tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84318482077149064362024-02-20T22:57:13.592-05:00Casa de ChaosOur house is truly a home of chaos...GOOD CHAOS! We are a family of six...EGmama, EGpapa, J1, J2 our Guatemalan-born princes and L and H, our Ethiopian born princesses...plus our two furbabies, Chica and Maya. Join the chaos!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-34835019152808424222010-05-18T11:15:00.017-04:002010-06-08T14:53:29.885-04:00Ok Mom...I'll update the blog!<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L2AQ1u5h9c6mZ_8VzOBAJVO2B_Rlc2Ml28-YHhdtHWnYwWHRs4OMnJB-_VodY8ID53eVLHaOx9HJ7zvT1KtQfI8gtNZH8ORbdbZOFDGtmCu7-k_mYmOh_5oaXVS2SWzXU74PnBTNcVB4/s1600/20100419_2643_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480469107067117698" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-L2AQ1u5h9c6mZ_8VzOBAJVO2B_Rlc2Ml28-YHhdtHWnYwWHRs4OMnJB-_VodY8ID53eVLHaOx9HJ7zvT1KtQfI8gtNZH8ORbdbZOFDGtmCu7-k_mYmOh_5oaXVS2SWzXU74PnBTNcVB4/s320/20100419_2643_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Yeah, yeah...I really suck. We've had Easter, Jacob's birthday, Liyah's 3rd happy family day and lame-o blogger Mom here has not updated since early April! Pretty sad when your Mom has to shame you into updating your blog. Anyway, here goes...</div><div>April: Jacob's birthday. We had his party at Chuck E Cheese, and much to my surprise, it was one of the funnest and easiest parties we've ever done. Jacob and his friends had a blast, and even got to dance with the giant rat (woohoo)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjKAnrDBE7UlNkhZm8xPgfjGj5JLwQpTKTRLhIEy5ERK2kJnAIQOP8H5vqR0tBVdy0YYi2cl3vTK10oOZ74g_st35gzs3W-tqgRQwxrOrem53GdPTLnrJVZgXBp_Lin8twttxSBgeZFyr/s1600/20100417_2600_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472630576157425986" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLjKAnrDBE7UlNkhZm8xPgfjGj5JLwQpTKTRLhIEy5ERK2kJnAIQOP8H5vqR0tBVdy0YYi2cl3vTK10oOZ74g_st35gzs3W-tqgRQwxrOrem53GdPTLnrJVZgXBp_Lin8twttxSBgeZFyr/s320/20100417_2600_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0MeG3NQV71Kmy6pbkCNOVkS_-A-GF_7qXBJ35w_L26bbcEEk7N9FwYoC4YDtDrPdWNhaoFJn0czxAyGYxr3IUH663g23-SIwzxmPJvhkxF0Lo2TiHnpAW-7KqrenefFggTaBRKmLqU9_/s1600/20100417_2611_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472630579726060242" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0MeG3NQV71Kmy6pbkCNOVkS_-A-GF_7qXBJ35w_L26bbcEEk7N9FwYoC4YDtDrPdWNhaoFJn0czxAyGYxr3IUH663g23-SIwzxmPJvhkxF0Lo2TiHnpAW-7KqrenefFggTaBRKmLqU9_/s320/20100417_2611_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I think Tom may have enjoyed that a bit more than Jacob : )</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07PtJNnfaM02kix7a8KjhcybT0lFaEr2PBl7_m_JJaEk2aXICsVmyy77TjitTRubLaSksIGVP5g5XDjizan5nXeQyb7Bm2wpD_UJkzDgRYJ9HVe75vo2wVZeFOJoOdwM2w055wFXqviUy/s1600/20100417_2612_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472630583862132258" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07PtJNnfaM02kix7a8KjhcybT0lFaEr2PBl7_m_JJaEk2aXICsVmyy77TjitTRubLaSksIGVP5g5XDjizan5nXeQyb7Bm2wpD_UJkzDgRYJ9HVe75vo2wVZeFOJoOdwM2w055wFXqviUy/s320/20100417_2612_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQ-Mw5b7qPldYcAeyJHR5Yr6KWxcPUCs22G5nZXCxS-2QNrbxL4nu3uSd70Pka9DGokj7Cojr0cCNbw9gnWcV42N4gVsQEAodTfHLTV1bs3Gf5Aaexl_p-AQcJsDMDEOSfyr19nVQS0S/s1600/20100419_2645_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480469112270371746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PQ-Mw5b7qPldYcAeyJHR5Yr6KWxcPUCs22G5nZXCxS-2QNrbxL4nu3uSd70Pka9DGokj7Cojr0cCNbw9gnWcV42N4gVsQEAodTfHLTV1bs3Gf5Aaexl_p-AQcJsDMDEOSfyr19nVQS0S/s320/20100419_2645_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I can't believe my little "baby" boy is already 8 years old! We love you so much Jacob! You are the sweetest, kindest, most awesome little boy with a true heart for God.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjwBQmn-JvpgLz7cYHfgOz_0MchksKXyk7ThMLnMXbk4kkYTZxcNXhTpuV_GE9Y3dAhUBlCUduy_fBrWajkWJ9DRiGp5pBVcJyvHPGmNp3JRLH8_g2SD1RlNrM0r3GDb14uhNHTOBXC2j/s1600/Jacob+and+Daddy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480471073727534290" style="WIDTH: 206px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjwBQmn-JvpgLz7cYHfgOz_0MchksKXyk7ThMLnMXbk4kkYTZxcNXhTpuV_GE9Y3dAhUBlCUduy_fBrWajkWJ9DRiGp5pBVcJyvHPGmNp3JRLH8_g2SD1RlNrM0r3GDb14uhNHTOBXC2j/s320/Jacob+and+Daddy.