This is what happens...

...when the boys have a snow day at school (see post below)

...and they put a snack in the backpack

.....and then they don't eat it (because of the snow day)

....and you have a house full of naughty Beagles

.....that like to find food

....and rip open the package

....and leave the contents of the package lay around

....and you have a small toddler

...that loves to eat food






.....and if you think she had enough

Snow and then some

Today was a snow day. If you saw on the news, the story of the storm coming through the Midwest, it hit us, well. The school was cancelled. I went to work and then found out that everyone was leaving and they were closing the building....after Brian spent TWO hours moving the snow out of our driveway.

And then he was stuck in our driveway and had to be pulled out--poor guy.

So, anyhoo, here's the day in pictures. And anyone that didn't get snow~whatever.

Stuck truck:


Getting ready to pull:



Unstuck now:



Now he had to shovel the snow from the back of his truck:


So he could put the snowblower on the back to help others stuck in their driveway:


What the boys think about snow day:



What the Beagles think about snow day:

The cotton behind

Our baby girl has her behind covered in cotton most of the time. The other parts of the time, she is at Grandma's house because this Mama is at work and the baby girl has her behind covered in a standard paper disposable diaper.

Cutie cute cotton bottom... attempting a quick get away.

We most frequently use Fuzzi Bunz, in their perfect sizing. These are pocket diapers and have worked very well for us.
We also have a few Thirsties diaper covers for when we are out and about for the day. I then use the absorbent liners that come with Fuzzi Bunz, with the Thirsties cover. I find this to be a bit easier, and quicker while using a restroom diaper changer. Since Fuzzi Bunz are pocket diapers, the liner has to be pulled out of the diaper cover and each time a new cover is needed. It can also be a bit bulky in the diaper bag. With Thirsties covers, the liner is quick to remove (just drop it into the wet bag) wipe out the cover and re-diaper the behind.

For night time, we have a few different brands of pre folds in hemp/cotton combinations. I usually use a Fuzzi Bunz cover at night because I like the fleecy layer that actually touches baby skin.

I wash diapers every other day. Soiled diapers are stored in a plastic garbage can. I then soak them in cold water in the washing machine for somewhere between 1-4 hours, depending on what else is going on... After the soak, they are washed in hot water, double rinsed. I use Charlie's Soap powder and have had excellent success with this.

We also use fabric wipes. I just keep them in a little plastic tub, wet with water and a few drops of tea tree oil. I have a spray bottle with a combination of witch hazel, olive oil and a few drops of lavender essential oil that I spray on the wipe or on her bottom. I actually usually only need one cloth wipe most of the time.

I guess that means no good

I have my hair twisted up, held in place by some chop sticks I have left over from a night of Thai food. And I have it this way because I am more than in need of a hair cut, my hair is way (way) too long. And then I can't do anything with it and seeing as I'm attempting to clean the toilet--mind you, there are three boys in the house that use the toilet. And I mean "use" loosely as I think they consider the toilet and three feet around the toilet, in all directions, a safe area in which to go.....and seeing as I'm cleaning this area, I'm trying to keep my hair out of my face, and the toilet.

So anyway, held in place with chop sticks.

My son, with a very quizzical look on his face, looks at me and up at my hair. I can tell he is wondering. He asks about it, and I explain.

The quizzical look leaves his face as he finally figures it out, and not because of my explanation.

My loving, precious boy figures that this hair style is part of a Halloween costume and I'm going as an alien.

Nice.

Chicago

We were very fortunate to be able to spend the day in Chicago a few weeks ago while some very important people (at least to us) were in America for a visit. The very important director/manager from the Ethiopian side of our adoption agency, and his wife! We had a very nice time. The weather was great, and it was so cool to meet some more families with children not only from Ethiopia, but adopted using the same agency as us.

Here they are! Proof of my fabulous photography skills....

Yes, I did quick turn and snap. Further proof of my skills, because, they didn't even know. And you can tell too.

Contemplation on the boat tour.

I'm only hoping she isn't looking at Seagulls over head.

We has a great time and can't wait to see them again. Maybe next time in Ethiopia!!

What we've been doing

This is a busy time of year. The boys are in school, which means spelling practice, math facts practice, reading, reading and more reading. And not much blogging, as you can tell.

Our little Ayanna is busy on the move. No walking yet, but boy can she speed crawl. And usually it's to the roll of toilet paper, or the bowl of doggy water. Or anywhere else that she really should not be.

Plus, time to harvest all that grows in our garden....here are some scenes of our lives lately.

Lots of carrots this year!

Yummy tomato juice

I'm always in charge of jar washing.

Applesauce in process

All our apples are organic so we cook the skins. The red skins give the sauce a pink color.

This is what the Beagles think of all the sauce making....BORING!!

So much....

Oh, we had a birthday, and kids first day of school and on and on. But being that our computer stole our pictures and our camera currently has a dead battery, and on and on~~~

As soon as able, I will continue to upload our pictures and SAVE THEM ON THE NEW EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE, and then post of the happier times!

Back again---again.

Oh the sadness!

Our computer lost it's hard drive which in turn lost our pictures and our music and everything. And, just from saving you from having to ask---NO, we didn't have any backup on an external hard drive. BUT, now we do. And now we will. I was told by the powers that be at the computer repair shop that there would be no problems retrieving the data, he even put his ear up to our laptop and everything and said he heard noises coming from the hard drive (no really--he did!) and that they would gather all those precious memories and put them all on our new hard drive. I can assure you, this didn't happen. They did give me the old hard drive. I told the fella at the computer repair shop that I was a registered nurse, I could do CPR on people, but would surely fail attempting to revive anything like a hard drive.

So, here I sit, with a new hard drive with no memories, and an old hard drive with a bad attitude, holding prisoner all my pictures of my babies....mean old nasty hard drive.

Officially official

Today we finalized our adoption FINALLY!

Ayanna Marie Bontu welcome home---again!

(And our computer is working again!! HURRAY!!)

Broken computer...

We have a non functioning computer in our home...and that makes me sad. SO I'm updating this on a computer outside of my home and can't upload pictures and boo hoo! I'm sad. We are a family of 5 functioning with one iPod touch. Not funny.

Hope to be up and running soon. Love to my one reader! You know who you are!

Be on the lookout!

There is a new Ethiopian driver in our area....

Chillin in her convertible. One honk---"I'm coming"

Assessing the situation--One tongue "Get out of my way!"

But don't worry, no exhaust fumes here. Hers is a hybrid, runs on brother power.

peeps and jam

A chick and raspberry update!

Raspberry crop! Super yum!

Canning jam. And don't look at the yucky brown banana on the right.

The inspector reviewing the final product.

Approved!!

The first PBJ of the year.

The chicks having lunch.

They are fun to watch.

Peace

I feel an indescribable peace in walking among the plants that grow in our yard. Everything from picking a raspberry and eating it on the spot, to taking out all my frustrations of life on the pesky weeds....

Here's what's growing someplace in our yard right now~