3 people and a cat

Thank you, and Goodbye

2010-02-01T22:09:00.001-06:00

I've been pondering this move for awhile now. The end to 'blogging'. Why do I blog, anyway? To hear myself talk?

I can do that anytime, without throwing it out on cybersapce.

"Hi Beth. It's me, Beth. You've got a cute face, but that rump - WHOA. Talk about a ba-donk-a-donk. Anyway, to the task at hand - Do you really have anything you need to talk about that the entire world needs to hear? And the constant stories about your daughter - now that she is getting older, don't you think she wants a little privacy? Needs a little privacy? You would have had a three headed cow if your mother would have posted potentially embarassing stories about you during your formative years for all to see. For your potential friends, boyfriends, teachers, employers to do a search on the internet and giggle at. Doesn't it all make you feel a little icky?

Yeah, I thought so."

So here it goes. I've decided. The end of 'blogging' in the form it is now. I just don't have it in me anymore. And the fact that I don't regret, feel bad, or think I will miss it? That right there is a sign. I've overstayed my welcome. I should have just ended it at 'hope you don't hate the cold' - but I thought I would try a new avenue. It didn't work. I am uninspired, and no longer want to subject Tes (my main blogging subject) to the exposure.

Yet, to contradict myself (I am good at that) - I had also decided a long time ago that this is the year I would participate in Project 365 - One picture a day, for 365 days. I want to grow as a photographer, I want to become so comfortable with my camera it becomes an extention of my hand. I also like the idea that a year of my life will be documented. It is like a photo-diary of sorts. So, I am starting another page. *sigh* I know. But it is not the same, I swear!

It is photography based. Though I can't commit to posting my picture every day (I may post a weeks worth of pictures in one day... we'll see what works best) - It will be mostly about the pictures. Though the inaugural picture is of my Little One, I am making a vow to myself that it will NOT be all Tes all the time. I will not be using anyone's real names. I will be light on words - just enough to add caption to the picture.

One picture a day, for 365 days, starting with the first day of my 32nd year and ending with my 33rd.
If you wish, follow it here : bowlofpicklesoup.wordpress.com

As for this blog? I will probably be deleting it soon. No need for it to be hanging around the internets forever. As for 'hope you don't hate cold'? Well, I'm much more sentimental about that one. I believe I am going to take the time (and money) to make a book of most of the pages for Tes. After I am done, it too will be deleted.

A very sincere thank you for all that have given encouraging words, thoughts, and comments during my blogging.

Peace.

The Makings of a Mom

2010-01-22T22:12:00.000-06:00

It was two years ago today we 'met' our Tesfanesh, through paperwork and two photos. Oh dear... the photos. I tear up every single time I see them.

The bald head, the toothy smile.

The short pants, the tiny hands on the little extended belly.

They get me every time.

We thought we loved you then, looking at these pictures, that it was love at first sight. Which it was, to some degree - but we just didn't know the half of it. I could never had comprehended on just how much I could really love another human being until I met you.

Until I became a mother.

And it all started out today, two years ago.

Peace.

Partypolooza

2010-01-02T23:17:00.000-06:00

Far too worn to blog. Two hours. Full house. Kids everywhere.

One rockin' 4 year old birthday party.

Just popping in long enough to show this :

The above is photographic evidence of the birthday girl cheating at pin the nose on the dalmatian. See her tilting her head to peek out the bottom?

tsk-tsk!

I can't believe you are four. My baby?! FOUR?!

I need to go lay down.

Peace.

Goodbye 2009...

2009-12-31T22:27:00.000-06:00

... you were a good year. A year that has brought me stability. No extreme changes, just a year of gaining a firm-footing. In motherhood, family, job, and life.

Now that I have restored my equilibrium and refilled my bucket, I look forward to 2010. I predict good things. For you, too!

So bring it on, 2010. Oh - but first, one request? Let's have an early spring. Okay? The older I get, the less and less tolerant I become of these winters.
Much obliged.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wishing you peace, happiness, and growth this coming year.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-30T08:00:00.001-06:00

Post Holiday Bloat

2009-12-26T23:31:00.000-06:00

Due to some vacation time that had to be either used or lost, neither Brad nor I have been among the working class since last Friday. As in, the 18th. No work. For a week.

I don't know how I am going to cope once Monday comes around.

A small breakdown may be a'brewing.

Or possibly a temper tantrum. Can 31 year olds have temper tantrums?

Let's not dwell. Instead, let's focus on how fantastic the past week off has been. In the past 7 days, we have (in no particular order) :

- Been sledding three times
- Out to eat with family and new friends
- Started a new fashion trend of tutus and swim goggles

- Consumed more cookies than one family of three safely should (Thank goodness no pictures of that, but if you would like to to post a picture of how large my rump has become over the last week, I'll consider. I bow easily to peer pressure.)
- Survived 12 inches of what Brad has sacastically dubbed "Snowmagedon '09" (as a true Minnesotan, he scoffs at any weathercaster that he believes 'overreacts' to coming snow. I, on the otherhand, hide in the corner and cry because the weatherman just told me to.)

- Taken our princess to see the new Disney princess movie. I must admit, I let out a huge sigh when I saw Tiana's family was poor, worked for the rich white man, and lived in a shack, but you know what? It was cute. It was a cute movie, and Tes says she is the most beautiful princess there is. Thats all a mom can ask for. (Oh, and the music was great!)

- Went swimming

- Three holiday parties, consisting of lots of catching up, lots of laughing, and of course, lots of present opening.

I am sure there is more, but my brain is fried, and my husband just walked through the door with some mint ice cream in hand. To not go dish a bowl would just be rude!

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Here is to the new year - and our many hopes and plans.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

All She Wants for Christmas...

2009-12-15T21:39:00.001-06:00

Brad and Tes had a Daddy / Daughter date last Saturday while I spent a few scumptious hours out and about. ~~She~~ they came home very excited, deciding they had found the perfect gift once Little One is cordinated and old enough...

She made a beeline right to it and jumped on all by herself. Brad says she is a natural. I'm not so convinced...

She has assured me she would 'wear her bike helmet'.

Don't get me wrong, I am estatic they had such a wonderful day, and am glad they spent time bonding under they thier love of motorcycles.

But would you let this sweet baby out on a motorized vehicle?

Let us hope she takes a few years to rid herself of those training wheels on her regular old bicycle, so this mommy can not worry for just a little bit longer.

Peace.

Downward Slide into the Holidays.

2009-12-08T21:56:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the mini-blogging-hiatus. No, we didn't meet our demise huddled together, frozen little peoplesicles. The furnace guy did make it by midnight, and being good Minnesotans we had two space heaters to keep our blood flowing until it was fixed. Rather, I think the posting-break may have been due to everyday blogging in November. Believe I was burnt out a bit.

You may have been too.

That, and preparing for the holidays is tough. So much to do, yet so freakin' cold out that it makes you not want to get anything done.

I'd rather be snuggled under a warm blanket sipping a hot ~~toddy~~ chocolate. Instead ~~we've~~ I've been doing this :

Holiday cards - Addressed. (But not yet sent...)
Shopping - (mostly) Done.
Gift Wrapping - Finished.

Shutter : 1/30

Aperture : f/1.8

Focal Length : 35mm

ISO : 900

Tree Still Upright and Decorated No Thanks To the Kid or the Cat - Yes. For now.

Shutter : 1/40

Aperture : f/1.8

Focal Length : 35mm

ISO : 200

Christmas Cookies - Well... I've decided which ones I will be baking this year. And I'm adding truffles, 'cause apparently I like to punish myself. (And because chocolate owns me.) Some grocery shopping for the ingredients is in the near future.
Though, that does mean I must leave the (now warm) confines of my humble abode, so perhaps not as near in the future as it should be.

