holidays » Four Against Two

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 No Responses »

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!

holidays No Responses »

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 1 Response »

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!

What Valentine’s Day Means To Me (Shutterfly Giveaway!)

Giveaways, holidays, Stuff 5 Responses »

Feb 012011

“Love goes toward love. “

– William Shakespeare

Valentine’s day means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Traditionally it is a romantic holiday, for lovers only, but I challenge that train of thought. Love is not just for the romantically involved. To me Valentine’s Day is another day to remind me to show those I love that I love them in a special way.

I love my girls, my parents, grandparents, my brother and sister-in-laws, my nephews and nieces, my friends as well as my Hubby. So why just leave Valentine’s Day for dates and school parties? Those of you who know me, know that I love celebrating the little moments. Valentines Day presents itself the perfect opportunity to tell my girls that I love them with a cute little something (this year, heart necklaces). I also like to do little things for my friends and family. Candy, cards anything that spreads the love. Little love notes to the kids at breakfast or in their lunch boxes are great ways to celebrate Valentines day. A phone call with a Happy Valentine’s Day message will always be welcome to any loved one.

Of course I think that Valentine’s Day is a bit commercial and that people spend a lot of money when they don’t necessarily need to. I do, however, refuse to become pessimistic about the holiday. So I celebrate Valentine’s Day. I make sure that one more time my loved ones hear those three magic words.

Now that I have told you what Valentine’s Day means to me it is your turn! Simply comment on this post about what Valentine’s Day means to you and I will randomly draw a number and give away 25 FREE Shutterfly cards just in time for Valentine’s Day! You all know how I love Shutterfly. They make great, quality products that are really fun! Check out their V-Day cards here.

One Valentine’s Day I gave the girls luggage tags from Shutterfly with their pictures on them! They loved it and still use them years later! Check out photo gifts from Shutterfly here. Also look at their selection of thank you cards. It is always nice to have Thank You cards handy when you need them.

Giveaway Rules: Leave one comment answering the following “What Valentine’s Day means to me…” by February 5th Midnight. I will use Random.org to pick the winner. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, after that I will pick another winner.

Extra Entry: Follow me on Twitter @FourAgainstTwo and leave a comment saying you did and your Twitter handle.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Shutterfly is giving me 25 free cards to keep and 25 free cards to give to one lucky reader in exchange for my post about what Valentines Day means to me and sharing the Shutterfly links posted above. I, of course, love my Shutterfly and was happy to write this!

Clipart Credit

MLK Day – Not Just Another Day Off

A Mom's Job, holidays 1 Response »

Jan 172011

Okay, some of you may be jealous of the title, because not everyone gets Martin Luther King Jr. Day off. My Hubby doesn’t and it would be nice to have him around tomorrow as the kids are off school. Between the holidays and the snow, I feel like there is no such thing as a school week :)

I admit that I am not the best at talking about the meaning of holidays (except Christmas) and doing activities with the kids. I used to do well, but then life just kept getting busier. I am feeling convicted to do something tomorrow though with the girls. Martin Luther King, Jr. has always had a special place in my heart, way before I ever knew that I would have two daughters with brown skin who would face prejudice.

In the sixth grade our church did a musical. It was around the Fourth of July and it had an American theme to it. My lines were the following lines from MLK’s most famous speech:

“Rosa sat so that Martin could walk, Martin walked so the Obama could run.”

I like to think of it as Rosa sat so that Martin could walk so that Mita and Enu would have a home, a country and a chance to become who they were meant to be. A little long for a tee shirt, but in mind mind it works!

So today we will spend some time talking Martin Luther King Jr. Watch a clip from his famous speech, make bookmarks and just in general remember the life of a man who changed the world.

Here are some links to a few MLK activities:

Kaboose

Family Education

KiddyHouse

Feel free to let me know how you are spending the day and of any activities that would be fun to pass on.

Photo Source

The Predictable 2011 Post

holidays, It's all about me! 6 Responses »

Dec 302010

I know this post is predictable. Maybe I shouldn’t say predictable. Maybe I’ll call it traditional. That’s it! My Traditional New Year’s Post.

This is where I say all the things I want to do better in 2011. All of my hopes and dreams. Every blog needs one, so here is mine.

I honestly have never been one for New Year’s Resolutions. I normally quietly set a goal for myself and give myself the year to accomplish it. It doesn’t have to be started in January and it is quiet so I don’t have any accountability! This works for me. Usually.

