Coming Soon!

Blogging Hiatus Over

Life got busy and the blog got away from me.  Every time I wanted to start blogging again I didn't really know where to begin...

While I have missed having a place to reference that has document our life as a family and the kids growing up, I started to feel pressure to make it meaningful and relevant beyond our life as a family.   I don't feel that pressure anymore.  It's gone.  Or my attitude has changed.  Either way, I've decided this was never really for anyone but myself and my family, so I'm going to make it what I want and start to document life again.  You are more then welcome to follow along on our journeys.

So to catch up from my last post... The kids have grown a lot and more teeth have been lost. Currently Geremu and Nasuuna are in 2nd grade, Cullen is in 4th grade, and Adisa is off at college. Everyone is involved in all sorts of stuff.  We are busy but in a really fun/great way and are looking forward to where life takes us.

Tooth Trouble

On Friday Cullen came home from school with a new look. When he went to school all of his teeth were white, when he came home from school his top front baby tooth was was dark gray.  I was at cross country practice but Nick noticed it right away.  Cullen begged Nick not to tell me because he knew I would take him to the dentist....  I walked in from cross country and noticed.

I think my exact words were, "You have until Monday to get that tooth out.  If it's not out Monday you are going to the dentist."

Five minutes later the tooth was out.  The tooth has been loose for some time, but Cullen didn't want to pull it out.  Once the tooth was out I noticed that his adult tooth was pushing the baby one out and that tooth is all white.  So the dentist in me (without a dental degree) decided that no trip was need to the dentist.  His baby tooth was filled with blood- I think that's what made it appear so dark.

The following day (Saturday) Cullen and Geremu were screwing around and then I heard Geremu yelling at Cullen.  "That hurt soooo bad. Sooooo BAAAAADDDDD"

I'm still upstairs and I can hear Cullen gasp, "Geremu you're bleeding."

Before I can even make it downstairs I hear Cullen saying, "Aren't you happy I did that?  I knocked your tooth out!  You can thank me Geremu!"

Geremu's mouth accidentally hit Cullen's knee and Geremu's baby tooth was knocked out.

Nasuuna was disappointed she didn't lose a tooth this weekend- she has a wiggler that she has been working on for some time but it just isn't quite ready to come out.

Livin' a Dream

Every Sunday night during the school year is hair night.  I spend a LOT of time combing out Nasuuna's hair, deep conditioning it, and getting it ready for the next week.  Sometimes we leave it natural, other times we put a style in.  I love the hair time we have together and Nasuuna likes being fresh, clean and "bootiful" which is the end result.

Yesterday when I was combing and cutting knots out she said to me, "Mom, you ever think you be livin' a dream?"  I wasn't really sure what she meant by this so I asked her to explain it to me.  "Somedays I just think I be living a dream.  I go up norf (north) and swim, I see Granny Bird and Pop.  I make pizza with my Gramma...  This not be like Uganda... I think I be dreaming."  

This conversation went on for awhile and she preceded to tell me that a lot of the stuff we did this summer just seemed like a dream because it was so different then when she lived in Uganda.  

I realize as she gets older she will start to forget parts of her time in Uganda.  She really doesn't like to talk about her past, she has been very guarded about it actually.  But with certain people and during certain times she will talk...  Hair time always seems to be one of those times.  There is very little eye contact and the conversation just flows.  We have learned a lot about and from each other during hair time.   Someday I hope Nasuuna will forget about all the hair pulling/detangling and remember and appreciate the conversations and time spent together.  

Happy Birthday Gere!

Today is Geremu's 7th Birthday!

I don't know anyone that embraces life with more love and enthusiasm.  Life is one big adventure for our curious boy who loves a good party.  Geremu is that child that can go to a playground not knowing anyone and by the time we leave everyone knows his name.  He is generous and giving and often worries about others but never wants others to worry about him.

When he born his loved ones were amazed that he was alive.  So they named him Geremu, which translates as "amazing."  This kid is nothing short of just that!

First Day of School

My conversation with Nasuuna's this morning...
Nasuuna what grade are you going in?
   "2"
Nope, 1st remember that.  What's your teachers name?
   "I don't bemember"
Mrs. Korb.  Do you remember where your room is?
   "Nope"
What's your name?
   "Nasuuna"
No, your last name?
   "I be a German"

Her answers are equal parts charming and terrifying.  She is my only kid that was not nervous this morning.  Cullen killed himself laughing as we had our above conversation.  

I'd post a back to school picture for you but I'm not sure any of my neighbors captured the kids and I chasing the bus down this morning.  Apparently because of construction that was just started recently the bus can't stop where it usually does...  And I didn't get the memo.  As Cullen got on the bus he turned around and said to me still out of breath, "Don't worry Mom, I'll walk her to her classroom.  I remember where it is."

Thank God for Cullen!

I'd also like to report that I unintentionally sent one of my kids to school with an "activated carbon moisture and odor absorbent" packet in their new lunch box that says, "DO NOT EAT" on it. The good news is, "I couldn't open dis treat so I not eat it."

Overall it was a pretty great 1st day with a few hiccups just to keep me on my toes.

School Days... Start Tomorrow

Tomorrow the 2013-2014 school year begins for the kids.  That means getting back to a schedule and some sort of a routine.  As much as I have LOVED spending tons of time with my kids this summer I'm ready for school as are they.  This year Cullen will be entering the 3rd grade and Geremu & Nasuuna will be in 1st grade.  However if you ask Nasuuna she would tell you she is going in 2nd grade because "I already do 1 grade."  Which is true, but that 1 grade was called Kindergarten.

This year I'm going to attempt to get back into the habit of blogging.  I really do want a record for the kids of what they were up to as they grow-up and blogging has been my "baby book" of sorts for them.    I really fell off the bandwagon shortly after Nasuuna came home.  We were busy and life was hard...  So when something had to go, blogging was dumped for my sanity. 

This past summer was Ah-mazing, the kids are at great ages (I think I say this every year) and we spent lots of time together.  Life doesn't feel so cRaZy anymore.  After Nasuuna had been home for about 6 months I really felt like we were making headway on her attachment...  Which we were through baby-steps   This summer she has grown leaps and bounds.  Proving just how far we had yet to go when we look back.  More on this in a future post.