Coffee Delivery Truck

Rhett loves to fill his pockets at the grocery store bulk coffee area (you know, the beans that fall onto the counter) and come home to play coffee delivery.

Yes, Rhett loved the coffee in Ethiopia. "No, mommy I like my coffee black...don't put any sugar in it!" The only other place we let him drink coffee is at the cupcake shop when we order decaf. Much to our surprise...he loves the taste of coffee.

A Day On The Beach

We took a trip to the beach a couple of days ago with the Grandparents. It was beautiful...with lots of sand for building and eating.

Sand tastes best off the toe...

Good-bye Gramps and Grammy...we had a great time with you.

A Day On The Mountain

The last week has been beautiful! We have been outside every minute of the day...except nap time. We took a trip to the mountain with my Dad and Debbie.Mezmur tried out the Kelty for the first time and she loved it.

A Day On The Farm

We had our first day on the farm yesterday with Gramps and Grammy who are visiting from Florida. Thanks farmer Don for the invitation to treasure hunt for strawberries. FYI...that is my Dad, the one who writes the great comments on each posting.

This corn is worth more than $2.

For dinner...homemade pizza with some farm vegetables.

Our day was wrapped up with Strawberry Rhubarb pie...the best ever.

This Just In!

Mezmur's BFF (and her Mom and Dad) started a blog!

Welcome home Zora, April, and John!

Ethiopia In Pictures

I can't stop looking at these photos from our trip. Some may be photos that I have already shared, but others I am just realizing the greatness. These will all find a home on our wall very soon.

Rhett's Stage Name

Rhett announced while playing his drums, "I'm not Rhett. I'm Brett Rex the drummer." Brett and Rex are the two names that others mistake his name for. I thought it was a creative stage name. The best was when he was Brett Rex on the way to his friends birthday party. He said, "I'm not Rhett, I don't know any of these people."

Remember this story? Wait, it has never been on the blog? Well, when Rhett was about 20 months old he loved pointing out all the different instruments in any song he was listening to. Banjo, guitar, drum sticks (for drums), violin, harmonica...

We were in bed listening to Greasy Kids Stuff one morning and Rhett said, "Harmonica!...Like Bob Dylan." We were pretty proud.

This week at Trader Joe's I reluctantly agreed to let Rhett bring his harmonica in the store. By the time we were checking out he had the whole store cheering for him...or maybe cheering that we were leaving. The funny thing is that he had no idea they were cheering for him...he was in his Brett Rex zone.

Weekend at the Hop

Alberta Art Hop!

We walked there and walked for another 2 hours until we couldn't walk/bike anymore.

Note to self...when you make a really cute hat for your daughter and you want her to keep it on...sew on straps and tie them tight. She will eventually give up trying to take off the cute hat.

Cotton candy as big as Rhett's head. Made with organic strawberry and lemon flavoring right before our eyes.

Again...one small bike.
Rhett's highlight of the Hop...riding his bike in the street. One of my highlights...seeing Talia sell one of her beautiful mosaic mirrors!

*EDITED* Clothes For the Mom

In the works...shorts for Rhett, skirts and dresses for Mezmur, my sweater, a knitted doll for Mezmur, and an awesome Father's Day gift for Dan. (Not to mention dolls and banners!)

*It makes sense that you would want to know what patterns I used! These are all Built By Wendy patterns. I have learned that they fit the best on me and the results are all ways super cute.*

Tsegay and a Couple of Rhettisms

One quick Rhettism that isn't related to the rest of the post...
Mom: Should we call ___ and ___ to see if they want to play this afternoon?
Rhett: No, I think I want some Mom and Mezmur time this afternoon.

This photo was taken the morning we met Mezmur. We were waiting for the car to pick us up.

Last night at dinner...

Rhett: Oh, Mommy, when will we ever see Tsegay again? (The director at House of Hope)

Dad: I don't know Rhett. Maybe we will visit one day.

Rhett: But Daddy, will he get yellow fever?

Dad: No, Tsegay got the yellow fever shot.

Rhett: Oh, maybe he got the shot upstairs at the House of Hope.

Tsegay left an impression on Rhett. He took him by the hand to show us Mezmur's room and crib. He nodded understandingly at Rhett's crazy antics at the HOH. Gave Rhett a bouncy ball while we were doing paperwork in his office. And when Rhett spilled a bottle of water all over Tsegay's desk...he was very understanding. My favorite memory of Tsegay was when he heard Rhett call Mezmur, Mezzie for the first time. He had a good laugh at that. Oh, Tsegay, when will we see you again?It was so hard and stressful to have Rhett with us in Ethiopia, but I still wouldn't trade it. I love that he knows Tsegay personally, that he knows that the shots were given upstairs at the HOH, and that he will never forget Tsegay and the HOH...the magical place where he saw his sister for the first time.

Puff

Blowing on a puff is a child's tradition in the Spring...our neighbor doesn't like this tradition too much. Whenever Rhett blows on a puff he says, "Carin doesn't like it when I do this. It makes more weeds." This puff found it's way to a vase with water in the house...it was a special puff.

Blessed to Be a Mother of Two

Rhett and Dan made this "banner" for me for Mother's Day. Notice the circles around each letter and lines in between? It is fashioned after his Mama's banners. So cute.

We had a nice Mother's Day. We spent it with the Mothers in our life...my Mom and Mimi. We went to visit Mimi...she loves for Mezmur to sit in her lap.

A gift for Mimi.

Just look at how Mezmur looks at her Uncle...

Checkers in the lobby.

At home...a bouquet of wild grass was picked for me.

Rhett "made" dinner for me (like Nana suggested) by asking if we can walk to Kennedy School for dinner. He was very proud of his idea and he was very proud he "made" dinner for his Mom.

One small bike...

It was a good day. I feel so blessed to be the Mother of two. I feel so blessed that Mezmur is here for this Mother's Day. Beyond blessed.

I'm thinking of April with Zora...together for their first Mother's Day.