A Madagascar Valentines Day DVD Review And Giveaway

Contests, Entertainment, Giveaways, holidays, Reviews, Stuff 15 Responses »

Jan 222013

Win This DVD!!!

Madagascar has been one of those movies that sticks around with specials and sequels, and I don’t mind it at all. Many a movie I wish they would have stopped after the first, but Madagascar is quite funny!

The new Valentines Day short flick, Madly Madagascar is no exception. It will hit the store shelves January, 29th. I loved it, the kids loved it and I get to give one away! YEAH!

To enter, simply leave a comment about your favorite African animal. Earn an extra entry by liking my Facebook page and leaving a comment that you did so. Contest is open to US and Canadians and winner will be contacted via email for a snail mail address. The DVD will be sent to you via the media company. Easy and fun I tell you!

Contest is open from January 22nd – 31st midnight, 2013. Winner will be announced on January 31st or close to that date. Good luck!

ThinkJam the PR company who gave me this giveaway opportunity has also shared the below Valentine’s Day gift guide!

Valentine’s Day Gift GuideInspired by MADLY MADAGASCAR, coming to DVD January 29

Your favorite Madagascar pals are back in an all-new adventure! Alex’s favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day, brings hilarious surprises and excitement for the entire gang. Melman plans a big surprise for Gloria, Marty tries to impress a new friend and everyone wants to get their hands on King Julien’s love potion. You’ll fall in LOVE with MADLY MADAGASCAR!

Deciding what to give your friends and family for Valentine’s Day can be a tough job. However, this handy guide will make this Valentine’s Day a breeze! Here, we’ll provide helpful suggestions of fun and unique gift ideas that kids and grownups alike will enjoy this V-Day!

PERSONALIZED LOVE COOKIES

Looking for a nice way to send your love to your friends and family this Valentine’s Day? Consider baking them special love-themed cookies to send to them at work, school, etc. Kids will appreciate a fun, extra treat to share with their friends at lunchtime, and mom and dad will love the heartfelt sugary snack made from scratch. Simply look up easy sugar cookie ideas, use a heartshaped cookie cutter, and then frost in white, red or pink with personalized messages. You can even use Pinterest for more awesome decorating ideas!

CUTE PLUSHIES

Kids will love waking up to a cuddling Valentine’s Day stuffed animal! V-Day plushies come in a huge range of different creatures, both real and mythical! Stuffed animals aren’t just for kids, either; adults can display them in their offices or cars as an extra way to show that someone was thinking about them on this special day.

COUPONS FOR A FAMILY NIGHT IN

Homemade coupons are always a hit with moms and dads, and this Valentine’s Day we suggest creating a coupon for a night in with your family! These cute coupons are simple to make – all you need is some colorful construction paper and markers. Parents can help kids write out a personalized coupon promising to spend a fun night in with their families. You can even list suggested activities for the night in such as playing board games, watching movies or cooking a family meal.

MADLY MADAGASCAR DVD

Kids will love the new MADLY MADAGASCAR DVD this V-day! They can spend the holiday watching their favorite, hilarious characters from the film enjoy all the splendor of this romantic holiday. Make this fun Valentine’s Day present into something more by hosting a mini viewing party for your kids and some of their friends – they can watch the film, make festive treats, and decorate their only Valentine’s Day cards.

EVERYTHING RED GIFT BAG

Make a unique gift bag for your family and friends this V-Day! All you need is a plain red bag, and then fun, red items to fill the bag with (e.g., lip gloss, candies, toys, jewelry PJs, etc.). You can make each bag unique by finding something red for each member of your family or your friends – try to find things that are meaningful to them or fit their personality for an extra special touch!

Check out this card!

(Disclosure: I was given a free DVD of Madly Madagascar to review and host a giveaway. My opinions are my own. The gift guide is from written by ThinkJam, though I find the ideas cute myself!)

Sliding Into 2013

holidays, Stuff 1 Response »

Dec 312012

Our 2012 Christmas Season In Pictures

This is the obligatory New Year post that a blogger must do. I’ll try and make it interesting. Looking at last year’s New Year post I had a few goals. One was to work more and I accomplished that. Another one was to learn how to use my camera better…Didn’t happen. In fact I broke one of my lenses this year. So what are my goals for 2013? To learn how to use my camera better and to get moving again while I continue to become healthier (and gluten-free).

Things I learned in 2012

Hawaii is more amazing than I ever imagined and I would love to be LOST there!

Surgery really takes a toll on my body…but my B cups are worth it!

I’m allergic to paper tape? Who would have thought!

Wheat does my body bad….and I feel so good without it!

Going back to college wasn’t nearly as painful as I thought it would be!

My girls are growing up and I cannot do a thing to stop it!

