THE FAB FIVE

Easter Time

2009-04-11T15:58:00.000-07:00

We went to the local mall today for the annual Easter egg scramble and carnival games and of course the Easter Bunny. It was a very exciting day for the boys as this was their first time.

Random shots

2009-04-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

Kai with his trophy

2009-04-06T16:50:00.001-07:00

We ended leaving the Pine wood derby after Kai got his medal. Come to find out he won a trophy for most patriot car!!! He was so geeked they called him up on stage and presented him with it at the last boy scout dinner.

Puppy's have arrived

2009-04-06T16:28:00.000-07:00

Piper my King Charles gave birth to 6 pups today three girls three boys. It was spring break for the kids so they just called me at work and told me she was in labor. By the time I got home she delivered one.

Spring musicals

2009-04-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

Time has really got by me. It has been awhile since I last blogged. We have had our share of winter colds/flu etc. I guess with five kids it is hard to keep it away as one gets rid of it the next one starts.
Madison ans Kai had their Spring musical. Kai got the lead Turkey this year. He was very proud. I had two nights to make his costume out of poster board we did manage. But as it was his turn to come on stage the teachers put his mask on upside down. But he was so proud to be up there dancing and such.
Shaylee also had hers. Hers was about Children around the world everyone was supposed to dress in their heritage dress.
She also had a solo singing a Chinese song she learned in China.

Fun during the storm

2009-02-21T17:32:00.000-08:00

We got hit with a bad snow storm today 6 inches and blowing snow. So I decided to take th kids to Chuckee Cheese to get out of the house. This was the boys first time there. They had a great time.

7 months home

2009-02-21T05:41:00.000-08:00

Wow it has been 7 months now since my sons have joined our family. They have grown so much in that time. Keagan has grown 2.5 inches and 8 pounds. Kai 3 inches and 7 pounds. They went from not being on the charts to 38% now on them. They are right where they need to be. They are such a delight. I am so lucky to have them in my life. They are great little guys. I have a great family.. God is good!!!

Ashley's 14th birthday party

2009-02-20T19:39:00.000-08:00

Ashley turned 14, I really can't believe it. It seems like it was yesterday I was changing her diapers. She invited 12 girls over fo ra party and sleep over.
Busy house hold. Everyone thought I was crazy. But it wasn't too bad at all.

Shay's 7th birthday

2009-02-20T18:22:00.000-08:00

Pinewood derby time

2009-02-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

This is our very first pinewood derby race. Kai was so excited he had high hopes to take the trophy home. I told him not get his hopes up and it is really about having fun. He was handed a block of wood that had slots in the bottom for the wheels, 4 nails and 4 wheels. I truly feel that is is about the boys and they should at least do about 90% of it. At the race it was obvious that the fathers did most of a lot of them. Kinda of sad because it really isn't fair to the ones that really did it by themselves. Kai was so excited to be able to build his very own car. He drew out the pattern then I showed him how to use the coping saw. He cute it out then sanded it..I did the final finish sanding with the electric sander. Then he painted it and I helped him to some detailed painting. Other than that he did it all by himself. He took fifth over all. He can't wait till next year!!!

Playing hockey at the neighbors with the new skates

2009-01-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

Night at the Museum, I mean day

2009-01-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

We visit the Grand Rapids Museum today. We had a ball. They had a lot of hands on going on, great exhibits, carousal ride etc. This was the first time the boys have been to one. So it was really fun watching them. They had a who done it exhibit were you had to figure out who did the crime. Out of the 5 only two figured it out. They even had a real jail cell there.

2008-12-28T18:21:00.001-08:00

Africa needs you

2008-12-28T05:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day

2008-12-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

What a Christmas this year. We had a great time, it was nice to just spend time with the kids. That morning all I heard were screams coming from the family room. Then it sounded like a heard of elephants running up the steps and jumping on my bed. All 4 were talking loudly at the same time trying to tell me about what the saw. "Come on mom come on" Keagan was saying as he was pulling my arm. "Santa left me BIG presents" as he showing me how big with his arms. "I said well go wake up Ashley and we can go down". So then the excitement went crazy. They opened up everything in minutes.It all was a hit!!! We all stayed in our pj's and played all day. It was fun. I am very thankful for my kids, I can't ask for anything better!!!!!

