I interrupt this Post Holiday Debriefing to bring you the news of our first lost tooth in America!! He's been wiggly for about a month now, but Charlie came to me this morning, bloody tooth in hand!


This isn't his first lost tooth, so I asked what he did with his other teeth when he lost them in Ethiopia. I half expected him to just act confused, since he doesn't generally answer questions regarding Ethiopia, but through a few words and lots of hand motions, he informed me that teeth are thrown on the roof after you lose them (Sam seemed to agree with lots of jumping and "Yes! Yes!").......if any Ethiopian could confirm his story, I would greatly appreciate it! I just had to laugh...A lot of the roofs there are just flat and I can just imagine climbing onto the roof and finding piles of teeth from the occupants of the house. Sounds a little disgusting and a tad weird, but who are we to judge...we put our lost teeth under our pillow and expect that a token of appreciation from a magical fairy will appear by morning...if that's not weird, I don't know what is!

I told Charlie we would put his tooth under his pillow tonight and see what happened. Or I wonder if the tooth fairy will be looking for it on the roof.....

Post Holiday Debriefing...Part 1

Christmas Eve before Mommy made us make "Merry Christmas" videos for every family member we have ever met...

I'm not sure exactly where to begin for the post-Christmas and New Year's wrap up, so I'll start with a video of Charlie. If you watched this previous video, you know that Charlie had requested a remote control car for Christmas. Here is the video of him opening the above mentioned car and being WAY excited about it...



I've watched this video over and over and almost always have tears in my eyes! The "Yay! Yay!" that came with the exciting car came with EVERYTHING that he opened...whether it was something really fun or a pack of gum from his stocking! He was genuinely excited about each and everything he received, which made Christmas morning even more enjoyable for us!!

Here's a video of Sam enjoying a little Monkey Bread for Christmas morning breakfast. He wasn't exactly sure what had just happen, but he sure does love Christmas lights...



We joined the Jolly's for a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party on Christmas night to end the day on a good note. We thoroughly enjoyed our first Christmas as four! The boys thought Santa needed to come back the next day, but we convinced them that he would be back next year...


Discovering the joy of sprinkles...


Chowing down on cupcakes with our best buds!


The daddy's getting in a little Wii time while the kids ate cupcakes...And yes, they are sitting in tiny chairs that were probably never made to hold the weight of a full grown man...