Happy Easter everybody!

Holidays with our large, transracial family are always fun. For the past few years, it seems we have almost always had a child that was experiencing the holiday for the first time with us (and sometimes the first time ever), which makes it more special for everyone.

Today is Belane’s first Easter, and as she enjoys running around and finding eggs, snuggling her stuffed rabbit and twirling in her Ethiopian dress, I watch her and think of last Easter, when my heart was so heavy. She was still in Ethiopia, and we had not... more

For Love Thursday I thought I would share a picture of me and Big Daddy (aka Josh). This picture is a few years old...Josh has lost quite a bit of weight since this was taken (me...not so much).

We have been married for 10 1/2 years and have 10 kids...sometimes it amazes even me when I stop and think about it.

Along those lines, you can read one of my earliest Wendseday funnies here, that happens to be about Josh.

Josh and I got married young and... more

Continued...

6 p.m.- We all sat down to dinner…tacos, tortilla chips, salsa and carrot sticks (and water…we only ever drink anything else on special occasions). We had ice cream for desert called “Brownies on the Moon” (except for Marcus, who had vanilla, because “Brownies on the Moon” has eggs in it).

6:30 p.m.- Josh took Jazz outside while I cleaned up the kitchen and the big kids went to do their 30 minutes of reading. The little kids went off to find their pajamas and pick up their rooms.

7 p.m.- Everyone complained because college basketball was on instead of Survivor. Stinking March Madness. :) Mercy and Nate got their showers done. I did another round of folding,... more

Continued from previous post...

11 a.m.- Started lunch and my best friend called.

11:20 a.m. –Josh and Marcus came home (Marcus came in and said, “Belane! I am home! It is ME!” As if he had been off at war or something…she hugged and kissed him in the same manor). I talked to Josh about Marcus and had the little four sit down to a lunch of Mac and Cheese, crackers, apple slices and water. Josh made lunch for us (he loves to cook!)

11:55 a.m.- Josh went out the door with Maggie and Amanda to take them to preschool. I cleaned up the kitchen while Marcus and Belane went to play.

12: 15 p.m –I read a book to Marcus and Belane (Sam and the Firefly…I love that one!)... more

As promised… a day in the life of me (this is from Thursday, March 15)

6:10 a.m.- That dreaded alarm went off…gosh…it is still so hard to get up thanks to stinking Daylight Savings time. You wouldn’t think one measly little hour could mess things up so badly!

6:20 a.m. - Drug myself out of bed…spent 5 minutes in the bathroom freshening up and headed out to the kitchen.

6:26 a.m.-Looked over emails quickly and took Jazz outside.

6:30 a.m. - Nate, Ry and Shane came up (they aren’t allowed upstairs until 6:30 a.m. and they... more

As promised, here is my favorite Irish Soda Bread recipe. If you've never had (or made) Soda Bread, it is sweet and delicious. Every year I make a bunch of loaves and share with family and friends.

It's quick and easy and Irish, (and fun to make with your kids) so if you're looking for something fun to do today and a yummy snack, here is the recipe.

Erin's Irish Soda Bread

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups buttermilk ... more

Time for a Wednesday funny.

I often comment that, "Everyone is a comedian around here." It's true...all of my kids love to be funny, and are pretty dang good at it. And yet sometimes they say or do the funniest things when they are not even trying.

Let's take last weekend for an example...

I had pulled out my camera to take some pictures of the kids. I have a new personal blog that lets me upload lots and lots of pictures and I noticed that I didn't have very many new ones of my bigger kids (although I have oodles of the kids... more

Don't forget...Daylight Savings starts this weekend, so if you haven't moved your clocks ahead one hour yet, it's time to SPRING FORWARD!!! :)

(I hate daylight savings...what is the point??)

Happy Love Thursday! I snapped this picture of my three little girls last week when I was taking a few pictures for Belane's post placement report. I love my "girlies", and I love how sweet they are to each other and how close they are.

Maggie was our first daughter...she came home at almost 4 months old from Vietnam, and was truly the princess. We had our three sons and Maggie...the only daughter, and the only granddaughter on both sides of the family.

When Maggie was 19 months old, Amanda joined us from Korea. We were "artificially... more

Today’s Love Thursday picture is of my hubby and our kids.

I think I may have shared this picture before, but I just love it. "Pile on Dad" is a favorite game around here...as are quite a few other rough and tumble games. The girls enjoy them as much as the boys...the big kids enjoy them as much as the little kids.

Josh is an awesome Dad. He is always there when we need him, even on his longest and busiest days. He comes and goes during the day to drive kids where they need to be, he cooks on the weekends, and he is good for lots of... more