Hopes for 2012

I hope to find a church I really like and attend regularly with the family.

I hope to continue going to Muskingum’s online RN-BSN program part-time and knock this degree out of the way.

I want to keep working on balance in my life.

I hope my Mom continues to respond well to her treatments and continues to improve.

I hope my Dad gets a work assignment closer to home.

I hope I yell less at the kids.

I hope the kids yell less at me.

I hope the dog stops peeing all over the place.

I hope I start running again.

I’m sure I hope for more, this is just what I have come up with.

My Favorite Posts From 2012

The first three where featured on Blogher.com!

The Good Old Days Are Getting Old

Helping My 13-Year-Old Get Ready For Social Media

Why You Should Have “The Talk” With Your Tweens

Saying Goodbye To My Second-Home

President Snow Would Not Be Happy

Adoption Reading Challenge: Pictures of Hollis Woods

I’m High From Book Giving

Wordless Wednesday: Hawaii Bragging

More Than A Blow Dry

I wasn’t able to reach my reading goal of 75 books this year. School work go in the way and I amended it to 60 books. Next year I think I’ll allow for school work and set my goal at 50 books. I did finish my Adoption Reading Challenge though and read six books about or containing an adoption theme!

With snow on the ground and the kids sledding outside everyday I look forward to 2013 and all the amazing things it will bring. I’m sure there will be tough things that come up, but right now the future looks bright!

Changing Christmas Traditions

A Mom's Job, holidays 1 Response »

Dec 092012

I didn’t attempt our Advent Quilt this year. The last couple of years have been sketchy with it. The kids are older and an activity in a pocket just doesn’t have the same pizzazz it once had. I decided to go with the flow this year and not stuff the pockets of my beloved quilt. Elle mentioned it once, but the other kiddos haven’t asked.

We wrapped up a twenty-five Christmas books and gave them to my three-year-old niece to open one every day before Christmas. It was nice to pass them down, but I did keep a few and Enu and Elle even let me read them a couple the other night. We’ve watched a few Christmas movies and the kids to more of a role in decorating. Elle even decorated the banister all on her own!

I think the fact that I am more relieved than sad is tell-tale that we were ready for a change in the Christmas traditions. It was getting hard to keep them into the whole advent thing.

This year I let the kids invite a few friends over for a Christmas party. I told them that if they were good hostesses maybe this an annual thing. It went well. I have about twenty girls under the age of 13 at my house partying it up! There was music and dancing (I may or may not have danced the gangum style), way to much sugar and pizza to go around.

The girls worked together, cleaned and prepared the party scene. We still have clean up today and will see how that goes, but overall this may become a thing in our house.

I used some Pinterest inspiration and we decorated milk and cookie cups. Mine were plastic and not quite as fancy though!

Source: heygorg.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Plastic is better for large kid parties!

and played a great game that all ages seem to love:

Source: imacubmasterwhatnow.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

The party gave them some practice on hostessing skills and with basic social manners… things that are not stressed enough it seems. Now I’m off to give clean up commands!

Thankfulness

25 Days of Thankfullness, holidays, Stuff 2 Responses »

Nov 222012

The Things You Take For Granted

Someone Else is Praying For

As I sit here awake at 2 in the morning this Thanksgiving I wish I had something profound to say. I do not, so I will share a quote I found on Pinterest (credit unknown) that I like to read occasionally.

I am thankful…

My children are healthy

My husband is a great father, a good man and a loving spouse

I have food, water, shelter, sanitation and health care all at my fingertips

I have both my parents with me and a full extended family to have fun with and complain about

My mother in law loves me and I love her

I have a job that I get immense joy and satisfaction with

I am able to continue my education and make sure my girls get the best education there is to offer

I am a voter with a say

I have friends who are dear

I’ve gotten healthy this year and feel great

and most of all my internet is fast.

Okay. Some things are just a luxury, but I am thankful for them all the same.

Have a great day, eat some gluten for me.

Remember what you are thankful for.

Thankfulness is contagious.

DVDs For The Holiday Season

Family, holidays, Reviews No Responses »

Nov 092012

Showcasing Exciting Bonus Features Including an All New Coloring App and Interactive Music Videos, The Extraordinary Family Adventure Floats to Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray™ and DVD on December 11

The other night we viewed ICE AGE Continental Divide as a family and we laughed. A lot! I admit that the first Ice Age movie did nothing for me, but the kids loved it. The next two movies though were a lot of fun. I mean a Mammoth thinking she is a possum is some good stuff! The Christmas Ice Age I reviewed last year was a fun movie for Christmas and is only $5 at Amazon right now.. This movie was funny for all the ages of my children and Hubby and I were entertained tool. Amazon has this on pre-order for $19.96.