Christmas band concert

2008-12-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ashley's winter concert

Putting the tree up

2008-12-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

Well to say the least this is a very special Christmas, as our whole family is finally together. Every one of the kids are very excited about Christmas. I have to say Kai is so excited he can't stand it at times. He knows about the true meaning of Christmas he learned that in Ethiopia. He told me about times when he went out to find a little tree, brought it home and he made paper ornaments for the tree. He never had a gift given to him until he reached the orphanage last year because she was to poor to buy them any. :( The orphanage gave out coloring books and crayons. So he has his list this year. It is so unreal how Americanized these kids get in such a short time. So he went through my whole basement and found every light I have every purchased in my adult life and put them everywhere. He decorated the outside the inside and every tree he could get his little hands on. I finally had to put my foot down with three trees up in the house.
I took them to see Santa with out them knowing we were going. His jaw dropped the minute he saw him. He was so nervous he kept saying mom what did I want again.. I couldn't believe it. He spent a good 5 minutes talking with Santa and on the way out he said mom this has been the best night. They also had reindeer there to feed. Santa gave him reindeer food with magic dust in it to leave out in the snow for the reindeer on Christmas eve to help them fly all night.. He has it by his pillow ready to leave out. Gotta love it.. The innocence of a child. Keagan on the other hand loves Santa but doesn't really understand.

2008-12-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

Diving

2008-12-20T16:37:00.000-08:00

My oldest Ashley dives for school. She is very good at it and enjoys it. Here is a dive she did in her competition. The other video is the other four having fun while they wait.

2008-12-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

We went sliding yesterday. We have a ton of snow. It was the boy's first time sliding. They LOVED it. It was a very fun time had by all.

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Cub Scout

2008-12-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

Kai was so proud to get his cub scout uniform. He already earned his first badge.

My little man

2008-12-04T19:46:00.000-08:00

Keagan's new look. He finally allowed me to cut his hair. He is quite the ham.
Last night we were watching my oldest, Ashley dive at a meet. Keagan asked if he could dive. I said he could when he got bigger. He looked at me and said matter of factly I am big look at my foot, it is really big. What a sweety!!

Random Pictures

2008-11-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

Our first Thanksgiving as a complete family

2008-11-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

We had a great first Thanksgiving together. Other than being sick it was great. It was fun seeing the boys eyes wide open to all the food..Kai said he has never seen that much food at one setting before. So that was pretty cool. I let each of them pick something they wanted to have for dinner. Ashley Yams, Madison Pumpkin pie, Kai Chocolate (of course). Shaylee bean casserole, Keagan BREAD.. He loves his bread.

The kids singing a song in Amharic

First Snow fall

2008-11-24T17:51:00.000-08:00

We had our first snow fall today. To say the least my munchkins were very excited!!
They got together with a couple of neighbor kids and built their first snowman. Kai has been waiting for this day to come for about a month now. The kids are off all week because of Thanksgiving. So when I came home tonight all I heard from him is mom this has been the best day!!! I picked Keagan up from daycare and he wanted out of the car as fast as he could when he saw the snowman..

Pictures, Pictures, Pictures

2008-11-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

We had out first set of conferences at school. They all went very well. Ashley is a 4.0 and even taking classes at the high school. Ashley you rock!!!. Kai is doing great. He is in a regular math class now as they said he is way ahead and doesn't need any help with math anymore. His reading is coming along he is is through with the first grade sounds, vowels, Etc. and now working in his 2nd grade level. They hope to have him caught up by the end of the year. I am still amazed each day with that boy. He is a awesome son. Madison is doing great too. And Shaylee is reading almost at a 2nd grade level which is great. I have awesome kids. I can't imagine my life with out anyone of them. They each have touched my heart in a special way. Proud mom!!!
I have been trying to shoot my Christmas card picture for awhile now. I think I finally found it. Yeah!!!!! So off to the printer it went.

Over the weekend we went to an adoption celebration for the boys. My home study agency celebrated each of the kids they helped bring home this year. 45 in all that is a big number for such a small agency. I met a few other families with ET kids.
The boys loved it, it made them feel very special. We got a really nice picture frame engraved with "Forever Family". They took family pics and gave them certificates.

2008-11-01T15:30:00.001-07:00

This is Kai and Lerato she was adopted by a single mother also, she is from South Africa and in Kai's class. She is new this year too..So it makes it nice for both of them.
The kids had a great time trick or treating. It only took Keagan a few houses to figure out what was going on. They loved it to say the least. They all are candioholics. Is'nt my little butterfly's cute? We even had a pumpkin pizza last night.

2008-11-01T09:49:00.001-07:00

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2008-11-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ashley and Keagan carving pumpkins.

