Shopping and Preparing

I've been shopping for the girls and their arrival home. I did find another tandem stroller online that I hadn't seen and looked pretty close to the Eddie Bauer tandem, which I didn't see online either, but did see in the store. I LOVED it, it sits front and back instead of side-to-side and was light like an umbrella stroller, but I couldn't get this one button to work. The other one I bought was by Safety 1st. I'll take the Target one back when it gets here.

I put their beds up and switched dressers around. We're using the playpens until we know what their sleeping desires will be. We didn't want to spend money on cribs if they're going to sleep with us or even in the playpen in our room. With our other babies we put a crib right up to my side of the bed or we just didn't have a crib. I figured the playpens would be more portable too.

Most of their clothes have been washed. We got the cute dresses from Gymboree in the mail yesterday. I'm going to have them wear those for their embassy dates. I found sleepers and other outfits at Target and Old Navy.

I bought an Ergo baby carrier so I have something to help me carry the babies. I know my muscles aren't up to carrying 26 lbs and 13 lbs in either arm. I know if I have one in the carrier I can carry the other with my arm and hip.

Last thing I need to settle on is a diaper bag. I think I need one that goes over the shoulder, but has room for blankets and baby stuff. I have a great beach bag I could use, but the handle is more for your hand and not a shoulder.

We're in the home stretch! On the 23rd we should know something. Please pray that Meheret's family shows up for the hearing. Thank You!

Home School Book Sale

Today we loaded up the minivan with tables, books, dolls, cds, shades, and chairs and headed to a used curriculum book sale for home educators. Ever since we closed down our online bookstore we've been going to different sales and selling a little here and a little there.

We had an online bookstore and closed it when we started the adoption process, but we still have oodles and oodles of books! I think we're down to about ten totes or so.

The boys did great and even went shopping and found treasures of their own. I found some children's books that had black faces in them or was about Africa. One gem I found was about God loving all children of the world. It showed animated pictures of children from many, many countries. When I found a child from Ethiopia I was sold!

The books I found:
Peter's Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain by Verna Aardema
African Wildlife Dioramas to Cut & Assemble (I found a dinosaur one for my boys too!)
Let's Talk About Children Around the World: God Loves Them All by Debby Anderson
Puzzle Map of California

It's fun to find treasures & gems; especially in the form of a book!

I've been shopping!

I found this car seat at Walmart.com. I searched on www.consumersearch.com for reviews. Shipping is free to the store; so why not? It's the Evenflo-Triumph and I ordered two.





Then I ordered this stroller from Target. It's the Graco DuoRider Colburn.

I was trying to buy the Jeep double umbrella stroller, but it's out of stock for 2-6 weeks. I'm taking a stroller with me to Ethiopia so I'll at least have somewhere to put the girls while I shower or whatever. I'm pretty sure I'm going before Steve; just not sure how much before.

I also bought a travel case for the stroller so I can check it with my luggage, but still have it somewhat protected.

Beach Day!

Today was beach day! We had fun, fun, fun, and more fun! We really didn't want to leave, but knew dad was at home waiting for us and we had to get back to real life.The boys had fun boogie boarding with their friends. James had fun watching the little ones and helping them stay out of trouble.

Oh my goodness!

How cute is this dress?

I bought one for each girl from Gymboree!

Debating

I'm pondering going as early as possible to be with the girls after their court date. Weighing the pros and cons. Our case worker doesn't recommend it. I'm emailing with another mom who has traveled early to pick up her son and she seems to think I would be okay.

You might know that I'm the adventurous type. I do things with my kids that other moms don't do. One of those things is that I actually enjoy my children. What a concept!!! I think those moms don't realize that doing things with your kids actually lets you BE a kid for a while. Who wants to be grown up all the time?

The thought of going to Ethiopia by myself for a while before Steve joins me isn't at all intimidating. I'm not there so I may change my mind when reality hits.

VBS

I've been cutting, tracing, organizing and glittering lately. I'm in charge of crafts at VBS this year. Last week I put each craft in its own box so I could see what I had and what I needed. I'll take pictures and show you when I can. Our VBS theme is Take the Plunge With Jesus, using water-waterpark to get the points across.

The first day we're doing an aquarium. I cut aquarium shapes out of blue foam, bought ocean foam shapes and then they'll glue and glitter. Goes with the story about the Miraculous Catch of Fish and obedience.

Second day: Cross sand art. They're filling plastic crosses with sand. I also have a One Way foam hand with Christian foam shapes and sequins/jewels if we have extra time. Story: Jesus and the Woman at the Well-Worship

Third day: Penguin wind sock --Big piece of black construction paper with black crepe paper streamers, white eyes, white chest, yellow beak and feet and black wings with the verse "Even the wind and the sea obey Him" Story: Jesus Calms the Storm/ Courage

Fourth day: Life preservers that say : Take the Plunge with Jesus They'll color those and put stickers and glitter on. Story: Jesus Walks on Water/Faith

Fifth day: foam lacing bookmarks Story: Jesus Washes the Disciples Feet/service (I've been debating about making plaster crafts as extras. After I get all my penguin pieces in place we'll see where I'm at.)


Our family went and passed out VBS flyers the last Saturday in June to the local military housing and apts. Hopefully we'll have lots of children to minister to and be blessed by.

Campers

Well we picked up two campers on Friday. Joe was so dirty and had a beanie on that when I saw him I didn't even recognize him! They both had a super time and John sang camp songs to me and Steve all night and the next day.

Here's a picture of the boys with their counselors:

Jared, John, Dynamite, Rico and Joe

Rico, Joe, White Fang (notice how tired my son looks)

Friday and Saturday found me doing laundry so Jesse, Sarah and Joe would have clean clothes when they left for camp on Sunday morning. They took off bright and early to go to Hume Lake for the week. Our big 15 passenger van went with them to carry bodies. Before they left Sarah was staking out her spot in the van, right under an air conditioning vent.

We got a call that they made it safe and sound Sunday afternoon.