Lots of things to write about...
Our trip was amazing but hard to write about. Mainly because people want to hear cushy good news and not the reality of this little girl's life. She has some pretty severe needs which we will be dealing with. Coming here is not an instant cure-all or fix to her issues. Hopefully she will feel loved and cared for and part of her new family over time. Our main hope now is that the return trip comes quickly so Mimi and I can go bring her home! We'll deal with it all later...The kids are definitely super excited about meeting her and having a new sister! Mimi is excited because she gets to go on the next trip with me!! I am excited about zipping her around Addis and also having her meet the kids that Jason and I were fortunate to hang with at T's orphanage. We may even get to visit with our friend, Selam who lives a couple of hours south of Addis. Jason and I got to talk to him on the phone and I just about cried hearing his voice! OK, we cried a lot over there. Only a rock wouldn't. At least now Jason understand my love for Ethiopia and why, in a heartbeat, I could relocate.
The boys are pissed that they are not going.
George--cannot go because I would toss him off the plane during take off once he started his, "What's taking so long? Are we there yet? Why does it take this long? How much longer?" rampage.
Natan--snores. "Nuff said.
Vinny--would not be terribly helpful. No offense.
Mimi is the perfect choice. She is a doer. She loves to help with babies--T is only about 10 pounds, so Mimi can hold her. She is also a good conversationalist, sleeps well, and eats anything put in front of her! She is already anticipating some Doro Wot and injera! That's my girl! Her passport is being renewed as we speak, and one of her gifts under the tree this year will be a Hello Kitty backpack full of little travel-sized items! Very fun to put together!
So...some photos:

 Autism Centre near our guest house

 Flat Stanley waiting for take-of!

 We all finally meet...great day!!

 Killing time playing Phase Ten! We were REALLY lonely without the kids...

 Traditional Fare--always our first choice!

 Road from our guest house to the main road and Layla House

 Our home away from home!

 Law Office

Charcoal for sale

And they just keep coming!
Now they want meet old, single people--or  is it old, single females?? And why are they using a picture of someone who looks YOUNGER than me if I'm being solicited as a senior?? I am too old for this!! 
FYI... sending "Flirts" to old people?? Ewwww....!!!!!!!!

Cipro? Check.
Extra Inhaler? Check
New underwear? Check
Paperwork? Check.
Packed? Fail.
So...we have a few days until we leave. Mimi is very unhappy, but also excited that we will meet her new sister! The boys are acting a little strange which I think has do with the trip--or just general strangeness!
My damn foot has tendinitis (yes, that was a personal attack against my foot). Haven't run since my 5 miler on Monday. Happy birthday to me, indeed! Nothing fractured, just getting-old-itis. 
Other than that, we are slowly getting ready. Someone I spoke to this week was shocked that we have only left the kids twice--once, we left George to get Mimi. Then, we left G and M to get Natan. I simply said, "We like being with our kids. We don't leave them." I loved the dumbfounded look on her face. There are parents out there, like us, who actually LOVE hanging with our kids. Our marriage is strong enough not to need weekends away. We had each other solely for seven years before having our kids. Now, we want to enjoy every minute we can. I feel sorry for any parent on whom that is lost. 
Many thanks to good friends who are helping out with childcare and food!
And...we are looking forward to a Thanksgiving visit with Nikol and Olivia when we return!!! 

Woke up to four sweet kids hugging me and expressing their undying love for me!! 
Enjoyed homemade cards and other things. Mimi gave me two dollars and George gave me a penny--I am rich!!
Last night, we enjoyed some of Celeste Green's DELICIOUS chocolate cake (bought for me by a very sweet choir member at our fundraiser yesterday which was a smashing success!) until Reggie counter-surfed and finished it!! FYI...Chocolate is not death to dogs. He ate a ton of it last night and is still kicking!!
On that note, sadly, Mike the Fish is in aquarium heaven. Funnily enough, I still look for him each morning. Weird...
Now, back to school!!