The next DVD that Mita and I previewed is Love’s Christmas Journey from the ever popular Love Comes Softly series based on the Janette Oke books. I read these books as a teen and Mita enjoys them now! Every one of these movies have the same themes of love, loss, survival and thankfulness, which are great values for your kids to learn about. These movies are the Little House on the Prairie’s for my kids. This DVD was out on October 30th and is on Amazon for $14.96.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of both movies mentioned above from Fox Home Entertainment in exchange for my honest review.)

Trick Or Treat For UNICEF And Believe In Zero

A Mom's Job, Contests, Education, Family, holidays, Parenting No Responses »

Oct 012012

It’s October 1st. You know what that means - Pumpkins, candy, costumes, candy and UNICEF Trick or Treat time! Why not help children all over the world while building your memories with your kids by doing a few UNICEF activities? It is easy, fun and teaches your kids how to turn values into action.

I’m not having a party this year, with Meg’s 13th party extravaganza so close to Halloween, I’m not up for a party this year. Instead I ordered my Trick or Treat for UNICEF packet that comes with boxes, stickers and information easy for kids to digest and I will share these with friends and family. My kids will save change this month and I’ll give out the fun decorated boxes out to friends for their kids. This year they have color your own box contest as well as Frankenstein, princesses, witches and black cat boxes to collect coins in.

Where you can get your own packet: Trickortreatforunicef.org

Here is where you can donate if you have no time for parties and boxes or Text the word “TOT” to UNICEF (864233) to make a $10.00 donation to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF .

Here are some fun facts that you may be interested in:

*$0.90 of every Dollar donated goes to programs to help children. A great number for a charity!

* In its 62nd year the original Kids Helping Kids Campaign has raised over $167 million!

*$1 buys 24 protein bars for a starving child.

* 7 Cents buys a hydration packet for a dehydrated child.

Remember to tag your Halloween pics with #ToT4UNICEF and show off your boxes and awesome costumes.

I believe in Zero hungry kids, how about you?

My Christmas Card’s Are Designed!

Family, holidays, Stuff 2 Responses »

Sep 162012

Part of me did not want to share my Christmas Cards to everyone this early. I wanted you to laugh when you opened them up from the mail. Then I realized that this way you may get two laughs out of the card and I get $10 from Shutterfly for sharing. Win, Win, Win!

Here are a couple candids from the shoot:

View the entire collection of Shutterfly Holiday Cards 2012.

Here is the final product:

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Mother’s Day Spoils

A Mom's Job, Family, holidays No Responses »

May 142012

I have to show off my Mother’s Day spoils here! No breakfast in bed, as I got up before the kids (hahaha) but I did get to watch the morning news while eating this:

I also got and acrostic poem written in my honor:

And the cutest set of hands that have ever made a heart:

Meg, Enu and Elle accompanied me and my mom to a fun mom and me event at The Wilds. The Wilds is an amazing conservation park where you can see animals in a natural way, no fences for most of them! We had a great time and got to pet a few animals that we normally wouldn’t pet: a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, a possum, a gray fox and a corn snake.

Top my day off with homemade lasagna from Meg and my Dad and I had quite the nice day ;) I hope yours was blessed as well.

Shhhh, Don’t Tell The Kids

A Mom's Job, All you need is love!, holidays No Responses »

May 102012

I’ll be very candid right now. Candid, not ungrateful, so please don’t think I am ungrateful.

I don’t like breakfast in bed. I hate eating in bed, even late night snacks, so breakfast foods are just impossible for me to enjoy. I don’t want crumbs on my pillow or syrup on my sheets. I just don’t like anything about it.

Except for the look on the kids’ faces when they bring it up. I do adore those faces. They are so happy and so proud, giggling and arguing bursting into the room to awaken me.

Bless them. If I am treated to this custom once again on Sunday, I’ll be sure to ahh it up and let them know how awesome they are. Then I’ll eat my carrots with a side of ketchup (okay, I’ll quietly skip the ketchup) and try not to mess up the bed too much. This may be my last year of my surprise, you never know, I may miss it someday. I probably will miss it someday, but I cannot help but hope they choose an everything bagel over cereal this year!

St. Patty’s Day Giveaway! Cheryl’s Cookies and The Popcorn Factory *3 Winners

Giveaways, holidays, Reviews, Stuff 8 Responses »

Mar 072012

I love sugar cookies. I hate to make them, but I love to eat a fluffy, soft, melt in your mouth sugar cookie with the sweetest of frostings…. Cheryl’s Cookies anyone? If you have yet to try a Cheryl’s Cookie you have to find one right now and gobble it up. They are just that good!

