It sounds funny, but we were upstairs last night when Spice said “who’s blood is this?” She found some blood on the floor. I searched all the human and animal paws in the house until I found a horribly broken claw on Haatim. It was all twisted off to one side and I was worried he had broken a toe. So off to the vet clinic – anesthetic and a nail removal later, we had him back home. Poor Haatim. I hope it grows back ok.

Last weekend we went to Mehaber / True Colours Camp. Some of our friends from Nelson organized this great little camp near Needles, BC, at Whatshan Lake.

There were only 12 families in a smaller private campground, so it was just nice. We could let the kids bike around like crazy without having to watch them at all. The two times I “lost” them I only had to look for 5 minutes to find them. Sugar and Spice were reunited with a little girl that they lived with at the Imagine/Kidslink transition home in Ethiopia. That was really cool. And they made new friends as well. Jrock and I got to sit back and relax. The camp was very informal, since it was so small, so I lead some crafts, and Jrock followed the girls around on the bike and chatted with the dads.

It was also nice for us to have a trial for Harambe Camp – which is for a whole week. The dogs were awesome, so we feel really good about that. But it also made us feel much more comfortable about the girls in the trailer and gave us a small list of stuff to buy and collect. Funny – we worried about our 17 foot trailer being too small with two kids and two dogs – honestly, the kids don’t make that much difference.

Only 163 people have seen this beautiful video of Ethiopia – the videography is stunning! So let’s make it many many more…

It gives me such warm memories of the bright, colourful dusty Ethiopia I got to know.

A couple of weeks ago (yes, I am behind in my blogging! ) my grandmother “Nona” and my auntie T visited from Calgary. Oh, and I can’t forget Auntie T’s dog Ronnie! They had a blast hanging out – and it as nice to have them here. The girls know them already, and Sugar’s reception was much warmer.

Just a side note, for all you parents interested in attachment. It was a couple days in, when Spice told me her plans to go home with Auntie T. So I took her upstairs and caught my aunt coming out of her bedroom; we had a quick talk about how Spice is staying here with us, how Auntie T only takes care of Ronnie, and Spice has a good mama here. Total props to my aunt – I sort of ambushed her with Spice and she totally backed me up on the spot. But yes, my one daughter still is interested in going home with nice, warm, female family members. Sugar – not at all. She is attached like glue. But we have to watch it a bit with Spice.

Anyway, we had a great visit. We went to Elysium Gardens, which is our small botantial gardens in Kelowna. I just love this picture, above. It was my first time there and it was just lovely. Auntie T and Nona and I went on a day trip to the winery and had a beautiful lunch at Quail’s Gate… and then we hauled them around to soccer practice, out to Vernon to visit my great aunts, to Planet Bee to buy honey and look at the hives, etc. Nona slept well while she was here! with all the activity. Two almost-four year olds are a lot of energy, if you aren’t used to it.

Jason is really lucky – his grandad that he spent summers with as a kid is 93 and “fit as a fiddle.” Well, for example, the guy curls twice a week every winter! Last month, he paid us a visit, to catch up with Jrock and meet his greatgrandaughters in person. It was a nice few days: Jrock got to sit and reminisce about Grandad’s WWII exploits and their summer adventures, and the girls got to know him.

The visiting wasn’t without it’s rocky spots, though. The day after he arrived, Sugar demanded in the car, peeved as can be: “why this man in my car? Why this man stay in our house? I no like this man stay in my house!” and kicked his slippers when she scuttled in the door and muttered about him being messy. Of course Greatgrandad, who is hard of hearing, still caught every word. Poor guy.

Jrock, to his credit, took it in stride and had a long chat with her (involving a messy crying breakdown on her part, of course,) about feelings and hurting people’s feelings. Basically, we figured out that 1. Sugar doesn’t like change (knew that one already!) and 2. she’s really happy and safe and cozy with our family structure right now. So someone coming to spend a couple days that she doesn’t know is NOT her idea of fun.

Things smoothed over over the next few days, and Spice actually struck up quite the friendship with Greatgrandad. She would follow him into the living room when he was trying to take a nap and chatted his ear off about everthing in her life (mainly about her doll, her doll’s name, what her doll likes to eat, etc. It was hilarious, when, due to his poor hearing and her enjoying his attention, her doll changed from a male named “Elk” to a female named “Susie” during one of her chat sessions.

Well, we’ll see him again when we go out East next month – and then Sugar will have met him before. Spice has since changed her doll back to a male named “Robin Sun.” Nice name! I think.

