Thanksgiving coloring pages

I was searching for coloring pages for my Little House class and came across this website. The pages aren't Little House related but they are Thanksgiving related and since it is one week before Thanksgiving I thought the children would enjoy coloring them. I enjoy this site because the pages are acceptable for older elementary. They're not too babyish. There is one where a pilgrim couple is knelt in prayer and another where a pilgrim woman is offering a native American some food. I think your older kids as well as younger children would enjoy these!

http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-color.html

Nathan & Sarah wedding pics

The wedding pictures are up on http://timothytylerblog.com!!! My daughter is gorgeous and her husband is so handsome in his dress blues! Congratulations Nathan & Sarah! We love you!

Pumpkin Patch & Dress-up

Abi Mulu sliding down the cotton seed hill.
Joel

Sarah and Adah
Anna & Sarah




Derartu
She's pouting because she didn't get a pumpkin.
Mihret-I love this picture.



Addis
Joel
Addis
JohnI love this sign.
Awwww...............
Cheerleaders
Pedro? Is that you?
Sumu Wrestler
My hippie

Sleeping Beauty

My daughter gets married tomorrow

My eighteen year old daughter is getting married tomorrow! With that we've had lots of excitement and big to-do lists going on. I can't be sad because I'm losing her since she's marrying the nicest man who is perfect for her. She will become a military wife dealing with military life which will be new for her, (the military life). She'll start a new life in a new city and state. Excitement, hopes, fears, and wonderful things are in her future. Congratulations Sarah! I love you!

Jesse & Sage engagement photos

Our friend Tim takes beautiful pictures. Tim, Jesse, and Sage headed out to Oak Oasis Park by our house one day to take these engagement photos. If you scroll down the page you'll also see Nathan & Sarah's engagement photos. Thanks Tim! They're beautiful!

http://timothytylerblog.com/

Homesewn Ethiopian Flag Blankies

I saw this blanket mentioned on the CAFE discussion group. I checked it out and it seems like such a nice gift to bring with you to give your new little one in Ethopia, or a wonderful shower present for that special someone adopting from Ethiopia. Good job, MamaEnat!!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33627190

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaEnat?section_id=6475057

Lots going on

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few weeks. My mom was here to visit from Washington. We have seven in soccer and have soccer EVERY SINGLE DAY. Sarah's wedding is next Saturday. We've been sick. I'm still busy with our home school ISP Class Days. Plus I work in Awana Cubbies. Are you tired yet? I am.

I'll try and start posting daily. Although pics will be scarce because it's too time consuming to upload them. If you're my facebook friend you can see my pics there. Sometimes I don't know why I post because it seems as though no one reads this. If you read this and would like to see me continue please leave a comment. If comments are scarce, well......

San Antonio or Spokane?

That was the question when we decided we would go out of town for our 29th anniversary. We went to Spokane two years ago for adoption training with Kingdom Kids and loved the walk around the River that they have there. On the other hand I had gone to San Antonio earlier this year when Nathan graduated from boot camp and knew that the Riverwalk was just as fun.

I went to the Southwest web site and compared tickets. We also looked into Utah, Denver, San Francisco, but had narrowed it down to those Spokane or San Antonio. We decided on Spokane since Steve had been there and wasn't too sure he really wanted to go to San Antonio where he had never been.

I booked our tickets for Spokane, reserved a room at the Oxford Suites, and we were set to go. That was until the Sunday before we were supposed to leave. I received an email confirmation of our flight from San Diego to San Antonio. San Antonio?!! What?!!!!!! I had made the reservations for the wrong city!!!

I found Steve in our room watching the Charger game and broke the news to him. He really wasn't interested at the time because the Chargers were playing. He told me to cancel our room in Spokane and reserve a room in San Antonio. So I did. I found a Courtyard Marriott on the Riverwalk that was only a year old. Yeah!!!

We had a great time. We walked, we ate, we took in some IMAX movies, saw San Antonio Rose Live!, and lounged around. Poor Steve has been getting a lot of ribbing from his friends over this. I say I just keep him on his toes, he never knows what I have in store for him. He just needs to be ready for whatever it is. After 34 years I keep it interesting-to say the least. ;D

We're having a granddaughter!!!

Jared & Miranda found out that they're expecting a baby girl!!! Her name is Makenna. We can't wait to meet her!!