And there it is...2 weeks until our court date. TWO WEEKS. That's over Thanksgiving Break, which we were hoping for, but it's still TWO WEEKS!!!!!!! 
So, here we go. Paperwork. Shots. Packing. Finding people to keep our kids. Leaving our kids whom we have not left before. And, what about all those home projects I had listed for us to do on the break???
Oh well, this trumps all! Woo Hoo!

Recap.
Heart Walk was awesome, as usual! FREEZING cold wind made it almost unbearable but the sun came up and offered a little bit of warmth! Had a wonderful, supportive team of walkers--Mimi ditched George, Vinny, Natan and me for the 3 mile walk with her beau, Bob! We did the mile, which left us some time to visit with the Fox 5 ATL folks--always fun! The boys were allowed to sit in the new storm chaser van...very cool!!

Team George 2011 

Inside the Storm Chaser van!

Mimi with her partners, Bob and Nola!

Celebrated being heart healthy with a lunch primarily made up of french fries--FAIL!
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Survived Halloween--only two events to dress up for this year! Here they are at the Fall Festival.

Super Cow (she is wearing a very cool cape hand painted by your's truly!!), lion, Frankenstein, and an Angry Bird!

On Monday, we went to a friends' house for the annual dinner and candy fest event! Of course, the costumes had to change...a ladybug, a glamour witch, a "big fat duck" and the Challenger astronaut, Ron McNair. Here is the gang, one year older:

And...our second Halloween night tradition--visiting our friends' super-decorated home and N and G were very proud that they were not afraid of the scary music (many tears last year!)...probably helped that we went early in the day light!!

Even Vinny's dance class got into the spirit at their Saturday class with some costumes and Ghostbusters!!!

Today, at the kids' numerous requests...we turned on the Christmas music!!! We are READY to be in the spirit!!!!

Tomorrow is almost here!! Atlanta heart Walk! I came in just $200 shy of my goal of $1000, but I am super pleased with our team and what we raised! It's cool and rainy right now, but the forecast calls for sunny and cool--woohoo!
The kids are SO excited, and I am so glad they understand why we walk. It's not just about George, although he is certainly the reason we started Team George in the first place! And this year, the walk has taken on special meaning--we want more research as there are still no solutions for George's CHD. But we also walk for every baby, toddler, kid, teen, young and old adult who has some form of heart disease. Did you know that every 25 seconds a person has some sort of cardiac episode? And one per minute dies from a cardiac episode...
So...send out your good thoughts for a safe and super walk in the morning!

First things first--all four kiddos received a nice surprise in the mail today--cards from their faves, Nikol & Olivia!!!!
Here is their "thank you" (you have to click on it!):
Thank you, O & N!
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Lots happening which leaves little time to write about anything!
My community choral group, The Tussahaw Young Singers, performed on the McDonough Square last weekend and made the local newspaper--with a write up!!
We have, because of that article, been invited to sing at two more events in the next two months!! WooHoo!!
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The Heart Walk is this Saturday...super excited and we have a GREAT team walking with us! Go, Team George!!!!!

OK...I know I'll be 39** in a couple of weeks, but seriously?? THIS has to come in this morning's email? This tops even the mail received from the AARP earlier this week--thanks. I am not old. Leave me alone.  
**Oops...my previous post said "40"--not there yet!!!

I should be asleep...
Mimi can almost do the splits in gymnastics--this amazes me beyond belief.

Natan can tell time and has started reading (blends!!).
George is showing me all that is wrong with "regular" education and teaching ME to be a better facilitator...
Vinny. I think he gets sweeter every day...
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Hey! Don't forget the Atlanta Heart Walk coming up in a week--if you can't walk, DONATE!!!!! Any amount, big or small! If you or someone you know has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a heart murmur, or has a history of heart disease...do it for them--or YOU!
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And now for what you really want...

Completed pumpkin pictures coming soon...

Mimi and George's first "play"--a Phonics play using emergent reader words. An Oscar-worthy performance for sure by both!!
Click here!

