Eggs, in color

There is no end to my friend Lori Cook's creativity. This week it was dying eggs, but with stuff we had around the house, like wine and red onions, tumaric and yellow onions, tea and coffee (tea works better) and spinach (needed some food color).

Workouts

Exciting meet for Sarah this past weekend. State meet, so the competition was really tough, but she did very well and we're super proud of her.

Alden is preparing for his new rank test at the karate dojo, and practicing with his sword, called a bokken.




Zion stays busy with a combination of gymnastics, karate and running like a crazy person.

Homeschool . . . or child labor?

Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. This is Sarah, entering transactions into Quicken. April 15 is a mere week away, so David is pulling in all the help he can recruit.

Wade's New Film

So, Wade has been hard at work constructing a rooftop in the studio at George Fulton's place, where he has his new office.

My lighting class lit it and then Wade wanted to try it out, so he made this short, which is worth watching, especially if you like Mr. Softie.

If you think it's funny, hit the funny meter!

Thanks to Van Kornegay from USC for this photo.

Who needs the zoo?

I'm kidding of course. Our local zoo, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is the BEST. But, we are getting quite a bit of wildlife here at home. Like the oppossom, the raccoon and now, the brown snake. It eats worms, so Alden has a pet - well, for awhile. Zion actually found it, and calls it the "awwww cute worm." I had to keep her away from it for while we figured out what type of "worm" it was.

Apparently it's time to clean out the pool.

Arri at work

Arri is getting older. He gets upset when I watch LOST on "his" couch. And, he doesn't like to move out of the sun at work, which makes it challenging for customers to enter the shop.

Neuro Reorg update

Today was day 7. We're getting into a groove and I'm learning SO much about my sweet kids. I didn't think I would enjoy this at all, but I am. We've done morning activities outside the past two days, and I liked it.

Neuro Reorganization

Today was our second day doing Neuro Reorganization therapy with the kiddos. It's supposed help their brains work out things they probably missed when they were young, so it entails all sorts of fun stuff like creeping and crawling around the house, spinning in office chairs, doing these things called "patterns," as well as breathing and sensory exercises.

We're looking at about a two year stint, so we are all adapting to the new schedule. Actually, just the fact that it has to be done EVERY single day is a big part of it. I'm sure this will shock you, but I'm not a "schedule" person. About the only thing I do every day without fail is brush my teeth. So, this is big.

We may need some cheerleaders.

I'll update with progress reports, but I really don't expect much before around four months in.

Progress so far for the youngest:

I took her to karate and the teacher said after wards, "she was much more focused today than usual."

Second day I noticed her reverting to a LOT of baby behaviors - baby talk and so on.

Should be interesting to see what happens over the next two weeks.

Mommy! Where my wings?

Some things you just can't leave home without.

IKEA Grand Opening

It's almost 8pm and I'm getting ready to head to Charlotte to camp out for the GRAND OPENING of the new IKEA store.

This is a first for me, and I'm excited.

David is making fun of me, mostly because I hate cold. It goes something like this, "So, you're going to drive two hours to stand in the freezing cold all night for a store opening, yet if someone offered to PAY you to work outside, you would turn them down, right?"

"of course, I don't like working in the cold."


UPDATE:
Right before we arrived, we decided against making one last rest stop. Boy was it a good thing! The first 100 in line got a free $89 chair. We went to one end of the store and a guy with a clipboard told us the line was at the other end, and it was almost to 100. We took off running. This is the largest IKEA in the WORLD, so it took a few minutes. I dropped our stuff at the end of the line, behind #98, who told us we needed to find "a guy with a clipboard" and sign in. So, we raced back to the other end and found, you guessed it, the SAME guy. But, we got signed in.

Later that night, I met #1 and #2, and they introduced themselves, "hi, I'm 1." "And I'm 2!" Couldn't help thinking I'd fallen into a Dr. Seuss story . . . .


I probably should have checked the weather. I guess cold rain never occurred to me. Some nice people hooked us up with a tarp and here we are, IKEA refugees.



Things kicked into high gear around 7am with donuts, coffee and swag. I nabbed an IKEA toilet seat and a squishy chair and three beach balls.

Home Study Approval!

Our home study was approved by the State of SC today! That means we've been officially cleared for parenthood yet again.

Yeah!

Book for Hanna, update!

Book sales for the book I put together to help Children's Heaven have netted over $1200 for Hanna's health care. I'm thrilled. Shouting out a huge THANK YOU to Ethiopian Orphan Relief for sponsoring this fundraiser! And, sending love and appreciation to all the adoptive families and friends who purchased a book. I hope you get some good cuddle time with your children while you read and look at the photos together.

MORE PETS????

