Our Halloween Flower

What a fun day!  This afternoon we attended Maya's Halloween parade at school.  Her class had yummy cookies and then walked from room to room trick-or-treating.  We then took Maya to my work so she can show off her adorable flower costume and receive even more candy.  Wow were all the kids adorable!  It was so much fun seeing all of them dressed up and having a wonderful time.  If those two things weren't enough, we decided to walk around the neighborhood some with our next door neighbors.  Our neighbor Gabe is such a cutie and he took really good care of Maya.  Gabe is around 4 years old so he knows how this trick-or-treating thing works (smile).  We then came home and proceeded to hand out tons of candy.  Our new neighborhood has many kids and many kids from other parts of town come too.  One mother told us that our neighborhood is known for some good candy.  I guess I better be prepared each year! 

As always, here are some pictures from our day.  Precious Maya is sleeping now.  She had a wonderful day and brought joy to our hearts.  We love seeing her smile and giggle like she did today.

 

Gabe and Maya

Maya enjoying her cookie - isn't she sitting nicely?

Maya with Riley and Boston (my co-workers kids)
 
Maya with Kori and Riley

Dave chills before all the kids come knocking at our door

Maya Being Silly

Dave wouldn't take the time to figure out how to actually flip this video, so I guess you will have to watch it sideways. If anyone knows how to do this - please let me know.

Anyway, Maya was being really silly the other night, her laugh is contagious, even to herself.

Picture Time

A few weeks ago I attempted to take a picture of Maya with her cute outfit on.  Maya apparently was not in the mood and I never did get a great picture.  Here is one of the pictures I did get. 

I did manage to get this one too - better even though she is more interested in the flag than looking at the camera.  Oh well - I tried.

Women's Showcase - Blessing Photography's booth

Do you recognize anyone in this picture? 

 
Hint: top right

AFRICAN SOUL, AMERICAN HEART - Playing in Fargo!

AFRICAN SOUL, AMERICAN HEART
Rating: NR 30 Minutes
Director: Deb Dawson
Starring: Joseph Akol Makeer
Twenty years after fleeing a civil war, a Lost Boy of Sudan returns to help his homeland. This documentary short follows Joseph Akol Makeer from Fargo to Duk Payuel Sudan where he assesses the need for help. All proceeds go to the ASAH Foundation and rebuilding efforts led by Joseph.
www.africansoulamericanheart.org

Documentary Premiere: African Soul American Heart
11/09/08
Where:
Fargo Theatre
Fargo, ND
When:
Sunday, November 9
Two Showings: 1pm and 7pm

Me and Sick Child

My mid back has been aching for so long now due to carry a 28 lb child around.  I have talked about getting a massage for so long but haven't taken the time to schedule one.  Well tonight my gym had their annual open house and I was able to book a massage for next week half off!  YIPPEE! 

***Regarding Maya - she was home all day today with a fever and running nose.  She is feeling so much better now so hopefully she can return to school tomorrow.  Luckily Dave was in town so he took most of the day.  Thank you honey! 

Mom Song

I may not have to use all these words each day like some moms but my turn is coming!  This is very funny so be sure to watch.

Pumpkin Patch

Today we were invited out to the pumpkin patch north of town.  Maya had so much fun!  She got to go on a barrel train ride, go through the hay maze, and pick out a pumpkin!  Maya did really well despite being woken up from her nap to go.  This was the first time either of us has been to a pumpkin patch.  I have to admit it is pretty fun (especially the giant Connect Four game).  The owners did a great job having many different activities for all age groups.  I have a feeling we will go back year after year as long as the weather cooperates.  Today we had a wonderful fall day.  Thanks Nicole and Betty for organizing!

Maya picked out both pumpkins!


Kim and I played Connect Four - LOVE that game!

Nicole and Betty

African Restaurant to open in Fargo!

How  exciting, the local Somali store in town will be opening up a restaurant in the next week or so. They will be serving both sandwiches and ethnic food. We are excited as this store is where we get our Injera and some Ethiopian spices. We will provide a food review once it is open!

Pictures from Seattle Trip

As promised here are some pictures from our fun weekend trip to Seattle.  I have to say Maya traveled pretty well overall.  She did wake up when we landed in Fargo saying "All Done?".  Dave and I laughed as she said it so sweetly.  We were all happy to be off the plane and be home.

