Preparing for the 1st Halloween

Yeah, I'm not sure what this psycho look is for, either. But maybe I should have been worried we were letting her use knives?

Finished products! Tesfu only wanted one eye on hers, and Brad's skull carving lost its nose. So, I guess that means I'm the 'best pumpkin of '08' winner?

I tried to take a picture of them all lit, but it was way too windy. I'll try to get a picture soon, though, because they actually all turned out pretty neat this year. Remembering, of course, that I am still the winner.

Happy Halloween!

Future M.Phelps?

We were lucky enough to catch this photo this evening - I seriously think this maybe one of my very favorite Tesfu pictures. It captures her perfectly - always jumping. Really, since Little One arrived on U.S. soil, she has been practicing her jumping. She couldn't do it at all at first - her legs seemed very weak - but boy would she try.

And try.

And try.

At first, never leaving the ground. Now, I'm ready to sign her up for the Olympics. Early retirement, here we come?!

Peace!

An Evening in the Life Of...

This post is about me, 'cause I need some sympathy here. I. Am. Busy. Constantly. All in all, it really is a good kind of busy - but still, a girl needs to vent once in awhile. So, I present to you - 'An Evening In The Life Of Beth / a.k.a. Life After Work' :

4:26 - Am relieved beyond belief that my boss leaves a few minutes early, because you know darn well that means I am leaving a few minutes early. I'm still going to have seriously haul my chunky butt down four flights of stairs (elevator is way too slow) and across four city blocks to make the 4:31 bus - but I may just make it if I push bystanders out of my way.

4:31 - Hallelujah - the bus gods smile on me today. I arrive as the bus pulls up, out of breath and wheezing like an asthmatic, but I am triumphant. I will now have time to get a nutritious dinner started and on its way before Tesfu and Brad make it home.

5:06 - After a short walk in the rain from the bus stop home, I've made it. And I'm no longer wheezing, so life is good there.

5:07 - Feed the cat, survey the cupboards. Decide chili dogs and fries are nutritious enough for this family. It is, at least, turkey chili and turkey dogs.

5:09 - Can't believe how quiet it is in this house with just lil' ole' me and the cat. Kinda' freaks me out.

5:14 - Decide to make the beds, because, after all, we still have a good six hours before the hubby and I go to bed, so its not like I'm making them right before you jump into slumber.

5:34 - Throw the turkey dogs into the water. Man, cooking is a strain.

5:36 - Brad and Tes come exploding through the door (well, mostly Tes did the exploding). Already wondering why I didn't like the quiet 27 minutes ago. Oh - and don't ask me about the two jackets. That is an issue that deserves a post of all its own - I just don't have the energy for it right now. Let's just say, this is one strange, strange little kiddo.

5:48 - Tes decides she would much rather have injera for dinner. We shrug and let her eat her hot dog with the Ethiopian bread. As long as it isn't blue crayon (or string or paint - also stories for another post), hey whatever. Eat away, kid.

6:02 - Tes and I head to the basement with my arms full of hair care supplies and a video to keep the Little One entertained. The next hour and a half I will be up to my elbows in oil, hair, and a child trying to dance along with 'Happy Feet' while Mom's fingers are tangled up braiding her pretty head of curls. Brad gone to run the errands we aren't daring enough to take Tes with to do.

7:26 - Final product - we call this one her Coolio look. Apparently it comes free with the stoned look.

7:27 - Tesfu relates the meaning of life, in two year old terms, of course.

7:28-8:35 - Brad home from errands in time for pajamas, books, snuggling, kisses, the normal forty minutes for the Tesfu to settle down and be able to drift into sleep. I realize for the second night this week I forgot to make her brush her teeth. Oopsie. Don't tell the dentist.

8:36 - Little One finally asleep, Mom can quietly escape the room.

8:37 - Doing up the dishes from dinner.

8:50 - Whew! Time to relax! Sit my rear on the couch for awhile. Turn on the tv.

9:03 - Realize the only crap on the tv is more political crappola... tolerate it for awhile. That is, until they start to interview Palin...

9:04 - The fact I wear glasses saves my left eye from inevitable doom as I decide it would be better to poke my eye out than watch a Palin interview.

10:30 - Blog about my day. Hey... do you ever feel like you are being watched?

Turning Blue

See something funny with this picture? Besides the fuzzy braids - I know, I need to re-do them. It is on tomorrow's agenda. Look closer... does the area around her mouth look a little blue?



One of Tesfu's favorite things to do ever is color, and we have never had a problem with the crayons coming near her mouth. Until tonight. Apparently, that particular shade of blue just looked too darn tasty for words.

Peace!

Busy Busy Busy Weekend

Friday : Stayed way later at the YMCA than planned, because Tesfu wouldn't come down from the playground. Who designed those darn playplaces with the tubes and towers which are impossible to pry a child from? Obviously someone who never wanted to see their child again.

Saturday : Brad entered his famous oh-so-delicious chili into a cookoff in attempts to win some money and bragging rights. Alas, we did not win, but Tesfu was incredibly well behaved, and LOVED 'Daddy's soup' as she called it. I mean LOVED. As in, seven bowls loved. Okay, before you freak out, they were not full sized bowls. More like sample sized bowls. But, it was still a boat-load of chili for such a little tummy. The secret? Brad added some Ethiopian spices to it this year, making it not only very tasty for all, but absolutely irresistible for the Little One.



Sunday : First annual Scarecrow party at Ruby's mommy's house. None of the kids made their own scarecrows, but all still had a great time!


Monday : The fed was closed due to Columbus Day, so I had the day off. Since I had the day off, I made Brad take the day off. Makes sense, right? We took Tes to get her pics professionally taken, and even though we made it there late and the photo session had to be short, the pictures turned out so stinkin' cute it they will make your eyes melt. Just you wait and see. Of course, if your eyes melt, it will be the last thing you see, so enjoy your eyesight while you still can.

Now, back to the work week!

Some of that contagious joy I was talking about:

Letter to My Baby

Dear Tesfanesh,

Before we met, I had images in my head of what motherhood would be like. But, I must say, life with you has exceeded every dream I ever came up with. Your curiosity and spirit are endearing, your love of singing is adorable, energy seemingly everlasting, and your joy is absolutely contagious. You are like a little happy tornado, leaving behind you a wake of stickers, pieces of bark you’ve picked off of Claudia’s tree, and the bits of string you’ve found along the way. You plus us equals one perfect little family.

But, kiddo, if you ever act like that in public again – you know, the store on Saturday where the clerk politely asked us to leave? Yeah, that one? Remember? Well, next time, I’m totally going to pretend I don’t know you.

Love,
Your Mommy.

P.S. – Claudia says quit picking the bark off of her tree!