Ready or not, here comes the holidays!

Peace.

brrrrr...

2009-12-04T23:00:00.000-06:00

After a lovely evening of swimming at the Y and dinner at Tes' favorite pizza place, we came home to...

drumroll please...

... a freezing cold house. 54 degrees to be exact.

Now we get to wait up until the furnace guy get here. He is hoping to be here by midnight.

sigh.

I'm still determined that this WILL BE A GOOD WEEKEND. And I'm not taking no for an answer.

brrrr...

Peace (and warmth) to you.

Homemade

2009-12-03T23:04:00.000-06:00

It appears I'm on a bit of a homemade gift rampage this year. Or, at least for Tes, that is.

Some barretts I made with ribbon, super glue, and buttons I found at 50% off.

I can't wait until she opens these up!

Roar!

I've also handcrafted a little something for Brad (no, not barretts), and made the BIG mistake of showing Tes. *sigh* She wants to tell him so badly. She did, actually, once, but I was yelling so loudly over the top of her that I don't think he heard.

Or, at least he is humoring me and pretending that he didn't hear.

What a guy!

(P.S. - Crap! I missed $5 for 5 for day #3. Did you visit From HIV to Home today?)

5 for 5 Campaign - Day Two

2009-12-02T12:25:00.000-06:00

Please visit From HIV to Home to see today's $5 for 5 project, AHOPE for Children. Brad and I had planned to visit AHOPE while we were in Ethiopia picking up Tesfu, but were unable. Another kind family brought our donations to the center instead, and I still to this day wish I would have been able to make the trip and visit with the children.
Oh well - perhaps next time!

Instead of reposting their words today, I'll just direct you right to the source. Click here.

Thank you.
Peace.

World AIDS Day - 5 for 5 Campaign

2009-12-01T11:37:00.001-06:00

Today is World AIDS Day, and the start of the organization From HIV to Home's Five for Five campaign.
A chance to give $5 a day for 5 days - each day funding a different project serving orphans living with HIV.

Would you like to participate?
Today's project is "Agape Children's Home" in Thailand. Located in Chiang Mai Thailand, the Agape Home for babies with HIV/AIDS opened in May 1996 as a response to the plight of children impacted by the spread of HIV/AIDS across Thailand. All of the children who come to the Agape Home to live are, or are at risk of being, HIV positive. Many of them have already lost their parents to AIDS, and there are no other options for their care.

All "5 for 5" donations received today (December 1) will be designated toward Agape's current building project - a village of smaller homes where children will be able to live in a more family-type situation rather than in one large facility.

If you wish to contribute, please click here to be directed to From HIV to Home. They have a 'network for good' button on their front page dedicated to today's project.

Thank you for reading, and for letting me share a little piece of my heart.

Peace.

Finally, Goodbye November.

2009-11-30T21:08:00.000-06:00

November 30. Thirty days of posts. Every.Single.Day.
Done.

Here is a few things I learned about myself during the last thirty days :

1. When at a loss for what to blog about, I can always seem to talk about my Tes.
2. I don't like blogging because I feel like I have to. I much prefer just blogging whenever I feel like I have something to ~~complain~~ talk about.
3. Holy sh*t, I really can finish something I start!
Who knew?

As a bonus, here are a few things I already knew about myself, but I re-learned today :
1. When riding the bus, my double-chin jiggles. I never notice I have a double-chin until I'm on the bumpy bus.
2. I think Mondays suck.
3. Everyone is crabbier on Mondays.
3. Or maybe I'm just crabbier on Mondays.
4. 'Cause Mondays suck.

So, thank you to all of you who stuck with me during the last thirty days. I know they weren't all great.
I'm sure we all look forward going back to quality instead of quantity.

(For Lyn-Dee, and others that may be interested - here is the picture's stats...)
Camera : Nikon D40
Exposure : 1/80
Aperture : f/1.8
Focal Length : 35mm
ISO Speed : 200

My photography is very amateur, but if anyone is interested, I have plans for a basic photo post coming soon!

Peace.

Christmas Trees & Turkey Soup

2009-11-29T19:18:00.001-06:00

The tree is up and decorated! Below is Tes' interpretation of "stand in front of the tree for a quick picture, please."

Hmmm... we may have a class clown on our hands.

We ended the day with Brad's homemade turkey noodle soup.

I'd give you the receipe, but I doubt if there is one. He tends to just make things up as he goes.

Or at least that is what he tells me.

Maybe he is just trying to impress me?

It worked. I'm impressed. And my tummy is full.

Only one more day of NaBloWhateverDoMo. I'll have to think of something good as a finale.

Peace.

Crabby, Haircuts, and Eyebrows

2009-11-28T21:57:00.000-06:00

We struggled a little bit today. A little bit of defiance (her) + a little bit of yelling (me) = ugh. I don't want to teach Tesfu that screaming at people is any sort of useful sort of conflict resolution, so I truly try not to do it. But today... today didn't work.

We have already promised each other tomorrow will be better, for both of us. Well, that, and she already knows two 'not listening' infractions tomorrow and the handheld video game goes in the closet. Now why didn't I think of that this morning?

Probably too busy being angry. Not a good Mom day.

Good news is, the whole day wasn't a bust. We did some secret Christmas crafts to give as presents that she had a blast doing. I also had a chance to take down all of her braids today and trim her hair. And look, it doesn't even look uneven!

Ahhh... hello sweetie. Sorry I was a pain-in-the-butt Mom today.

And you better be sorry you were a pain-in-the-butt kid.

I just realized while looking at this picture, that this is probably the clearest picture of her eyebrow scars I have ever seen. Anyone in the know of Ethiopian culture recognize these scars?

Can you see them? They are perfectly parallel to each other, and obviously very deliberate. Best I have ever been able to find is that they were a part of a traditional medical procedure - but I don't know for sure, or exactly what for? We didn't notice them while in Ethiopia, so I didn't ask anyone.

I've always been curious, and I am sure she will wonder one day, too. Anyone have any input?

Anyway, looking forward to a better day tomorrow - we are putting up the Christmas tree! Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Peace.

mailing it in.

2009-11-27T22:28:00.000-06:00

Pretend it is a Wordless Wednesday, because all I'm throwing out there today is a picture.

Day number 27 - check.

Peace.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T19:42:00.000-06:00

24 hours, two get-togethers, one hosted by us. Lots of laughing, a whole lot of eating, and probably not enough giving thanks.

It is a hectic holiday, but this was probably the best Thanksgiving I've experienced in a long time. I really worked on not worring about the how, but tried to focus on the why.

And I have much to be thankful for.

Hoping everyone had a wonderful holiday.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Wasting My Time, and Apparently Yours, Too.

2009-11-24T08:00:00.013-06:00

Why hello... how cute are you?!
pendant

Oh! And you.

Why yes, you too.

Sensing a theme? I like gnomes. And I love etsy.com.

I can't stop! I must eat my Honey Bunches of Oats out of this. I simply must.

The world just won't be right until it happens.

I would carry you two in my pocket. You'd be my super secret pocket gnomes.
Perhaps I would teach you kung-foo. You could be my super secret kung-foo pocket gnomes.

Have I mentioned how awesome etsy is?

Take a look - and support handmade goods.

It will make the gnomes happy.
And everyone likes a happy gnome.

Peace.

Library Day, the Stinky Edition

2009-11-23T08:00:00.002-06:00

We are a library lovin' family. On Sunday's trip the Little One and I happily lugged home 14 books and 5 dvds for her to enjoy. It wasn't until we were already checking out that I thought perhaps I need to start double-checking Tesfu's library picks?

