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This morning I got up and thought to myself:  "IOh yea, just one load of laundry to do...

I was weeding the front beds of our home and Gertie comes around the corner and is yelling:  "mommy, oohah (water) kitchen, downstairs, Oh - no!  Oh- no Mommy oohah much much!" 

So I run inside to find the water pouring into the kitchen through the ceiling tiles.  Yes, Yabi had a sizeable "shintehwey" and flushed it and the toilet was running and flooding upstairs and over the edge and through the ceiling tiles. 

 So, all to say I am not so caught up on laundry afterall. 

I guess G & O do not understand "go play."  I have been trying to teach Ollie and Gertie that they can just play.  Haul out the Legos, the doll house etc.  Make a mess, play... it's really hard to teach that.  Claire and Simon are working on English etc. and I just needed them to not loiter around and disrupt their work so I told them to go play in their bedroom.  I went up to check on them and Gertie is napping on her bed and Ollie is sitting on his bed.  As if I were punishing them!  Oh dear.  We will work on the word "play."

Mother's Day was a real trip.  Roland did his best to explain what exactly Mother's Day is... Like a Happy Birthday to all the Moms.  The kids brought me breakfast in bed while I was no longer in bed... it's so about the traditions around here.  It was funny because I don't really eat much breakfast - so it was actually more the thought the counts, and a wonderful photo, and for the kids to devour while I did my hair for church.

The kids exclaimed all day "Mommy - Happy!!"  They meant to say that it was like Happy Birthday Mommy but it sounded like they were telling everyone that I was just really happy.

I was thinking yesterday that I earned my Mother's Day this year.  Roland always is so good to me on that day - but I've thought before:  "it's no big deal - but thanks."  This year I will feel Very Worthy... 

We had an awesome time at the Tulip Time Parade on Wednesday.  My two dark, beautiful, Dutch Children dressed in costumes.  Gertie's lace hat didn't really fit over her pony tails.  They think "two-lip" is a silly name for abeba (flower).  Gertie ofcourse wanted to pick the flowers and she had like nine adults on her "no - no - no don't pick the tulips!"

We had a sucessful sleepover last night with cousins.  I knew a 3:00 a.m. phonecall was possible - but we made it through.  Gertie spent the night with her twin cousins Audrey and Lydia.  Apparently Audrey woke up in the middle of the night crying so this morning Gertie said, "Gertie no cry -- Audray Nah Nah Nah (wah, wah, wah)."  So there you have it - I think somebody owes me something -- since bets were placed and you lost.  (You know who you are : )

The bicycles are a daily hit and I get asked first thing in the morning and then by the hour if we can go outside. 

There isn't as much funny stuff to write lately.  We're just doing life.  We're definately through the honeymoon phase!

We had an AMAZING rehearsal last night for this weekends Night of Worship.  I'm always blown away by all the awesome people I get to serve with.  What abundant Joy comes from laying our worship down before the King of Kings.  So, here is your official invitation.  If you are in the neighborhood - come join us. 

I will be sharing a little of our testimony - our journey to Gertie and Ollie.   . 

So, as I've blogged afore - the bicycles have been hours and hours of fun.  And, that Ollie has nearly obliterated his training wheels.  Well, tonight Kyle was trying to bend them back to normal helpful position and one snapped.  So, Roland says: "it's time to learn."  So, after two pedals Ollie gets it - he is riding his bike like a pro up and down the street.  Gertie will not be shown up so she is shouting "Dad, off, bike!"  Kyle takes her wheels off and she is riding too - no problem.  She can't stop mind you-- but she is going to town.

I am standing there thinking we have obviously missed so many firsts.  First words, first steps... but not this first.  Amazing. 

We just came back from Claire and Simon's piano lesson.  As we sat outside the teacher's house in the front lawn Gertie and Ollie were picking dandelions and eating them.  They offered me one and I declined especially when I saw all the tiny ants all over them.

Well, we had an adventure yesterday.  Havn't seen that much blood since Simon split his wrist open through the window.  Gertie must have opened the door into her nose and then fallen back.  She was screaming for me and I came walking instead of running because I thought she was laughing... blood everywhere.  I couldn't see a wound but thought it must be in her mouth or her neck.  The bloody nose was flooding into her mouth and down her chin all over her shirt.  My arms were covered it was all over the floor.  Claire and Simon were panicking and crying and Ollie was freaking out and I felt like that short little lady that fixes Mr. Incredible's Super-suit yelling "pull yourself together!" 

Yesterday was a great day.  However it didn't start out too well because Gertie is already borrowing her older sister Claire's clothes and the older sister isn't quite used to that yet.  We had put the kids to bed really early on Monday night so they were up extra early on Tuesday morning and so I awoke to Claire and Simon on one team Gertie and Ollie on the other arguing about the shirt.  Claire was looking up the work "liar" in the Amharic dictionary.  Oh my.  Well, I gave a little lecture on sharing which Claire admits is a weakness for her...