Today was a looong day for some reason. Bodypump, bodystep, hang with the landers, head to Iowa City, visit with friends, visit with family, head home. Whew!

Did you know that it takes longer to get places with 3 kids? Did you know if you go to a hospital with one adult and 3 kids you are outnumbered and will never catch up/wait for all of them very well. Did you know it becomes not a big deal at all to realize you just spent an hour doing something but can’t really remember what it was or who you were talking to or what you were saying?

Yikes, spikes. This day went so quickly and I don’t remember a blink of it how does that even happen? And the kids are great. They are great. And I’m going to bed. That was a worthless post but I’m hoping I can refer back to it tomorrow to remember that this was, in fact, an entire day.

I made it. Not only did I make it with 3 kids and one grown human but I also cleaned the entire house. Like, I mopped, so I REALLY cleaned. It had very little to do with the fact that I found another piss puddle 2 cm from the toilet.

They should flippin’ clone me I’m that good.

That’s what my 5-year-old asked me a minute ago.

Yes, I respond, do you?

Yeah it means, “You’re pretty.”

How did you know that, Trysten?

Because Alvin said it on the Chipmunks.

Oh, well that’s weird.

Yeah, You’re hot, mom.

Thanks babe, that means a lot.

No, I was just saying that.

Oh ok, well thanks anyway.

What a bizzare question. Aren’t I too young to be fielding questions such as this from my baby boy? It only gets crazier, as Jody knows so well.

Zach goes back to work full time today. It’s my first day with 3 kids by myself. I suppose with kids this cute I shouldn’t complain.

Everything is going great. Tariku continues to impress us with his ability to be happy in pretty much all situations. It is quite obvious he’s used to having older sibling-like people in his life and he’s even taken quite a liking to being a big brother. Dailah has 2 big brothers doting on her every move. Yesterday they were outside, she kept kicking off her crocs and grunting for one of her brothers to come help. One of them inevitably would and then they would help her up the stairs and down the stairs. They’d brush her off if she fell. It’s getting kind of ridiculous. They even like playing with her, in the picture with her in all the cushions…yeah that’s from her brothers. You’d feel sorry for her stuck there if you didn’t know that she loved every minute of it and didn’t want them to let her out. 🙂 My heart is bursting with love! Check out these pics, kind of crazy. (Oh, and Bodystep went well, I am exhaustapated and sore today).

I have lately had one vice…it’s called Southwestern Ranch dip from Tostitoes. It’s in the fridge, a forbidden fruit of sorts.

Why is it forbidden?

Because every time I get out the jar and it “pops” I have six little hands trying to reach in the bag of chips and dip into my vice.

How long until ALL of them will understand you should NEVER get between a woman and her vice?

Tomorrow is BodySTEP launch (anyone who is close enough to come, do it! Downtown Y at nooner, it’ll change your life!)

Anyway, I’ve been practicing all day today and we also braved the Y this morning. We put Tariku (and other kids) in the child watch as a trial run to see if he’d make it so I can get back to teaching classes (I’m going through workout withdrawls). He was in there for about an hour and he did great! Came running to me when I got back, etc. So that’s awesome. Things are going well.

And here are a few more pics to prove it. I love my life.

Like a PTA mom? I sure hope so…because that’s who I’m going to be in just a few months.

It was Kindergarten round-up day. My baby boy all growed up and it’s just so hard to believe. I still remember those 3 hours of trying to push that big head out and then forgetting all about that when he looked at me. Awesomeness.

He did well…walked off flashing the peace sign as I choked back the tears and sat through a boring “chat” about what to expect from our kindergartner. Somehow during this boringness I got talked into not only joining the PTA but running for officer. All it took was the statistics on parents involved in their kids’ education doing much better than others (and I had a mom who was our high school guidance counselor, she knew if I laughed at something inappropriate in class before class was out…i’m a believer). So there you have it.

Everything else is going well. I’m not quite sure if I was prepared to deal with the fact that I love Tariku so much already. I was totally prepared for being a bit resistant to him but I’m not at all. It’s still hard for me to wrap my head around. 2 weeks ago I knew him just from pictures but he already feels like he’s been here forever (except for the fact that he sings in a language I don’t understand and I LOVE singing along with people).

With that said, here’s some pics of the people I love the mostest. A couple of the pics: we went on a hike through camp yesterday it was aweome, Tariku and Dailah got into my sister’s lip gloss, first trip to Target, first trip to doctor, who says Ethiopians don’t love dogs? and just love in general.

So today has been a test in motherhood and it’s only 7:40.

Yesterday we went to the doc and they gave us a poo sampling kit so we can test Tariku for giardia (I need no test, the paint on my bathroom walls is recoiling in fear when that kid enters the bathroom). I was thinking on my way home how there needs to be a service who will do the poo collecting for you, I hate that stuff. So I thought of a business idea. The company will be called Poo For You and the slogan will be, “We do poo so you don’t have to.” I think it’s brilliant. But until someone actually puts it into practice, I had to do it myself. 😦

6:30..”Mommy, caca.” Says my middle child. I rustle out of bed, knowing what’s in store for this momma when he utters “caca”. I get all the supplies ready, put the gloves on and mentally prepare myself for what’s to come.

6:35 2 dry heaves later and it’s done. Exit bathroom stage right and see vomit from woosha (dog). Proceed to “let” him outside. Clean up vomit.

6:37 Commence to kitchen to make breakfast for 3 hungry chitlins. See large pool of urine by the door. Look at Tariku, “Tariku, shinte?” (Tariku did you just piss on the floor?) Finger shakes from Tariku. (No)

So either my dog or my son peed on the floor. I’ll give Tariku leeway as it’s entirely possible he was sleep walking and dropped his pants where he thought was the toilet.

Better get to taking those poo samples to the poo market. Apparently it tests better when it’s fresh. Where oh where are the Poo For You people when I need them?

say, “Stop urinating on the floor, point your penis in the toilet.” In Amharic?

I’m getting VERY sick of stepping in pee anytime I go to the bathroom. About two minutes ago I went to the bathroom and noticed no pee INSIDE the toilet but quite a bit on the seat, floor, rug and side of the bath. Seriously. And the kids’ bathroom smells like urine. Its been 4 days and my house smells like urine. Nice.

Any help on this would be great. 🙂 Oh, and if you speak Amharic and can tell me what to say that’d be great; but don’t tell me if my tattoo actually says “dumbass” instead of “grace”. Thanks in advance.