2008-11-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Madison carving her pumpkin.

2008-11-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

Shaylee carving her pumpkin.

2008-11-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

Kai carving his pumpkin. He was so excited to do it.

carmel apples

2008-10-26T17:29:00.000-07:00

This was the last weekend for soccer at least for outdoor.. Indoor starts in a few weeks. Thank goodness because it was very cold and wet..We even had some snow mixed in with the rain from time to time. All weekend the kids bugged me to do Carmel apples from the apples we picked at the orchard. So we finally did Sunday night. Kai was looking for something in the basement and came across the Christmas tree and lights.. So he has been walking around all weekend saying how happy he is for Christmas coming.. I said wait a bit we still have to get through a few other holiday's before Christmas. He has already picked out his gift he wants and reminds me every few days. Funny boy!!..

Fistula Foundation

2008-10-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago The Grand Rapids Chapter of the Fistula Foundation held a Ethiopian Fashion show at the Hilton. A friend of mine was one of the models in it. I took the kids it was great for them to see. .They had food both Ethiopian and Pizza, and many folks both male and female in Ethiopian dress. They divided up Ethiopia and showed the ethnic dress from each area. Then they spoke about the fistula hospital in Addis Ababa. Some of the folks in my group visited this while we were there. At the end of the night they did dancing and music from Ethiopia. It was a great time had by all. Kai and my girls really loved watching it..Keagan well he enjoyed the food the most. That kid can eat!!!! Anyway they are rallying all over to raise money for the situation in Africa.

http://www.fistulafoundation.org/

1st place soccer tourament

2008-10-12T06:20:00.001-07:00

Ashley's team took first place in the Lansing capital Cup!! Go team

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

We went to the pumpkin patch today. It is so cool to see the boys so excited over things we take for granted. Kai picked the biggest of the five. He was so proud of it. I asked him why the biggest, his response was so I can get the most candy and fill it up. HE thought because the girls have been telling if you go trick treating with a pumpkin to hold your candy he thought it was this one. They all also picked out their costumes. Kai will be batman (he is really into the super hero's right now), Madison a witch and Shaylee a butterfly. Keagan was going to be spiderman, but when he saw the butterfly costumes my friend gave us..He now wants to be a butterfly like Shaylee. He tried it on and looks so cute. Will see if he changes his mind as it gets closer back to spiderman.

My gang

2008-10-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

2008-10-10T17:55:00.000-07:00

Soccer Trio

Fall

2008-10-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Well It has been a month now since school started, soccer started, and I went back to work. We finally have a routine in our house. It does take some time with 5 kids.
Kai has since started 2nd grade. He is doing great. He is not so excited about all the home work and work in school. I think he was used to a more laid back school in Ethiopia. But he has done well with all the changes. He is very into sports which I love because I am too. He wants to play them all. He doesn't understand that a few of them may be at the same time and he would have to play only one. As Soccer and football. He is great at soccer and loves it but would really like to play football too. He doesn't want to pick one over the other. Having he and Madison in the same class has helped out with studying, remembering what needs to be done etc. He and Madison are also playing soccer for AYSO. They are loving every minute of it. We had to put Kai on a team with 4th graders as he was over whelming the 2nd graders. But we are about half over now. Juggling three kids in soccer, two in girl scouts and Kai in cub scouts has been interesting to say the least, but it has all worked out. Ashley's travel soccer team took 1st place in the Lansing tournament last weekend. They have a great team this year.
Keagan has changed so much, I am so impressed with him. It was pretty tough for him to go to the daycare preschool center he attends after I was off with him for the summer. He cried so much and he looked so scared when I left him each day. He thought it was a orphanage and I was leaving him there and not coming back. It took about 8 days for him to see I came back every day now he loves it and kisses me goodbye and says see you tomorrow meaning tonight. He was having trouble sleeping in his room for about a month too. He told Kai he thought I wouldn't be there in the morning when he woke up. So he would fall asleep in my room and then I would carry him in to his bed after he fell asleep. But it has been one week, now he goes to bed and sleeps in his own room. He has really opened up too. He can be a handful at times ( like any 4 year old can be)but for the most part he is so happy and a very warm loving little boy. He is full of energy but really has started to listen very well. Shaylee is loving first grade she loves being able to go all day now verses kindergarten. I had my first post placement report last week that was good to get out of the way.

