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

 

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