In December, I traveled to Addis to put on the Holiday Project... it was weird to not have a team with me, and I'm definitely recruiting this year! (If you'd like to go, let me know!) It was great to see and stay with Ivy, but it was a lot of work this year! Of course the project went off without a hitch, and I even managed to talke them into a new Christmas tree for this year! It was great to see all the kids, many of which, I'm happy to say are now home with their new families! It will be weird this year, with most of the older kids gone.
Liya and Leyton played spring soccer for our local rec league.... needless to say, I was not that impressed. Very unorganized, and pathetic in comparrison to what we had in Germany. If they play again, it won't be for Crossroads! Selina decided to run track.... she wasn't ready, totally untrained.... but managed to squeeze in a few races before the end of the season... She's looking forward to trying it again next year....
It was great to have a visit from my parents in July... Even though the visit was short.... They took the 3 older kids with them back to Ohio for the summer. Ava stayed behind, because she had summer school. It was a great month-long break... lots of one-on-one time with Ava.... She needed that, and so did we! Unfortunately, she had a few seizures the last week of July, and she is now back on her anti-seizure meds. She seems to be doing well... And has grown about 4 inches since the beginning of the year! The kids returned with Jon's parents a week ago... it was nice to have their family here with us for a visit. I only wish it hadn't been so hot... Of course they came for the hottest week of the year (so far) where temps soared to 110+!
Leyton has been working on a Flat Stanley project for the summer... He made 4 Flat stanleys... the Triplets, and then a special camo-stanley to send out to our friends and family around the world... Stan has already made it to several states, and before its all over he will hit every continent (except Antarctica... do you know anyone going there who could take him??). He's a world traveler, that Stanley... and its been fun to follow along on his Facebook page as he updates us regularly with photos and highlights... Check him out!
In a week, I will finally be back in the working-world.... You mom's out there, know how hard it can be to juggle work and family... I haven't worked since we arrived in Kansas, mostly due to the fact that it was silly to work to pay for childcare... and impossible to find a job that would work around Ava's crazy school schedule. I was blessed to find a part-time position at Leyton's school, working as an Aide. It's not glamourous, and basically includes duties that I've been doing as a volunteer for the past few years... It will be nice to get paid to do them, and also only work when the kids are in school. I'm looking forward to it!
School starts in two weeks already, seems like we were just registering them for last year. We really miss our 'family' in Germany... Its been a difficult transition for me. I miss the life we had there, and our friends... And its been hard to realize that friends that I thought would always be there... are not.
I've been busy the past month, gathering and organizing items for an upcoming AAI HOLIDAY PROJECT fundraiser auction... If you have anything you'd like to donate, let me know! This will be our first attempt at an online silent auction... and I really hope that it goes well! Whatever we raise at the auction, will be less I have to beg for later!
Previews of the items available are being posted to our Facebook page swing by and check them out! The auction will go live the first week of October.... so stay tuned!
I've also been busy lately, painting, and putting together some new Oz inspired Jewelry for the Oztoberfest which will kick off on 1 October.... I mean, come on... I live in Kansas, there is bound to be some Wizard of Oz festivities! There will be a craft fair in conjunction with the fest, and my pal Holly and I are looking forward to selling some of our wares!
I think you know by now, from my very sad track record... that I may or may not be back next week or next month... I will try to do better... I know that isn't saying much! Hope you enjoy the pics from the past year.... Be sure to check out the Holiday Project Auction! Donate an item... place a bid! Help me reach our goal this year!
