One year ago...

...we met Hawi & Misikir at their orphanage and had our court appointment.  We're celebrating by going out to dinner tonight, which we rarely do now that our family is this large (and we're not doing fast food!).  Here is a little peek at that day a year ago... 

getting a tour of the orphanage from M & H (this is H's room/big girl room)

Aaron, M & I playing soccer at the orphanage

P, S, I, M & Aaron playing soccer

M & H looking at a photo album we brought for them

In the News

Today our family was featured on the front page of Lifestyle section of the Wausau Daily Herald.  You can check it out here.

Firsts...

Over the past few months H & M have experienced some "firsts"...

Misikir's 12th Birthday in September

Hawi's 13th Birthday in November

 

 

Hawi's 1st choir concert in November--she intentionally slouched behind the girl in front of her so we couldn't see her!  She did a great job even though we couldn't see her :)

SNOW!

Building a snowman!

Thanksgiving with family & friends

I'm so excited about our first Christmas as a family of 7.  The house is decorated and there are even a few gifts under the tree (all the gift tags are hidden so nobody knows which gifts are for them!--I'm so sneaky!).  I think I may be enjoying these "firsts" as much as H & M are!

Oh, and we completed our re-adoption in the state of Wisconsin, so the kids will be getting Wisconsin birth certificates, their middle names have been changed, and their birth dates have been changed (because the dates on their previous paperwork was off by a couple of years for each of them).  Yay!  Time to relax and enjoy Christmas!

Halloween 2011

This was Hawi & Misikir's first Halloween.  They were aware of Halloween before they came to America and have been looking forward to it since they arrived!  Aaron did some trick-or-treating with the kids (I was sick and in bed, so I missed it all) and then let them do a little more on their own.  A few of our kids stopped home to empty their buckets before going out again!  Some of the kids emptied out one of their dresser drawers and filled it with their candy.  Here are a few pictures...

Hawi as Spiderman--her current "love"

Sophie as a rock star with orange hair

Misikir as a Storm Trooper and Isaiah as a dragon

Preston incognito

 

Caramel Apples!

Today we made caramel apples. The kids had good attitudes while making them--and were very excited to eat their creations.

Big, red apples, mini M&M's, Reese's Pieces & sprinkles

I forgot to take a picture of the apples before we started eating them...so here's a view of what was left after everyone had their fill (for now, I'm sure we'll eat more tonight!).

Family Portraits

We finally got a chance to take some family portraits now that Hawi & Misikir are home.  Thank you to Heidi Miller at Created Anew Designs  for taking our portraits!

My absolute favorite picture from the entire batch!

Doesn't she look so grown up?!  8 going on 18.

I reminded her to smile for her pictures--but this one without a smile is my favorite of her!

Sisters!

 

 

My cool middle schooler!

It was tough to get a smile out of him (he was pretty goofty) but this one is a keeper!

What a handsome young man--love that dimple!

 What fun!  Thanks again Heidi!

School has started

Last Thursday school started.  I am enjoying the quiet--I have only 2 daycare kids here now, rather than 8-9 kids here each weekday throughout the summer!

Preston & Hawi were both nervous about starting middle school (6th grade).  Hawi was especially nervous--in fact, up until the day before school started she kept telling me that she was not going to go.

Hawi & Preston, all ready to head out to catch the bus at 6:35am--their bus arrives at 6:45am--that's early!

 Isaiah & Misikir are in 5th grade together this year.  They were very excited to be in the same class and to have a male teacher.  Sophie is in 3rd grade this year.

Isaiah, Misikir & Sophie, ready to head out to catch their bus at 7:30am--their bus is scheduled to arrive at 7:40am, but it was 15 minutes late on the first day (and we're the 2nd family to be picked up!)

The weather is pretty chilly here.  Hawi wore a t-shirt, a hoodie, a jacket & gloves this morning!  The cold is going to be quite an adjustment for Hawi & Misikir!

update in pictures #2

more pictures...

July--Milwaukee Zoo

July--ice cream & popcorn for lunch!

4th of July--Hawi & Meri at Meri's family's lake house.  Meri is a friend from H & M's orphanage in Ethiopia

4th of July--Misikir fishing

4th of July--Hawi jumping off of the pontoon--a first for her!

July--Sophie celebrated her 8th birthday!

July--Isaiah, Preston & Aaron at Wausau's hot air balloon rally & rib cook-off

July--at the balloon rally

July--my favorite balloon at the rally--an octopus with a starfish, seahorse & fish