Just stuff

Had a busy but fun weekend--Friday night pizza with friends, the annual Music Party on Saturday, and a day with wonderful old friends on Sunday up in Alpharetta. Needless to say, we were all pretty tired by Sunday night!

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Bug hit me yesterday...'nuff said! George offered me his pirate ship pillow today and Mimi gave me back scratches to make me feel better. Nothing sweeter!

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People keep saying, "I don't know how you can home school...my kids would drive me crazy." I feel so sorry for them. I am so happy to have all this time with the kids. They won't always be here. They'll be busy doing and going. Someone also commented, "Well, you'll have to put them in school at some point so they can learn to sit still and behave." What do you think our classroom at home is like?? We're not running around wasting time. They do math, language arts, science, social studies, french, music and art. We are set up like a classroom but without all the other kids and with a whole lot more freedom!

So, the consensus is that so far, so good. The kids are happy and we are happy. Isn't that all the really matters??

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First Girl Scout Daisies parent meeting tomorrow night--Mimi and are both very excited!

7 Moms and 10 girls! In keeping with the motto, I am prepared!

Darn Dinosaurs!

Mimi: "I am SO glad we do not live in the Jurassic Period."

Me: "Huh?????"

Mimi repeats.

Me: "Why?"

Mimi: "Because we would be eaten by dinosaurs..."

Life Lesson Learned (one of many)

One of the kids, who shall remain unnamed, learned a valuable lesson today:

Never fart if you think you might have diarrhea...always get to a bathroom!

Pretty much sums up what's happening in our neck of the woods...

Ewwww...and things unrelated

Something has struck in the Montague household. Three out of four kids have diarrhea. Yep. The only thing to top this would be some simultaneous barfing.

On the upside...no fevers, and it seems to be "running it's course" so to speak!

Vinny now tells us he has "medicine bum" because we put butt paste on his reddening bottom. And, his favorite new trick which I really should record: Snapping his underwear band to make a cloud of baby powder poof out!

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Excited about another guest coming to visit in October--the kids know and are super excited! My cousin Pam is coming and will walk for Team George in the Heart Walk. Remember, even if you can't walk, you can donate! The website is up and updated:www.teamgeorgeatl.blogspot.com.

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Some more pictures from our week with the Mattinsons:

sigh...

Dropped our guests off at the airport today. Everyone was very sad, and it is a little too quiet here...

We had such a fun week, and the kids can't wait to see them again in June in Nova Scotia! We love us some Sa Sa and Unca Dane! Now we have Nana arriving in about six weeks to look forward to!

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George announced this afternoon that if it's OK with me, he'll "just be five years old for a while longer..."

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Mimi told me on the way home from the airport, when we were talking about our favorite part of the past week, that her's was "just being with my whole family..."

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Received an update of sorts from our adoption agency--still waiting. That's the update.

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Happy Birthday (almost)!

6 years ago about this time at night, we thought my water broke. Jason had read somewhere that if you microwave "it" and it solidifies, it's your water breaking. Mine didn't solidify. It was pee. Ever heated up pee in a microwave? Probably not and I do not recommend it! With a house full of an odor that seemed to take forever to go away, we had a good laugh and went to bed.

Turns out, I was in labor. The next evening at 8:00 during Hurricane Ivan and tornado warnings, George Williams came in like a whirlwind and hasn't stopped!

There are few moments in life worth remembering. Holding your newborn or having a newly adopted child placed in your arms for the first time are those moments for me. I am fortunate to have had four of them so far.

George has been counting down the number of sleeps until the day. He said today, "One more finger up and then down until my real birthday, right, mama?"

I love my kids.

Happy birthday, George!

Good times...

Our house guests arrived safely and on time. Been in the pool ever since! Well, in between eating!

Had a nice birthday party for George yesterday--he LOVED his Scooby Doo party but loved the remote control R2D2 given to him by SaSa, Dwayne, and Nana even more!

Super delish dinner at Buckner's Family Restaurant--even the kids loved it!!

Heading to the Aquarium and other fun ATL stuff tomorrow.

Having fun!!!

Eat. Swim. Doze. Repeat.

Ready or not!

Our guests are officially on their way--Jason picks them up this afternoon. Kids still have no idea! Beds made...pork butt cooking...making apple pie (thanks, Mary Liz--it's your recipe!) later today with the kids...

First, heading up to do a couple of hours of school, then taking Natan to school today so we can choose some books from the Book Fair for his classroom.

Tomorrow is the Ethiopian New Year. We will celebrate by having George's birthday party! Instead of Injera, we'll have pizza!

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All my trial and error regarding my vocal cords seem to be working. I am heartburn free--so here's to holistic medicine! Anyone taking Nexium or other similar medicines--read the fine print!

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Thankful

Some thought on being thankful:

I am thankful for a few nice people.

Mean people are all around, as I have sadly discovered over the past couple of years (yes, I was living in a bubble!). Folks who choose to be unkind when they have a different choice to make.

So it was nice to receive a kind word from a genuine person. A verbal hug. From someone I respect. I am thankful you took the time to make my day!

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I am thankful for Jason, who gives me a break to do stuff around the house or have some "me" time after he comes home from work. Not because he has to, but because he loves his kids and loves me enough to help out.

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I am thankful for my Mum. Lots of reasons but the tangible one is the adoption. We are still paying for two plane tickets, room and board, and the country fee from Natan's adoption! Without my Mum, there would be no number five.

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I am thankful for Jason and I sticking to our debt free budget. We are almost debt free. Yay!

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I am thankful for my secret co-venter. Meaning, she and I can vent to one another as needed and it stays right where we leave it. She was there for me today, and I am thankful.

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There are more, but the natives are naked, wet, and hungry. You know the ones--that I am INCREDIBLY thankful for!

Movin' Right Along...

Three weeks in and going strong!

Nailed our vowels, moving to consonants. Both kids are reading and more importantly, love to read!

The best part of school at home is that I get to be a part of their learning. I see the "click" moments and celebrate immediately.

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George is having fun counting the days (literally) until both his birthday party and his "real birthday day". The theme this year is Scooby Doo!!!

Spent part of this morning listening and watching Mimi practice her piano--without being told! YAY!!

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Preparing for our upcoming visitors (Another YAY!!!!!) who arrive on Friday! Kids don't know, so it will be quite the surprise!

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Having friends over for dinner--Jason cooking our weekly load of collards--mmmm!

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