Oh my. I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to giggle or be grossed out while reading this book tonight. Even worse? While looking up the title online to get this picture, I realized there is a whole Walter farting series out there.

Oh my indeed.

Good news is, this totally confirms my secret thoughts I could write children's books.

Walter farted thoughtfully.

Peace.

(P.S. to TORP - I totally know a certain tiny little someone who is getting one of these come February.)

mus-mash

2009-11-22T19:24:00.000-06:00

Best $0.25 spent ever.

Seriously, this thing cracked us up for awhile.

So odd...

So funny...

So disturbing.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. It's time to welcome the Thanksgiving week!

Peace.

Reminisce

2009-11-21T22:43:00.000-06:00

I know, nearly every single post has been all about Tesfu. I do have hobbies, I swear - but the kid is just so darn adorable. Funny, too. I feel it I need to spread the cuteness around a bit.

Pretty much my civic duty. It would be criminal to keep this all to myself.

So, tonight I was looking through some older pictures of when Tes first landed in America. Here is one of her very first bath here. Oh... those chubby cheeks... That baby face... The squishy baby belly... That - that really clean tub?!

So tonight I am reminiscing. About a certain bubbly little toddler who is now so a big girl, and a time when I thought life was busy, but I had time to do things like clean the tub.

Because cleaning the tub? Doesn't so much happen after kids, apparently.

Peace.

A Princess, A Frog, and Tesfu

2009-11-20T21:52:00.000-06:00

Tes was very excited tonight when she saw an article in her National Geographic Kids magazine about this :

A new movie being released in December, The Princess and the Frog. Movie? Princess? Frogs and alligators? This is right up her alley.

And me? I'm glad Disney finally decided to make a Black princess.

Every little princess wants a princess that looks like her. Even this one :

Honestly, Disney - what took you so long?

Peace.

Sshhh! Present Sneek Peek

2009-11-19T23:06:00.000-06:00

I'm a sucker for homemade gifts.

I am also the mother of a little girl who can recognize all of her capital letters.

*insert Mommy pride here*

Yet she knows none of her lower case.

Unfortunately for this young student, her mother is very ~~frugal~~ cheap.

Fortunately for her, she is however a tad on the crafty side.

Hey - I did say 'a tad'. Not claiming masterpieces here.

Just homemade flash cards.

I still have v-z left, and they'll need to be laminated before I drop them in her Christmas stocking, but they are almost complete.

I have really enjoyed making them, and given her love of flashcards / pictures of things she likes / and learning letters (she is a bit obsessed with letters lately) - I think she'll enjoy them too.

I like win-win situations.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T11:00:00.000-06:00

W.W.

Peace.

no energy. no inspiration. no to NaBloPoMo!

2009-11-17T21:02:00.002-06:00

My sentiments exactly, kiddo.

Well, it has happened. NaBloPoMo Day #17 and I am at a bit of a loss of what to blog about that would hold anyone's attention. Actually, I do have a big ole' 'What I Want to Change About Christmas' post churning around, but I just don't have the energy to finish it right now. So, that will have to wait.

I could take a moment to wish a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my bro. Happiest of birthdays, Jer! Viva la revolution!

Hmmm... that didn't take up enough time nor space. Still must come up with more...

I could have shown you pictures I took at Tes' dance class last night, but there are two issues.

Number one - They didn't turn out great. Next class I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and use the flash so I can quicken my shutter speed. Those little dancers just move too fast!

Number two - I would have to take the time to blur out a bunch of the other kids faces. And I just don't have that in me tonight.

What else? It is 8:40pm and I can STILL hear Tes farting around upstairs in her bed. For cripes sakes, kid, go to sleep! 6:15am comes fast, you know. And no one likes a crabby preschooler. Especially a crabby preschooler who has a dentist appointment right over dinner time tomorrow. Yep, excellent planning, Beth. Excellent.

How about some photos?

Here is a picture of my cat.

Here is a photo of what my cat would look like if you had a blood alcohol level of 0.06 while looking at him.

Here is what my cat would look like if you made his ears into horns.

Okay, that is enough for now. I believe that satisfies NaBloPoMo for Nov. 17th, wouldn't you say?

Peace.

Rich List

2009-11-16T21:13:00.000-06:00

I am not sure how accurate this really is, but it certainly got me thinking either way :

Global Rich List

According to this, with Brad and I's combined income, we are in the top 0.85% richest people in the world. It is amazing what a modest income in the U.S. means to the rest of the world.

Another fact from the site :

Three decades ago, the people in well-to-do countries were 30 times better off than those in countries where the poorest 20 percent of the world's people live. By 1998, this gap had widened to 82 times.

Check it out. How rich are you? And what are you going to do about it?

* Not my picture

Peace.

The Story of Hummus

2009-11-15T21:08:00.001-06:00

Though we have a picky-ish eater on our hands, one thing we know she will always happily eat is is hummus.

Yummy!

You have to be careful, though...

You never know whose coming to steal a few bites!

Peace.

Fair Warning

2009-11-14T22:28:00.000-06:00

For anyone who decides to eat any bake goods from my house... well...
You should know I always have a helper...

... who really likes batter...

... and who apparently does not subscribe to the old adage 'cleanliness is next to godliness'.

Hope everyone had a happy Saturday.

Peace.

First Gift - Water for Christmas

2009-11-13T10:25:00.001-06:00

Those who know me, know this is an issue that holds my heart.

One billion people lack access to safe, clean drinking water.

To me, safe water should be a RIGHT extended to all, not a PRIVELEGE extended to the wealthy nations.

Unclean water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

I cannot accept this.

The average American uses 150 gallons of water per day.
The average person in a developing nation struggles to find 5.

And I hope, neither can you.

$10 will provide one person in Africa clean water for 10 years. It will literally change and possibly save someone's life. A mother. A child. A brother. A grandfather.

We are rallying together for a cause. Clean water. One day. $10. Asking everyone to let this be their first gift. Let water, let life be their first gift of the season.

We can be part of the solution.

http://www.water4christmas.com/

* Edited to add : I don't know why the video is sometimes showing up, sometimes not. Follow the water4christmas link to see the video if it is not there, or better yet, to donate!

Why people need to filter their thoughts before spewing their crap at me...

2009-11-12T22:32:00.001-06:00

... because I'll just blog about you after your done.

I will fully admit I'm not good at small talk. It is not a talent of mine. Or even a usable skill. But when I am forced into a situation where silence can even be more awkward than my lack of conversation skills, I soldier on.

This was the situation today, with a lady I will call 'Small-talk Stranger'. The topic somehow turned to children, which turned to my child, and I thought - oh yeah! This just happens to be my very favorite subject! I can do this!  So yada-yada-yada... Tes is really looking forward to attending school... blah-blah-blah... my daughter is a picky eater, too!... on and on, until a picture was produced from my purse and shown to her.

Small-talk Stranger : Oh! She is adopted?
Me : Yes, she is Ethiopian -
Small-talk Stranger : - wow... I just can't imagine loving a stranger like they are family!

Oh dear.
Number one - Keep your damn ignorance to yourself. Number two - Apparently this must mean she is a kin to her husband, because how could you possibly love a stranger.
It goes on.

Me : *stunned silence, and probably a very angered and bewildered look on my face*
Small-talk Stranger : I mean, I just can't believe you've never gotten to experience the miracle of childbirth... I feel so bad for women like you.

No, I didn't punch her. But it was only my deep-down staunch belief that violence doesn't solve anything that kept me from it. And believe me, I momentarily wavered.

