Where in the world has Irishopian been lately???

So sorry to anyone that might still be out there! I have just been overwhelmed with my life lately. Between the job and the fundraising I have not had the energy to sit down and post much. I know, I stink. In the hopes that someone still gives a hoot about Irishopian and the lives of those in our crazy house I am taking the time so that I can hang onto you and your loyalty!
So, it's summer. Ugh. And, it is hot. I'm sure it is hot where you are too, but I really do not like this heat. Once we get into the mid 80's I shut down. I prefer the cold really. The kids like it though and Tofu thinks being outside chasing lizards is the best thing ever. He does his best to slip out anytime there is an open door here. He will look for lizards, bugs, birds, rabbits, moles, etc. for hours. I have learned to keep a bowl of water out for him since he is out so much and won't come in for water if he is in the middle of a good dig! He is still my baby but he no longer gets to sleep with me while David travels since I have found 2 ticks buried in me after a night of Tofu at my feet. Ewww, ticks! I HATE them! Those little boogers too, the ones we in our state call the "deer tick", are sooo bad because they look like a freckle or a dot of ink or something harmless but yet it is a horrible tick sucking blood!! Anyhow, I am going to see how that Frontline works on Tofu and Martha, who recently got all her Golden Retriever hair shaved off for the summer and looks so cute!
The kids are having a decent summer so far. It is going by way too fast though. We have had a lot of kids over to swim and our 6 have used the pool nonstop. Kieran and Marin are both quite close to being done with the floaties! Yay, I will be so happy having 6 swimmers just in case someone fell in someday, God forbid. Now if we could just get my hunk of burning love swimming that would be the bomb! Poor David still cannot swim. A drawback of growing up on a farm in Ireland and not having access to pools. Some of his siblings have learned later in life but Davids few attempts at lessons have only proven that he is made of lead. He can't float and it is a bit nerve wracking for all involved!
Finlay has been working at a camp located about 30 miles away. She lives there but we get to bring her home one night a week. It has been really good for her though and I can see her level of responsibility already rising! She is babysitting with her good friend. They have 5 kids between them that they are in charge of 6 days a week. All the kids are young and Finlay adores them. But, she is missing us a lot and the little siblings terribly! Anytime Finlay gets to come home we do have a teenager get together though. It has been fun having all the kids she hangs with over to swim and watch movies. They are a great bunch of kids and I love having the house full of them! I think they will all hang out here on the 4th since Finlay gets to come home for a few hours that day.... Actually 6 of them spent the night here Friday night as we had a fund raising yard sale Saturday morning and had to load trucks at around 5 AM. They all helped me sell 8 truck loads of donated "stuff" and baked goods/waters for 5 hours on Saturday. We made almost $1000! All of that is going towards Kathi and my African trip. Today I got a bankers check to send in to the charity we are going with, Water 1st. This is the first part of the $ we need to send them. Now there is no going back!!! We have to be in Ethiopia from Jan 29 -- Feb 5 (2010), but I am going over early, probably on the 23. I want to work in Tesfaye & Wesson's school.(Tesfaye was our driver when we went to Sidama to meet Marin's dad). I want to buy uniforms, school supplies, food, etc., for the kids who go there. Most of those kids are orphaned and living with extended family members. It is amazing how far this $ will go too! We will be able to help many students and in doing that we will be helping their families too. It is just toooo amazing that we get to go back to Ethiopia!!!! We have 3 more fund raisers. A family fun day in August (that I now need to get working on -- ugh!), another Scavenger Hunt in late September/early October and a Jingle Bell Blowout Christmas party on Dec 5th. We have set ourselves a goal of $15,000 that I just didn't think we would reach with the tough year that it is but now I know we will get there! It is amazing really! God has blessed us and our efforts so abundantly! He must want us there!
Okay, gotta go let these guys swim now and then off to a bday party later. Thanks to anyone who is still around. Please be sure to say hello. I like to know you are there! Happy summer!