And some of my middle child. (Trysten is picture-less for the most part because of Kindergarten and just a general disdain for picture posing).

And he wanted this. He actually pulled all the dogs around him. Who says Ethiopians don’t like dogs?

One of Zach’s favorite tricks. Tariku wasn’t all about it quite yet.

Some recent ones of the Dutchess of Camp.

Our friends, the Sigler’s, just had baby Ty almost a week ago. I got to go visit this little booger in the hospital. What a cutie and how wonderful it is to hold newborns! Too precious.

And big brother, Cal.

I’m kind of done stewing about Darfur (nice work on “Sudan” sweet commentators) seeings a person close to me had no idea. I think it has a lot to do with educating our inner circles as obviously the media is not doing a good enough job. Stupid media, I like blaming them for things, it’s easier.

So then what else is going on in our life? Not too much. My sister is living with us until she can close on a house in town. Going surprisingly well, side for the fact that her dog stopped listening to us once she came back (odd, yes).

We’re finishing all the food and drinks from the party so presently I’m munching on M&Ms and drinking local beer. My life is really rough.

And tonight before bedtime we finished the movie, Nemo. Here are the boys (who were slightly scared of Bruce the shark). Seriously, this is so cute I want to cry, and might, since my allergies are so bad.

This was dinner last night. A glass of wine and 2 toaster strudels (hey, there are blueberries in there somewhere).

Clearly I believe in locovore-ism but have problems when I’m hungry, after a class, and have no fresh blueberries in sight.

This is just something that I can’t get past.

Today I caught one question on Who Wants to be a Millionaire. And this was the question:

“What African country is ‘Darfur’ located in?”

The countries were:
Somalia
Sudan
Kenya
South Africa

AND THE LADY HAD NO IDEA!!!!!

I understand that some people don’t know their African geography as well as the rest of us. But seriously.

Darfur…Darfur is probably the most publicized African place right now because of the heinous genocide happenings. If you don’t know Darfur, then you certainly don’t know Addis Ababa, Ethiopia or Freetown, Sierra Leone (for example).

So what did the contestant do? Phoned a friend. Who was her friend? Her dad. When her dad came on the phone she gave him the question and said, “I’m pretty sure it’s in Northwest Africa”……um, no, not so much.

What did her dad say?

That he was 100% positive it was SOMALIA.

Seriously.

Totally played into the stereotype that Americans care only about what’s happening here and in our very own backyards. That domestic adoption is the most respectable and obvious and sensical and international adoption is throwing the life raft to the “wrong” people.

I realize it was just a silly game show but it represents so much more to me. Africa is so much bigger to me than “that nation over there”. Those countries don’t run together for me the way they do some. One of those countries gave me one of the best gifts of my entire life and each of those countries holds millions of children like Tariku.

And Darfur, well the Tariku’s of Darfur are being slaughtered and a woman on a game show that is ALL ABOUT TRIVIA has no idea.

Flippin’ ticks me off.

And 24,000,000 cyber dollars to those of you who can name which country Darfur is in.

Here’s something I wrestle with some days more than others.

I used to be full time employed in a place outside the home. It was a good job. Good income, little expected of me, lots of free time. Was able to have lingering coffees with smart people (sometimes they included family) and lunches with people who didn’t need various things cut up and multiple trips to the bathroom. When I was working full time, I often thought that the stay-at-home life looked fairly easy. I didn’t think I was able to do it because I’ve always enjoyed some time away from the kids, on my own, but here I am.

It’s a well kept secret that sometimes we stay-at-home moms (at least the ones that I talk to that are being honest with themselves/me) hate the fact that our husbands go to work every day. Sure, work is hard and stressful, I understand that. But when we bring home another baby/child, our husbands’ daily lives change very little. They still get up in the morning, get ready for work, kisses, hugs and head to work. More pressure to bring home the bacon and be a great husband and dad, sure, but until 5-6ish, very little of that new child is felt.

Then there’s us. Some moments it feels like another butt to wipe or book to read. Another little body making demands on this big body. Our work gets no coffee breaks without the constant threat of spilling on ourselves as a child whizzes by. We get no golf games with key players in the community. There are no lunches with family members or community members under the pretense of work.

I still get lunch and coffee requests from community members that I enjoyed bonding with in my time in the outside world. The email back always says something like, “I would LOVE to as long as it’s before noon (nap times!) and somewhat kid friendly. Kid menus are optional but great, a place to let them loose next to us is necessary! No need to have extensive wine list, wine shalt not be consumed before bedtime.”

All this said, I know the grass is greener on this side. I know because I’ve walked barefoot on both sides of the fence and I’m here to stay. I can’t imagine my life better. But I SERIOUSLY look at my husband with hate in my eyes somedays because his day involves those aforementioned cups of coffee and brainstorm sessions that require more than kindergarten english.

