A Little Bit of Brazil

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 3 Comments

I have never been to Brazil and if you don’t want to read about how my lady bits spent their day at the spa just scroll on down and look at a photo.

So, I leave for Hawaii in about 38 hours.  I am so excited.  So today, I treated myself to the spa and some maintenance–a pedicure and my first bikini area waxing 0f any kind.  When I made my appointment, I decided to go for it and get a Brazilian wax.  So, when I’m on the phone with the receptionist she asks:

“Do you want a regular or a full Brazilian?”

Not wanting to sound like I didn’t know what the hell I was talking about, even though I wasn’t sure, I said, “Remind me of the difference…”

“Uh…a little bit left versus none”

I made an appointment for the regular–I didn’t need to get crazy the first time around–or at all for that matter.

I woke up this morning both excited and a bit nervous.  Not quite like going in for your annual gyno visit it’s a bit more up close and personal.  I will spare you all the gory details, but I have to say I love the end result and will be doing it again and again and again.

Love It!

A snapshot of the “crazy” that is our house.  You can see as she often is–a mouth full of something-how she is only 23 pounds amazing me.

Mother’s Day 2010

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

I am so very lucky.  Last year we planted 3 rose bushes on Mother’s day weekend in honor of me, Noah’s Ethiopian mom and Zoë’s Ethiopian mom.

This year they bloomed for the first time last week.  These roses represent life and the life that my children’s beautiful Ethiopian mothers have given to us.  We talk daily about what the roses represent and who they honor.

I love my children and the women who have sacrificed to make me a mother.  This day is bittersweet and today we celebrate all the birth mothers who have allowed us the privilege of raising children.  Without them I wouldn’t have had the beautiful mother’s day that I did today.  4 years ago we received Noah’s referral two days before Mother’s day–what a moment that was.  2 years ago Zoë’s passed court the day after Mother’s day.  It is a wonderful time of year for us.

I continue to do the best job I can as a mother.  I do the best job I can to honor the sacrifice that my children’s birth mothers made.  Today we celebrate you.  Without you–none of this would be possible.

Buried Alive

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 1 Comment

under a mound of paper, field notes and interview transcripts.  I know–GLAMOROUS.  Don’t be jealous.  I also have a proposal to write for a conference I want to present at–that is due tomorrow at 11pm.  Fun times.  So that is where I’m at.  I certainly miss being here.  So, here’s an interlude

I just keep remind myself that in 14 days I will be on Hawaii!

Where Does The Time Go?

/ Dawn Kasal-Finley / 4 Comments

I cannot believe that April is coming to a close.  Time is moving so fast.  Too fast for someone who is in the middle of a research project that she somehow has to turn into a 15-25 page research report due two weeks from tomorrow.  That is only 14 days away and I am no where close to be ready to do that paper.  I am weeks away from being able to write that paper.  It is in this crunch time that I always ask myself “what the hell was I thinking.”  What made me think that getting my PhD while working multiple jobs and parenting 2 small kids was a good idea?  I know it’s a little late to be asking that question since I will be done soon.  I only have one more year of course work and then a semester for research.  But it’s just so overwhelming.  I feel like such an ass complaining about something that I choose to do. It isn’t like I have real problems.  My husband and I both have jobs.  I am going to be a Dr. soon and I have two of the best kids in the world.

Speaking of kids.  Noah. Oh that boy makes me laugh.  At the parks we frequently play at, there are tennis courts right next to the playground.  Noah has become fascinated obsessed with tennis and has been talking about wanting to play tennis.  I talked to my husband about signing him up for lessons (he didn’t even have a racket at the time nor had he attempted to play) and he laughed at me telling me tennis would be too hard for Noah. Noah is a bit of a perfectionist and a bit competitive.  He gets really frustrated if he can’t do something well.  This past weekend we were shopping for a new ball glove as t-ball starts next week and he says

“Mom and Daddy.  You know what?”

“What”

“I know how to play tennis.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.  I saw the guys at the park and all I need is a racket and a tennis ball.”

So, we bought him a tennis racket and balls.  We got home and he wanted to play.  So we broke open the ball and set him up in the living room and tossed the ball to him and he hit it back at me so hard I had to duck.  He has not stopped asking to play tennis since and we have been letting him.  He seems to have a real knack for it.  His hand and eye coordination is pretty good.  Better than mine.

We’ve been busy having a lot of fun (which is why I am so behind on my school work) but the kids are just too much fun to not spend time with.