The kids built a multi-layered home for our newest family members. Now, these are not really pets. Think more like in the old days, when animals had to work for a living. These babies are in charge of soil enrichment. We started with about 100 or so, and within three months, we hope they'll be doing big business in compost.


Zion adores them, and says, they are "sooooo cuuuute!" Sarah's already been transplanting some of them into other experiements, like her new "biosphere in a jar" sitting on the kitchen counter. I have to make sure David doesn't pitch it, because it looks more like a "mud in a jar get me off your counter quick before it's contaminated" science project.

This had to hurt.

Are we closer to the nuclear plant than I thought? At any rate, I feel sorry for my little hen!

books before bed

Zion and Alden have been increasing their reading each night - to the point that it is almost dangerous to roll over in what the kids dubbed, "the big bed."

Other blogs

I've been updating my class blogs lately, and haven't taken time to work on this one. But, here is a photo update of our latest activities.


Jonathan Gaynor, sound man extraordinaire, stopped by just in time to help the kids retrieve their bow from the top of a tree. You might be thinking, "why was the BOW in the tree, and not an arrow in the tree?" I was thinking the same thing, but have long ago learned it is often better not to ask.

In other kid news, we had a great time at the Myrtle Beach hotel that boasted an indoor water park and personalized taxi service back to the room. We met up with my friend Jen and her crew, including Nate, who is from the same area in Ethiopia as Zion. It was a perfect match up since her three are close in age to our three and enjoyed each other's company immensely. Cute kid pic by Jenn.

Move over 'possom!

There's a new kid in town. And, he's bigger. And he likes chocolate icing from the free grocery bakery buckets we neglected to wash out.

Haven't seen my "little buddy" in awhile. I do miss him. He was getting plump and his coat was sleek. He'd hang out in the back yard and catch apple cores I'd toss to him. I think he'll be back around after awhile, once he starts jonesen' for Phydeaux's yummy cat food.

Meanwhile, out back all is well (and productive). Photo compliments of Jonathan Gaynor.


And, in the kitchen, Alden's ants, a gift from his Aunt Judy, are thriving. Well, maybe not thriving, but certainly existing. At least those that haven't been smashed when they tried to get out, or knocked unconcious when people accidentally slam their home on the table.

Today is History!

It was beautiful seeing Obama take office today. My children watched with me as history unfolded.

Then, Alden announced he wanted to be president someday.

I don't have the heart to tell him yet that he can't.

We have to change that so foreign born adopted kids can dream, too!

My book for Hanna

The book I created for Hanna Fanta of Children's Heaven is currently for sale on the Ethiopian Orphan Relief site. All proceeds go directly to Hanna.

I'm just blown away by the support that has been shown by the people who have ordered already.

Thank you!

I put a short video about her work below.

Children's Heaven Addis Ababa

Happy Birthday Zion

Today is December 21st. Zion's fifth birthday, according to her birth mom, not her "official" paperwork.

She wanted a lemon cake, so (at 4:30 pm) we're waiting for her Daddy to get out of bed (he has a migrane) so we she can blow out some candles and we can EAT IT.

I can't seem to convince my children that December is a COLD month. I even hid all the shorts and short sleeved shirts in Zion's room. But, somehow, she found some, enough that every single day I wonder if it's worth fighting over clothing.


Photo update, Daddy got up!

Blog Break

As you may have noticed, I'm not posting right now.

Today is an exception because I want to announce that:

We're adopting yet again!

I don't yet know what I can share and can't, so things will continue to be quiet here at the Sneathspot until I find out more.

Stoned to death, in November 2008

I've read three articles now about the 13 year old girl who was stoned to death in Somalia recently. Her crime? She was raped by three armed men.

This article in the Scotland Sunday Herald was the most graphic. I hesitated to include it on my blog, but really, we can't ignore what is reality for many women in our world today. The bigger question is, what can we DO about it?

The 13-year-old girl from the Somali port city of Kismayo was taken to the police station by her aunt to report the crime. Asha was the one who was arrested. After being held for three days and tried in secret by an Islamic court, Asha was sentenced to be stoned to death for adultery.

Kismayo's rulers encouraged people to come to the football stadium to watch the execution. A lorry load of stones was laid out. Asha, dragged kicking and screaming into the stadium, was buried in the ground. With around 1000 people watching, 50 men stepped forward and started hurling the stones at Asha's head. After a few moments, the stoning was stopped.

Two nurses were asked to step forward and check if she was still alive. She was, they said, so the stoning continued.

I say we speak out against extremism. All forms of extremism carry with them the capacity to justify killing the innocent.

Have you ever thought about which form of extremism you'd prefer living under? I wonder if I'd prefer communism over religious extremism. Tough choice. I hope we are wise enough, strong enough and vocal enough to prevent either from gaining a foothold here.

