BFF's

What would I do without Elle? She is Dag's bestest friend in the whole wide world. He loves and adores his big sister. When he wakes up in the morning, I usually hear a, "MOM" or two and if I don't answer it's always, "ELYEE, ELYEE". It doesn't matter what time of day it is she takes care of his every need. Elle really is my lifesaver these days, she is such a peacemaker and calming influence in our sometimes, okay all the time, loud house.

We love "Elyee"!

The only sweet thing Dag likes is suckers, and he'll do just about anything for one. It's my secret weapon these days.

The following pictures are of the three kids that hang with me all day and how they LOVE to spend it...riding bikes...rain, sleet, or snow, we're out there.

Yes, it is mid January and Nate is adorning shorts and a tank. I'm telling you, I can not keep normal clothes on this kid, very strange sense of style.

Strike A Pose

Day 6 home and the girl's dress-up box came out and Nate had a blast. A little more fun than Sam would have liked, but I just need to buy some manly dress-up stuff I think. This child loves to put clothes on and off, especially church clothes. I bet he changes his clothes at least 4 times a day. He is very good at hanging them up and putting things away, so I figure no harm done. He will probably look back on this picture one day and beg me to burn it, but for now he is quite the Snow White in a Hannah Montana wig, and where did he learn to pose like that?

This was his first day of preschool. He was so excited to have a backpack, and watch, and go to school. I quite enjoy it when he is at school too....oops, did I just say that? He is learning so fast I am amazed. For only being in America 3 weeks he is communicating pretty dang good. He doesn't just say a word here or there, he stores them up and throws whole sentences at me, and most of the time they are even in context. Oh to have the brain power of a five year old.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2010! Wow, I can hardly believe it, another year has come and gone. We are looking forward to this new year like never before. There are so many "new" adventures and firsts for Nate and Dag we are looking forward to.

I must give a gigantic thanks to Spencer, Carter, Elle and Sicily as they have undertaken this new task of two new brothers....It has not been easy, but they have been amazing. The dynamics of our family has changed so drastically in the last two weeks, and we couldn't have done it without their patience and support. It was so hard to let them go back to school this week. Nate and Dag ask all day long when Carter, Elle, and Spencer will be home, and I have never anticipated 4pm like I do now. Thanks, you four, I know you will be blessed for you sacrifices.

So here are some pictures of our first snow with Nate and Dag. We went to the cabin to celebrate the New Year and had a great time playing in all the white stuff that fell that weekend.

What kind of parents let their kids jump off the second story of the house?

Nate loves anything Carter does or eats.

Little Miss Suzy Snowflake. She could live outside in the snow.

Dag isn't a fan of the snow. It was cold and hard to walk in.

Did I tell you Nate likes to pout? Well he does, but it is getting less frequent as he realizes it doesn't get him a darn thing at our house.

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.