Here Comes...(part I)

A New and Delightful Discovery

Sledding!!! Oh, if only I could capture the sheer joy and delight of the last few days outside in the snow...and put it in a bottle for the rainy days when we're stuck inside. Our neighborhood has become a winter wonderland. Since the snow storm hit a few days ago, Mark and I have been getting our much (overdue) needed exercise by pulling Ashenafi up and down the street on the saucer. We also have a big hill nearby and we've been reliving our childhoods sledding down it with Ashen on our laps.

Today Heidi came over and took these great pictures of him (and T and M) and attempted to build a snowman with Ashen, but the snow is still too powdery because it's frigid. He NEVER complains that he's too cold, despite his lack of proper foot attire (what? A plastic back over running shoes doesn't constitute a snow boot in 29 degree weather?) and often chattery teeth. He's quick to jump into the bathtub or under a warm quilt when the sledding adventure is over! Sidenote: It's funny how we Northwesterners often don't invest in snow attire (unless we're ski/snowboard bums) even though we live sooo close to the mountains, because it snows so infrequently that it's often a waste of $$ to deck a kid out in snow gear when he probably won't wear it before he outgrows it!

And then there is sweet T, teething and all, trying to stay warm in daddy's pouch. Don't worry, he wasn't out long without a hat!

We're enjoying the snow while it lasts. We haven't seen anything like this since we were kids, and it reminds us of the storm we always refer to whenever big snowstorms come up...the winter of '86 (or thereabouts). Hope everyone is staying warm!

A Dad builds his son a snow cave...

...and his son enjoyed it.

Rainbow Legs

Choo-Choo Cars

The gal who sold me this rug on Craigslist wasn't joking when she said it would provide hours of entertainment!
Exhibit A:

The first snow

And an early morning stroll.

Too bad it's too cold to compact snow to make a snowman!
Ashen was enthralled with the white beauty, so was Torin for a few minutes, but then he would have preferred to go inside from the looks of his scowl...

Oh my goodness, I love snow!!

Brrrr, mama. Can't you tell I'm miserable?

See the snow angel? Cutest one we ever did see...We were reenacting some scenes from Snowy Day, which Ashenafi thought was a blast.

Trim the Tree

World AIDS Day

December 1st was World AIDS Day. I missed posting about it that day, but it's never too late.

Many of you, dear readers, know that I am passionate about HIV/AIDS and its impact on children (as orphans and as carriers of the virus). A woman named Erin, whose blog I read has 11 children (wow! She's a really awesome mom too!), two of whom are HIV+, adopted from Ethiopia. She has always been quite open about their status to those of us in the adoption blog world, knowing that with education and less ignorance, there will be less shame and stigma around the disease. I am in awe of her vulnerability and openness. I hope that if we adopt an HIV+ child, we will be so bold as to be open and educate our families, communities and even perfect strangers about the truths about HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, life isn't always rosy, especially for those living with HIV/AIDS abroad or in the US. They are often ostracized, shamed and marginalized. It is a huge risk to be open about your HIV status, even in 2008. That crushes me.

Erin wrote a great post about HIV and her family on World AIDS Day, so I thought I'd link you up to it if you're interested in reading a very candid and educational post about living with the disease and being a mom to children living with HIV.

Mark and I had the opportunity to visit an amazing organization in Ethiopia while were picking up Ashen. AHOPE for Children is an organization that cares for orphaned children, ages 0-15+, living with HIV. Since they were able to obtain anti-retroviral drugs for all the children a few years ago, the mortality rate has nearly flatlined and children are now living with hope for their futures. AHOPE is also working to have the children find their forever families through adoption as well.

Moving Day...drumroll please...

before...

...after!

One room down...2.5 to go!
Saturday was a HUGE day for us--a milestone. Our first room is totally complete and Ashen moved in! He is so excited for his new room and we're excited he's in there. Torin will move in when he's sleeping through the night...when, oh when?

Ashen's old room had new (old) wood floor put in this week, and Mark will refinish it this weekend. So by the following weekend that room will be complete.

Then it's on to our room. We need to lay wood floor in the addition and do all the finish work in the new bathroom.

We were hoping to be done by Christmas, but as all house remodels go, it won't be done when we hoped. I'm hoping for January. Life is (not) waiting for us! There are too many things we'd rather be doing now other than construction.

Thankful? Yes. Ready to be finished? Yes again.

How big is Torin!!?!

Oh how I love to sniff thee...

waking up to flowers? Priceless.

Early Christmas Cookies

Mark got in the mood to bake the other evening and whipped up some dough for chocolate crinkle cookies. Have I ever mentioned my husband's extreme weakness for chocolate? Since they needed to chill for hours, he didn't have the chance to bake them. Yesterday about 4:20 (close to meltdown time in our house), I decided it was time to distract A and teach him how to roll cookie dough balls in powdered sugar...mmmm, fun task! He took it stride and carefully listened to instruction and is well on his way to some baking awards. I especially liked how after he rolled the cookie ball around in the suger, he would toss it over to the cookie sheet, and powdered sugar would puff into the air as it landed. Of course, what 2 year old can pass up an opportunity to lick the white powdery deliciuosness from his fingers while baking? Not mine.

Happy Double Digits!!?

Happy 10 Months, beautiful.

Who IS this scary Santa Man?

Last weekend we took the family on the Santa Train: An old train converted into a festive bounty of lights and garland that zips 15 minutes down the line to an old shack where you (might) have pictures with Santa and some Swiss Miss cocoa and a stale cookie, then a 15 minute whisk back. It's no Polar Express, but it's fun for the kids (and the adults), however I guess we forgot to ever mention Santa to Ashen after his improvisation last year...woops!

As we're standing in line for pictures (you couldn't seen Santa yet), I started to brief him on who we were going to visit, "Um...a fat man wearing fur and a red outfit with a big white beard...and don't worry, you can sit on his lap, this big old man stranger, and smile, then we'll take your picture. He'll ask you what you want for Christmas. It will be fun!" Ha! My boy is quite astute to things that "Scared You", sounds more like "Scare-doo" and would have nothing of it. As I tried placing him on Santa's lap he clung tightly and cried. Oh my, no Santa for this little guy.

On the way back on the train, Santa came with us and handed candy canes to the kids at which point I thought maybe Ashen would be up for a photo, with me this time. Ummm....no. I'm not set on making my kids believe in Santa, so we'll take it one year at a time. As you can see from the pictures, I think this is not a year for Santa.

Torin on the other hand...I think he has Santa wrapped around his finger and will be getting whatever he wants this Christmas (hmmm, now I just have to figure out what he said :)