This Cheryl’s Cookies Shamrock Treat is just $5 with shipping included. It also has a $5 rewards card included for future purchases. A sweet, inexpensive way to tell someone….what do you tell people on Patty’s day? Oh yeah to tell them: Kiss Me I’m Irish and I sent you a cookie.

Another fun St. Patrick’s Day gift is a tub of green pop corn from The Popcorn Factory! Green Butter Popcorn is sweet, salty and buttery so you cannot go wrong satisfying your cravings. This sells for $9.99.

I used to not do much for St. Patrick’s Day other than put green food coloring in the toilet (told the girls that the Leprechauns peed in it!) and when the girls are in Kindergarten they make Leprechaun traps. Years ago I started buying Hubby Guinness beer though and I think he likes this tradition! I may have to step it up a notch and start sending out these fun cookie cards and popcorn tubs to friends and family as well.

Or maybe I will just order them for me and eat them while the kids are at school. Baahaaahaaa!

Do you want to win a St. Patty’s Day Cookie Card and Green Butter Popcorn? Simply leave a comment telling me what you find attractive about Leprechauns. For an extra entry you can like Cheryl’s Cookies and Brownies on Facebook, please come back to this post and let me know you did.

Giveaway is for US and Canada addresses only and you most likely will not get your treats in time for the St. Patty’s Day Party you are planning. Three winners will be chosen random.org. Contest runs March 7th until March 11th at noon. Thanks!

(Disclosure: I received a sample of the above products and no other compensation for my time and opinion.)

Christmas Is Not Over!

Ethiopia, holidays 1 Response »

Jan 092012

According to Christian tradition, Epiphany or Three King Day, is when the three Magi found baby Jesus and chose not to go to King Harod with his location. Honestly, before adopting the girls I never really knew about Epiphany. Orthodox Christianity celebrates Christmas on Epiphany and most Christians in Ethiopia are Orthodox. In our house we simply call it Ethiopian Christmas.

Since we have brought the girls home, we have celebrated with an Ethiopian meal, Coca-Cola and a small gift for each girl. I try and make the family meal the center of the celebration, not the gifts.

I bought the injera earlier in the week, but made the Dora Alechea (mild chicken stew), red lentils and yellow split peas on my own. I’m not one for cooking, but I enjoy making this for the family. I also try and burn traditional incense to make the kitchen smell a bit like an Ethiopian kitchen might. Mita and Enu love the smell and it has brought back memories for them.

Check out my pics of the food!

My Traditional New Year Post

holidays 1 Response »

Jan 012012

Happy 2012!!!

So, I was thinking about doing a New Years post and thought I would look back to last year’s posts to see if I had written one. Turns out, I did write one! Here it is. If you had the interest in clicking you would have read that my goal for 2011 was to become more organized. Ouch. I had kinda forgotten about that somewhere in March. Oops.

So did I become more organized? I think so. Am I so much more organized that others have noticed…probably not! A goal that needs to be continued it seems.

As 2012 approaches I have a few things I want to accomplish.

1) I want to make more reading goals, as I completed my three reading goals for 2011 and was very pleased with myself for that. This will be another post, once I figure out exactly what my goals are.

2) I want to figure out my camera better. (FireMom I need you on this one, maybe I can pay you in coffee beans?!)

3) Once Enu is settles in school I want to work more. I love my job.

4) Oh yeah. I need to become a domestic goddess. Hmmm. I won’t even pretend that is possible!

Any special goals for 2012 for you and yours? Have a great New Years and I hope that 2012 brings many blessings to you and your family!

Merry Christmas!

holidays 2 Responses »

Dec 242011

Passing Along The Fun

A Mom's Job, holidays 2 Responses »

Dec 222011

As I mentioned at the beginning of the holiday season, my girls are getting older and that means that some of our traditions are changing. I recently thought of a way to continue a Christmas tradition that we have outgrown by passing it down to my youngest niece.

Every year I put out lots and lots of Christmas books and DVD’s/VHS movies. They are put around the tree and on top of the TV and around our den. It used to be contained to a small basket, but in the years my collection has expanded. This year I sadly noted that many of the books we have outgrown. Part of me wants to keep all the books forever, but I have to be realistic of my space.

After reading Firemom’s book advent activities I have decided to let the girls wrap up some of our books when we pack up the Christmas decorations this year. I will buy some more books in after Christmas sales to make it a pile of 24 books and we will give it to my niece next Thanksgiving so she can have an advent of books next year.

A few books I will keep forever. Here are a couple of them that I just cannot bear to give away:

You Are My Miracle By Maryann K. Cusimano Love

Little Drummer Boy By Ezra Jack Keats

If You Take A Mouse To The Movies By Laura Numeroff

There are a few more of course by those are a few off the top of my head.

