So Tacky!

Amina and I rockin' our new headbands :)

Some awesome teachers who joined the "headband" club.

Piper sportin' her Ethiopian attire because she loves it SO much!

A better view of our unique headwear

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of hosting a "Tacky 4 Africa" party at my house. Lots of ladies showed up to hear Jaime Glandon describe the efforts of Because Every Mother Matters (founded by Steffany Boster). It was a couple hours filled with fellowship and a dose of reality. BEMM supports women in Ethiopia by providing them not only with education, but tools and resources that could help them save their lives and that of their unborn children. (Did you know that in East Africa, 1 in 11 mommas die due to pregnancy related causes EVERY DAY.) This organization has done so many amazing things already! However, like any nonprofit, they constantly need to raise funds to support their projects. Check out the website for more info. on how you can help, how you can buy one of these awesome headbands and how you can join their efforts!

Me and my girls

Get Away

For Christmas this year, the kids got a few presents from Santa, then another present from mommy and daddy along with Grandpa Dean and Linda. The present was that they were given a note and little, howling wolf with different colors of ribbons or bandanas (so they could tell them apart) to signify the mini-vacation we would be taking 3 days after Christmas. So, not long after the celebrating, we packed up, headed out for a 2 1/2 hour drive (no problem for my kids because they are so used to travelling somewhere) and headed to Great Wolf Lodge. Our room was awesome because we got a free upgrade when the room we reserved was not available (yah, not sure how that happens), so we ended up with a loft, fireplace and tons of space!! The indoor waterpark at the lodge was super fun, and we had a ton of fun just being together as a family. This was Amina's first experience with a pool, and she LOVED the water (which was to be expected because of her love of bath time). Love these uninterrupted days of family time!

A New Year

As I began to talk about New Year's resolutions with my kids and really think about what my resolution might be this year, I realized that I couldn't pin it down to just one thing. (Although, according to my oldest, it's only allowed to be 1 thing.) Most of the time, people (including myself) make a resolution, slip up once, then quit. I want to make this year different. Hopefully, if I write my thoughts down here where anyone and everyone can read them, it will hold me a little more accountable...

1. I resolve to work on being more patient each and every day. I'm pretty sure that I worded this correctly.....because I'll never be as patient as I want to be, I'll slip up and lose my cool, but I want to grow my patience with others and difficult situations each time I'm faced with someone or something that is "trying" me. In other words, when I feel like I'm gonna have to pull my hair out because the noise level in my house is ear-splitting or maybe my kids are not being so kind to each other, I want to be able to handle the situation at hand cooly, and maybe a little creatively most of the time.

2. I resolve to step out of my comfort zone, follow His lead and make decisions in my life that don't just lead me down the easy or comfortable road. I want to allow myself to follow my heart without always being able to see the end result. In the past, I've wanted to know what is going to happen, when it's going to happen, who is going to be there and where we are going. Instead, I want to be led by my heart to do things a little differently, step out into the unknown, and unlock my inner free spirit.

3. I want to continue to remember the power of one. What I do matters. I may not be able to change the world, but I can change someone's life, somehow, someway. No matter what others may say, I want to remember this, and be inspired by like-minded others daily.

4. I resolve to forgive more quickly. I do not want to hold grudges, but face the situation head-on, acknowledging the situation and individual by forgiving them in my heart no matter how hard it is. I know that to be truly forgiven myself, I have to forgive others. No one is perfect. I'm sure that I've hurt the feelings of others, and I sure hope they have been gracious enough to forgive me.

5. I resolve to eat no sweets. (Yes, here we go with a more typical resolution.) I know that I CAN do this. I've done it before, and I can do it again. I feel better, have more energy and gain some pride each time I deny that sweet treat in front of me. Maybe if I can make it a couple of months like this, I can allow myself a once a week treat. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....will become, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can!

So, here is to a new year! Last year brought adventure, new relationships, grew our family and stretched me in ways that I am still discovering. I can not wait to see what 2012 brings!

Christmas

Piper really wanted a boy Barbie so daddy could play with her. :)

Christmas socks (except for shorty, obviously)

Reilly in his new t-shirt.

Amina had a few bows in her stocking. :)

Chase is a ready for the pros!

Don't let the picture fool you. Amina actually wasn't interested in opening presents at all!

Dressed up for the Christmas Eve church service

We tried it...Everyone sat on or stood near Santa. Amina allowed it for a few seconds, then quietly slid off his lap.

Christmas Preparations

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This weekend we watched "Elf on the Shelf", "Ice Age Christmas" and other festive shows. We decorated inside, put up our tree, and added lights to the outside of our house. Our totally kid-decorated tree is a little bit crazy, but beautiful nonetheless. (Ignore the fact that there are many, many ornaments in the lower sections of the tree.) We loved the fact that we had 60 degree weather to play outside in for two days in a row! To finish off our post-Thanksgiving weekend, the boys and I went shopping for 4 Christmas boxes that we will send to New Missions in Haiti this year. It was fun to see the boys choose the toys, hygiene items, etc. for kids they will never know, taking pride in their choices along the way. (Since the girls are too little to understand, the boys shopped for the girl boxes too.) I really depise snow, but love the Christmas season!

Things that make me smile....

1. My kids running to me after leaving them all for the first time (that there were 4 of them) and about tackling me to the ground.
2. That Amina calls me "dadda". (Well, at least I've got a name!)
3. Chase's keen attention to details, sense of humor and his wonderful stories.
4. Reilly's work ethic, obedience and love for others.
5. Piper's sense of style (ha, ha), and her excitement over the littlest things.
6. Date night with my kids one-on-one
7. My hubby's goofy nature and ability to be a kid with my kids.
8. Dancing in the kitchen to Ethiopian music with my family. Amina has some mean dance moves!
9. Amina's hilarious facial expressions
10. Being with my kids

Our Journey

This video gives a glimpse into our family's life over the past 1 1/2 years. Enjoy the next 10 minutes! There is a section of the video (about 45 seconds long) where there is no music playing. Seems like maybe I made a mistake, but the silence is actually part of the song. I love the song way too much not to use it!

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