 
So far so good - Maya is all smiles in Minneapolis while waiting to board our next flight to Seattle
 
One of many Microsoft buildings - this is the one Dave works in when he travels to Seattle

Maya was very fond of Deepa, one of Dave's co-workers

My pretend birthday flowers - aren't they beautiful?  Ha!

On top of the Space Needle - all our pictures turned out blurry due to the position of the sun - oh well.

Maya with Daddy at this fabulous pizza place

 
Maya had a blast playing at the Children's Museum
 

Maya also loved the Aquarium - she loved to touch the star fish
 
If only we knew what she was thinking at this moment

Maya loved to ride the monorail (train)
 
Maya had some fun on the plane before taking off and before the lucky gentlemen found his seat number next to us!

Seattle

What a fun weekend!  Last Thursday we flew to Seattle, WA for a long weekend.  Dave goes there frequently for work and he has wanted Maya and I to come along for some time now.  Dave wanted to introduce (and show off Maya) to his co-workers.  On Friday Dave had to go into the office so Maya and I spent some mommy/daughter time together.  We had fun playing in the hotel room, shopping, and having lunch together.  I also ran into a former co-worker of mine from Microsoft at the restaurant - such a small world!  Friday night Dave's co-worker and wife hosted a get together.  It was a great night meeting Dave's co-workers and their families. 

Saturday and Sunday were all about family time and exploring Seattle.  We hit many of the tourist attractions such as the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Children's Museum, Science Museum (exhibit was about the history of Ethiopia), and Pike's Place Market.  In addition we had some excellent food with Chinooks and Queen of Sheba being our favorites.  Queen of Sheba is an Ethiopian restaurant.  I have to admit I wasn't so sure about it but the food was excellent.  Maya loved it too!  The Seattle trip was so much fun and a great way to spend my birthday.  Thanks Dave for planning the trip and insisting we come along with you!

I plan to post pictures as soon as I download them.  Stay tuned!

NDSU Homecoming

Go Bison!  We had a fun day on Saturday celebrating NDSU homecoming.  We started off the day by watching the NDSU parade at my sorority house.  Maya had a great time watching all the action.  After the parade we spoke to an adoption group at our local adoption agency.  We met 2 more families adopting from Ethiopia which is fantastic!  Once we were finished, we headed back to campus to attend the football game.  What a fun game it was!  Thanks to my friend Dondi for  giving us tickets.  After the game we made one more stop and this time at a friend's place for a BBQ.  Maya did great but finally broke down.  She was ready to go home.  We were all very tired from an exciting day.

  

We need your VOTE! (again)

Maya is in another photo contest with our photographer.  Please click on the below link and vote for #8.  Please help Maya win.  Thanks everyone!

http://www.blessingsphotography.com/PhotoContest/September2008contest.html

Today at the Park

The weather here was absolutely beautiful.  We couldn't pass up the great weather so we decided to go to the nearby park.  Maya had a blast!  She had a great time swinging, climbing, and running throughout the playground set.  What a great family night.  BTW - can you guess who took the pictures?

Fun new car and cute pictures!

We had a great weekend last weekend.  I blogged earlier regarding our fun dinner with Dave's family.  Well we had more fun earlier that day and took some cute pictures after church on Sunday.  On Saturday afternoon I spotted a used Barbie motorized jeep at a nearby garage sale.  I was actually driving home from the grocery store when I spotted it.  Apparently a neighbor to the person having the garage sale just brought it over to be sold.  For $15, I couldn't help myself.  Maya wasn't so sure about it at first but she got used to it by Sunday afternoon.  On Sunday we took some pictures at home as Maya was just too adorable.  It is a good thing that the digital camera was invented!

These are 2 pictures above are from Saturday...Daddy is showing Maya how to operate the jeep!


These 2 pictures were taken on Sunday at our next door neighbor's house.  Maya still didn't understand how to get the jeep moving so daddy helped out with a hockey stick.  Maya finally understood and was driving around the driveway.  Her neighbor friend, Gabe, has a motorize John Deer jeep so they were both driving around. 

Here are the pictures that we took after church.  Doesn't Maya look adorable?  Maya also made it through the entire church service.  This is two services in a row where she made it through the entire thing!  (knock on wood - hate to jinx it).