Our Flat Stanley project is underway and we are super grateful to everyone who is willing to help us out! I have heard from some that they have received their Stanleys and we can't wait to see where his adventures take him! And, a bonus--our friends, Celeste & Tom, were on a cruise and picked up FS on the way, taking him on their travels to NYC and the Maritimes!

Thank you!!

Busy week...Natan lost his two top teeth (Mimi pulled them for him!). He is very proud of his gap!

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Headed to Spook-O-Ree early Saturday morning and spent a very busy day--pumpkin decorating, s'mores, archery, bebe shooting, and lots of other fun stuff! The kids had a blast and I think they caught the camping bug! It wasn't exactly primitive camping, but they got a taste of sleeping "outdoors" and they want more!

George never stopped laughing and smiling!

Bullseye...almost!

Heart Walk 2011

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Bully to Bitch...

Today at gymnastics, another girl in Mimi's class cut in front of her in line, pushed her down and said, "Don't touch me."

Mimi told me about it afterward and said she had been bullied. No surprise, this little mean girl's mouth-breather-mother is a first class bitch. I have dealt with her before. When Natan was first home, she went off on me about how "awful" and "defiant" and "misbehaved" Natan was. I regret to this day that I chose silent shock and awe instead of responding to this woman. Imagine...Natan had been living with us for a month. he had been taken from everyone he knows, he was deaf in one ear, was unable to communicate with anyone, and was probably feeling very lost and very sad.

I have disliked this woman ever since, and lucky me--we have kids in the same gym class.

So...to answer the question, "How do kids become bullies?" they learn from their parents.

Getting closer...

Had our first email in a long time today from AAI (adoption agency)! Our court date is still not set, but the legal assistant has been at court daily for the past two weeks, and we are getting closer! They actually sent some more papers and info which makes us feel pretty darn good!

Finally!!! We all cannot wait to get her home--the kids are SO excited!

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Had a good weekend...saw Wicked with a friend and it was probably the best show I have ever seen (besides my man, Barry!).

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Mimi caught a ball in the face at her game Saturday and had a huge nosebleed. She told me, "It's OK--the other Moms were there to take care of me..." OK, I would like to say that I have NEVER missed anything with my kids. The first time in 7 years that I take off with a friend to do something for myself...

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Getting revved up for our overnight camping trip to Spookeree this weekend...will definitely have an update fr you next Sunday! George will be learning how to shoot a bow and arrow--I know, seems uncharacteristic of us, but what the hell--it's Boy Scouts!!

Things to be Grateful For...in no particular order!

1. I have a husband who comes home and makes TWO loaves of bread which are DELICIOUS!!!!

2. I have a daughter who is FEARLESS and loves to win (but still knows how to have fun!)!

3. I have a son who laughs his way through a soccer game but doesn't let ANY goals in on his watch!!

4. We have good friends that made our Saturday evening at Stone Mountain AWESOME!

5. We have some pretty silly boys who LOVE dress up!

6. We have a son who lets big sister pull his tooth out and saves me from doing it!

7. This one has no picture...I have a pretty awesome Mum! She knows why.

The new Pledge of Allegiance I will use in school from now on:

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

and to the Republic for which it stands,

One nation under Canada,

Indivisible, with some liberty and some justice for all, depending upon your race.

Since I don't own an American flag, I can't burn one on my lawn. Teaching my children the truth (for example that the US is on a level with countries like Iran and North Korea--all have the death penalty)--is the best I can do. I will not raise little racist, ignorant auto-bots.

My two older kids, at age 7, understand that when someone has hurt you, physically or emotionally, you don't hurt them back. I don't care what the crime is, killing is NOT the answer. It does not prevent crime, otherwise there would be no crime.

I truly think this country COULD be great if it followed what it set out to do...until then, I will teach the truth.

George: "I'm not into girls anymore...I'm just into Angry Birds."

Score one for video games!!!!!