I thought I would pass on my Christmas idea to help other mom’s who also have families outgrowing the good old traditions. If you have any ideas about older kids and traditions please share them!

(Disclosure: I was not asked to write about these books, nor are they affiliate links.)

Wordless Wednesday: Popcorn Strings Still Rock

Family, holidays, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu No Responses »

Dec 212011

Christmas And Adoption

Adoption, Family, holidays 1 Response »

Dec 192011

The Holidays are amazing wonderful and magical at times, and at other times they can be tragic and lonely.

I am blessed in that Christmas has always been a special time, not one of loneliness or regret. Of course, I have always been aware that the holidays can be hard for those who are grieving a loss of a loved one or for people who have no one to celebrate with. Being aware of and actually living through a holiday season grieving are acutely different.

While I cannot claim to know the loss that my Ethiopian girls have suffered, I have lived with them for several holiday seasons now. We are about to celebrate our fourth Christmas as a family. The first Christmas in 2008 wasn’t too rough as the girls as I kept a low profile Christmas and skipped a lot of the events that we normally do, although I did notice Mita was agitated at our Ethiopian Christmas celebration (January 7th or Epiphany) and even left our meal prematurely.

The past two Christmas seasons have seen an escalation in emotions, misbehaviors and outbursts. Sadness that they will not be celebrating Christmas with their father is evident as they make Christmas cards for him and help make his annual photo book.

It doesn’t matter that in Ethiopia they may have received one outfit and some popcorn for Christmas, that Santa would skip over their house. It doesn’t matter that they wouldn’t have a tree with an iPod or American Girl doll underneath. He is not with them and that is what matters.

Remember that no matter how wonderful your adoption has been, there is still a loss there that needs to be recognized. December is a month for families and when your family has been fractured it cannot be ignored.

I encourage us all to remember those who have suffered a loss this year or in years passed. Let us be gentle with them in our celebrations.

Stream Of Consciousness: Does Your Santa Wrap?

A Mom's Job, Family, holidays, Stuff 4 Responses »

Dec 182011

I adore Christmas, I’m sure I have mentioned that fact before, but I really do. Growing up Christmas was just magically. We didn’t have a lot of toys, we didn’t do Christmas crafts or go on holiday jaunts, but it was still magical.

My brother and I started a tradition of waking up in the middle of the night and pulling everything out of our stockings and seeing our big gift from Santa. Santa always brought the big gift. A big plus for in our house is that Santa did not wrap his gifts! That is how we knew the gift was from Santa.

What I didn’t realize was that Santa wrapped other kids’ gifts.When I found this out I was no longer a believer, so it didn’t matter.

Then I got married and had kids. Hubby’s Santa did wrap! He wrapped the big gift and the stocking stuffers! It was a time for copermise and Hubby’s side won!

Santa wraps at our house now. I help him get special gift wrap so that his are different looking than ours…..this parenting stuff is so complicated!

There is my five minutes of Stream Of Consciousness about Santa Wrapping! Life changing I know! Does your Santa wrap?

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.
Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
Link up your post at AllThingsFadra.com
Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

A Gift Idea For Girls Ages 8-12 DVD Review

holidays, My Thanks Go To..., Reviews, Teendom No Responses »

Dec 172011

Way back in September I reviewed the DVD Monte Carlo. A fun movie that my girl love and still put on to watch. I thought I would remind you all that this DVD would make a great stocking stuffer for a tween girl in your life.

Directed by Nicole Kidman and staring Selena Gomez Monte Carlo is fun and age appropriate for those who are not yet teenagers but like to act as if they are (all my girls at this point!).

I want to thank Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for giving me a copy of this movie last September and for giving a new copy away to my local Secret Santa program! I believe in the power of giving and am thankful for all that I have from the little things to the big things. I encourage everyone to find a local organization and give what you can, even if it doesn’t seem like a lot. Every bit helps!

Follow Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on Twitter @FoxHomeEnt for more info on great DVDs!

Three Gifts Is Hard To Do

A Mom's Job, holidays 1 Response »

Dec 122011

Several years ago when I only had two children and one was just a babe, I decided that we needed to cut down on the stuff. The stuff that clutters. The stuff that the kids won’t play with after a while. The stuff that keeps us from remembering why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

We are a Christian family. We celebrate Christmas as a time to remember Christ and in remembering Christ we give gifts to each-other and those less unfortunate than us. I told the girls that Jesus got three gifts (Gold, frankincense and Myrrh) and that they would get three as well. I quickly amended this pledge to exclude stocking stuffers, I just soooo enjoy the little fun things that the stockings have.