This year however I’m going public with my goals so you can all congratulate me or laugh at me. Whichever one it may be is fine with me. These are not serious-life-depends-on-Mandy goals. Just goals that would make me a better Mandy. And really who doesn’t need a better Mandy?!

1) I will become more organized. Really. I bought an organizational book and everything. One with checklists and motivational mumbo-jumbo to inspire my lazy butt bottom. I need some help keeping up with it all. If Hubby is reading this, I have hidden the book from you so you don’t laugh at my attempt to organize.

2) I don’t have a number two. Number one is a big, all encompassing goal that will change my life, my stress level, my housework – everything. So really one is enough people!

So here is a toast to my goal(s) for 2011. May it come true and if it doesn’t don’t be to hard on me!

What are your goals for 2011. Anything new and exciting?

Clip Art credit

This Year

holidays 2 Responses »

Dec 272010

This Christmas, the Christmas of 2010, felt a bit different. More settled than the last few years.

December 2007 we were anxiously awaiting a referral from our adoption agency.

December 2008 was our first Christmas with Mita and Enu and in our new home.

December 2009 was our grand trip to Disney for Christmas.

This December all was calm (as calm as a house with four girls can be anyway). We are in our traditions solidly. Settled in our home. Fully a family.

Elle and her new BFF Kit.

Meg dramatic as always.

Mita is allowing me take pictures of her...sometimes.

Hubby and his new drill.

Enu was hyper as ever!

Thank you God for your many blessings.

Playing With My New Toy

holidays, Stuff No Responses »

Dec 262010

My new camera has led me to try some new things.

I did this on Photobucket:

Photo credit Mandy W. 2010 and RP 2010

Gift Wrapping Giddyness

holidays No Responses »

Dec 252010

Wine goes well with ginger bread house making as well!

I love to wrap. I’m not super amazing at it. My creases aren’t perfect and my bows are not spectacular, but to me it’s not about the perfection. It’s not even about the gift. It is about the joy of giving. Of thinking of the person you are wrapping the gift for.

Here are some pics of my wrapping from this weekend. Fun. Especially if I am wrapping with a Christmas show on or Christmas music playing. A glass of wine makes it just perfect as well.

The Difference A Year Can Make

holidays, It's all about me!, Stuff No Responses »

Dec 222010

Yeah me for longer hair!

Last year I wrote myself a letter regarding how to make Christmas less stressful and more fun. True to form, I forgot all about said letter until this morning, December 22nd! I just read the letter and am happy to report that I did pretty good this year.

I did not buy matching dresses for the girls with adorable headbands. I did not care if Elle wore her snow boots or not (she didn’t!) in Christmas activities.

I did not try and get the family picture my heart desires.

We did cut out some fluff activities to keep the running and the spending down. Really Hubby, we did!

The older two girls were in choir and did some Christmas shows while the younger two sang in a local Christmas show that required very little preparation. I did miss the Christmas play at church this year, but not having to struggle with getting them to practice was a good thing.

Last year I was not handling my stress well.

What have I done to help decrease the stress? I started to exercise three times a week when the kids went back to school. I’ve seen a therapist to help with various stressful issues. I’ve dropped some responsibilities and said no more than yes to requests of my time and energy.

Stress over illnesses, time crunches and the never ending upkeep of raising a family will always be there. It will never be easy, but I guess it is all how we handle it.

Matching bows are not required. Who knew?

Older Entries

Four Against Two

Mother’s Day Spoils

Shhhh, Don’t Tell The Kids

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

Christmas Is Not Over!

My Traditional New Year Post

Merry Christmas!

Passing Along The Fun

Wordless Wednesday: Popcorn Strings Still Rock

Christmas And Adoption

Stream Of Consciousness: Does Your Santa Wrap?

A Gift Idea For Girls Ages 8-12 DVD Review

Three Gifts Is Hard To Do

Letter To Myself

Advent Activities For Older Kids

Time Capsule Letters…I Am Better Than I Thought!

Thanksgiving Is Growing On Me

Growing Out Of Halloween

Christmas? Call Me Crazy!

Mother’s Day: The Gift Of Flowers

Now I Have Seen It All

April Fools Day. I Win!

Black History Month

Book Review For Black History Month

What Valentine’s Day Means To Me (Shutterfly Giveaway!)

MLK Day – Not Just Another Day Off

The Predictable 2011 Post

This Year

Playing With My New Toy

Gift Wrapping Giddyness

The Difference A Year Can Make

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