Winter (SNOW!) Sensory Bin

Tomorrow is the last day of November, and we still do not have snow on the ground!

 

Zahra is so eager to make a snowman! She draws and talks about them all the time.

 

I decided since I can't control the weather, I would find a way to make my own snow. I googled my way to some wonderful recipes, but decided to go with this one.

It is cold to the touch!

It powders like real snow!

It compacts like real snow!

 

 

What is it!?

 

It is so simple!!

 

Are you ready for it?

 

6 cups of baking soda

1 cup of hair conditioner

 

Yep, that's it!

 

Our bin is pretty large, so we tripled this recipe.

The cost? $7

 

 

Chances are, you live in a less remote place as we do, and will have better luck finding 'winter' animals, like penguins and polar bears!

 

My kids laughed at me when I brought home the donkey, sheep and turkey. But hey, these are animals that do live in our snowy climate!

 

Tips for this craft: We purchased a large $2 bottle of conditioner from Walmart that had a very strong floral scent. The scent is rather overpowering really. I highly suggest purchasing a non scented conditioner if you have the option! I would have loved to do a non scented with some peppermint essential oil! (Unless you are able to find cheap peppermint conditioner!)

 

My older kids LOVE this just as much as Z does!

 

(Not safe for consumption - so watch the little ones!)

 

In Studio Photo Shoot - 1 yr

We've been home for 5 months now!

I've been wanting so badly to get photos done, but since we are still recovering financially from the last years events and preparing for upcoming needs (new vehicle, flooring, toilet - ALL I want for Christmas is a new toilet BTW. How is that for low maintenance!?), we had to forgo the type of photo shoot we normally would have. You know the one in nature, of candid shots instead of staged shots?

The thing is, I am capable of taking some pretty good photos, but Dan likes to take photos of his thumb prints, and without a tripod (hmmm... another gift idea? Of course my husband will (Should ?) be reading this. ), it means we are unable to have a family picture. Also, I am finding that more photographers are no longer offering digital files for a set fee. You have to pay for the session, then for each individual photo or package - printed. I prefer to have the files, for uploading, and editing/playing around with, and I don't need a bunch of prints, nor a $400 bill. I don't mind paying for a photographers time, but just let me buy the digital files. Non edited even.

I need to make friends with some hobby photographers. Anyone?

So we went to Tot Shots. They offer a digital photo package for $50 (in addition to other package of your choice.) Perfect. Affordable.

Zahra wasn't exactly what I would call the perfect model, as she was uncooperative in the beginning and then just wild at the end. (Certainly this is where a photographer would have come in handy!)

 

 

 

 

OUTAKES

 

Adoption Conference / NAC update

Get yourself a cup of coffee and sit down to read the presentations that were given at last week's East Africa Adoption Conference.

To quickly summarize what I took out of my reading last night is they are trying to modify the adoption program to assist with the adoption of more boys. Girls are preferred in domestic adoption in Kenya (due to inheritance/cultural reasons), and currently girls are only permitted to be adopted by single females. (Although, we have seen medical exceptions.) It looks like they may be changing the ruling on the single female adoptions to allow the adoption of boys as well. Good news!

Another subject I was happy to see was the presentation given about attachment. As adopting parents in the Western World, we read and read and take classes on this. However, this is a fairly new concept in Africa, and I don't mean 'attachment' in itself is new - I mean education and attachment therapy. One example would be their preference for the child to have their own bed, and how we as parents feel like we have to 'skirt' around this issue, because we 'co-sleep' with our children to build attachment.

In other good news, I have to make an Edit to my last post. I gave the wrong link for the Gazette. The issues are posted to the web frequently. The link for the updated issues are here. I cannot currently get this link to work, but I do know it was working before, so I believe they may be doing maintenance on the page.

Nothing has been published about the NAC yet, but we are told to watch for the November 29th issue, this Friday.

Hopefully, this is week will mark the end of this delay, and you all can get back to actively 'waiting'. Adoption does have a way of fine tuning ones patience. I don't know about you, but 2012 was the year I discovered my first grey hair. It's fitting I suppose.

A 'Hopeful' NAC Update

My last update explained that the NAC could not reappointed until it had been announced in the Gazette that it was disbanded. (It can't be official unless it is published as I understood.)

However, this week, we were hearing that we should be watching the Kenya Gazette for news on the reappointment of the Committee. Leaving us wonder about the disbanding publication.

The Kenya Gazette is published online. The paper is published every Friday, and believed to be available from the Government printers.

*** Today, I heard from 2 sources, that Mr. Hussein himself has said the NAC HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED and will be published soon in the Gazette. Yes, this is hearsay, and I realize that information can be lost in translation - but 2 sources (coinciding with previous information) is good enough for me publish it. I know you all could use some good news right about now.

I know there are many for you who were hoping to be in Kenya before Christmas. I know how hard it is to keep missing these dates, and being left waiting, and wondering. For all of you, I will leave you with this.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

Oh Baby!!

Prepare yourselves!! This is cuteness over load right here!!

 

I have learned one thing from this all... I love babies! (Lord help me not aquire 12 more.)

 

Baby announcement cards!! A local Mom asked me to do up her cards, and made the mistake of giving me access to her dropbox account.

 

Someone help me, cause I couldn't just stop at this one:

The design she requested in a 4x6 - (although I redid the colours to match her photos)

 

 And this is where I went to next....

CUTE or WHAT!?



Squishy, little, yummy baby!

And... my personal favorite. I edited the photo with a focal B&W. (5x7)

 

I am not a professional - but 'BOY' did I have fun!

I design these cards in exchange for a small charitable donation to an orphan care foundation. If you are interested in having your own custom made design by yours truly... see here.

Another NAC update

Facts we have learned this week.

The Children's Department has moved to the NSSF building, C block, 5th floor. Apparently, this is just opposite of the Milimani Courts, and the building is under renovations, so it is a bit of a task to locate the offices.

We know that Family Court is proceeding as normal.

Families who are stuck, unable to get their COC's, have been told by their embassies that the disbanding of the NAC is not 'official' as it is not yet pronounced in the Kenyan Gazette, therefor, there is not a whole lot they can do yet.

If you have any information, please feel free to share it in the comments below.

More Christmas Cards by Donation!

Two sweet families approached me this weekend to design them a card. What fun!

 

This card was created in like to another design that Cara had found on the internet. Everything is almost exactly the same, except the wording and I made the font colour match their clothing.

 

Seriously! What cute kids!

 

This one was a lot of fun for me, as this family recently accepted referrals for 2 boys from Africa! So exciting! (I did cover their faces and change this families name for the protection of the boys they are waiting to adopt.) You may recognize this as design #12. from my original post.

 

Don't you love the little boots and maps!? Sister is quite the cutie too!

Thank you families for entrusting me to your family Christmas Card designs and supporting Linked Through Love - Orphan Care Projects!

If you are interested in getting your own custom Christmas Photo Cards (in exchange for a small $10 donation to a great cause), get the info here!