I have found that this was easier to live by now than when they were younger. Toys are so much fun and are so exciting I couldn’t help but want to buy more. Now the kids want money or an expensive iPod. These things are just so boring to wrap and they are small. I am proud that Meg and Mita are saving money for and iPad and a iPod touch… I just like to wrap!

I’m still happy with my decision. I don’t go into debt at Christmas time, my kids are not overwhelmed with stuff and Christmas is about more than presents. In fact in the last few years I have seen the girls grow in their giving and they really enjoy shopping for each-other, making things re-purposing items they no longer use.

I still miss the days of big toys to wrap though!

Do you have a tradition to try to keep the stuff down in your house and to celebrate what Christmas means to you?

Letter To Myself

A Mom's Job, holidays 1 Response »

Nov 302011

Elle in her Christmas dress complete with tennis shoes, watching the Nutcracker!

Every once in a while I will write a letter to myself giving me advice on how to handle things differently next time the event comes around.

Christmas is a good time for reflection and I think I have finally got this Christmas my four children down. I stress the MY part, because every family is different and my hat goes off to those families who can pull of all the fun traditions I used to try to do.

This year I did not make a plan for getting an awesome themed Christmas pictures for the Christmas cards. I used to try to get the perfect picture, no more.

This year I not only didn’t get the girls matching/coordinating Christmas outfits, I did not get any Christmas outfits at all. Elle has a new dress that I bought on sale last January and she is wearing it for her Christmas play, which happens to fall on her 7th birthday! One of the girls asked about her Christmas outfit. I told her I didn’t get them, because they won’t wear them without a lot of drama. Simple.

This year I will not try to yet again get a family picture. If it happens great, but I won’t even dream of it. It is just fact that we are an adoptive family of older kids with attachment/trauma issues. If a family portrait is a power struggle, we just won’t have one. Again. Maybe someday.

This year I am not trying to get all the girls to experience what I think they should experience or what tradition dictates. I took Meg and Elle to see the Nutcracker because they had good friends dancing in it and the other two hated going the last time. I plan on taking only Elle to Breakfast with Santa. I am taking Mita out on a mommy-daughter day and since I am homeschooling Enu, we are still getting a lot of one on one time.

This year I have so far been more relaxed than I have in years. I’m enjoying myself. Meg has asked to take over the Advent quilt this year. I gave her several things I wanted in it and she is doing the rest. The younger generation carries on!

Dear Mandy,

By golly, I think you finally got it!

Love,

Mandy

Advent Activities For Older Kids

A Mom's Job, Bible lessons, holidays 3 Responses »

Nov 272011

The days of stocking the Advent quilt with easy crafts and recipes for Santa Sugar are gone for me. I am a bit melancholy, but I am also looking forward of doing some new, fun things for older kids.

But, I have to think of them first….

Some thoughts are:

Filming a Family Christmas Commercial to post on Christmas day…this should take a day to plan, a day to film and a day to edit.
Continue with the Story Starters I started last year, they seemed to work well and were easy. I can do several of these to fill in busy days.
Write Christmas Cards to ill children.
Write Christmas Cards to solders.
Toy shop for our local toy program.
Caroling with Girl Scouts
Visit nursing home with Girl Scouts
Elf a neighbor
Visit Courthouse lights
Visit Olgobee (spell?) lights
Winter hike on winter solstice
Make baked goods a bit more advanced than simple cookies (Of course all baking is advanced to me! The girls do really well though.)
Meg’s Christmas Concert
Time Capsule letters (Me and Hubby this year too)
Reading aloud from our many, many Christmas books I break out every Thanksgiving.
Christmas movie marathon while making popcorn garlands for the birds.
Make ornaments with applesauce dough

Now my plan is to have a Bible verse to go with each day that breaks down the Christmas story. I just have to sit down and get it done before Thursday.

I would love a few more ideas! Please help us out. The kids are older, but they still look forward to the thought of the Advent quilt, they just get bored easily.

Photo Credit

Time Capsule Letters…I Am Better Than I Thought!

A Mom's Job, holidays, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita, NaBloPoMo, Stuff 3 Responses »

Nov 262011

Photobucket
Hubby got down the Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving afternoon per our normal tradition. The girls carried the boxes in from the garage and I opening up a lid on the first box. On top was an envelope that said “Time Capsule 2010″. Hmmm. My hand writing. Wow what a great idea! I’m so glad I thought of that, and then forgot it?!

So once all the decorations were up (the kids did an awesome job by the way, it is great to have kids who are old enough to actually help with things!) we sat down and I read the letters. They were simple questions like:

What was your favorite song in 2010?

What was your favorite movie in 2010?

What do you remember most about 2010:

What do you hope happens in 2011?

