This kind of goes off the “tag” that is going around. The 7 things you may not know about me tag.

1) I kind of love cleaning. It’s mindless, it is instant gratification at its best. I pretend like I don’t like it (and I actually would still rather have someone do it for me) but I kinda do.

2) I would start another adoption tomorrow if I could. Zach has this weird thing about something called “waiting”. He forgot who he married. Me and “waiting” do not tango together real well or real often. He’s asking a lot of me to make me wait another year or so. He keeps mentioning something about “not being able to afford it”. I don’t know, I think it’s crazy talk.

3) I kind of have a “dirty” mind. I didn’t used to. My old self would’ve been horrified by some of the things that come out of my husband’s family’s mouths but alas I’ve become one of them. I’m the girl who laughs when people say “balls” or anything like it. Not so much laugh, but certainly giggle. (But hot cheese sandwich always gets a laugh outta me).

4) I LOVE to dance. Every day, the kids and I dance for 5 minutes. They get to pick the song (for the most part) and have to dance the whole time. Dance, structured or not, is the best. I always laugh, never stop smiling. In fact, I’ve figured out that I think that is my best way to worship. In the Bible it says people will sing and dance as acts of worship…and since I’m a truly heinous singer I’m fairly certain I was meant to dance. So I do. In church (it’s dark during worship) I’m constantly moving. I rarely do the raise the hand thing and only once in awhile sing louder than “under my breath” but you’ll find me dancing. I owe the Guy something, it really is the least I could do.

5) I’m kind of an emotive gal. People know how I’m feeling and what I’m thinking. I have friends who are better at hiding things but everyone knows what kind of mood I’m in when I answer the phone or in the first few minutes of seeing me. Most of the time I like that about myself but I do wish I could catch a grip once in awhile. Must stop crying every Sunday during Extreme Home Makeover.

6) Contrary to popular images in the media, I believe people are good. Sure, there is darkness in all of us (just ask Dumbledore) but I think we’re good. I’m counting on people, regardless of who wins the election, to change things in America and around the world. Start taking care of each other in a way government never could. The way we were made to do, that’s what I want. I realize it might be naive but I see no harm in believing in this dream. Who would need welfare if we finally stepped up to our full human potential?

7) I use my dogs as footstools. I love them, don’t get me wrong. But they are terrific to rest my feet on at night. Aristotle is the best for it because of the extra weight around the middle. Abe is getting to be a decent foot rest but he’s growing so fast it’s all ribs and skin now and who wants that for their tootsies?

Now don’t you feel better? I don’t want to name 7 others to do this so if you have a blog and need something to talk about, go for it.

I’m hotflawedmama and I approve this message.

We had been waiting to go to the patch until Jake and Leslie and the kids could go with us so tonight was our night. Just some good ones of the awesome afternoon.

The boys in the bounce house.

Trysten shooting a bulls eye at the archery range.

Doozie’s reaction to Trysten’s bulls eye.

Dailah giving it a shot.

She can’t help herself.

And who is that? Well that’s Leslie! Who knew she could handle a bow and arrow. Not bad!

I can’t believe I get to live here. Told you it’s beautiful.

I mean, really.

Tariku and uncle Jake.

Trysten concentrating while painting his pumpkin.

Tariku concentrating.

Doesn’t he look like a future artist?

Isn’t this just a great picture of boys being boys?

I just wanted to point out that Leslie doesn’t ALWAYS eat homemade, farm fresh goodness. There’s a literal chip on her shoulder to prove it.

Must know me. It turns out most of you check my blog after 9pm. You must’ve figured out that I blog later at night, after the kids are in bed, when we’re watching TV. But I might surprise you, so just keep checkin’.

So today was Trysten’s last soccer game. Zach had to work, Kara (my sister) had to work. So I coached, by myself, with Dailah in a backpack and Tariku holding my hand. That will never be done again but it did remind me of why moms should probably get the Nobel Peace Prize every single time. Are we seriously not the most amazing species in the world? Cure for cancer? How about coached a soccer game AND mommed the poo out of two other kids.

We received our paperwork to finalize Tariku’s adoption. Surreal. When leaving the restaurant last night, it hit me that it feels like he’s been in our family forever. Hard to believe that I couldn’t just head over to the shelves and, in a moment of pure nostalgia, look at the baby pictures of my Tariku. Fresh from the womb, all icky sticky gross but cute as a button. Incredible.

In other news, tomorrow we are finalizing the details of next month’s project. Are you beyond excited to hear about it? You should be…if I have anything to do with it, there will be dancing involved. And that, my friends, should get you so excited you can’t stand it.

Stay tuned.

PLEASE go to Jody’s blog. There is some really great info about supporting an amazing group out of Sierra Leone. And it’s as easy as purchasing a beeautiful bag. It’s not our next monthly project but it certainly changes “orphans” lives which is what we are all about.

So will you go? Will you find out how you can help our brothers and sisters half a world away?

I knew you would. Much obliged.

I LOVE fall at camp. The colors, the sounds. The frost on the ground that makes me hear the deer that are quite far away (despite my “small” hearing disability). I mean it really is brilliant and I can’t imagine living anywhere but out here this time of year.

And did I mention the pumpkin patch? Love it too.

Besides I get to see these people and that makes everything worth it.

Evidence of her highness being spoiled by her big brother, Tariku.

I’ve become obsessed. Someone take the oil and comb away from me.

But last night he did thank God for me doing his hair so I guess that justifies it then.

This is how she gets us to forget about her indiscretions.

We went to Happy Joe’s Jungle Bungle tonight and the kids had a lot of fun. They got trick or treat bags and Tariku started a revolution by putting it on his head.