Happy very first Father’s Day to Jrock! All three of us girls are lucky to have you. (And the little dog, too.)

I’m finally starting to do smaller braids on the girls’ heads – it just didn’t seem worth it when they used to go through a head of braids in a week! but now that it’s lastly two weeks, it makes it more worthwhile to sit for almost two Disney movies!

I tried something new with Spice and I really liked it – sort-of tigrayan style with braids in the front tight to her head, and then braids loose in the back. Sugar got a normal “one puff” – but with the braids continuing out, which I liked as well.

Well, I got home after a week away last night. Jorck held the fort down nicely… I knew he would. He did stage mak-up, fed them hotdogs and pulled weeds int he garden. The only difference when I got home is that the girls started eating vegetables again, and, as their pre-school teacher teacher said “their fashion is improved.” ha ha

It was pretty nice to have some quiet and get away time – not so much leaving the family behind, but rather actually having time and space to do some thinking. That said, near the end, I missed the lot of them, and was scheming on how to take them with me next time.

My present to the girls were two minature classical guitars… I saw them at a toy shop and thought how much they would like them. Well, they’re a hit. enjoy listening to some of their mid-afternoon interludes… (Spice on the left and Sugar on the right.)

I know it’s been around for a while, so probably half of you have seen this… but it just kills me every time!

I don’t have a lot of time to write – it’s a busy night.  But I finally got a nicer computer to work with and thought I would share some pictures of where I am. I’ve never been to New Hampshire before, but it’s really lovely. There are so many brick buildings, and gorgeous old mansions… Enjoy!

Thank goodness for Skype – especially since I don’t have a phone where I am staying. I miss you family! Girls and Daddy too!

My best friend *since grade 4/5) had her twins last night – her husband T called Jrock at 2am and told him: “it’s two girls!!!” Yeah!  How cool is that?

Jrock, in his slumber, didn’t get names or weights or anything, so I’ll have to call later today – after, that is, she gets some rest.

I am SO excited!!!!!

In celebration of the world cup, I thought I would post K’naan’s lovely song “Wavin’ Flag.” The girls love it for its beat – I love it for its lyrics. Nona, this is also for you – it can be your favorite modern song – remember listening to it on the way to soccer practice?

First, here is K’naan’s original version. I love it – it’s just beautiful:

And here is his suped-up version for the World Cup. Also very good!

So proud that he is a Somalie-Canadian!

And just because I can, and it’s my blog – here is another version a bunch of Canadian artists made with the original lyrics to raise money for Haiti.

Well, I’m of for a week to the US.  Jrock will be holding down the fort while I’m gone. 

See you when I get back!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been getting more involved in supporting Faya Orphanage in Ethiopia. For those of you who haven’t heard much about this great home for HIV+ and HIV- kids in Adama, Ethiopia, you can see pictures in my previous post or on the Faya website. In the past, I’ve organized a fundraiser and contributed in my own small way.  But lately I’ve been assisted by some awesome people to start ferrying a couple of containers to the orphanage via traveling parents.

These containers will take wierd routes, since we are using friends and family networks to move them! But they will eventually end up where needed. 

One great lady R is taking a container with donations from Kelowna, from us and our Ethiopian friends. It’s mostly good quality used clothes, a few toys and toothbrushes, as well as some baby odds and sodds. Oh, and I can’t forget the two afghans knitted by my 93 year old auntie! My dad took it up to Northern Alberta with him on the plane this morning. R is actually in Ethiopia right now, but she’ll take this little rubbermaid when she goes to pick up her son in a couple of months.

Another great lady, S from Ontario, is taking another container shortly… if you are in the Kitchener or London area, please stop by her blog, connect, and you can send some donations with her. 

If you would like to assemble your own container to take to Ethiopia, please leave a comment and I’ll contact you!

Here are some of the things needed at the moment:
~ Kids multivitamins
~ A couple of thermometers
~ Diaper ointment – like Pentaten cream. Several containers of it.
~ Kid toothbrushes
~ Antibiotic cream, bandaids, first aid supplies
~ Shoes in smaller sizes. (Preschool down.)
~ A non-electric pump to pump up soccer balls, as well as a couple of balls
~ Twin and crib sheets
~ Art and school supplies
~ High quality, non-electronic toys for younger kids right up to 8 years old. It’s important that they are built to last since many many kids will play with them. They have two 7/8 year old girls living there, and then boys up to 4 years old.

Of course, if you would like to help Faya Orphanage generally, you can donate online at www.fayaorphanage.org with PayPal. Currently additional resources are needed to sponsor HIV+ children living in the surrounding community.