It turns out that none of the girls’ predictions came true, Elle doesn’t have long hair and Mita didn’t get to go to Washington State. We did make it to Chuck E. Cheese as Elle had hoped for and Meg did get to perform more in 2011 between her choir and being in Children’s Letters to God. Enu did not get to spend the night for a week at her friends house, but she did start doing her hair better!

A nice moment for us. I think this year I will add a few more question and have Hubby and I do one to. I am going to add this to our Advent activities (Oh yeah, haven’t started planning those yet either.)

I wonder if I will forget next year? Maybe I should go back and see if I blogged about my idea? Echinacea anyone?

Thanksgiving Is Growing On Me

holidays, My Thanks Go To..., NaBloPoMo, Stuff 1 Response »

Nov 242011

Mita's First Pie - All From Scratch!

I thought about writing a snarky post blasting what I am ungrateful for as a direct contrast to normal Thanksgiving day blog posts, but I didn’t. I don’t have the time or energy to be snarky at this point!

Christmas is my favorite holiday and (not just for the gifts!) but Thanksgiving is growing on me. I, of course, like the food. I can take or leave Turkey, but the sides I adore. Noodles, stuffing, deviled eggs, pie…… I can east several helpings if I leave out the turkey! Mostly I like the time we take to be thankful. I think all of us are thankful for our blessing, and I also know that we are all so busy we sometimes forget to take the time, the space, the moment to give thanks.

I am thankful for many, many things, but here are just a few:

My hubby for putting up with me, loving me and being such a great Dad.

My girls – all of the them for bringing laughter and pride into my lift as well as challenging me to be a better person.

My parents for their continued support and help with watching my kiddos when I need it and having a great home to go relax in.

My mother in law for her love and generosity.

My brother and sister-in-law for giving hubby and I a great date weekend last week and watching my girls.

My job, for letting me come back to work for a few hours a week to help new families and help me regain my sanity.

My friends for giving me a circle to have fun with and complain with.

My upcoming breast reduction - No more back/neck pain or skin infections!

My puppy dog for cuddling with me nightly.

There is more, but I will stop there for now!

Growing Out Of Halloween

A Mom's Job, holidays, Moments with Elle, Moments with Enu, Moments With Meg, Moments with Mita 1 Response »

Nov 012011

The planning of Halloween is more fun for me than the actual Trick or Treating. I love planning with the girls, looking for the good deals and finding the perfect costume.

This year Meg was…well I don’t know what her costume was, but she was cute. Purple and black with a funky hat. Very twelvish! It was all about the candy for her.

Mita wanted to be a bumble bee. I was thrilled that she wanted to dress up. She has never really embraced Halloween and the two previous years she didn’t wear her costume at the last-minute. This year she wore her costume, but put on a sweatshirt the whole time so I never saw the whole suit and of course she didn’t let me take a picture :(

Enu wore the same costume as she did last year, Tiana. She looked beautiful, but this year is definitely the last year for that costume! It was snug to say the least. On our second round of Trick or Treating she went as a golfer. Girls change their minds a lot it seems.

Enu as a golfer

My baby is almost seven. This year for Halloween she dressed up as Rapunzel. She loved dressing up and her outfit was completed by a Gecko and a frying pan as well as a smaller Gecko and small frying plan. If you have seen Tangled, you will understand the frying pan thing. She is still excited about the costume. How many years will I have left with her excitement? How long will it take for her to say M &M’s correctly?

Ella as Rapunzel

As I write this the girls are trading their loot. Heavy negotiations going on. It brings back memories of my brother Josh and I when we were little. The fun part was trading and pulling one over on him! Of course in about a week I will combine all of the candy into one pile to save space, but they seem to have forgotten that fact right now.

I wonder about next year. Will I have only two costumes to plan for? I guess there is always the grandchildren in 20 years!

Christmas? Call Me Crazy!

holidays 2 Responses »

Sep 252011

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

Is it to early to think about Christmas cards? I got started already since Shutterfly gave me a few free cards this past week!

(I may possibly get $10 free to Shutterfly for sharing this.)

Mother’s Day: The Gift Of Flowers

A Mom's Job, holidays No Responses »

May 082011

I’ve never been accused of having a green thumb. I am admittedly the murderer of many, many, many plants. When I hear others ooh and aha over their blooms and bulbs I get a bit jealous I admit. I really don’t understand the whole flower thing, but I do appreciate the beauty. I think the fact that I don’t have the keenest nose may be a reason for my lack of enthusiasm with flowers. I just don’t smell things unless they are super strong.

Today, however, is Mother’s Day and I have been given many, many flowers and the extraordinary thing is that I am smelling the flowers so easily. I get a whiff with a slight wind blowing. It is beautiful and extremely uplifting to smell such sweetness. Maybe this is what all the fuss is about!