End of the Day

This is a scene that often greets me after a long day away from home. I really should give up on feather comforters and feather pillows - or - perhaps I should give in to the PediPaws ads (the canine nail cutting tool) that litter my inbox every day.

Graft and Greed in America?

No, not Africa. Here.

This is taken from a letter our governor sent to Henry Paulson (US Treasury Secretary). Does it make your blood boil, too? How long before greed destroys us?

· Carolina First CEO Mack Whittle retired sooner than expected. Some have surmised that Whittle’s retirement date was moved up so that his bank could apply for federal bailout money while Whittle retained his “golden parachute.” The estimated value of Whittle’s retirement package is $18 million; the deal would have been compromised if the bank had asked for a taxpayer bailout before Whittle left.

· The Federal Reserve is putting $150 billion, $27 billion more than previously extended, into AIG after an initial bailout attempt failed to stem massive losses. After the initial bailout in September, AIG treated some staff members to spa retreats in California ($440,000) and a hunting trip in England ($500,000).

· The Wall Street Journal reported last week that some $40 billion is being paid to executives of banking giants that are getting bailout payments. On top of that, Bloomberg reported that the Federal Reserve is refusing to identify who is getting $2 trillion in emergency loans.

Maybe we should slow down. We're trusting Congress to regulate, right? I'm not feeling too confident . . . .

Only 12 days late

Okay, so I'm a bit behind on the blogging. I do have excuses, a great trip to Denver, a not-so-fun trip to the ER . . . But, I will try to catch up this week. Here we are before going to my friend Lori's Hallowingding, which I highly recommend! Check out the invite below, featuring art by her husband Trahern.

This Historic Day

It's great to have watched history unfold last night.

Sarah said it so well today:

"Mom, do you think when you go to heaven you still see what is happening here?"

"Maybe honey, if you're still interested in what's going on here."

"Well, I bet Martin Luther King must be very proud today if he can see what's happening down here."

I agree.

Our Newest Pet

No, I did not ask for this.

And Zion can't say opossum (who really can?), so she calls him "AWW, cute mouse."

David is not thrilled. He hates rats, and the tail just does him in. Sarah wrote me a note, telling me (with lots of hearts) to look up the National Opposum Society. Doing that now.

Turns out that opposums are not related at all to rats. They are North America's only marsupial.

Vote early, vote often.

Two of the three (terrific) people that read my blog have asked why I haven't been writing lately.

I hate to say it, but it's because I'm overwhelmed by the election.

Yes. I am . . . undecided.

Do I realize there are scant few hours before I must walk down the corridor of truth?

I do.

Because I have nightmares about it. More than once. In the first one, which reminded me of those dreams you have in high school that you hope NEVER to repeat, I'm standing at the bottom of a long, dimly lit, mustard yellow painted, cinder block hall. The hall fades into murky, snot-green darkness, but I know what is up there. The booth. And, I know that by the time I finish this long walk, I must make a decision. I know this because multiple disembodied voices on both sides are screaming at me, "WHAT IS YOUR DECISION??!!" overlapped with, "YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE POLL!!!"

I don't remember the second dream as vividly. But, it woke me in a cold sweat. Two am, my mind already circling, slashing at the pro/con lists like a salad shooter whirring through endive, iceberg and romaine. I was up for an hour and a half, endless circling.

I broke down and posted the dilemma on my Facebook status yesterday. I feel pretty confident in saying 49% of my friends consider themselves "liberal," while another 49% believe God rides an elephant to work each day. Two percent are either left or right leaning third-party supporters. And, while my status update drew few responses on Facebook, my email's unread messages jumped ten fold in fifteen minutes.

Judging solely based on the volume of mail for the "endive" candidate, I'm now convinced he can't lose. It was nothing short of a full blown intervention. A passionate back clapping to rid my lungs of indecision's dust. I guess my romaine friends either assume I'll see the light, or they don't care. I know my iceberg friends don't care, they are voting third party and thus . . . obviously.

I have mixed reactions to it. I'm not much for crusades, or crusaders. I don't see much black and white. It's probably the gray dust I'm drinking into my pores, though, coloring my world. Is my indecision the chicken, or the egg? From what I've seen shooting political spots, most campaigns are run by kids in their early 20s, drunk on power and enthusiasm, but hardly equipped to choose or aim world impact trajectories. I want to be hyped and thrilled and carried away, and ride the wave into our new future. And, I think it is past time for us to BE in our bright, rosy, post-modern future. But, I'm not convinced this is my train.

Instead, in steady, 13 minute cycles, I'm the idiot each side vents about. Just roll me up to the booth tomorrow, and I guess we'll see which end is up at that moment.

Sadness at AHOPE, Ethiopia

Tilahun Yimer, a wonderful young man at the AHOPE orphanage has just passed away. My friend Lisa did a story about him on her blog. Please take a look.