So let me clear the air a bit, in case there is anyone out there, like Small-talk Stranger, who feels sorry for 'women like me'.
Don't.
I assure you, yes, I love my daughter. Being adopted does not make her a second class child. It makes her - my daughter.  S-t Stranger is lucky I never caught her real name, because I would totally be tempted to search out her phone number and post it so all you 'stranger lovers' such as I, an adoptive parent, or you loving step-parents, or you dedicated foster parents - all you out there who apparently have the unbelievable skill to love strangers, could give her a call and let her know what love really is. And it ain't just genetics, baby.

Secondly, you are correct, I didn't get to experience the miracle of childbirth. And I do actually agree, it is a miracle. (After all, I was born, wasn't I?) However, even though I didn't experience it, my child is still a miracle, a miracle her Mother got to experience. I don't regret that for one moment, nor the two years they were able to spend together - because it would be dismissive to her experience, and to my daughter. There are, of course, things I wonder about. Did she have a lot of hair when she was born? Was she a happy baby? When was her first smile? First steps? Which tooth came in first?

Things I wonder? Yes. Things I regret? Not for a moment.
I would never selfishly wish away those two years my daughter and her Mother were able to spend together, not for a moment. Yes, she got to experience the miracle of birth. Saw the first step, smile, and heard the first word.
But I got to experience the miracle of adoption. Saw her first smile at me. Got to hear the first time she told me "I love you".   I get to wake up each morning to her sleepy, smiley face, and end each evening with her 'big hugs!' and lots of kisses.

Don't feel sorry for me. I am a blessed woman, indeed.
I'm sorry you can't see that, S-t Stranger.
It must be a very small world you live in.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-11T11:00:00.000-06:00

W.W.

Peace.

happiness is.

2009-11-10T21:53:00.000-06:00

It is nice to stop and enjoy the moment once in awhile. I think everyone needs it. We get so busy running from daycare to work to dance class to the dentist office etc etc... rinse, and repeat - that we (or at least I) find it very easy to forget how good life actually is.

I never would (or could) have imagined myself here even ten years ago. I hadn't met my husband yet, and even if I did ever meet Mr. Right, I thought, I was convinced I must never have children because I was scared to pass on the moderate mental illness that (I feel) runs in a part of my family. I was basically a college drop-out, clocking in-and-out of a customer service job I didn't hate, but was going nowhere and had horrendous pay. I was almost eighty pounds heavier than I am now, and was letting my life be determined and ruled by a strong social anxiety disorder that had plagued me my entire life.
I got through my days by absolutely thriving on repetition, and never ventured out of my safe, repetitious little bubble of a world.

Not really unhappy, but sure as hell wasn't happy, either.

I can't detail each step I took, but somehow, wonderfully, gratefully, probably very ungracefully and with a lot of missteps and blunders along the way - I ended up here.

And I really love here. This is what my happiness is.

A husband I adore. I'm not quite sure how I won him over, but I'm pretty sure he adores me, too. A daughter that is my sunshine, and who has taught me more about life in her 3.5 little years than I ever learned in the 30 years before her. A job that, though I like to complain about, is stable and decent pay and great benefits. And best of all, something I had to really work towards. Something I had to work very hard for, break out of my comfort zone for, and one that I can be proud of what I've accomplished to get here.

Social anxiety - it is still there in some form. I am sure it will always be there. But, I've learned to live by the silent mantra 'This isn't going to kill you, beth, you won't die from this' and somehow I get through each situation that arises. Mostly. It seems to be less and less as I age.

I own a lot of stuff, too... a house that we really like, in a neighborhood we enjoy, two (older) cars, blah-blah-blah...

But I find when I take that moment to slow down, somewhere in the race between here to there, and really take stock of my life, that's never the stuff that I think about.

It is more about this :

And I want to take a moment to be very, very grateful.

Hoping you are somewhere happy, too.

Peace.

Vacation Day at MOA

2009-11-09T21:40:00.000-06:00

Doing things with an (almost) four year old is a lot of fun. Honestly, everyone should go out and borrow one for the day. As long as they are well fed, well rested, and properly prepped on the rules (there will be no running away from mom and dad) - and you will have an absolute blast.

It helps that is was at opening time on a Monday morning, too, so there was not a single line in sight.

Here she is yelling "This ride makes me so brave!"

Swiper the Sneaky Fox and Tes sharing a moment.

We really love carousels. Especially ones with more out of the ordinary animals, instead

of just the normal horses.

And finally, no trip to the mall would be complete without a warm pretzel.

At leat according to Tes, that is.

We rounded out the afternoon with a well deserved two-hour nap (mom, too - oh so nice!).

All in all, I'd say the best way to spend some time off of work that I can imagine.

Tomorrow - looking for a matinee to take the little movie nut to!

Hope everyone had a lovely Monday.

Peace.

Tes vs Tomato Soup

2009-11-08T21:10:00.000-06:00

Today I cleaned tomato soup off of the kitchen table, chair, and floor.
Today I cleaned tomato soup off my daughter's face, and out of her hair.
Today I cleaned tomato soup off my daughter's eyelashes, and out of her right ear.

Don't even ask how this transpired... it's been a long day.

Tomorrow I'm hoping for better. The husband and I have some vacation time to burn before the end of the year, so we've taken a few days off to hang out and do fun family stuff. I believe tomorrow may entail taking Tes to the Mall Of America to use some free ride passes she received from a friendly neighbor as Halloween trick-or-treats. Or possibly the zoo? Or a daytime matinee could be nice...

Whatever we end up doing, I can assure you - it will not involve tomato soup.

Peace.

Making the Most of Your Saturday

2009-11-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

Yesterday involved :

* Waking up at the butt-crickity-crack of dawn, because Tes would have it no other way.

* Ethiopian dance class for Tes (be still my heart, nothing in this universe could be as cute as these little-uns' dancing...).

* Raking, bagging, more raking, more bagging, interrupted only to occasionally bury Tes in the leaves. We strategically wait until every last leaf falls, so we only have to rake once. The problem with that is, you have a every last leaf to rake, all at once.

* Power nap for Tes. Believe me, she needed it.

* First birthday party for this little guy, cousin Gannon.

Oh my...

Those cheeks!

Happy birthday, cutie-patootie.

Hmmm... It felt a lot busier than it sounds. Perhaps I should add a little embellishment?

* Saved the world while promoting world peace.

There. That sounds more like it.

Saturdays rock.

Peace.

re-read.

2009-11-07T08:00:00.003-06:00

I have found reading the travel guides (see this post) a bit... annoying. I realize I've never been there, but come on, it can't be that magical. Unless perhaps they dope everybody as you walk through the gate? These people talk like taking a Disney vacation is like reaching some sort of Nirvana - and it is apparently a path to Heaven that you must maticulously plot and plan out every little detail.

Heck, I'm not even sure we'll be able to afford to go, let along plan 180 days in advance where we'd dine for dinner. Besides, we are more of a 'pack your own pbj' kind of family.

That's just how we roll.
'Cause we're ~~cheap~~ ~~frugal~~ cheap.

Yikes. I needed a break.
I was forced to raid my own bookshelf. Randomly, I pulled out 'Slapstick' by Kurt Vonnegut.

How refreshing - I had forgotten just how much I enjoyed this book.

"I was those seeds,
"I am this meat,
"This meat hates pain,
"This meat must eat.
"This meat must sleep,
"This meat must dream,
"This meat must laugh,
"This meat must scream.
"But when, as meat,
"It's had its fill,
"Please plant it as
"A Daffodil."

Here is another :

... "In case nobody has told you," she said, "this is the United States of America, where nobody has a right to rely on anybody else-where everybody learns to make his or her own way" ...

Hi ho.

I know a lot of people just don't like Vonnegut (I'm looking at you, Brad)*. All I can say to that is... well, I just don't understand.

Oh - and you must suck.
Big time.

