How Would It Feel?

As I feed Asher his night time bottle last week, my thoughts went to his mother and how she felt feeding him when she had him. We don't know anything about his biological family so my thoughts are just assumptions and based on nothing real. I was wondering if she like many women in Africa (and other third world countries) was struggling to feel him. Maybe her milk ran dry from lack of nutrition in her own body and how hard that would feel. How hard to feel like you can't provide for your own children. It is the core of every mother to want to provide and care for your children. How hard it would be for me if I couldn't do that for my kids. What heart ache many parents go through on a daily basis over the surface of this earth. My heart is so overwhelmed at this thought. I pray for those families and it is then that I realize the importance of Compassion International, World Vision and other organizations that come along side the parents to put food in the bellies of this precious children while also providing the necessary supplies and uniforms to go to school. Just some sobering evening thoughts that were interrupted by the smile and laughter of a one year old finishing his bottle.

More Weird Weather!

Kids with Grandma Great! Icy Tree in our winter wonderland.

Well this February has been unusual to say the least. We've had snow, sleet, freezing rain, fog and I even heard thunder last night during some rain! We've had it all. We had a week with a delay and two snow days, a week with three snow days and then this morning we are on a delay because of fog and black ice on the roads. I'm just ready for Spring! And I know the birds are cause I've heard them out side for the past three mornings sing about the weather. I thought the ground hog said Spring was right around the corner?!? Well we were doing great and healthy and then it hit this morning also. Caleb has been throwing up this morning and Brad heads out of town for three days. So, we are good here! I love having my children home but I have to admit that it has been a little challenging with everyone home so much and we are doing a media fast (no TV, computer games). We've let Asher off the hook so he can watch "Wiggles" and we are all big fans now!

One big high light during this crazy weather is that we got away this weekend and visited Brad's Aunt Sharon and Uncle Tim and Cousins, Courtney and Kyle (they live in Canton). We also got a chance to visit and see Brad's Grandmother (in Sebring, OH). She had never met Asher. We unfortunately only took pictures at Grandmas - what was I thinking! We had a great time with them and they love to love on our kids! We enjoyed seeing Courtney's dorm room and hanging out and watching it snow. It snowed 6 inches here while we were gone so we came back to a winter wonderland again! One more week of February!

This is our River Birch all bent over! Fog alert this morning! School Delay!

Ice, Anyone?!?

Well, the ice and pjs worked because we've had two snow days in a row for the second week. Both weeks we have missed Tuesday and Wednesday. So it will make for a short week again. We got maybe 3-4 inches of snow with about a half inch on the trees and how knows how much ice and freezing rain actually fell. We have underground lines so luckily our power didn't go out. We cooked hotdogs in our fire place last night any way and pretended we were without power. Sorry the pj shots didn't really turn out but believe me they were inside out. (Don't know why they are so fuzzy) We only have one more snow day until the school starts to make it up. This week was a bummer because we can't play in the snow since it is all ice and very dangerous with branches fall every time the wind blows. Yesterday we made cupcakes and delivered them to the neighbors for Valentines Day that was fun for the girls to get out some. Looks like we won't thaw until next week. Well, so much for our blizzard but I know some of you got it! So today being Valentine's Day I made heart pancakes for the kids to share my love with them. Sorry hubby, he was already at work. Since his office move to ten minutes from our house (3 weeks ago), he has no reason not to make it to work even in bad weather.

Snow, Sleet or Rain????

Well, in the last three days the weather man has forcasted first 14 inches of snow for tonight and tomorrow. Then all day rain for tomorrow and then now then now they say we will have it all. With the temperature supposably hanging at 32 degrees we may experience some snow, then wintery mix, then rain until it turns cold again and turns back for more snow. One channel says 7 inches, one says one inch of ice and power outages and one says it the biggest winter storm for the last 5 years. Well, only time will tell! We are dying to know what our weather fate will be. Until then my kids will do the snow dance, flush ice cubes down the toilet and wear the pjs inside out to hopefully encourage the snow. We will keep you posted. . .

Let it snow!

Snow Day!

All four wonderful kids!

Asher in the sled Asher leaning back


Asher leaning way back!

Finally, a good snow! We got 6 inches and a second snow day. Yesterday we were off for cold and the anticipation of the snow. So, we got out this morning and played. Asher had his first day in the snow and loved being pulled in the sled. He had so many clothes on he couldn't stand never-the-less walk in it and it was halfway up his leg at that! So he loved the sled and then loved leaning back in the sled until . . . he laid back sooo far that he got a face full of snow and that was the end of the snow for Asher. We found a good hill in our back yard to ride because the snow was too powdery to build anything. Here are some pictures.

It was once a few seconds. . .

It was only a few seconds. . . We have many safe things for Asher to play with in the kitchen. We have Leap Frog magnetic activity on our refrigerator. We have one unlocked cabinet with Tupperware that he can empty, bang on and carry around the house. He also spends lots of time standing and walking under the kitchen table. But this time it was only a few seconds and I looked in all the normal spots, no Asher. I checked the bathroom cause he loves to play in the toilet and he was not in the garbage can either. Then I spotted him in the corner of the cabinets. I don't know how it got the cabinet open but he did and found the rolled oats and dumped them onto the floor. But the best part was the response he gave me when he looked up and saw me coming. He panicked and went into full mess mode. He tried with all his fury to swish the oats all over the floor. By the time I got to him, I was in a full belly laugh and I called to Caroline to bring the camera. The photos are doing the hole thing justice, but they help to give you an idea. Asher loves to play and plays hard! There are times I need to heed the same advice. Live life hard and have lots of fun!

Great NPR program

Just came across a great NPR program about white mothers raising black sons. I have thought of many of the things discussed, but it was good to have them brought back to mind. I know that Asher is easily accepted now by much of the public but how will he be preceived in public school and when he is no longer a cute baby, toddler and little boy. You can listen along.

It is a very good discussion with an white mother who adopted (2 from Ethiopia), a white mother who is married to a panamanian husband and raising bi-racial children and an African American mother who is very light skinned and raising African American children.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/roughcuts/