So this goes out to all those other stay-at-home moms (and dads, hey, Patrick!) who have felt even a moment of this. Believe me, though our kids might not thank us today or tomorrow, one day they will be very thankful we threw in our cups of coffee for our fake tea sets!

And truly, with a family of mine, I am way…too…lucky to be able to afford this option!

I’m on a roll. These pictures go with the Surprise party post because they’re “the morning after”. I’m not going to lie, I’m still so exhausted. If any of you think you’re getting a surprise party out of me in the next decade, you’re sadly mistaken. I had so much fun but I’m still just exhaustapated. Don’t you feel so sorry for me? 🙂

We went to lunch with the family from St. Louis on Sunday before they had to take off. Here are the babes, waaaay to cute.

And the boys (check out Oliver’s goose egg, quite impressive).

Always the entertainer.

Family picture outside the restaurant. We are a lot and we have a lot of love!

Just loved this pic because I hear these older cousins used to look up to the Klipsch boys like this. My boys could not get enough of their second cousin, Jack, also known as “the funny guy”. Fun stuff.

After naps we took some horse rides. The kids and their respective safety gear.

SERIOUSLY.

Love them.

Something you won’t see very often…hotflawedmama on a horse.

My sister, her boyfriend, Hunter and Zach took a trail ride. Hunter was hesitant at first but became a seasoned pro (chaffing and all) after awhile.

And Dailah’s nightcap.

So the reason for my stalled blogging….A SURPRISE PARTY for my sister, Leslie! (OF course) I’ve been planning this for something like 6 weeks. Leslie has been so excited to turn 30 and I’ve always been about showing people that I love them so it just worked well. As I said in a previous blog, she is my locovore expert so some details about the party:

It was held out here at Camp. I bought only food that was grown within a 60 mile radius of us. (Except of course the chips and pop but those are necessary at all parties if you ask me). So here are some food pics.

The beer that Frankie and Emily picked up. All locally brewed all amazingly delicious, including one that was jalapeno flavored (I know, who knew?)

I had to include this. The wonder twins from Sierra Leone were infinitely fascinated by the keg.

Burgers with free range cattle grazing just 5 miles North of us.

Oh this concoction. I spent the better part of last week collecting potatoes, squash and onions for this delicacy. And boy was it worth it! 30 minutes on the grill (or 4 hours in the oven, depending) made this worth…every…bite.

Shishkabobs from Frankie and Emily. Some had steak, some had chicken, all were delicious.

And the desserts. Oh the desserts! Made by Leslie’s aunts and grandmas who were sent from heaven for many reasons but one of them HAS to be their ability to make fantastical desserts. Seriously, you have not tasted pie until you’ve tasted those.

Leslie with her cake. Did I mention the cake was amazing as well?

And then the actual party…She had friends from Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, St. Louis and Tipton come. They came from near and far to celebrate this amazing woman’s birthday. But no Klipsch party would be complete without feats of strength. So here we have Aunt Gayle doing the splits. Amazing, no warming up, just went straight for it. For the record I couldn’t be paid enough to try this.

And my favorite of all party favors, my brother-in-law, Jake’s shin slaps. Words can’t express the amazingness.

Leslie and her girls from Chicago/Minneapolis.

And finally, sisters. Emily, Leslie, Kait and myself. Kait wrote a great song for Leslie that she sang beautifully. Loves, the beautiful ladies I get to call sisters. Love them so much.

Today was another “hurdle” in the older child adoption ride.

Tariku is starting to remember Ethiopia. On one hand I think it’s great; I’ve been looking forward to this. But what we adoptive parents (myself included) don’t tell people is that we’re often hoping for the good memories. “Oh I was playing with my mom and dad and laughing, etc, etc”.

The reality is there was a lot of loss, devastation and hardship that led to Tariku becoming part of our family. Naturally he remembers everything. There’s been some good, there’s been some bad. Today he told a bit of his history that I knew because it was in his referral information but he had never told me. I had been able to read it and, of course, be saddened by it but was able to kind of push it away.

Today it became very real that my 3-year-old son has been through things I hope I never have to. That his reality is so different than mine ever has been. That he is a bigger fighter and a braver person than I could hope to be. I am so honored to have him for my son yet I would do anything to make him forget that.

I know that sounds awful as that is part of his history but my goodness, he seems too young, to joyful to have to bear that weight on his shoulders. How I wish I could lift it off and put it on mine. I hope maybe that’s what he was trying to do by sharing it with me. I hope he was trying to say, “Mommy will you take care of this too?” I wish I could communicate to him that I would do anything to make him never feel that again.

The perks of older child adoption are so numerous and I truly believe this is still one of them. Because of course he remembers some ugly but he remembers some rather beautiful moments too and I can’t wait to remind him of them as he gets older. But I’m his mom, do we ever want them to feel an ounce of pain?

I love you dearest Tariku and will forever envy your optimism and beautiful, joyous personality.