Hi ho, indeed.

* He also cliams to find no humor in Monty Python. Please feel free to use the comment section to mock him however you see fit.

Peace.

Rump Sized Dent in Couch

2009-11-06T08:00:00.005-06:00

Fischer the Cat was overjoyed yesterday when I finally dislodged my rear from (what he thinks is his) couch.

That's right - I don't want to jinx anything - but I am pretty sure my baby and I both have emerged from Sickville.

Which means, I can finally think through my writing without a feverish haze making me sound funnier to myself than I really am.

Therefore, the blogposts should improve. I'm hoping.

Here's to hoping.

Peace.

Current Reads & Sickness

2009-11-05T08:00:00.003-06:00

My lastest library pick-up :

We are pondering it. Perhaps late next year. Trying to see if we could work it into the budget. Perhaps not.

But honestly, I'm okay with that.

Really, if that is a money consideration I have to worry about - if we are able to afford to take Tes to DisneyWorld or not - than I'd say we can count ourselves pretty damn lucky.

In other news, my what I thought was flu-shot sickness? It is still lingering. After both my kiddo and I being sick for a few days now, I finally decide to google the dreaded H1N1 symptoms tonight. Hmmm... interesting. I won't tell you what my symptoms are, in case I've seen you in the last two days and you now try to run me over with your car in a drastic fit of revenge or something like that.

Anyway, the CDC webpage states you only have to avoid the public like you are carrying the plague of the century for 24 hours after a fever - and we are both past that. So please put down your pitch-forks and quit blaming your sore throat on me, you could have picked that up anywhere.

Especially with that nasty habit of licking door handles you have.

Yeah, I know all about it.

Its okay, I still love you.

Peace.

Wordless Wednesday (W.W.)

2009-11-04T11:00:00.000-06:00

Peace.

Animals on the Brain

2009-11-03T10:11:00.000-06:00

I have come to accept the sad realization that summer is truly, fully, absolutely, whole-heartedly, mind-as-well-of-left-a-flaming-paperbag-of-dog-doo-on-my-doorstep, - gone. (Why oh why Summer? I feel like I have been dumped... And you, Fall? Don't even get me started. You never even showed up. Just let Winter barge its way in.)

In a rare quiet moment in the car, Tes was gazing out the window at the ~~Fall~~ Winter foliage, when she remarked,

"Look at the leaves, they are spotted, just like a giraffe!"

You know, in case we needed more proof that her fauna friends are on her mind oh... I'd approximate a full 98% of the time.

* Not my photo

And the other 2%, you ask? Movies. About animals.

Peace.

Two words : MAC.TRUCK. RUN OVER BY.

2009-11-02T15:07:00.000-06:00

Okay, fine. Five words. Cut me some slack, I think I am passing on to whatever dimension comes after this crazy one.

I've done this to myself three times now in my life. I believe I have now finally learned my lesson. I pinky-promise-swear-to-goodness-will-never-commit-this-unholy-act-again, just let me start to feel better.

I got a flu shot.

Just one of those normal, seasonal, give 'em out to everyone, flu shots.

And it is slowing killing me, I swear.
What do they put into these things? Okay, total honesty here - I trust the doctors. So, if they tell me to get the flu shot, I do it. If they tell me to get my daughter the flu shot, I call around obsessively and try to find her one, because her Pediatrician’s office has been out forever. Then I forget about it. So now I have a new conundrum - does she get one? I liked trusting the doctors... it is must easier. My forte' is kissing boo-boos and encouraging good behavior and being insanely proud that she has graduated from Pike to Eels in swimming class, not need-medical-schooling kind of stuff.

But now here I am, for the third time in my life after being administered a flu shot, icky-icky ill. Bone aching, shaking, head pounding, dry coughing - all with no fever. So it isn't the dreaded swine flu. No head congestion, no runny nose. So it isn't a cold. I double-checked with the nurse before she poked me, she said as long as I am not allergic to eggs, I'm good to go.

Thanks to Tes' love of eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I know I'm not allergic to eggs.

So, really - What do they put in these things?!?

The Aftermath

2009-11-02T11:00:00.000-06:00

Yeah, trick-or-Treating will do that to a ~~scary ghost-cow~~ Dalmatian.

Peace.

I hate you, daylight savings.

2009-11-01T21:20:00.000-06:00

I used to think 'falling back' for daylight savings was like a gift from the heavens. I mean really, an extra hour of sleep? Appears as if magic? How could you go wrong?

That is, unless your little rooster decideds 5:30am is the new 6:30am, because her body doesn't follow any of this 'daylight savings' crap-ola.

Cock-a-doodle-doo.

hApPy HaLLoWeEn ! !

2009-11-01T11:00:00.000-06:00

The following is NOT a ghost. Or a cow. Or a scary ghost cow.

Yes, she was called that tonight.

Hope everyone had a spooktacular Halloween, from the cutest little Dalmatian on the block. (See the long dog ears? No? Oh well... At least she was happy.)

Peace.

A Maybe Impossible Feat and Good News

2009-10-30T21:23:00.000-05:00

Ever hear about NaBloPoMo? I'm considering it. Perhaps because I seem to like setting myself up for failure. Perhaps because I am crazy.

Or perhaps, because if I am able to accomplish it, I will be really proud of myself.

So here it goes. Posting every day in the month of November. Think I can do it?

*********

And in 'it's about frickin' time, U.S.A.' news, I was overjoyed to hear this story today :

Obama to Lift HIV/AIDS Travel Ban *

Click to above to read. Be informed. And help end the stigma.

*********

See you in two days for NaBloPoMo. Wish me luck.

Peace.

* Link now corrected. Sorry... this is what happens when I am tired!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-10-28T21:50:00.000-05:00

Pumpkin carving, 2009 edition :

The Before, pre-pumpkin slaughter :

(The picture does no justice on just how large these pumpkins really are...)

The During :

"Who are you telling to be careful with this knife?!"

"Why don't you come say that to my face, old woman!"

Okay, she didn't actually say that. But those pictures were just begging for captions.

Awww... two of my favorite people...

And OH-MY-GOD, will you look at that double chin? Ewww...

The After :

Pretty cute!

Spooky!

And one of the many reasons why I never ever use my flash :

"Seriously, Mom! You've blinded me!"

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Saturday

2009-10-24T22:43:00.000-05:00

Candyland : A very exciting way to end your day.

Coming attractions : Some absolutely hilarious pumpkin carving pictures. Imagine the expressions above, but this time we let her wield a knife.

Don't worry, we've all made it out alive. And have two cute jack-o-lanterns to show for our efforts, too.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

Peace.

me-ow.

2009-10-19T23:16:00.000-05:00

My new lens (finally!) arrived tonight, plus I figured out how to add textures to my pictures even with my B.C.E. dated photo software.

Me-ow.

I'd call this a productive night.

Hope everyone had an adequate Monday.

Peace.

Not ready yet.

2009-10-11T00:12:00.000-05:00

This morning we awoke to snow. Earliest measurable snow in twenty-four years, the news tells me.

One of us was ecstatic about it, and hoping for more to fall while she slumbers tonight.

One of us was not as enthusiastic.

Though most days I wish I could get just a teaspoon full of her gusto and enthusiasm for life, an early winter is just not something I can get behind!

Peace.

i heart faces - fix it friday

2009-10-09T22:16:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd give it a go again this week.
So prepare yourself for another installments of :

Original :

Awww... you're a cutie! Love the little fau-hawk in the hair.

Seemed a little blue to me, so I messed around with the exposure a bit. Also, I thought both the stripe on the shirt and the lines in the background being crooked were both distracting. So I straightened the picture, and cropped out the dark blue of the shirt. I also cleaned up his face a little, though really, all little children should have a little lunch on their face, I'd say. Its all a part of childhood.

