cornrows

I wanted to give braiding another try today (it didn't go well last week).  I decided to go with a half head of cornrows.  I think it went pretty well.  They're not perfect, and they are certainly not as tight as her nannies could do them, but I think they're pretty good for a first try.  Yay!

 

Good Days

Things have been going pretty well here the past couple days.  H & M are enjoying math and reading lessons each morning.  They actually ask to do math each morning!  M mastered bike riding over a week ago and H learned how to ride yesterday and has been working really hard today, too.  Both yesterday & today we made brownies (there can never be enough brownies, right?!).  H has been coming out of her shell.  She has such a nice giggle.  M jumps right into whatever is going on--he's not shy at all!

Hopefully our days will continue this way...I know that there are bound to be some hard days, but it has been really nice to feel like I'm really connecting with H & M these past couple days.

our family all together again

 

our trip in pictures--part 4

room service

giant burger at the Addis View Hotel restaurant

more Doro Wat

waiting in the Addis Ababa airport

Misikir on our first flight--still figuring out how a seat belt works

getting ready to fly--Hawi is watching a movie before take off

Hawi sleeping in the Frankfurt, Germany airport

Misikir watching the planes in Frankfurt

our trip in pictures--part 3

lunch at the orphanage

Hawi getting her hair braided one last time

coffee ceremony at the orphanage

Misikir & Hawi getting a gift from one of their nannies--a CD!

getting another gift from a nanny--another CD!

the wall in the boys' room--hand prints of some of the kids at the orphanage

Our trip in pictures--part 2

Our first supper together at Addis View Hotel's restaurant

eating the egg from the Doro Wat (chicken stew)

coffee ceremony at the Addis View Hotel restaurant

I drank all my coffee (buna)--I don't like coffee!

cake for supper!

Our trip in pictures--part 1

Our room at Addis View Hotel

Hawi & Misikir's room

the view from our room

outside our hotel--leaving for the orphanage

Hawi getting her hair braided

Misikir handing out toys that were collected by Preston and some that were donated by our church

Hawi handing out toys and beauty supplies (which were a HUGE hit with the girls)

looking at our pictures from out trip to Ethiopia in December

Misikir & Hawi with one of their nannies

Home

We're home...and tired!  I'm too tired right now to think about a blog post, so to hold you over, here are my facebook posts (for those of you who haven't already read them) from the time we were in Ethiopia.

April 22, 2011 
We made it to Ethiopia! I'm surprised by how emotional everything is making me--the smells, the barking dogs, the "Welcome to Ethiopia" sign in the airport... The Addis View Hotel is very nice and helpful (and we've only been here for a few minutes!). Tomorrow's the big day to get H & M! Goodnight everyone (or good day to those of you in the US!)

April 23, 2011 
We have Hawi & Misikir! We just had a nice lunch together. H & M taught us some Amharic words (they thought we were pretty funny sometimes). Time for us to go relax together.

April 24, 2011 
Happy Easter! We're going to the Care Center this morning for an Easter coffee ceremony. We all slept well last night--I think the kids slept about 11 hours! Oh--our "relaxing" yesterday turned into walking to a big open area near our hotel and starting a game of soccer with some local boys. Aaron really got a work out!

April 25, 2011 
We had a good day yesterday. Today we're off to the zoo. I'm looking forward to getting home again, but it's good to have this time here in Ethiopia. We're all healthy on this trip and other than the sunburns Aaron & I have we're doing great!

April 25, 2011 
We just had cake for supper! Fun! Hawi & Misikir were cracking me up earlier with the games they were playing with each other. Love to hear them laugh!

April 27, 2011 
leaving for the US Embassy in a few minutes!

April 27, 2011 
Back from Embassy--everything went well! Our adoption is completely final!

April 28, 2011 
Heading to Sele Enat in a few minutes. I didn't expect to go back there so many times this week, but it has been good for the kids to say goodbye gradually.

April 28, 2011 
Back from the orphanage. We had a really nice last visit. Hawi had her hair washed & braided one last time (they do such a good job). The nannies gave the kids gifts (we have lots of Ethiopian music now!). No tears when we left--lots of "see you in America" instead. It was a good day.

April 29, 2011 
Back from having dessert at a local restaurant. Our last night in Ethiopia. Over the Hedge is on in an hour. As long as the kids don't go to bed (they just go to bed on their own when they feel like it) we're having a movie night!

April 30, 2011 
Checking out of our hotel and heading to the airport now! See you in America!

April 30, 2011 
In Frankfurt, Germany. About 4 hours until our next flight. Hawi slept the entire flight here & is sleeping now. Misikir watched some movies & slept a little. Now he's watching the planes outside. Kids used escalators for the first time. They were a little hesitant at first, but I think they got it now! I'm so ready to be home.

May 2, 2011 
home...tired...adjusting to 5 kids...God is Good