Can’t believe it’s Sunday (night). This weekend went so quickly with me not having accomplished much of anything. But I did do something…I took pictures. So lucky you, you get to reap the benefits from that productivity.

I mean, do they get any cuter?

And finally, a decent picture of my eldest. We went to the grocery store today when the little ones were sleeping, love hanging out with this one.

Wordless? Um yeah.

Tonight we did get one thing accomplished, homemade pizza. Can you smell it? Can you taste it? It was so good Zach is asking to make it in our weekly rotation, I would have to concur.

Had a few people ask how Abe is doing. In one word…wonderfully. He’s an awesome puppy and getting bigger by the minute. Big dogs, big bladders, less chance of sprinting off towards the horses. He’s just…awesome. And he loves his big brother.

Doozie trying Zach’s tricks.

The wonder twins staring at the 3 dogs in the entryway. Loved them from afar, not so much up close.

Zach and Kora bonded over tickle tortures and hooded surprises.

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.