I’m not even sure where to start on our hair appointment today. We were at the salon from 9-1:30pm. Kora’s extensions took about 3 hours. Then there was the waiting for everything to start for about 45 minutes. Zeke’s took a bit and then there was the much needed McDonald’s run.

Oh yeah and then the fact that Tariku left the way he came in; with absolutely nothing done to his hair.

I did learn a few tricks so I suppose the 5 hour chat fest was worth it. And the fact that Tariku was surrounded by people that look more like him than his family was also worth it for me.

Plus I got to see Jody sweat and stress for 5 hours which is always entertaining.

But the big surprise? I got home and tried my own coily things on Tariku and they’re not too bad for my first shot. You be the judge (but if you’re going to say something bad then just don’t say anything at all, ok?)

I had to add this because…well that’s obvious.

The outside of the hair place.

I introduced Zeke to lipgloss (hi, Andy!) and he wanted me to take a picture of his pretty lips.

My job was to wrangle the other 3 kids and this is how I did it…let lots of “ring around the rosies” happen.

I was helping Kora when she was getting done with her extensions and I turn around and see this. Seriously.

And then this. Tariku said Dailah wanted to snugglebugs and he obliged.

This was the end of the day, can you see the exhaustion in her eyes?

And here we go…Tariku after I did his hair. Now remember, I didn’t use any product so it’ll probably be out by tomorrow but wanted to see if I could.

The back.

And the only top I could get…Tariku wrestling with daddy.

Um not so much. You all are great with backpacks but crap with African hair care so thanks for that.

But I was able to use my own contacts to find a place and tomorrow at 9am Tariku, Zeke and Kora will head into the land of hair care.

There will be pictures so you should probably stay on the edge of your seats.

I made a really good dinner tonight and ate a decent amount but now I want chocolate so I’m going for Cocoa Krispies.

Story of my life.

Seriously. I’ve been trying to get hair appointments for Tariku, Zeke and Kora and it’s become nearly impossible.

Anyone know of a great place to get African hair done in the Quad Cities? Nothing fancy, just looking for some good ideas.

Yesterday we had a baby shower for our dear friends Dan and Becky and their baby girl, Cates. There were the traditional baby shower games but this time it was the men competing and it made for entertaining pictures.

Seriously, the camera loves this guy.

The honored guest and hotflawedmama.

Cates and momma Becky.

The dads before the competition (they were asked to dress in their Olympic best).

The boy cousins. I know, too cute.

Her favorite toy of all time.

Getting into she and Eli’s favorite spot that day…

The doghouse

The Klipsch men drinking milk out of a bottle (they won).

Doozie copying her favorite daddy.

Smelling baby food

The final two, in their best beauty pageant stance.

The kids felt left out so they had a race to end the day.

I know it’s said in every “6 month home” blog but it really is hard to believe Tariku has been home 6 months. I talked to him on the phone the other day and I was convinced he was Trysten. There is virtually no accent left on him and when I spoke Amharic the other day he had no idea what I was talking about. Both sad and incredible at the same time.

Yesterday marked the day that he has been with us longer than he was in the care center. Yesterday marks another day that will hopefully be proving his permanence in this home.

Today he thanked me for bringing him home (we weren’t at home, so the concept is interesting).

He was always a great kid. He never really had huge tantrums and only in Ethiopia did they last anywhere close to 5 minutes. He’s a bit stubborn but without a doubt he’s the best behaved 3-year-old I know. The way they described him in his lifebook video is somewhat accurate but he’s actually pretty great at sharing and does not cry nearly as often as I was expecting (though that’s gotten better as well).

He has grown at ridiculous speeds, he is now getting a bit too big for 4t pants. His face is filling out and I hardly recognize the pictures from Ethiopia.

But my reflections over the last couple days haven’t been much about his clothes or his non-accent.

They’ve been about the difference in all of us from 6 months ago. I was talking to another adoptive mom about this today (oh ok, it was Jody). Adoptive moms, as she puts it, are a force.

And we are, hopefully for good.

But I’m all in now. Bringing Tariku home has brought EVERYTHING in my backyard. Everything is personal. I can’t escape the orphaned in Haiti or the little boy whose parents need a little extra time to figure out how to be better parents. I can’t escape them because I’ve fallen desperately in love with one of those. I don’t look at Tariku differently than Trysten or Dailah but I also remember where he did come from and the tragic circumstances that brought us together.

I always say that at the very basic, most elemental level; adoption is “killing two birds with one stone.” We really wanted another baby to love and there just happened to be a little boy who needed someone to tuck him in and give him super special mommy kisses. It works on both levels.

And even though I had no idea that I would be forever changed as I have been, I will be eternally grateful to Tariku for it. I’m still guilty of slipping into the everyday and thinking of me and mine. But I also sometimes wake up at night and think of how I can have an outlet for the pounds of passion keeping me up. I think of how I can honor Tariku’s adoption by making adoption less needed. That’s the Plumpy’nut, the backpacks, and hopefully every one of our monthly projects. Selfishly I’m happy adoption was needed in Tariku’s case (full disclosure) but I’m not naive enough to believe Tariku is better with me than with his Ethiopian family.

Clearly I make mistakes, clearly I’m an incredibly selfish person most of the time. Any moment of sheer unselfish genius I have is inspired by the people around me. I surround myself with those warriors of unselfishness so that I can hide my own indiscretions. That’s the secret to life isnt it, surrounding yourself with inspiring people?

And truly, Tariku is by far one of the most inspiring people I will ever meet in my life.

Thank you baby boy, for being stronger than I could ever give you credit for and for a lifetime’s supply of inspirational moments.