Summer Vacation - Week 2

It is still early summer and I have been up a bit too early today... since 1 in the morning to be exact.  At least it gives me time to get some blogging done (in addition to the laundry started, furniture re-arranged, FB updates read and closet decluttering).

We had quite a full week last week - our 2nd week of summer break.  It was kicked off with some Father's Day celebrating at Pike Lake.  Michael surprised me with going on the Solar System Hike (something that I read about as being one of Wisconsin's must-do's in the summer). 

Abera LOVED being in the hiking back-pack.  Lots of giggles and happy baby sounds/smiles.

Mehandis loved seeing which planet each sign represented.  It was a good educational stroll for all of us.  Now if I can only remember the sentence again for listing all the planets in order?

Anyhow... later in the week I headed back to school to actually attend a continuing ed class (mainly consisting  of building with legos).  A big thanks to Michael and my parents who took turns spending a day with the boys while I "played". 

We all enjoyed attending a modified version of "Jazz in the Park" hosted by the M's.  It was nice to have some new faces there as well with neighbors joining in.  The kids had a blast playing in the sand, grazing on snacks and running around.  I most enjoyed simply sitting down and chatting with friends - with a sampling of treats at arms reach!

Stefan was a gracious host - sharing ice cream treats with kids and adults alike.

Great job playing together in tight quarters... I think the sand is now fully out of little Bear's hair ;)

A quick cookie capped off the night before the rain arrived... typical Jazz.

Not sure if that is a frisbee or empty plate in Handi's hand?

The weekend entailed a new take on a "stay-cation".  We vacationed in the Chicago suburbs and stayed at Michael's parents house in Glen Ellyn - where he grew up. 

This is how we kicked off Saturday morning... donut picnic at the lake park.

Not a bad way to start a day!

 Michael and I even got to sip our coffee and chat for a bit while Mehandis pushed Abera in the swing.

I had to get my turn in though with the giggling swinger.

 Lunchtime took us to Toot Toot Cafe.  These trains cargo include-

 Cheeseburgers, french fries and chicken nuggets delivered to your table spot, while Thomas the Tank videos play in tvs surrounding you.  Crazy. We now know what it takes to keep a talkative/"expressive" 14 month old completely quiet during a restaurant meal!

 Couldn't pass up a pony ride in a place like this.

From lunch we traveled to Cantigny, where you can see (and climb) tanks from various time periods.

What you don't see are the walk-in fountains that we found, just as we were on our way out of the park.  Mehandis showed all his enthusiasm for water.  At the car we literally had to wring water out of all of his clothes.

But all of this energy expended resulted in Mehandis, Abera AND Michael taking over 2 hour naps.

At 4:12 all was still quiet in the house!

After waking and freshening up the troops, we had a simple barbecue in the back yard.

Bring on week 3 :)

Hot Times in the City

As the temperatures soar and break records this week I am so glad summer has REALLY arrived.  And I am so glad that there is only 3 more days of work left in an un-air conditioned school building.  At home the boys and I can always escape to the library or Playland McDonald's!

Some of our recent steamy adventures have included an outdoor brunch date with family friends.  Delicious quiche and refreshing lemonade were shared at the B's beautiful home (which was recently highlighted in the Entree section of the Journal-Sentinel).

 Abera enjoyed exploring the toddler toys and, of course, the patio steps.

Matthew and Joe had light sabres for Mehandis and Isaac to fight the force with!

Memorial Day weekend was jam packed with fun.  While Dominique and Fernando's party had chilly/wet weather we still got the kids out to play some tag and a variety of other self-made games.  Wish I had photos to share of that, but we were too busy laughing at all of their antics.

We were able to manage fitting in a trip to Bradford Beach over Memorial Day weekend as well.  It was a bit impromptu and  while we didn't have swim suits, a beach blanket or towels...

At least one of the family members managed to get a good soaking!

We also found that Abera enjoys playing outside in water as much as he does in the tub.

The sprinkler was too irresistible for the night pictured below... the boys took a quick run through the water while still in their clothes.

No problem since pajamas were soon to follow :)

 

After tomorrow's fore casted repeat of today's upper 100 degree heat index I think I will be looking for cool A/C times at the mall.

Everything is Growing!

Today is the first day of our CSA produce pick up!  This week brings us locally and organically gorwn asparagus, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, arugula, radishes, green garlic, button mushrooms, chives and rhubarb.  Yum.

A huge shout out goes to Michael as he has succeeded in getting grass to grow from seed in our front yard.  Last fall we (with the help of professionals and neighbors) chopped down our birch.  Once spring finally arrived, and the snow finally melted, we were quickly reminded that we had a plot of dirt.  Michael (and a neighbor who is a professional landscaper) prepped and planted grass seed.  After consistent twice a day watering we have lots of baby grass sprouting.

Huge kudos to Mehandis as well for giving up his great digging area and keeping off the seedlings!