Thank you Hubby and girls for my flowers, the laughter from today and for being a wonderful family.

Photo Credit Mandy W. 2011

Now I Have Seen It All

holidays, Stuff 1 Response »

Apr 222011

My baby brother made shrimp scampi at our family Easter dinner tonight. Yes, we had a seafood Easter Dinner on Good Friday (plus a ham). We are not very traditional I know. Anyway, besides a bit of grilling I don’t think I have ever seen Josh cook before.

When I teased him about his ableness with a spatula he actually told me, “It’s like the spatula is one with my fingers.” What a load of Josh ;)

It was very good and he can make it again for me at any time.

April Fools Day. I Win!

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Apr 012011

Elle on Wacky sock day. She is no fool!

Happy April Fool’s Day everyone. I have no jokes to play on you. In fact I am bad at the whole April Fool’s Day in general. I can never get anyone and I doubt most people during the entire day so I don’t always fall for jokes either and it is funny to be in a funny fool’s day joke. Sometimes. If it is a not to mean one.

This morning I got the bright idea to tell the girls it was a two-hour delay for school. I made me phone ring, answered it, did some really bad acting and told the girls there was a two-hour delay. Meg moaned that she could have slept in. Enu was furious because there was no snow on the ground. Elle did her happy Who-hoo with her hands held high. Mita just kept saying “Are you joking”. After they went on like this for a minute I shouted April Fool’s Day! I then danced and tried to do the moonwalk, then sang a bit. In general I rubbed it in and celebrated that I actually pulled off a Fool’s Day joke.

They were not amused, but for the most part were happy that their mom was happy :)

What is the best Fool’s Day joke you have been apart of?

Black History Month

Adoption, holidays 2 Responses »

Feb 222011

As most of us know February is Black History Month or African American History Month. A month when schools, groups and communities are encouraged to celebrate and learn about the black Americans who have made an impact on our country. As a mom of two Ethiopian girls in a non-diverse area, I see this month as an opportunity to help to my kids’ classrooms become more colorful.

My great intentions have gone awry, or at least have are very late! I thought about writing this post at the first of February. We are now heading into March and I still haven’t written or done what I have planned.

For a history on Black History Month check out Wikipedia. Some feel there is no reason to have a Black History month, but I say that an opportunity to learn more about history and culture is always a good reason. I will go out on a limb and say that most graduates have very little knowledge of Black American History other than slavery, Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama. Few may realize that the men who developed the modern blood transfusion and gas masks were black inventors. Black history contains more than the history of slavery, musicians and sports players.

I have in the past given African games like Mancala to the girls’ classes and books. This year with four in school I have just stuck to books. Some books have history in them, some are about Africa or people. Others are simply children’s stories featuring brown characters. Have you ever looked for a book or a greeting card with a black person on it? It is not always easy to find and if you are not looking for it directly, chances are most of your child’s library has very few if any minorities in them.

The kids also made Kente cloth this month out of paper bags. Meg and Mita are entering theirs in a contest. They turned out really well and were a lot of fun. Check out Family Fun to see how to make your own. I used pictures of the patterns to make note-cards on Shutterfly. Very cute!

Classic Black 5×7 folded card

Send Shutterfly Valentine’s Day cards to those closest to you.

View the entire collection of cards.

This is just a few things I have done this month to re-inforce how wonderful a life full of diversity and color is!

Book Review For Black History Month

A Mom's Job, Books I Have Read, holidays, Reviews No Responses »

Feb 152011

Poetry for Young People: Maya Angelou is a compilation of poems written by the famous poet and edited by Edwin Graves Wilson, Ph.D. The illustrator is Jerome Lagarrigue. The name Mayo Angelou is why I picked up this book, but the artwork is so amazing I would have bought it for the pictures alone.

I have adored Maya Anglelou for years, having read I know Why the Cage Bird Sings as a youth and having re-read it and her various poems since then. A few years ago I was able to watch her speak in Columbus. Her voice is amazing, powerful but it was her sense of humor that surprised me.

This particular collection of hers features poems that are appropriate for children, entertaining for children but most of all educating. Every poem has meaning that is easy to promote into a discussion with your kids. There are definitions for words unfamiliar, which makes the poetry more accessible to young readers. The artwork, as I mentioned above, is beautiful and rich in color and texture.

I highly recommend this book for home libraries or as a gift for class-rooms.

Here is an excerpt from the Poem Still I Rise:

“Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise.”

Photo Credit Mandy W. 2011

Disclosure: I was not asked to review or compensated in anyway to review the above book. I have had this book in my home library and paid for it myself. You can find this book at Amazon, half.com or many other stores!

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Book Review For Black History Month

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