Tell me why I changed my citizenship again because I have no idea!

I am ashamed of and disgusted with the state of Georgia.

Click to read the story:

Shame on you, state of GA.

Weekend Re-Cap:

We had a blast celebrating George's birthday with an Angry Birds party!

He declared it "the best day EVER!"

Angry Bird Cake Pops are delish!!!!

Thank you, Aunt Sa and Uncle Dwayne for the Legos--he's holding the helicopter here...

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George's other gift was attending his first organ recital today at St. Phillips Cathedral in Atlanta. The kids loved it and it was FREE--score! He met the organist afterwards and told him he wants to be an organist when he grows up--well, that and a superhero!!

I am not ashamed to admit that for both Mimi and George's 7th birthdays I was privately very sad...judge if you want. I love my kids--I loved them as babies, as toddlers, and even though I know they have to grow up, it doesn't make it easier on me!

A friend of mine is pregnant, and George asked, "So what kind of food did she eat to get the baby in her tummy?" If you know me at all, you know that we are a pretty open-minded family. We don't hide much from our kids, and they are pretty familiar with reality. So...they know where babies come from. I reminded George of two little things called sperm and egg and he said, "Oh yeah..." Mimi's contribution: "Oh, Georgie...we know that!"

I take a lot of criticism for the fact that we've always been open with our kids--they know good touch/bad touch and what to do in a bad touch situation, they know that babies are made in a scientific way involving sperm and egg, but that you can be born in one mom's tummy and live with a different family. Why hide that from your kids? It doesn't mess with their innocence...it may even help preserve it.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again...please do not offer your unwanted opinions on our child rearing. They are OUR children, and we're doing what works for our family! Whether you agree or not is your problem, not our's.

Great morning at Panola yesterday, "hiking" through the Rock Outcrop--the kids stood patiently while I read off the information at each lettered stop--eyes glazed over, but I think they learned a little something! Natan pointed out all the chlorophyll around us (pointing at the green leaves)! Yay--I must be doing something right!

Rockin' the self-timer at Panola!

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Running errands yesterday after school and ended up in Target. While we were there, Vinny, aka Tinkerbell, picked up a bra as we were walking by the bra section (George runs through it due to his fear of big boobs!!), and announced (rather loudly), "Wook! Wet's get this bra for Sa Sa!!!!!" Since I almost always have my camera, I snapped the picture and assured him we would consider it for Christmas!! Although it may be a bigger hit with Uncle Dane!

Reason to Move #62:

We found our neighbor's dead cat in our front yard today...ewww. It is now in a bag in our garbage can, mainly because we try to avoid all contact with them.

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I asked George what he wanted for his birthday party menu, he told me, "Hot dogs, popcorn, but NO WINE." His explanation is a good one, but since I have been called out for a post in the past, I dare not say anything too incriminating! Let's just say this is one family that is choosing it's friends more wisely these days!!

So hot dogs, popcorn, and an angry birds cake it is!!

Flat Stanley is on the move!

I am so excited that some friends have agreed to help Mimi & George on their Flat Stanley project this year! I will update here whenever we hear back from folks. We have been writing one letter a week for three weeks...a slow process right now, but great practice for the kids! We will send them out to the people who have now responded and looking forward to more! An even better project would be to take our Flat Stanleys personally to these various places...wonder if there's an education grant for that...!!!

Sara and Nana...yours is coming. Like I said, these letters take time! George groans now when he sees the template (written in my pink pen!!). But they are excited! And that's enough for this teacher!

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Confessions: Teaching your own kids at home isn't always just sunny days filled with "Aha!" moments...today was kind of rough. I think it's caused by my seriously interrupted sleep the past few nights. Not by anyone,but by really bad/weird dreams which leave me wide awake in the middle of the night. Ugh. So, perhaps that makes me feel like no one is listening or that there are no quiet moments during the day. Normally it doesn't phase me. Today was just a little rough. Still wouldn't trade it for all the peace in the world!