First day of school

2008-09-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well we finished the first week of school. Kai loves it very much. He and Madison are in the same 2nd grade class. Shaylee is in 1st grade, And Keagan is in a pre K daycare. Ashley is in 8th grade. Wow!! I can't believe how time fly's. It seems like yesterday she was in Kindergarten. They all love going to school. It feels good to be gettign back in a routine again. I also start back to work also after being off most of the summer.

Soccer Time!!

2008-09-07T11:28:00.001-07:00

Ashley had her first tournament of the season Labor day weekend. The girls took 2nd place. It was very hot in the low 90's. But they did very well.

Michigan's adventure

2008-08-29T16:01:00.000-07:00

We went to Michigan's adventure amusement park.. We had a blast. If you ask Kai what his favorite thing in America is he will tell you Michigan's adventure. It is two parks in one, rides and water park. Ashley and my friend Laura went on the rip cord- brave souls. We also went on the funnel of fear, boy oh boy it was just that. There is a picture of it in the montage. All is all it was a great time had by all.

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Camping

2008-08-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

We decided to go camping as we do every year. So I packed up the van, five kids, three dogs and off we went. We weren't sure how the boys would do being they have only been here a month. What was I thinking!! They loved it. From cooking out to roastings Marshmallows to swimming all day to riding their bikes through the trails to sleeping in the tent they loved all of it. They loved hanging flashlights on their bikes and riding in the dark. When we left today Kai asked "when we go again mom"

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John ball park Zoo

2008-08-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

We went to the zoo. The girls always enjoy going..But bringing the boys to their first zoo experience was really fun. Especially since they are older.. They were really in awe of it. They loved being able to feed the stingrays and sharks and petting them.

Keagan Yohannes

2008-08-10T18:34:00.001-07:00

Finally a smile... He does not like to smile much for pictures...

Hanging out roasting marshmallows

2008-08-10T18:21:00.000-07:00

2008-08-09T09:13:00.000-07:00

Silly family,, Happy family photos

My little Knight, Isn't he just the cutest thing you have ever seen?

Random pics:

Video of Ashley catching the big one

2008-08-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

A day on the lake

2008-08-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

The boys had never been fishing or on a boat before. It is so neat to see them so excited about simple things. Kai caught his first fish.. He was so proud!!

Ashley caught a pretty big bass too.

A day on the lake

2008-08-09T07:44:00.002-07:00

We spent the day at Laura's house. We played in the hot tub, Looked for worms, went out on the boat and went swiming and fishing. It was a blast!

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Family get together

2008-08-09T07:03:00.000-07:00

My mom finally was able to meet the boys. I was glad to see everyone.

All the guys in the family..............All my aunts and uncle

Our family photo

Grandma is gone.

2008-08-02T15:29:00.002-07:00

My 97 year old grandma passed away this morning.. It was very unexpected. We will miss her very much..She really meant a lot to my family and the kids loved her dearly. I am very fortunate that the boys were able to met her and she them. I also got a photo of her and the kids last week.. Rest in peace grandma I love and miss you very much!!

2008-07-28T17:15:00.001-07:00

I took some family photos today they turned out very nice.

2008-07-27T07:51:00.000-07:00

Saturday we spent the day picking blueberries. The kids had a great time..They each tried to fill their bucket the fastest. I think Keagan ate more than he had in his bucket. Then at the end I caught him taking from the other pails to fill his..He is a funny kid.

2008-07-24T19:46:00.000-07:00

Fun in the sun!!!

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Boy's first swimming pool expierence

2008-07-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

We spent the day at Carol's and swam and cooked out. All the kids had a blast!!.. They love the water. Though Keagan didn't want to swim in the water unless someone was holding him. He did love the floating loung though.

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Hot summer day

2008-07-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

We got the water slide out, and i was very surprised the boys loved it..They got right on and enjoyed every minute of it. As you can see our Springer Kobie loves water too.

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2008-07-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

July 4th 2008 I embarked on a journey to Africa to adopt these two little boys. Ethiopia to be exact. Mulugeta who is 8 and Yohannes is 4 they are brothers. I first saw their pictures in February 2008. After arriving in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia I got to meet the boys. They are very amazing kids, They have been through alot in their young lives and they still always have a smile on their face. They are very loving , beautiful boys. I am very lucky to be able to parent them. Though they haven't been in our family very long I can't imagine life with out them. The girls absolutly adore them as they do them. I have changed their names to Kai Mulugeta and Keagan Yohannes, Kai actually ask that he have an American name. He loves America!! His bike is his prized possession.

Kai and Keagan's video from Ethiopia

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