Joel's blanket

I made this rag quilt for Joel a few months ago. I forgot to post a picture of it!

Beach Camping at San Elijo last week.

Joel
James
Abi Mulu

Adah Derartu
John
Anna with powder on her face. Love the braid? It does that after she sleeps on it.
Adah with powder. I gave them powder to get the sand off their shoulders and see how they take advantage of me?
Surfer memorial. There's a surfboard underneath but my camera was acting up and wouldn't allow me to take all of it. So this is what I got.
Our campsite from the street.
Anna Mihret loves her solitude.
Djemy and Adah
The three muskateers
Pals

Is that your mommy?

We were at Abi Mulu's game today and during half-time I went over to where Abi was, which was under the shade, to make sure she had water, got loved up on, and to pour water on her since it was so hot outside. The little girl standing next to her looked us both up and down and asked Abi, "Is that your mommy?" I moved my sunglasses away from my eyes and looked at her and I told her, "Yes, I'm her mommy." She said, "But you're different colors." I replied, "Well, we're from different countries. I'm from America and she's from Ethiopia." "Oh, like adopted?" she said. I told her yes. I explained how we had seven boys and only one daughter and we wanted more daughters so we had to go to Ethiopia since I didn't seem to know how to make them anymore. Then she looked at me again and came back with, "Are you rich?" I said, "Well, I'm rich in children but no I'm not rich. If I was I'm not anymore."

The people around us were laughing because of her innocence and curiosity. They were listening to see what I said and even asked a few questions. It's okay to ask questions. I don't mind. If you're asking because you're truly interested then I'll make time to answer them. If you're asking because you're really making a statement with your question, then don't ask. I'll just brush you off like you're a fly.

Jesse's Engaged!!!

Our church celebrated it's 50th anniversay this weekend. We've had a weekend of fun, fun, fun. Last night we had a comedian, Michael Jr. http://www.michaeljr.com/ Jesse asked for and received permission from our pastor to propose during the evening sometime. Pastor Ron gave Jesse the contact information for Michael Jr. and plans were made.

We made sure we had two tables right up front. We sat with Sage, Jesse, Sage's mom Jennifer, Sarah, Sage's Uncle, Aunt & cousin, and James. My other kids were at the table next to us. He asked Jesse what his name was and he replied, "Jesse." He looked at Sage and asked, "Are you Jesse's girl?" She confirmed that she was. The comedian then called Jesse up to the stage to help him with his show and then called Sage up. He gave Sage a book that he had written and asked Jese what he thought of him giving his girl a gift. Jesse said he didn't mind. Michael jr. asked Jesse if he could top that and WOW!! He proposed right up there on stage in front of hundreds of people!!! She of course said yes. So it looks like another wedding and this one is in Dec, as in this year, as in less than three months. Yikes.

The comedian-Michael Jr. Asking Jesse questions

Presenting Sage with his book.
The proposal.
Yeah!! Sage, Jesse & Michael Jr.

Sarah's Last Soccer Year

We live on the other side of this hill. See the ball?
Hanna & Sarah
Hanna & Anna
She's so darn cute.

James's First U14 Game

Joel's First U10 Game

John's First U12 Game

Happy 3rd Birthday Adah!

We celebrated at the soccer field with the Butcher/Plate families.

Addis's First Soccer Game

Wedding Date has been moved up!

Originally Nathan and Sarah were shooting for a March 2010 wedding. That has moved to November 7 of this year, as in less than two months away!!!! They've been busy with marriage counseling, choosing colors, making invitations, and the countless other decisions that go with it. We picked up a color swatch from Alfred Angelos Bridal Shop yesterday so that we can match the bridesmaid dresses with the tux vests. Sarah's wedding dress is in so today we go for a fitting. Yeah!!!!

We also have another wedding in the works. It's unofficially official. Shhh!!!

Soccer tourney weekend

During his shot at the goal. We had two soccer tournaments and one scrimmage this past weekend. John's team tied one game and lost two. Joe's team came in second place and won medals. The winner was determined by shootouts because the game ended in a tie. Abi played her first practice game. She was so excited. It was reported that she danced and pranced everytime the ball went into the goal.

That's me!

We were at John's soccer game yesterday. Adah Derartu saw a little girl about five years old. She had dark skin and her hair was pulled back in a top ponytail like she wears at times. She pointed to the girl and said, "Mommy! That's me!"