Much to Mehandis's chagrin he has been stuck near 40 pounds... wants to weigh 100, since it is his favorite number.  We keep having to cycle out Abera's clothes and bring in Mehandis's old clothes since our baby is growing very well.  He is now 20 pounds.

Other new Abera milestones include playing peekaboo (covering his own face with his hands), brushing his 5 little teeth any chance he can get, "singing" and safely climbing up/down stairs.

Mehandis keeps maturing and has now grown into a great helper clearing glasses/dishes from the table, planting flowers outside and even packing all the clothes/toys he and Abera needed for an overnight trip (just forgetting one shirt and diapers!). 

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Easter!

Play dough eggs, bunny and chick cookies

 Sweet Easter plant from a student and a decorated mantel

One Easter Bunny ready to deliver his treats

 And two dressed up boys eager to see the Easter Bunny at this morning's upcoming brunch!

Spring-ish Break

Spring has been here for some time now... the spring weather though has not been so evident this past week.  Snow everyday since Saturday!

Thrilled that for this first day of my Spring Break is sun-filled!  I don't even mind that it started in the 30's and we will be lucky to hit 50.  A break from the clouds, snow and thunderstorms is much appreciated. 



Of course a break from our regular busy school day schedule is very celebrated as well :)

Gotta get back to helping a favorite 4 year old with his Play Dough Easter Egg creations. We are open for play time if anyone wants to get to join us this week and next!

Happy 1st Birthday Abera!!!

Our little Bear, who was 3 months old when I met him and 4 months when we brought him home, is one year old today.  Amazing!  Since joining our family he has quadrupled in size, surpassed his all of his brother's gross motor skill milestone markers (the baby ones that is) and is talking in both sign and spoken word.  We definitely cannot take all the credit... must be in his genes since Mehandis had the same nurture but different nature ;)

 We had a spectacular day to celebrate his birthday, Sunday of this past weekend.  It hit 80 and we were able to barbecue, play outside, wear shorts and short sleeves!

 Since he was the guest of honor, Abera stayed dressed in his Sunday's finest while walking (and falling) in the dirt and onto the driveway.

 The three boys enjoyed hanging out with the cousins/nephews/nieces, aunts/sisters and  grandparents/parents.  Sounds like a big gala but really only 8 guests.

 Elisa and Abera shared giggles over the balloons.

 The wind (and tornado warnings) died down long enough to let me light the candles!

 Big brother gives Abera a taste of cake.

By golly I think he liked it!

Happy Birthday Big Bear... we love you.

Recent Restrictions in Ethiopian Adoptions

We continue to receive emails from the agency that we used for Abera and Mehandis's adoptions.  Typically they are letting us know of webinars for continuing education, picnics for celebrating children/families, post-placement information and updates within the Ethiopian Program.  The last few messages shared significant changes that Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth have planned. 

What follows is a bulletin from a link received within today's email -

"As was stated in the March 9, 2011 Adoption Alert, the Department of State received information on the announcement made by the MOWCYA (Ethiopia) regarding the planned reduction in workload processing.
MOWCYA planned to implement a reduction of case processing from approximately 50 cases reviewed per day to no more than 5 cases reviewed per day.

MOWCYA has stated that this reduction is to improve screening of adoption cases while also devoting existing resources to other priorities on vulnerable children.

MOWCYA reviews each adoption case at two points in the process: after the match with prospective adoptive parents and after the final court decree to approve issuance of new birth certificate and passport for child.

MOWCYA has not announced any implementation guidelines on how reduction in processing will affect each stage of the process

If only 5 cases are reviewed per day, delays could be significant. Calculations based on rough estimates of cases in process (around 1000) indicate delays of one year or more.

Department of State defines ‘cases in process’ as those whose dossier has been accepted up to those cases that have received the final letter approving issuance of passport and birth certificate."
 
I am saddened by this decision by MOWCYA on many different levels.  It is hard for the children who have been matched (after thorough review of the validity of their "orphan" status) to wait potentially an extra year long for placement into their "forever family".  While international adoption has brought much monetary "resource" to Ethiopia, there is minimal money for government assistance for those children, women, men and families and need via Ethiopian resources alone.  I am sad for the nannies, medical personnel and related businesses that found an opporunity to care for others and/or support their own families due to the funds brought about by the "adoption business."  Families, and close friends of ours, who have waited several years for a child to be matched via CHSFS Ethiopia Program are now being strongly encouraged to look into other options/countries.  It is hard to know that the popularity of the ET program resulted in dozens of agencies opening their doors likely with more dollar signs in the forefront of their mind versus continuing the open and clear cut ethical standards that were upheld by original agencies.  Very complicated on many levels as well, of course. 

So today I  look at our most recent addition, arriving only 6 months ago, with a more acute sense of gratitude and glee... tinged with a bit of guilt.  It is amazing how we never know where our path may lead us and how many times we don't know if we should continue following it.  It continues taking me places that I never before envisioned being part of.