I've also been trying to work harder with my ancient Microsoft Digital Suite photo software instead of against it, so I've been monkeying around with adding texture. I also decided to desaturate it a bit. Seemed to fit the texture.

Ther you have it! My fixes.

Thanks for letting me participate. Go here to see more!

Peace.

Goodbye, Summer - Hello, Crabbypants

2009-10-09T21:33:00.000-05:00

I've been absent, I know. Here is something valuable I've learned about myself since starting my blogging adventure all those years ago at hydhtc to now here... the changing of seasons throw me into a tailspin. This is evident by my moody, weepy posts every switch from summer to fall, and again from winter to spring.

Very odd.

But good to know.

So that is my excuse. I'm very weepy. I'll spare you the details.
Hang tight, I can feel myself coming out of it.

See you on the flip side!
Peace.

i heart faces - blue

2009-09-29T15:49:00.000-05:00

A trick my cousin taught my kid - get your sidewalk chalk really wet. The colors turn very vibrant, and it acts more like a paint than a chalk.

Apparently, it works very well on skin, too. Yep.

This week's i ♥ faces topic is blue. Chem 'em out!

Peace.

Fall

2009-09-27T21:45:00.000-05:00

Thank you to Grandpa & Grandma R. for taking us to the orchard this weekend.

The corn maze wasn't nearly as bad as that whiney group that followed us thought it was.
Cheaters!

In other news, the aroma of apple crisp will soon be filling our home, due to the 10 pounds of apples we now need to creatively use. Any other ideas, anybody?
They are some really yummy Cortlands. Not sure if those are good baking apples or not.
But they tasted good.
And we aren't picky.

Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Peace.

A Girl and Her Food

2009-09-27T21:33:00.000-05:00

Never come between a girl...

... and her spicey lentils.

Yum!

Peace.

i heart faces - completely candid

2009-09-22T21:00:00.000-05:00

This wasn't taken with any kind of fancy camera, I didn't have one at the time. But ooooh... do I love it.

Look how tiny my Little One is here! I remember this weekend very well. We hadn't been home from Ethiopia terribly long at all, but were invited to a family get-together we really wanted to attend. We knew the crowds of curious family members would be overwhelming, we knew the change in scenery and routine would throw her off, we knew it would all be so, so much to ask of this tiny little soul. And we did it anyway.

We did however end up packing up and leaving the function early, and did not spend the night like we had planned. About twenty minutes away from the hub-bub, and you could physically see her start to relax. Ten minutes after that, and she was sound asleep in her salad bowl.

We were very foolish parents. Thank goodness she is such a forgiving soul. You look at this picture, and you probably wouldn't guess how stressed she (and in turn, I) was. Lost in a moment, she wasn't the kid who couldn't understand the white lady who never seems to leave her side yelling in a language she doesn't understand to "be careful" - she was just a kid who found a jungle-gym, and after her short little legs doing hard work, had made it all the way to the top by herself.

Just look at that smile. Still a little sad, but resilient. Proud. Trying to figure it out. Beautiful.

Oh baby, you melt my heart.
I'm sorry I was so foolish.

Peace.

The Cookie Monster Taught Me That Cookies Are All You Need.

2009-09-21T21:53:00.000-05:00

This past weekend the kiddo and I were feeling the urge to do some baking. Well, actually I was feeling the urge to bake, Tes decided to jump onboard when I told her she could bring all of the treats to daycare with her.

Never say I don't know how to bribe my child.

Wanting to do something different than the same-old-same-old chocolate chip cookies, I found this recipe for a shortbread cookie. By the way, as long as I am linking to her blog, has anyone else ever read The Pioneer Woman? Because you should. She is exactly who I would like to be. Except... with my husband instead of hers. And my child. And I wouldn't actually want to work on the ranch, I would just like to pretend I do. And still live close to a city.

Okay, so maybe I don't actually want to have her life. But I do admire it from afar. And her photography? Ooo-la-la. Pioneer Woman, you make me happy. And your shortbread cookies? They made me very happy, too.

In honor of the upcoming spooky holiday, here is Tes and I's version of the shortbread :

By the way, they are supposed to be jack-o-lanterns, NOT smiley faces. Perhaps we should have added some chocolate piping to make it more obvious. Oh well, too late now. They were yummy, chocolate stripes or not. And orange glaze? Tes kept saying how much she loved the 'cheese'.

She is definitely my favorite baking partner.

Peace.

i heart faces - fix-it friday

2009-09-18T21:30:00.000-05:00

Even though my photo editing software is so old the manual came etched into a tablet, I decided to give 'fix-it friday' at i ♥ faces a try. I mean, what is the worse that could happen? You could laugh at me... but I am here and you are there, so I won't hear it, anyway. Unless you put your 'ha-ha s' in the comments, then I would know...

Hmmm...

So, here they are :

The original, from The Animator's Wife. What a cutie! I love the sun shining through the beautiful red hair.

Really, not much to fix. This was a good week to get my feet wet with the challenge.

I flipped it, well, because for some reason I like the 'heaviest' part of pictures on the left. I don't know why. It just looks more balanced. Then I messed with the levels a little bit.

That is about it.

(Remember the B.C. dated photo editing program?)

I like the way the sun shines through the sleeves, even though I am not quite sure what she is doing with her arms. BUT, if I were to crop it - this is what it would be.

That wasn't so painful after all. Maybe I'll play again next week!

To see some really fancy-pancy edits, pour yourself a coffee and spend some time here. You'll learn something new, I promise.

Peace.

Question

2009-09-17T21:56:00.000-05:00

I've had a revelation tonight :

There are two types of people in the world - those who pour their microwave popcorn into a bowl, and those who rip the steaming bag open and eat it from there.

Bet you can't guess which I am.

Indulge my curiosity, which one are you?

Peace.

poetry

2009-09-15T19:05:00.000-05:00

I have never been all that much into poetry - I tolerate the good stuff, but mostly I just don't have the patience to sort through the not-so-good. For some reason, though, today this poem has been running through my head. I was forced to memorize it (or face class failure) during a literature class in college.
I had to look up the details, but I still remembered pretty large chunks of it. Not so bad for this old brain.

The Stolen Child - William Butler Yeats

Where dips the rocky highland
Of Sleuth Wood in the lake,
There lies a leafy island
Where flapping herons wake
The drowsy water-rats;
There we've hid our faery vats
Full of berries
And of reddest stolen cherries.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wave of moonlight glosses
The dim grey sands with light,
Far off by furthest Rosses
We foot it all the night,
Weaving olden dances,
Mingling hands and mingling glances
Till the moon has taken flight;
To and fro we leap
And chase the frothy bubbles,
while the world is full of troubles
And is anxious in its sleep.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand.

Where the wandering water gushes
From the hills above Glen-car,
In the pools among the rushes
That scarce could bathe a star,
We seek for slumbering trout
And whispering in their ears
Give them unquiet dreams;
Leaning softly out
From the ferns that drop their tears
Over the young steams.
Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world is more full of weeping than you can understand.

Away with us he's going,
The solemn-eyed;
He'll hear no more the lowing
Of the calves on the warm hillside
Or the kettle on its hob
Sing peace into his breast,
Or see the brown mice bob
Round and round the oatmeal-chest.
For he comes, the human child,
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
from a world more full of weeping than you can understand.

Peace.

i heart faces - contemplative

2009-09-14T19:58:00.000-05:00

Contemplative. With such an active little girl, you wouldn't think I would have much to choose from. But, I did. Three really viable options, actually.

I remember this day. Just slowing down for a moment to enjoy the sunshine, then back up-and-at'um, running around, goofing and giggling.

Really a wonderful afternoon.

For other's 'contemplative' entries, visit i ♥ faces.

Peace.

Ready or Not, Here Monday Comes.

2009-09-13T22:05:00.001-05:00

Short and sweet :
It was a really good weekend.

Hope yours was, too.

Peace.

Morning Visitors Update

2009-09-11T13:36:00.000-05:00

There were many... umm... what would the word be? ...interesting comments on this particular post. I smiled, I giggled, I downright guffawed at how oddly the comment conversation went (by the way, for those not 'in the know' - those commenters are my older bro and younger sis).

(And yes, it is true I am the only one that turned out.)

(And yes, our dad and mom, and probably half the great state of MN, agree with this statement.)

Anyway, I had forgotten all about it. Until this morning, when one of my dear deer friends came back to talk to me about it. They wanted to set things straight, clear the air a bit, I guess.

She feels like she was totally misrepresented. Flesh eating deer? Come on now. Perhaps if you were bark flavored.

Here is the actual dictation of our conversation :

Little Deer : Hey, I've got a bit of a bone to pick with you.
Me : What the motherfuck?! You TALK?
Little Deer : When absolutely necessary. Besides, for this blogpost joke to work, you need to accept that I do.
Me : Ummm... okay talking deer. What do you want from me? By the way, I feel this is a very appropriate time for me to say I was TRICKED into eating venison by my husband and his brother. I still have not forgiven them (true story...).
Little Deer : I understand. We are a tasty bunch. Here is where our problem lies -
Me : You mean, you are okay with hunting?
Little Deer : If the person hunting uses the meat without obtaining any joy from my killing which was done humanely? Yes. As a blood sport which you rationalize by eating the my flesh? Nope.
Me : Wow... that is a hard line to draw... How would you ever know if the person was hunting because they like the killing, or if they just were performing what is necessary to obtain the meat?
Little Deer : They know. They are the ones how have to live with themselves, and that knowledge.
Me : You're a philosophical bunch, you deers.
Little Deer : Yeah, not much to do in the woods. Except read Peter Singer.
Me : Interesting...
Little Deer : Oh - one more thing, tell your sister I can climb stairs, but I don't exactly have a key to her apartment building, now do I? I mean, geez...
Me : I'll let her know. Or perhaps I can leave a key for you under the mat? *laugh* Just kidding. I don't really want you to go rabid and eat her flesh. I would hate for my brother to be proved right. Anyway... anything else?
Little Deer : Hmm... oh yes, tell your daughter she is right. Those squirrels are f 'en crazy. She is right to be wary.
Me : Okay, thanks for the warning.
Little Deer : Hey, no prob. That is what us talking deer are for.

So, there you go, right from the whitetails mouth. Never has truer words been spoken.

By a deer.

Glad I could clear the air.

Peace.

Last Camping Trip of the Summer

2009-09-07T21:24:00.000-05:00

After a weekend spent in the great outdoors, my allergies are at full steam ahead. I'm exhausted and itchy, inside and out. So a post in pictures will have to do, because that is way easier than coming up with lots o' words.

It started with a map, and a mission.

A weekend of camping with good friends.

It is hard for the Little One to muster up the will to sit in the car for an hour after a full day of daycare. But she did wonderfully.

By the way, no person alive complains about traffic more than Tesfu. She will be a wonderful driver someday...

Tes and Kefelen sharing their love of cheetahs, lions, and looking at them though a magnifying glass.

They shared very well...

... except when they didn't. I do believe they might have been having a competition to see who could throw the best pout.

All in all, the kids really did great. (The adults behaved, too.)
Kefelen really wanted to give Tes one of his earthworms to take home.
I politely declined for her.

It was an all around relaxing, chip-munching, dirt-filled,

wonderful weekend.

Thank you Jennifer, Mitch, and Kefelen for letting us be a part of what will probably be the last camping trip of the season. *sigh*

It goes too fast, doesn't it?

Peace.

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~ Sam Keen

Back. Back Again.

2009-09-06T22:34:00.001-05:00

Back from our mini-camping trip.

If the amount of dirt caked onto the child is somehow equivalent to how much fun she had, then she must have reached Nirvana.

Once we are sufficiently cleaned, unpacked, and de-camped, I will provide a decent post because Tes and her friend Kefelen camping - very picture worthy. They are a cute bunch indeed.

Peace.

Morning Visitors

2009-09-03T22:03:00.001-05:00

We awoke this morning to two little visitors slumbering in our backyard.

Well, good morning to you, too, beautiful.

A very pleasant way to start the day, indeed.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Peace.

365 days until the next fair...

2009-08-28T23:13:00.001-05:00

Have I ever told you how much I love the MN State Fair? Because I do. I really really do.

So does Auntie.
Maybe it is the siren song of the cheese on a stick.

Fried cheese - it can not be resisted. Don't even try.

Maybe it is the tradition - the number of years I have missed this fair during the *cough* thirty-one years of my life can be counted on one hand.

Or maybe it is because I love that we have started the tradition with my daughter. I hope she looks forward to this family day each year to come as much as I do.

Mmmmm... milkshakes. Right outside the cow barns - that is where the best ones are found.

Funny hats.

A close-up look at some four-legged farm friends, rarely seen by us city-peeps.

But best of all, lots and lots of happy faces.

It was a wonderful trip, wonderful day, with my wonderful family! 365 days until the next one.

As a bonus for my bloggie friends, as promised here is photo-evidence of yesterday's steam cleaning experience. For those of you who thought 'clean the carpets' was a metaphor.

Sorry to say, it was not.

We really rented a rug-doctor and cleaned our carpets and upholstery.

Still, there is something wonderful about seeing your man clean, isn't there?

And this one is just for Auntie. Because I know you really loved it.

Feel free to use it as your new wallpaper.
I'm a giver like that.

Peace.

Bustin’ Loose.

2009-08-26T13:02:00.000-05:00

Three-and-a-half more (loooong) hours and I am bustin’ loose from work for FOUR DAYS. That equals ninety-six hours of not thinking about trades or funds or trust accounts – oh, pure bliss… thy name is PaidTimeOff. Because if you know anything about me, you know that I get complete and total satisfaction from my day job of making rich people a little richer each and every day. *smirk* Big ‘ole warm fuzzies.

Yep. What can I say? They keep paying me, so I keep showing up.

So, here is what our ultra-wonderful-no-work-long-weekend looks like :
Thursday – Brad and I are renting a steam cleaner and will be washing all of our carpets and upholstery. Because that is what old people do when they take time off. Clean their upholstery.
And we are old.

Friday – Making my sister get up at the butt-crack of dawn so she can join our troop for the day and head over to the MN State Fair. Brad and I like to get there before everything opens. Why? I haven’t quite figured it out. But, that is what we do.
Probably because we are old.

Saturday – An ‘unplanned day’, which will inevitably get totally jammed packed planned. It is our buffer day for all those things we need/want to get done. Brad will probably go on a motorcycle ride. There will probably be some swimming at the YMCA to appease the Little One somewhere in there. Possibly some house cleaning.

Sunday – I am abandoning the family for a few luscious hours and visiting two of my most very favorite ladies ever, because it has literally been six months since we’ve seen each other. And even then, our entire families were in tow, so I definitely did not get to sit and chat. There will be some serious catching up to do. Be prepared for some fast talking and interrogation like questions, ladies. I need to get back in the loop of your lives!

Monday – Yikes. Back to work. But, what would the rich people do without me? (think happy thoughts... think happy thoughts...)

I you are lucky, I’ll post pictures of our Thursday cleaning extravaganza.

