There's No Place Like Home

We made it home and it truly was a Christmas Miracle that we were able to catch the last flight to Boise from Seattle on Christmas night after many delays and 33 hours of traveling. I have never missed my children like I missed them this trip, as well as my bed, my shower,... and the list could go on and on. Our luggage got lost in the craziness so our camera was also missing until yesterday, but here are a couple more photos.

Great long time friends of our children and new lifetime friends of Sam and I, The Healy Family and us, before we flew home.

Handsome DAG! He really does smile, just not usually on command.

Nate with his best buddy and his buddy's sunglasses that he just couldn't get enough of.

Dag has a fascination with cars, so this is his favorite place now that we are home. Let's hope it lasts for a while, being the youngest of 6 children with schedules, he'll spend his fair share of time in that very spot.

Nate, doing what he does best,.. smile and get into EVERYTHING! Did I bring home a 5 year old or an 18 month old? I must admit I did underestimate the language barrier...it is really hard not being able to explain, "NO!" as he opens the car door driving down the road.

The whole family is still experiencing a little jet lag. Last night the boys feel asleep at 5:30pm and we could not wake them for anything, so today Nate, AKA Mr. Energizer Bunny, started his day at 3am, hence we did too. A little sleep deprivation going on at our house!?

The cutest thing is watching them in the tub. It is their favorite thing yet I would say. They splash and laugh, and dunk each other, and laugh, and rub soap all over each other and laugh. Swimming lessons are definitely in order since neither of them have any fear of the water.

So let me be honest, I love these two farts to death, but this is HARD! We can do it though. I know they are meant to be part of our family, and I wouldn't have it any other way. So here's to perseverance.

A Whole New World

Pictures Finally! These are just a couple of our favorites to depict our stay here.

This is Injera, a traditional ethiopian meal, and you just all dig in with your hands, no forks allowed.

The most common site on the streets...Goats everywhere.

Now for the important pictures, Nate listening to his first Hannah Montana

A little wrestling before bed.

Dag after the embassy appointment looking at photos of his family in America.

This was traditional dancing. The women are soooo beautiful.

Dad and Dag watching a movie together.

What an Experience

Amazing! That is the only word that can sort of describe this experience. I am so grateful to be here, but can I just say, " God Bless America", we are so blessed. Every moment we get to spend with the boys we fall more and more in love. They really are amazing strong little guys with personality bubbling over. Nate is such the charmer. He loves sun glasses and I caught him wearing mine and then going over to the TV to see his reflection and striking poses and giving himself the thumbs up. He is also so smart, and very talkative. We just say, "ishy, ishy" which means okay, uh huh, in Amharic after all his stories. Dag loves cars and trucks and reading books and snuggling. Yesterday we had to go to a meeting in the morning but some of the parents went to the care center while we were in our meeting, and they said Dag was ticked when we didn't show up. He cried and was so upset. Later, when we did get to go hang out, he just melted in our arms. Seriously, you guys are going to love these two. Yesterday we watched a movie the agency has put together for us about their background, and it is so precious. Their mom is my hero. She is beautiful and so strong. I am so grateful to her. Tomorrow we actually get to meet with her in person and I pray I will hold it together to be able to rightfully thank her and put her mind at ease.

Sam and I went jogging yesterday morning and realized never in our WILDEST dreams did we picture ourselves going for a morning jog in Africa. Suprisingly, there were a lot of men out jogging, and goat herders, and wild dogs...you know how I love dogs out on my run...needless to say I got stared at a lot. The jet lag thing is killer. We can barely stay awake until 7:30, and then at 1-2am we are wide awake, listening to dogs bark, crazy birds, and this man singing in a megaphone from the orthodox church from 1-7am. This is more culture than I ever dreamed. I have some really cool pictures of the Mercado, the largest open air market in Africa, but the dial up thing isn't cooperating with posting photos yet.

We are safe, happy, and having the experience of a lifetime. Still in search of a wifi cafe, but we have a good lead so maybe soon you'll see pictures. Love to all.

Love at first sight

We are here, and we got to meet our boys this morning. They are amazing. I held it together and I can't wait for you guys to meet them. Nate is a ball of fire! Total charmer. Sicily, you have your work cut out for you. Dag is so sweet and loving...adorable. We can't take any pictures of them until they are in our care on Tuesday, so you'll have to wait for that, but we couldn't be happier. Ethiopia is definitly third world. The people are beautiful and so genuine and kind. We can only use dial up internet once and a while so I'll see if I can find a wifi cafe somewhere else to post more. Love you all.

Christmas Miracle

Finally! We have tickets in hand and we are going to Ethiopia for Christmas. Sam and I leave for Ethiopia on Wednesday December 16, and will be hugging and kissing our boys Friday morning...and hopefully not crying too hard is my goal. We return home Christmas night, for what I imagine will be an unforgettable Christmas for all. I can hardly believe it is really happening. We've talked about and prayed for this day to come for 9 months now, and now that it is here we are a little "freaked out" by the unknown. "Are we ready, will they like us?" are just two of the thousands of thoughts that run through my head all day long. A couple of nights ago I dreamt I brought the wrong kids home. UGG!

So much to do in the next two days, hence this blog is brief. I am hoping to post some pictures while we are there, so stay tuned. Thanks to all for your love and support the last 9 months. We couldn't have done it without you.

A Little More Aloha

I just had to include a few more of our favorite photos from Hawaii:

Sicily loved boogy boarding with dad, but especially loved playing in the sand 12 hours a day.

We could not get Elle out of the water. She was such a fish. If there was a wave she was in it.

The girls at our favorite beach.

The boys doing what they did best. They played so hard in the water, it made me tired.

Family photo

A Thanksgiving to Remember

ALOHA!

Thanksgivings Hawaiian style is Heavenly.

These are the brave cliff divers at "the end of the world" today. I was a little sheepish, and didn't partake...they needed a picture taker, right? Gone are the days of my cliff jumping. Now that I have six children to mother and care for, I'm not as brave as I was in years past. Oh, well.

The waves this morning were enormous, and Sicily did a lot of running from them.

Carter was the first to take the 35 foot plunge.

Happy Turkey Day 2009! We need a tan.