Weekend Apart

This past weekend I took Nasuuna and Cullen to my parents house. Some how I managed to go across the state without any coats for the kids- thankfully I remembered my own. I did however manage to leave my coat at my parents house- ugh...

Nick decided to stay home with Geremu, he was showing some signs that he need a little special alone time. Geremu and Nick had a great time together swimming, playing at the gymnastics center, going out to eat, etc.

Nasuuna and Cullen also had a good time getting extra attention. Aunt Kathy spent a morning with Cullen, she has a little something special up her sleeve for his birthday... To be shown at a later date.

Nasuuna LOVES Kennedy, actually Nasuuna had a hard time leaving her alone. Thankfully Kennedy doesn't seem to mind too much. They danced together...

Watched a movie together...

Nasuuna would even try to sneak in a kiss once in a while.

Which resulted in uncontrollable laughter...

Cullen was quite happy as always....

Pop took Callan and Cullen to the hometown "Mall of America". I was a little confused trying to figure out where they went. Turns out he was referring to the Pawn Shop- LOL. It pretty much made Cullen's weekend...

Granny and Nasuuna also snuggled it up...

It was nice that the kids all got a little special alone time this past weekend. They were quite happy to be reunited again by the end of the weekend...

Last week we were eating and Geremu asked for another roll. It was the end of the meal and Nasuuna was walking toward the sink to clear her plate. She stopped mid-step grabbed the roll off her plate and threw it at Geremu. He wasn't even looking up and it hit him right in the head. I was so shocked by what I saw I said, "NASUUNA" She looked at me and honestly had this look like she had no idea what she did wrong. Cullen fell off his chair laughing, "Mom, I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing. She is so funny." Geremu was chewing on the roll that hit him in the head. He didn't care how it was delivered he was just happy to have another roll. It appears we can't have company over anytime soon for a meal- I wish I could say this sort of incident only happens once in a while but every night I find myself shaking my head at how dinner plays out.

I'll leave you with two videos, one is a new song Nasuuna learned at school...

The other is Geremu telling Nasuuna how tough she is, this happens anytime she gets hurt...

Just Another Day...

Events of the day included:

Getting the mail...

Waiting for their brother to get home...

Eating...

Dishes= Licking the bowl clean...

A mean game of Old Maid...

It's never much of a mystery with who has the Old Maid. Cullen practically cries when he gets it, Geremu gets mad and Nasuuna screams.

That's all for today.

PJ Day!

Today was pajama day at Gere & Nasuuna's school. They could not have been more excited to wear their pj's & slippers and bring their blankets to school.

They had so much fun that when they came home and Amanda took them to the Children's Museum they just had to stay in their pajamas for that too.

Baby Easton

As promised earlier this week I want to introduce you all to our babysitter Amanda's new bundle of joy.

Meet baby Easton...

Seriously can you stand the cuteness?

And that head of hair, oh that hair... No hat necessary when you've got a wig that thick. I love how dark and long it is already. Not only is he cute but he is such a good baby too.

My kids are as in love with him as I am. If I play my cards right and I come up with things I need to "talk" to Amanda about everyday then I get to sit and hold him for awhile before they leave. Nasuuna seems to watch every move Amanda makes while she is caring for Easton. Then she likes to mimic the moves after Amanda leaves with her baby Musi. Geremu seems to think he has a new job of entertaining (or just overstimulating) Easton.

Speaking of jobs, my littles LOVE to get the mail. This can become a fight if the same kid gets the mail two days in a row. So Team German came up with a solution...

Team German Wins Again!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A very Happy Valentine's Day was had in our house today. We don't do V-day gifts per say for the kids but instead opt for fun V-day meals. So it started off with red heart shaped pancakes with heart sprinkles added. Delicious, if you love syrup like my kids do! Nasuuna could not figure out what the sprinkles were... I think she asked me 50 times, "What disssss be?" during the course of her breakfast.

