no joke...

Kel and I finished up the paperwork (still haven't closed, just waiting on the date) on some property here in town. I think Kel sums it up nicely:

Meet my new happy place. We got the news today that all of the required paperwork has finally been received and our offer accepted. It has everything that I hoped for - in the city, in an established neighborhood, has diverse schools, and it’s walking distance to a playground. Plus, more than I ever dared dream of - it’s half a block from a local conservation park, and, if depending on how much our neighbors’ trees fill in this summer, we even have a view from our backyard of the lake/marsh!

We can’t build for a year or two yet (no pressure on those actuarial exams, J) but I love just visiting the place and look forward to exploring the trails in the conservation park with the girls this summer.

I still can't believe we found property in town.

Been fighting to get the site back up after we switched ISPs a few months ago: we're back! While this was going on, Kel decided to get her own site, which can be found here:

http://itsasgoodasdancingqueen.wordpress.com/

as Kel said:

There you have it. We both agree that this is a "very good move". I'll still probably post about family stuff, but I have a feeling Kel's blog will have most of the family related posts (and will be updated more frequently).

I was tagged by the Mama to three boys (including one whose diapers she claims she will not be changing - but I foresee otherwise...): I am: a lot less frazzled than I was a month ago. I think: I can do this. I know: we have it pretty damn good. I want: to find the time to read books again. I have: an incredible circle of friends. I wish: I had another $50000. I hate: what fear and ignorance makes otherwise perfectly nice people do and say. I miss: our nights of Euchre, TV, beer, and board games with our friends. I fear: that those nights might be mostly over for good � I'll find out this weekend... I feel: a cat sleeping on my feet. I hear: my toddler groaning in her room through the baby monitor. I smell: Buddy's dog breath. I crave: chocolate and ice cream. And I eat a lot of it lately (apparently seven pounds worth since I got back). I search: too often for my keys. I wonder: what my kids will think of me in five, ten, and twenty years. I regret: not keeping up with cleaning of my electric stovetop. I love: my family. I ache: for people who get stuck and don't have the courage to really change their lives. I care: about the characters in books and movies way too much. I always: clench my jaw, get heartburn and nausea, and/or break out into hideous hives when I am stressed. I am not: at all coordinated. I believe: that we might be done having kids. I dance: more and more like my toddler every day. I sing: loud, often, and off key, and frequently with accompanying dance moves that embarrass my companions. I cry: less often than I laugh inappropriately when I am in stressful situations. I don�t always: shower daily. I fight: pretty infrequently � but have been known to come up with some doozies in the heat of the moment. I write: less than I should. I win: more often at Trivia games when I have had a drink or two. I lose: at anything requiring athletic ability. I never: can get to bed when I plan to. I confuse: catchy tunes with good music, and I don't care. I listen: to books on tape nearly every day. I can usually be found: wearing my old lady dearfoam slippers if I am in the house. I am afraid of: deep water - particularly �wild� water � like lakes and the ocean. I need: more time alone and with my husband. I am happy about: how my life has worked out so far. I am tagging Cinds, Deirdre, and Mel - but only if you feel like it and happen to have a few minutes to spare, ladies!

The term "playdate" has always annoyed me for some reason, so I won't use it here. But the girls went over to Irmao and Wendim's house and played with other kids for the first time since they got to the US. Overall, I think it went pretty well. Bug was a bit pouty and shy at first, Sunshine was somewhat cranky most of the time (but particularly when I decided to be done with the swings), and they were all a bit quiet and reserved while we were there, but everyone was enthusiastic talking about the fun they had for the ten minutes they were awake in the car on the way home, and asked when they could come play with Wendim and Irmao again. The boys were charming and the kids got along well, but I think this may have helped too: We have nothing but a one car driveway for the girls to ride trikes on and even that is a lumpy mess we can't afford to replace - so this was a dream come true for the kids. Then comes the kicker: Not only was this bike just naturally super cool, Sparkle had just seen a bike like this for the first time the day before, and her jaw had literally dropped in awe. Her mom is too chicken to ride it herself (I am not that great at keeping myself upright on a bicycle, let alone another human being) so I slacked, stood around, and took pictures while our gracious host took a spin and instantly won the bonus round in Sparkle's book. Our hero J was inside installing a garbage disposal, but he took a break to take her for a spin as well: Thanks, D!