Peace.

i heart faces

2009-08-25T21:06:00.000-05:00

This week's i ♥ faces topic is nostalgia. Or, in other words, time to break out the gnomes.

Take a look over here to see all the other entries. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

Peace.

Softer Side

2009-08-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

I love the look on her face. I had just redone her hair, and we hadn't launched face first into the sandbox yet, so she is looking very neat and tidy. I am happy with how the color turned out - usually her skin tone just does not look right 'de-saturated' (happy accident in the photo edit program) - but I really like this.

My problem - does this look like a mug shot? After all that cajoling (ahem - begging) to get her to look at the camera, she finally did and I took the picture straight-on, right smack in the center.

Trying, trying, trying... Good thing she is so freakin' cute, it makes up for my lackluster shooting skills.

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

Peace.

I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

2009-08-22T22:44:00.001-05:00

The new Ikea catalog came in the mail today - this is one piece of junk mail I don't mind getting. This and those free address labels I keep getting because I donated money once. Anyway, flipping through the pages, wondering if we too would look so giddy if there were brightly colored rugs strewn across our floors... Most of their items are just cheap enough that you feel okay mentally planning, with an itsy-bitsy possibility of an item or two perhaps coming to fruition. It is just enough to reel you in, and keep you hooked.

Although, anybody else ever have flashbacks of The Fight Club while perusing the Ikea catalog?

"I flipped through the catalogs and wondered: What kind of dining set defines me as a person?"

Or, perhaps that really is the couch that will complete me. It is hard to fight consumerism when it comes packaged in such a pretty Swedish package.

Fred.
(Word on the street (or Google) is that 'Fred' is peace in Swedish.)

(And I trust Google.)

(With my life.)

Reading Request

2009-08-20T20:39:00.000-05:00

Since I am still waiting for the library's copy of The Kite Runner (recommended by a blogging pal), I was forced to raid my sister's bookshelf in the meantime and picked up Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres. Very fast read, wonderfully written, heavy... and incredibly sad. Oy, the kind of book that makes you feel a little empty after finishing it.

So, in essence, I need to fill back up - Any light and fluffy book recommendations out there? Read anything worthy lately that does not involve AIDS, poverty, incest, transracial families, or child abuse? I'd love to hear about it!

Peace.

i heart faces

2009-08-17T20:45:00.000-05:00

Really? With a child as crazed as mine is about bubble baths, spit bubbles, bubble gum, and blowing bubbles - I don't have one decent picture to represent this week's theme of 'Bubbles' at i ♥ faces?

Interesting... Well, lucky you, everyone will be treated to my lovely mug instead, since my model is asleep for the night. (Yes, it is a pathetically small bubble, feel free to mock it.)

(The bubble, not me.)

(I said not me! Geez, you guys.)

(Meanies.)

Check out the other entries at i ♥ faces, or better yet, feel free to join the fun!

Peace.

the quest

2009-08-15T21:41:00.000-05:00

I realized today after trying to get just one really good shot of Tes where she is not busy playing in the sandbox, that quite frankly, cats are much easier to photograph.

The lighting indoors suck, but at least they furry one stays put long enough for me to press the shutter.

For the love of God, put the camera down!

I am hoping tomorrow's projected rain forecast stays away long enough for a jaunt to the park for some running around and playing... and of course, I'll bring the camera. One day I'll catch her... one day.

Though, come to think of it, I don't know what I'll do if that one 'perfect' shot of my little Tes ever happens. Crap my pants? Die happy? Never take another picture again because my quest has been fulfilled?

I'll let you know if it ever happens.

"People with insufficient personalities are fond of cats. These people adore being ignored."

~ Henry Morgan

all the cool kids read.

2009-08-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

Throughout school and college, reading was always a big part of my life. It refueled me. Then I married an extrovert, and book perusing took a back seat to spending time with my family, and that was not being huddled up at home with a good read.

Then came along Tes, and if there was a burner further back than 'the back burner' - my old hobby would have been there. Except, of course, for the old adoption / parenting standbys, which brought me back from more than a few tearful moments.

But I've made an effort to put away the parenting books for awhile, and am trying to ease back into reading for enjoyment to see if it still has the same energizing affect it did for me 10 years ago. I made a promise to myself, no more The Connected Child, or Parenting the Hurt Child, or anything with the words 'parenting', 'child', or 'just lock yourself in the bathroom and plug your ears for 2 minutes, everyone will eventually stop tantruming' anywhere in the title.

I had a whole, well-stocked library system to chose from (yea Minneapolis libraries!) - what did I pick?

28: Stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen

I know, not quite the 'rejuvenator' I was originally thinking. But this book is seriously... altering. As if I needed more fuel to my 'citizen of the world' fire, this work of non-fiction made me want to reach out and hug the author. And, even more-so, the individuals in the book.

It is exactly what I want to say when I try to talk to people about how we, as citizens of a very wealthy and powerful nation, can stand up and truly make a difference to people whose lives you can't even imagine living - but I can never get it to come out right. If this was happening in your backyard, you would be screaming from the tree tops. But, it is. Expand your idea of your backyard, and it is happening.

An excerpt from the prologue :

... Bono launched the Red campaign-a marketing effort that soon had people snapping up iPods and T-shirts from The Gap in support of the Global Fund-and suddenly the crisis was trendy.
And yet the response remains muted. Few people outside Africa seem to understand the scale or the epic gravity of what is happening there. When I talk to people at home about the pandemic, I get the sense that they feel a dying African is somehow different from a dying Canadian, American or German-that Africans have lower expectations or place less value on their lives. That to be an orphaned fifteen-year-old thrust into caring for four bewildered siblings, or a teacher thrown out of her house after she tells her husband she is infected-that somehow this would be less terrifying or strange for a person in Zambia or Mozambique than it would be for someone in the United States or Britain.
28: Stories of AIDS in Africa, by Stephanie Nolen

Yes. Yes. One hundred times yes.

In other words, I recommend this book.
And taking action.

A few personal recommendations, though there is a world of opportunities out there :
http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/
http://www.kiva.org/

Oh - and I really did enjoy getting back into reading. Actively seeking the next text!

Peace.

"Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

i heart faces contest

2009-08-10T22:47:00.000-05:00

Ever hear of 'i ♥ faces'? Go ahead, take a moment. Click the link, look around. I'll wait.

(Humming tune. Starting to tap fingers. What is taking you so long?! Patience is a virtue... patience is a virtue... patien-)

Back? Good. Get the gist? Double good.
Let's cut to the chase, then. Here is my entry for week #28 : Funny, Silly Faces :

This topic easy, as it is my absolute favorite picture of Tesfu ever.

What a kid.

As an added bonus, they have an extra 'just for fun' pets category this week, too. So, here he is, part of the blog namesake - the cat, Fischer.

Poor guy, always on the inside looking out.

Peace!

Inaugural Post

2009-08-10T22:29:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me through ' hope you don't hate the cold ' - hello old friend! I am not trying to abandon hydhtc... I just... well, I have other interests, too. (It took me about a year of settling into motherhood to remember this, but it is slowly coming back ♥) The journey of bringing home our spunky little daughter from Ethiopia was indeed a blog worthy experience - a blog I thought I would give up once Tesfanesh was home. But she has been home for over a year - and I still have the urge to write. Turns out, I quite like it. Plus, I have recently rediscovered my love of photography, and I just don't want to muck up hydhtc with my general musings and random pictures of my toes. It was too big of an experience to me - so I've decided that blog cannot evolve, instead, I needed to move on.

Therefore, the new blog.

Welcome to 3 people and a cat. Enjoy.

Oh - and if not, feel free to tell me so. I cannot reach through the computer screen to hit you, and gas is far too expensive to hunt you down and find where you live, so you are probably pretty safe.

Peace.