For dinner we feasted on heart shaped pasta with tomato sauce, fruit, hot bread and sparkling grape juice. Cheers to good food, family and friends!

Nasuuna is really into ask questions as she is starting to master the language. She loves to ask everyone in the family, "Dooo yaaaa wuvvvvve meeeee?" So stinkin' cute the first time. After Cullen was asked about 10 times in 5 minutes if he loved her he said, "I already told you I did."

Cullen is also into questions about songs. He recently was singing "I'm sexy and I know it."

Then asked, "Hey Mom, what does sexy mean?"

"Um, it means good looking"

To which he responds by killing himself laughing.

He also was singing, "I'm addicted and I just can't get enough."

"Mom what does addicted mean?"

It means you like something so much you can hardly stand it.

Now addicted is his new word, "I'm so addicted to the snow!"

Great.

Today was my first day of our families new reality... Nick went back to work. Everything went well, I got the kids off to school and our awesome babysitter Amanda was at the house when Gere and Nasuuna got home around around lunch. Speaking of Amanda I don't think I've mentioned yet that she recently had a baby. Let me snap a few pictures of this adorable little boy and introduce him to you later this week- stay tuned, he's got a wig you don't want to miss seeing!

In other news now that things in our life are settling down I just finished presenting at a few Global Awareness Assemblies in the schools around the area talking about the world water crisis. As we have done in the past we are selling t-shirts again with all the proceeds going directly to charity: water. Here is the 2012 design....

If you're interested in a shirt they are unisex shirts in light blue with navy blue ink. $10.00/shirt and since I'm not printing them myself (I just don't have the time) the shirt cost for production is a bit higher than the past. But $6.00/shirt will go directly to charity: water. E-mail me if you are interested at ancgerman@gmail.com

As always, thanks for reading!

The Quilt of Many Colors

If you follow the blog you may remember me talking about the clothing that a tailor in Uganda made for both Nasuuna and I before we left. Nasuuna had 3 different outfits (dresses and a dress/pants outfit) made and I had two skirts. When we left the shop the tailor, who might I add did amazing work, gave us what was left of the material she used to make the outfits. I brought it home and gave it to my Aunt Kathy who turned it into a beautiful quilt and pillow case for Nasuuna...

It's sort of hard to see the pillow in this picture, it's up in the left hand corner. This picture doesn't do the quilt justice, it is A-MAZING. Aunt Kathy took the material then added some additional colors/material to make it all come together. Nasuuna LOVES it. I was sort of hoping to save it for her so she would have a little bit of Uganda when she is older but Nasuuna insists on using and loving it. Thanks for the quilt Aunt Kathy!

Up North

We spent the weekend up north as a family of 5. It was relaxing, stress free and most of all FUN! The weather was beautiful so we spent most of our time outside; snowshoeing, sledding, making a fort, walking around the lake, etc. Below are some of my favorite pictures of the weekend. First I'll start with my favorite 4 people in the world...

Uncle Corky also made an appearance today much to the kids and our delight!

We were able to play some card games; Crazy 8's and Old Maid. Every time Nasuuna got the Old Maid she would say, "Ohhhhhhhhh, why you give me dis?" Then she would throw it... Resulting in the boys falling over laughing.

So happy together...

Geremu pretty much only knows two speeds- fast and sleeping. He preferred to run ahead of the group and blaze the way.

Nasuuna and Cullen would walk and talk next to anyone that would listen...

Since snow had not gotten under the pier the kids "built a fort" under it and played/laid on the ice. Poking their head out to taunt us once in a while.

We went out at night to check out the stars and play some more...

The kids came in for a bath, snack and movie before heading to bed, they were exhausted.

We started out early in the morning with sledding today...

Then ended the day with a snowball fight against Uncle Corky...

It was certainly a fun and memorable weekend.

Thanks for everything Aunt Janet, Uncle Corky, Aunt Kathy & Uncle Jack!

