Some resemblance

suvi girl

look at those short shorts behind me

what was up with the siding on the front porch? i remember mom and katherine playing scrabble sitting inside the porch...

so do la fa mi do reeeeeee

Duluth

These clouds were in the Western sky as we drove to Duluth

I don't know what happened to our feet... actually, it was too bright to see in the external view finder. Behind us is the Vietnam War Veterans Memorial. Not so romantic, but it was a good spot to set the camera.

Along the boardwalk. I don't know what those numbers are doing there, other than screaming my age for the next three months.

Up the hill...

Daddio!

This is one cool cat...

i know this one is blurry, but i just love it!

this t shirt was a hand me down gift from MOE

It is his birthday today. He's 6 years my senior, so if you know how old this chick is, you'll do you new math and wish Habtamu a happy *#th birthday!!!!

Happy Easter!

The kids all dressed up to take Easter photos for Ayat. Theo is wearing traditional holiday clothes. Suvi will have to wait until the next trip to get her Ethiopian dress.

Say More!!!!

I would like to hear more about your sister relationships! What is it with you older ones thinking, well, whatever it is you are thinking? And the youngest sisters, hello, you are my people!

Happy Day.

I might not be able to get it right with my clients on occasion. I might be direct, when others like to take the scenic route to express themselves. I might make people mad now and then. I might like to shed 100 pounds. I might like to color my hair and wear mascara. I might not have everybody like me all the time. I might not be perfect.

There is sweet perfection in sitting under the April sun, light breeze stirring up last year's fallen leaves, neighbor's plastic wrapped giant stuffed animal swaying on the clothes line, hearing my son ask about the sounds he is hearing: birds, truck backing up, more birds, wind in the trees. Perfection in his discovery, in the dirt under his nails, the brown grass on his pants from sitting in the tiny flower garden burying his car in the dry ground. Peanuts and food in general are such a force of worry when it comes to Theo's health, but he can run in the yard, see the new shoots of plants there, he can hear the birds chirping, feel the wind on his head, dig in the dirt, sample a rock, spit it out, tell me what he is doing, and ask about his world. His sister sleeps inside, recharging for an afternoon of chasing her brother.

These two children are so much bigger than my imperfections, so much brighter, so needed for perspective.

down on the farm

We were at Katie and Dave's on Easter Sunday for dinner with the family. Love it out there. Theo was having fun playing ball with Fred, the dog...rolling the basketball down the hill to the field, Fred chasing and attacking the ball til he was too tuckered out. There was an egg hunt which delights Katie. Theo liked finding the eggs, but didn't care about the candy because it wasn't chocolate :) That's how I feel about it, too.

These pictures were taken near their sauna.

19.

Come to Calv'ry's Holy mountain,
Sinners ruined by the fall;
Here a pure and healing fountain
flows to you, to me, to all;
In a full perpetual tide,
Opened when our Saviour died.

hot pupcakes

For the first time in about 3 years, I really feel like myself. Today the house smells like Murphy's oil soap. I washed the living room and hall floors. aah. The rugs are outside on the deck, sunning themselves. We have clean wood floors, and one clean window. The sun is beaming with pride that it can stream through the front window, and bounce around on this gleaming floor. It would be a perfect time for Theo and me to slide across the floor in our socks, but he's too young to know this, and I am wearing Habtamu's sandals.



So what is with the three years? We moved into this house on 28 January 2006. That April we found out that we were going to become parents by the end of the year. In July of 2007, Habtamu was in Ethiopia when I discovered our First Born would be a brother. Now that the second little bundle of joy is over a year old, it seems my hormones are leveling out. I totally feel normalish. It is weird.



When I was pregnant with Theo, everything grossed me out. From burgers to bathrooms, grills to granola, gagging was a big part of my day. I threw up when I tried to clean the shower. Since I'm not huge into cleaning anyway...well, I've been riding out the wave. It no longer grosses me out, so I better get to scrubbing. I don't know how you 2+ kids Moms do it. (I don't really know how you singles do it either. ha hahahahahaha!)

It could be the vitamins, the sunshine, or a maybe a little more sleep, but I am feeling more me-ish, and I don't mind a bit.

Oh, yes. About the hot pupcakes. My Mom is coming over to watch the kids so I can go to work a bit early today. I made a little box of Krusteaze gingerbread cake as cupcakes. While they were baking and just after I took them out of the oven (Suvi girl is napping early today) Theo repeated, "hot pupcakes. hot pupcakes." I so love this job, and the hot pupcakes with lemon pudding filling.

inspiration

I sometimes don't indulge my creativity by spending time gathering inspiration. The women of 3191 do inspire me. So with this cup of coffee, and the few minutes I spent enjoying their blog this morning, I expect my juices to start flowing any minute now.

my little flower

This little lamb is from Finland. The bouquet was from Mommy to Suvi on her birthday.

I am having an asthma flare up, so i tossed the flowers out early this week, thinking maybe they were part of the breathing troubles. They weren't, but because I am my Mother's daughter, I found a use for the out-of-the-house bouquet.

Finns are so smart.

They have an interest in Ethiopia! My man is always emailing me links, and this one made it here. I love that he cares!