Art Auction

In Denver next week there is an art auction to benefit one of my favorite charities, Children's Heaven. So, I've been putting together some things to auction off so I can get them mailed tomorrow. First was a picture book of Ethiopia, for children born there. The last page is blank so the high bidder can personalize it with the child's photo. I just finished this shadow box of a woman pulling thread. I lined it with a scarf like the one her family made from the thread she is working on. I also want to do some scrap book pages - just the elements, for people who have been there. One page will be round houses, one weaving, one cooking, that sort of thing, with some paper and accessories to go with the photos. I hope people like my items and the bid them up.

Christmas Shopping

This is my favorite place to Christmas shop so far this year:
http://www.ahopestore.org/

Some of the photos aren't up yet, but you can find them on the AHOPE for Children blog.

Sarah, Alden and I got the bracelets and I haven't taken mine off yet. It is a great reminder that children are living with hiv - a reminder to advocate, to pray, to give, and to think about my financial and lifestyle choices each day.

Plus, they have cool Amharic writing on the side.

Good-bye MaryLou, I'll miss you

MaryLou left today.

She is my husband's brother's wife's mother. And I loved her dearly. I met her before David and I married. She is the matriarch of an incredibly tight-knit family, yet she never once treated me like an outsider. In fact, walking into her kitchen was like stepping into a wonderful hot spring. Warm tea, great food, family conversation.

I instantly felt included - immediately followed by well fed! I can think of a dozen things I want to say about her, and her incredible family, but they all look trite when I put them on the page. I keep remembering snippets of conversations we had. Like the time she told me about her internal debate over the value of their dairy cows versus their smell when the wind shifted towards the house. Discussions about kids and school and meals and history and marriages and work on the farm and the many "older" folks she cared for. Though she might have seemed a touch frail on the outside, she was made of titanium inside.

I guess she just lived two lives in one, and had to go before the rest of us were ready for it.

Wish I could have said good-bye in person.

Daddy gets to do THAT?

In keeping with the content of this story, I'm posting images of men doing unbelievably stupid things . . . because they CAN.


Alden and I made smores this afternoon. David was napping, so I passed them under his nose when they came out of the oven, but he didn't budge. So, I wrapped one up for later. Now, he's up, reading in bed. Alden wanted to take him his smore, but I said no, I don't want crumbs in the bed. Alden was surprised that Daddy "could not" eat in bed. I said, "no, Daddy can pretty much do what he wants, but it doesn't mean it's a good idea."


Alden: "REALLY??? Daddy can do WHATEVER he wants???"

me: "Yep, pretty much."

Alden: "Like, if he wanted to, could Daddy go by himself to Chuck E. Cheese at night?"

me: "Yep."

Alden: "Wow. You know Mom, when I'm old, I'm going to go to Chuck E. Cheese at night!"

My brother in Japan

The Japanese have been treating my brother Daniel like royalty and he is thrilled - beautiful hotel room, lots of great food . . . . Last night they played the championship, and Japan won. But, my brother's team came in second place. I was really hoping he would win because they are going to use the people from the winning team as characters in the next game.

Here is the Metal Gear Online website. There is a video somewhere, I'm looking for it . . . .


This is a photo taken of my brother while we were driving from Rome to Sorento, May 2004. As you can see, rather than taking in the breathtaking Italian countryside, my brother is hard at work preparing for this very week, four YEARS in advance. I have to admit, back then I didn't have a full appreciation for where this committment would take him.

Also note my daughter, preparing for her future career, which she assures me will NOT be photography or video!

No Photos of Today!

Be glad I didn't include photos.

In keeping with the creepy, crawly halloween season, one of my children has opened a successful lice sanctuary. Not only that, said child has passed the blessings on to me. So, today was spent combing. And recombing. And purchasing expensive mixtures of rosemary, eucalyptis, olive and other oils (that actually work, unlike over the counter lice meds).

Now, we smell like the fast growing eucalyptis tree in our front yard.

Belive it or not, combing can wear you out.

Activities of Late

What would you do with this great discovery?

We found these wonderful acorn tops that look like curly heads of hair (or octupus hats, as Sarah suggested) outside the University of SC Art Department the other day. The kids are taking art classes there on Fridays for a few months.

Suggestions are welcome. Here are some initial ideas:
shepard and octopus Christmas tree ornaments.




We like to keep Ethiopian culture here at the house by roasting coffee. I think Zion's birth mom will enjoy these pics, don't you?




She's also been doing some Dominican style cooking with Elias.


Zion joined Alden this week at the dojo, now taking karate and VERY excited about it. Alden got an email from China, so we grabbed this shot today to email back. Pictures transcend the language barrier (and my ability to type in Chinese), and he really wants his friends back there to know he is doing karate.