Picture of the Day - Our Family Photo

This is our family.
This is our family trying to take a family picture.
These are our sobbing and tired kids.
This is us trying to pretend we are happy.
This is my unruly hair for the entire photo shoot.
This is our family in all its shining glory.
This is our family photo.

Fall TV

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am really looking forward to many fall activities not to mention enjoying some of them right now.  One of the things I am looking forward to is fall premier week which is this week for the majority of the shows.  Problem is that I love and watch too many shows.  I admit, I am addicted to television.

A friend of mine and her hubby decided earlier this summer to forgo cable or satellite and opt to use regular old rabbit ears to receive their core local stations.  I honesty thought they were crazy and after a week would resign up.  Did they?  No.  They are actually enjoying the freedom of not being tied down to their DVR and are only watching shows when they are on and when they are home.  Yes, they watch an occasional show here and there via the internet but it is far and few between.  Amazing!

So I think...should I give up TV or at least cut down my TV time?  I know myself and giving it up completely isn't possible.  If I do cut back my TV time, I would be able to use my one precious kid free hour to do other things like house work, getting  more sleep, and of course more time to blog!  The next issue is how do I cut back?  I love too many shows.  How am I suppose to decide between shows like Brother & Sisters, Grey's Anatomy, Parenthood, and Cougar Town?  What about the Office or How I Met Your Mother?  Let's not forget about the awesome and very addicting HGTV shows.  Who doesn't like to watch House Hunters? 

Hmm...what is girl to do?  I know, style Maya's hair.  Off I go...

Terrible Morning? Not Today!

As you may recall, we had a terrible morning the other week.  I was seriously at my last straw and couldn't continue having one bad morning after another.  Thanks to all the wonderful comments and great suggestions, we worked on changing our morning routine. 

First we picked up the book, Parenting With Love And Logic , which we have read parts of.  Second we switched up our morning routine.

Routine:
6:40ish - wake up time by Dave.  He does this by turning on Maya's lamp and music.  We are currently listening to "The Life of Childhood" which is a cd of Amharic kids songs. 
6:50ish - go back into Maya's room to ensure she is awake, up, and getting dressed.  After Maya is dressed, I style her hair if needed and brush teeth. I then move on to getting Makenna up and dressed. 

By switching up our routine, we have had very pleasant mornings and Maya has been making very good choices.  This means a happy Maya, a happy mom, and a happy Makenna as she gets some attention too.

I even got to take some photos from Friday!  This never happens as we are usually rushing out the door.  Look how happy they are! 

 

Crazy Week

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say this week is a crazy week!  It seems when school is in session and September hits, all the activities start.  Tonight Maya started gymnastics.  It was the first time Maya joined the other kids and coaches alone while I was sandwiched in a small space with all the other parents watching the class through a TV monitor.  From what I can tell, Maya did really well.  She certainly seemed to have enjoyed herself.

We also started Sunday school for the first time and will be doing a secondary program at church called "Wowee" each Wednesday.  I was hesitant at first to sign her up for it but I was told it is a very good program and completely different than Sunday school.  It may be too much but we'll see. 

My blogging will have to take a back seat this week as we tackle all the activities and figure out our new schedule.  My husband and I are also working on debuting our new blog design and I can't wait to go live with it.  Hopefully it will be ready very soon.

I can't sign off until I post a picture of one of my kids.  Here is Makenna being goofing and happy.  This picture makes me laugh.

 

Melkam Addis Amet

Happy Ethiopian New Year! 

Did you know Ethiopia is 7 years behind us?  It is because Ethiopia uses the Orthodox Julian calendar versus the Western or Gregorian calendar which consists of 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month, Pagume, of five or six days, depending on whether or not it is a leap year.  Interesting isn't it? 

Today our good friends invited us over for a traditional Ethiopian dinner.  They did an amazing job and the food was truly amazing.


Thank you Evan and Teri-Lee!

The girls had fun playing too (well when they weren't fighting and acting like sisters).  Makenna also really enjoyed herself and had a spell of constant laughter.  I really enjoyed watching her chase the girls.

All 3 girls wore their traditional Ethiopian dresses tonight.  We didn't even plan it but apparently we both thought alike.  The girls really looked beautiful.  I tried getting a picture of Maya and Makenna before we left the house and ended up with this one.  Not too bad.

And I wanted a picture of all the girls together but settled for a picture of Makenna with Wren as well as a photo of Maya with Wren.  I am finding getting a nice picture of a 3 year old is next to impossible these days. 

 

What a great evening with good friends. 

Melkam Addis Amet!

Picture of the Day

 
Makenna is getting cuter and cuter by the day.  She has really started to blossom.  It is amazing how happy she can be without being in so much pain.  Poor thing is recovering from a double ear infection.  Makenna is walking, I mean running, and is super playful.  She loves to play kitchen and climb all over us including Maya.  She also loves kisses and snuggles especially before going to bed at night.  Makenna is also saying a few words as well as signing specifically "more" and "all done".  Let's not forget about her adorable wave and blowing kisses.  Like I said, Makenna is truly blossoming.

Fall

Labor Day has come and gone with the colder temperatures settling in.  It is an indication of summer being over and winter soon to be arriving.  Normally this time of year makes me very sad and remorseful of all the things I had planned to do during the summer months.  However this year is different.  I am no longer sad or remorseful.  I am actually excited.  Crazy isn't it?

I guess I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks and months.  I am already planning out our social calendar and thinking about the upcoming holidays.  This year will be even better than last year as Makenna will be with us. 

Still wondering why I am excited?  Here are 10 reasons why (and in no particular order):

1. Gymnastics and skating lessons for Maya
2. Pumpkin carving, Pumpkin Patch, and of course trick-or-treating
3. College football - GO BISON!
4. Lounging in sweat pants watching my favorite shows
5. Not feeling guilty for staying inside all day
6. Fall clothing shopping for the girls
7. Many family and friends birthdays including mine and Dave's
8. Awesome fun ideas flowing through my head on activities for Maya and myself - may even start a kids craft camp
9. Ice skating across our street - great weekend activity
10. Indoor house projects - crazy I know but I love decorating my house

So I wonder - am I the only one excited?  Are you excited for fall?  If so, what are you looking forward to the most?