My Beauties!

It's taken 7 weeks but I finally took my first picture of all 5 together. I kept waiting until they were all awake, happy, dressed, etc. Finally this morning I just took a picture when 4 of them were already laying together. I quickly called in #5 (Mr. P who was watching cartoons) and snapped it.

I earned a gold star!

I should get a gold star for my chart! I took all the kids to the library today. We had a nice snack in the coffee shop and then read books and played games/toys for a couple of hours. Baby George of course slept the whole time! I'm getting better at being able to go places with all 5 in tow! I owe it all to the nanny (my awesome double stroller).
I added a music list to my blog...I was singing this tune to myself on the way home...since I was feeling so successful:)
Also, today is the 2 year anniversary 0f Busy Guy's homecoming!!! It's also his Patron Saint Day...Saint Moses of Ethiopia. Go here to read all about his homecoming and about St. Moses.

Fun Day

We had such a fun day yesterday. We went into the city with the babies, Busy Guy and Mr. P. We had a wonderful time exploring the local market. Tuba had a fun day with Grandma Sue going to the beach.

Tuba loves the beach!

Having yummy fish and chips for lunch.

Introduction to french fries...yum!

Baby George napped and nursed...he is the easiest baby.

Her shirt says it all...I love Mommy!

Okay...and Papa too.

The "nanny" is what I call our awesome stroller. It made the day so easy.

I brought home a huge bundle of flowers.

Sleeping Beauty

As I was preparing lunch she went to sleep. The boys laughed and laughed. They are so entertained by the babies.

Memory Eternal

My beautiful and loving friend Marianne passed from this life yesterday. I mourn for this wonderful woman. She was THE best person, friend, mother, grandma, and mother-in-law. Marianne was great at giving the best advice...especially marital advice. I thank you Marianne for all the great advice you have given me. Marianne had a wonderful and long marriage and that is what I want too. I will try to emulate her many wonderful qualities....especially her love for the Lord and her ability to laugh and have fun each day.
To read more loving words about Marianne and see her beautiful picture go to http://saintandrewwomen.blogspot.com/. This puts into words how so many of us are feeling today. Our dear friends Vern and Cheryl lovingly made Marianne's coffin and lining. It is beyond beautiful. Go here to see it.
An Orthodox funeral and the practices of preparing the body for burial are beautiful. I find these practices very comforting and would like to share them. Here is a bit of what the Orthodox death and burial look like. Marianne was at home and surrounded by family as she passed into the hands of God. Friends came to her home and joined her family in lovingly preparing her body. Psalms were read during this time and will be until the burial. Her body will be taken to the church tonight and there will be an all night vigil and reading of the Psalms. Tomorrow Marianne will be laid to rest. The service will move from the church to the cemetery and then we will come bacfk to the church to gather for a meal. The time between death and burial is not delayed. It is usually within a couple of days. The Orthodox practice is to not embalm the body.
Death is part of life. We will be bringing our children to the funeral service tomorrow and the burial. Traditionally the casket is open and placed at the front of the church. Orthodox are not cremated.
Death is not something to hide away. The Orthodox practices are very different from the way most funerals are handled in America. To read more about an Orthodox funeral go to http://www.goarch.org/print/en/ourfaith/article9218.asp. It is a beautiful service and burial.

Love you Mom

I love to hear these words. Today as I kissed Busy Guy and laid him down for his nap he told me, "Love you Mom". So sweet! 2 years ago I held him for the first time. What a treasure he is. Busy Guy is the busiest, funniest, sweetest thing around. He has so much fun playing with Mr. P. He follows him all around copying everything. Busy Guy is the MOST verbal kid. He talks up a storm in big paragraphs. There isn't anything he can't say...or won't say;) He is beautiful! Those dark eyes and long thick eyelashes make me swoon. He is our boy. He came to us through adoption but it's hard for me to reconcile that he hasn't been with us since birth...or before. From the moment I held him I bonded and connected to him just as I did my older sons when they were born and put into my arms. He is amazingly so much like his Papa in personality. They are two peas in a pod! Look out world...there are two of them now:) Love you too Busy Guy!
First meeting at Layla House in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

My big boy now...love the boots...he's been wearing them all summer!

2 years ago

Two years ago I was on my way to Addis to meet and bring home Busy Guy. In two short years our family has grown so much. We went from a family of 4 to a family of 7! I couldn't have imagined our beautiful brood back then. It makes me wonder what the future holds? We know we would like to adopt another girl in a few years. When Cam is done with Grad school we will decide about adopting again. I'm feeling sad that I won't be pregnant again...or at least don't plan to :0. Hubby says we WON'T be having another pregnancy! I say...don't tell me that right now...when I'm mourning it! I know...the pregnancy was a hard one on me...and I'm getting older...and we have been so blessed...but I can't help but to be a little sad about it being the last one. I'll probably nurse Baby George until he's 10! I just love the newborn stage...and it's fleeting so fast. My plan for the long term future is to volunteer at Children's Hospital holding babies and to foster newborns. I can get my baby fix until I have grandkids to hold:) I do love babies! Now, I'm off to hold and feed two precious little darlings. One is sitting at my feet playing with my bracelet and the other is sleeping so peacefully.