We were blessed with some pretty amazing weather this weekend. J's parents came up for the afternoon on Saturday. Not only did they help out with the kids and the housework, but Janice also took some pretty amazing pics at the park. Here is a sampling:

Our best day in Ethiopia had to be the one we spent at the home of our new friends. We had the best food of the trip and possibly the best coffee I have ever drank. Our friend S and his family's hospitality was amazing - I ate to uncomfortable excess and this was even while refusing lots of offers for more delicious food. Sparkle had a blast too. She had taken over the use of my camera and I was amused later to find quite a lot of photos of one member of the household in particular that she seemed quite fond of :) Here are some pictures of her with some of our very gracious hosts: And here she is helping out with the coffee ceremony: Bug was pretty pouty for the first hour or so when the cameras were out, but she warmed up later - don't worry! S, his brothers and his sisters were really helpful with her: Our friends also showed us how to make shirowat and injera. After a short demonstration, I decided to give the injera a whirl. Here I am cleaning the press: And here's the mess I left: I realize that you really would probably need video for the full effect, but trust me when I say I do not have good form either. Everyone was in stitches after watching me though, so I guess that's something :) We really had a great day and it is one we will always remember. Thank you, M Family!

I wish I had some fun swimming pics to match the title, but unfortunately I don't. We went to stay at a local hotel with a kiddie pool and a waterslide last weekend, and the girls all had a blast. Joel even came along to help watch the kids, but we found even with an even ratio of adults to kids we were pretty busy with the supervision part of the job and couldn't spare a grown up to be our photographer. However, the girls loved it enough that we have already decided to get a family summer pass to a local pool, and enroll all the kids in swimming lessons too. This week we also went to Target and let each girl pick out goggles and a lifejacket. Bug chose Barbie everything. Sparkle chose a Barbie lifejacket and practical green goggles. Sunshine got Dora everything. Bug just loves her goggles and has worn them whenever she can since. She also wore the lifejacket most of the morning today. Here she is looking very cool in the goggles and a handmedown coat she discovered and decided she loves as well: Sunshine saw her goggles and grabbed the nearest pair of sunglasses she could find :) Speaking of Sunshine, this one is OT but a great one of our baby's trademark smile:

There are definitely more exciting and scenic places to go in Ethiopia, but if you are traveling with children and don't want to do any extended travel with them, Debra Zeit is a nice place to go to see some green and have a relaxing afternoon. Here are some photos from the park, where there were lots of interesting birds and plants: And yes: After an hour or two at the park, we decided to take a short taxi ride. Yes, this is regular transportation in the town, but they are also used to tourists so the driver didn't seem too surprised to hear we only wanted to go up the block and back. Our driver negotiated the price and was irritated at the amount the guy tried to charge us. I can't even remember what it was, but I think we only paid around a buck, and the girls loved it: After our horse ride, we went to lunch at a restaurant with mediocre food and an excellent view: We also tried an avocado drink. It was also lovely, but tasted quite bland: Again, it wasn't the most exciting trip but it was just the right pace for a mom finding her feet with two new kids. It was a half day trip for us. We left at 8:30 am, went to the park, for a buggy ride, then out to lunch and were back at the guest house by 2:00. We did not use an agency to book our trip. We just hired a private driver and the cost was about $100 total for the four of us.

More photos of our life with three girls: Fun with glitter make-up (and left-over easter egg stickers)...a huge hit: Bug's infamous pout face (which we are already seeing less and less): And...(drumroll please)...Sparkle's first day of school! Here we are getting ready on the day we went for our visit and tour where she met her class for the first time: And here she is before her first "real" day at school: We were all a bit nervous but she is doing great at school and seems to enjoy it so far. Bug was a little sad she didn't get to go too, so we all ended up going together to drop her off at her classroom. Here they are together: And here is a pic of the two youngest at home sharing a snack and a smooch while their big sis is away at school: And finally, a pic Sparkle took of her baby sister: