update in pictures #1...

Here's a little update on life in the Winowiski home...

today I put "twists" in Hawi's hair--I think they turned out pretty cute!

May--Misikir planted a pine tree and named it Friday, as it was planted on a Friday (May)

May--Preston participated in his 5th grade track meet

May--Isaiah celebrated his 10th birthday (I just realized that all the pics from Isaiah's birthday were taken by his grandparents!)

May--S'mores at the New Day Christian Church annual retreat!

May--Misikir & Hawi at the New Day retreat

May--Sophie participated in her 2nd grade tack meet & won the potato sack race

June--Misikir broke his foot, ouch!

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