Why are you leaving us so soon October?

Days when sick eyes look up at me and foreheads warm the back of my hand within seconds it seems best to let go of all plans and get through the day.  But when those days fall in late October when the thermometers say 64* instead of 82* or 42* and the sun pours from the clouds instead of rain and the gentle breeze cools down any hint of too much sun and it is so perfect that all you can do is stare at the colors and wonder why every day can;t be this way, then when those sick eyes look up at me on those days, letting go is a whole different thing. 

It wouldn't be so hard if October wasn't leaving me. If this time of year didn't pass with the blink of an eye.  If it were yucky ole January I would succumb to those nasty little viruses and snotty tissue and curl up with my little germ covered monsters all day. But today, really? I missed you today?I missed your reds?

Your yellows which even make the power lines look nice?

And the blue!! Oh my, just because the reds, yellows, and oranges hog the show, lets not forget about the blue!

 

Instead we flipped and flopped and wiggled and squirmed and learned about all sorts of new TV characters.

 While 6 loads of laundry took over the living room a little boy looked so desperate to escape. So we did. We left that mean old pile of laundry on one couch and that sassy sick girl on the other and ran out long enough to want more. So much more of October.

where are we going and how do I get there?

I've been struggling with my posts lately. I have, literally 6 unpublished, half written, thoughts more like, that are going no where. There must be capable of thinking a full thought still, right? It just seems that mid-thought, I inevitably find myself sounding  redundant, boring, self indulgent maybe (please tell me the latter is not so). Then I wonder where this blog is going. Then I know where its going but don't have the words to make it happen. Humph!

 
Thats where I'm at.
Tonight I am going to write about adoption, that is what got me started on this after all.
Actually I think I'll tell an antecdote instead.
The other night I ran into a friend who told me about a friend of hers who had also adopted from Ethiopia and lives in the same town as us.  My friend told her friend about us and our little boy. Her response was "Impossible, I know EVERYONE who has adopted from Ethiopia in this town. If they really had an Ethiopian child then they would have come to the local Ethiopian group."
There you have it ladies and gentlemen. Its simple math. If A + B doesn't equal C, then it is not true.
It is not possible to live in a small town with lots of other families whom share a common ground and not be part of that group.

Now, don't get me wrong, I am all about exposing my son and my family to families that look like ours.  I absolutely want Belay to know other children from his birth country. But seriously? Can we do it on our own terms? 

While we were not spending time with families who we do not know, we were busy making new friends at the park.. It was a big moment for Belay as he fell hard for an almond eyed, smiley, brown skinned little girl. I'm not sure if it was the fact that she was his age for once, as in not one of Adi's friends, or that she looked like him, but it was love and that was all that mattered.

Back to where this blog is going...tomorrow it will be heading in the direction of recapping a very special weekend of visitors.

A date with the Prince and Princesses

I took Belay on a special "date" this morning. Just me and him. Mommy and Belay. I had coffee. He had a cupcake. Sounded like a good way to start the day for us.

 We started to wake up slowly.

Got a little goofy and thought we'd try some fancy moves out.

It was a good first date. I'm hoping for a second one soon.

Our day ended with our super fun cousins who came over for dinner and the hit release first time viewing of Beauty and the Beast. It was complete with a boat nest of blankets on the floor and a never ending supply of cookies(we were all so glad the oldest cousin is tall enough to reach up on the counters and grab the cookies just in case an adult wasn't available to hand them out on demand).

I think tonight was our first later(of course by later I mean dinner at 4 movie at 5) play date and it was a hit! Will it be  Cinderella next week?
There was one incident toward to end of the night when the Ariel doll became a hot item. After a few tears I made sure all three girls had a princess in their hands.  Well someone's feelings were still hurt. Poor little Belay sat empty handed.  A few snuggles with Snow White did the trick. And the night ended flawlessly.

After

Remember this?

Well how about this...

 There is something about these 2 trikes parked together that just makes me smile.

 Yes, those are rocks in the sand box. I told you they loved rocks.

                                             
How cute will my mums and pumpkins look there as soon as I get my act together and fallerize my house?


We laid brick, unloaded mulch, painted trim, threw a few planters in the corner and voila! We are by no means done. The brick was done months ago, so was the beginning stages of all the trim work. There are still 3 more sides to our house with cream trim. I'm especially fond of the 2 little tricycles parked on the path