Table Manners & Games

Worst. Meal. Ever. This past Tuesday night. It wasn't so much the food as it was the incidents. It started with Nick putting chicken into the over before leaving for school right before dinner. He told me that he set a timer so I would know when to take it out. Perfect, husband of the year heads off to school while I sit with Cullen as he is finishing up his homework and the other two littles play together.

When Cullen was done I went into the kitchen to check the timer and I had just enough time to get a few sides together. Sides are all on the table and I check the chicken... Nick didn't mention that the chicken was frozen when he put it in so the time is a bit off. Not a big deal we are all about rolling with the punches here.

Nasuuna was setting the table and in the process she spilt two cups of liquid- one water, one milk. We clean up. The kids get started on the sides which included rice since everything but the chicken is ready and hot. In a period of about 5 minutes Nasuuna manages to spill another two cups of liquids. I'm beginning to loose my patience at this point.

Shortly thereafter Geremu falls from his chair in an attempt to "dip my carrot into the sauce (ranch dressing)." Resulting in his entire plate getting dumped off the table- rice included. I'm holding it together still but beyond annoyed that all I've done is wipe up food and liquids and haven't gotten to sit down and eat anything.

Just when I think we are ready to roll I sit down and Cullen announces that "I have to go spit a booger out of my mouth." He runs to the bathroom like it's an emergency... I might have steam pouring out of my ears at this point.

So like any good parent to prevent myself from snapping I shove some rice in my mouth and debate how I am going to talk to them about table manners when Cullen gets back to the table. Then the timer goes off for the chicken... I leave the table, get my baking mitts on and take the chicken out. As I am in the process of walking the hot pan of chicken to the table the most violent sneeze of my life comes with out warning and I still had rice in my mouth. Need I say more? Of the four of us eating dinner I was the only one too grossed out to actually eat it once it was covered in chewed up rice.

The table manners talk will have to come another night. Note to self, NEVER have food in your mouth when taking something out of the oven.

In other news my sister Megan is turning 30 this weekend. For this AWESOME mile stone she is hosting a fun game also known as a give-a-way. Check out the details on her blog at www.meganzellner.blogspot.com or her facebook page "Mimi & Chip." Just to make this a little more fun I'm going to add to this prize if one (or more) of my blog readers wins. You heard me correctly people, I'll throw in a little something special. It will be like winning twice! If you win, send me a comment either on my facebook page or my blog and I'll be sure to get you the second half of your prize. Yeah for possible FREE stuff!

That's all I've got for tonight, now go get signed up for the 30th Birthday give-a-way before it's too late!

Winter in Wisconsin?

Love this warm weather but I also love me some snow! Hoping next weekend brings snow fun... But if the current temps hold steady I'm not sure that will happen. The kids spent a lot of time outside this weekend. Today they went to a Local State Park to enjoy the weather...

Nasuuna and Adisa experienced a first together- ice covering a large body of water...

Which resulted in a few falls and some wet kids. Adisa still has his arm in a cast- so no worries about him breaking it again.

Below you will see two of my children showing how "tough" they are before heading out for a little bike riding. Who would have ever thought I'd be teaching one of my children to ride a bike in early Feb. in Wisconsin? Nasuuna has never been on a bike other than a boda boda (motorcycle). We've got a LONG ways to go before she will be off and running but she looked tough during everyone of her falls.

I'm posting two videos to show just how far Nasuuna has come in the last 3 months. When we first met she could not jump and actually get her feet off the ground. Now when she wants to be held she jumps right up into our arms... Or head...

When Nasuuna came home she could easily carry heavy loads, including kids (and she still can) but she was considered to have "very low muscle tone". The low muscle tone was the most obvious with her mouth. Her mouth was open the majority time (day and night) with her tongue hanging out when she wasn't smiling. I rarely notice her do this anymore. If she is doing it, it's usually because she is concentrating so hard on something else she is doing.

I can't wait to post a video of another trick that I walked in on her and Geremu practicing the other day... Stay tuned!