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH05-VrhiarjRPRK4XjtGQ20XRn5pVnD9rgs0mmvElanNA3zSw7NEOgPturJBW3-mSHtJOrNQvZvQ9wzZYYdWci_JNmj1kmIUd9Jk_qCA_qbqvnRBAy-Bu9prg4TSsOeogn_WlyCTrKIYD/s1600/Jacob+floor.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480472255601146578" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 283px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH05-VrhiarjRPRK4XjtGQ20XRn5pVnD9rgs0mmvElanNA3zSw7NEOgPturJBW3-mSHtJOrNQvZvQ9wzZYYdWci_JNmj1kmIUd9Jk_qCA_qbqvnRBAy-Bu9prg4TSsOeogn_WlyCTrKIYD/s320/Jacob+floor.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>MAY</div><div>Hanna has been home now for over 4 months and she was definitely made for our family. She just has the best little personality and we all just love her so much. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1gIjG7ChYcu56aPdJdkaVfxdPg8jeVUelx2mZpPVAGSiOYS4EI-3yoPRk0rLR2dsQ1QlnYgoy0w-4zhIgUEc9xstDTxRdKzdNIg00zLsjwHRBL04lIUb0qpFZKjUUHeMp_sIS67Foc_Y/s1600/20100430_2652_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480472955923988914" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1gIjG7ChYcu56aPdJdkaVfxdPg8jeVUelx2mZpPVAGSiOYS4EI-3yoPRk0rLR2dsQ1QlnYgoy0w-4zhIgUEc9xstDTxRdKzdNIg00zLsjwHRBL04lIUb0qpFZKjUUHeMp_sIS67Foc_Y/s320/20100430_2652_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1A-DzPv9eqmbby-zOv2scECq9XBOrWJRfL_A0sXkeUEZQab-rPzWXXp0jmU95_G3_-tJt6cGuPMW9deTfEHha57mc79srLIqN2ZKoi_M1bQLjgCJ-te2y13v0ZUL_qAa9yueiBnu-Qv/s1600/20100404_2424_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480472603982899186" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYF1A-DzPv9eqmbby-zOv2scECq9XBOrWJRfL_A0sXkeUEZQab-rPzWXXp0jmU95_G3_-tJt6cGuPMW9deTfEHha57mc79srLIqN2ZKoi_M1bQLjgCJ-te2y13v0ZUL_qAa9yueiBnu-Qv/s320/20100404_2424_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s-0rDPjaBYuClFQ8GvhywNEvnRmIv_EGxTpLy4HZS1lLDfFOhHP4IzV8QVkKdolE-dVkgStiut-6QtN6vH19cjPtxuek6GNLu5qtiqmIWKXTnx8_kzEaJ6uAItzyP5UIz5xnRW3Lba8b/s1600/20100530_2765_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480472956554112018" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s-0rDPjaBYuClFQ8GvhywNEvnRmIv_EGxTpLy4HZS1lLDfFOhHP4IzV8QVkKdolE-dVkgStiut-6QtN6vH19cjPtxuek6GNLu5qtiqmIWKXTnx8_kzEaJ6uAItzyP5UIz5xnRW3Lba8b/s320/20100530_2765_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We had our Ethiopia group gathering in May and Hanna got to see her buddy, M from the Hannah's Hope home they were together at in Ethiopia. We have so many wonderful families in our group and we just love seeing more and more beautiful children coming home!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9UwnQzAh-8ETbgVKWZOpRehNgxrvspmuiDcDGEttnl8r1PvALI58PeHgpvVxCUKEStUGTTHHLc5bifYCZ1z-clDt31LWE9qDzsbdCIpABRmE-rdadqTH-8ldjkrPaiyCRL_F0BFoDagl/s1600/20100521_2682_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480473880370252546" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9UwnQzAh-8ETbgVKWZOpRehNgxrvspmuiDcDGEttnl8r1PvALI58PeHgpvVxCUKEStUGTTHHLc5bifYCZ1z-clDt31LWE9qDzsbdCIpABRmE-rdadqTH-8ldjkrPaiyCRL_F0BFoDagl/s320/20100521_2682_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg1TFn1wutonrXomKdla89TTE0DN_wVyKDpNekV9312tbJgUwvmuZ8AQRFoiw4IKrukem37bZAYMh-8OIpAgowkgh7oN82Evz66Wp8VYH1ZXlTiCfpzBSpIuYM9IXeyo_UwTisiyGpITp/s1600/20100521_2685_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480473894046825122" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjg1TFn1wutonrXomKdla89TTE0DN_wVyKDpNekV9312tbJgUwvmuZ8AQRFoiw4IKrukem37bZAYMh-8OIpAgowkgh7oN82Evz66Wp8VYH1ZXlTiCfpzBSpIuYM9IXeyo_UwTisiyGpITp/s320/20100521_2685_5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>So far this summer, we've been to the zoo a couple of times. We LOVE the zoo! We are quite the</div><div>crew when we go too : ) I think the animals may fear US. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQy6GoSLe_X9kNnGyma_VWMUoJ4YzqMZMm69SDh3of7SkbYkZXDqqT2YPpg3TdzeCykOAd4c6Wz6t8gpDuH4hUIXvrCguH9xDb2sStcOl0FSRLEKQW6JXoVj5sYxQKcenXgdA_kbYJD9J/s1600/20100528_2692_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480474978062498210" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQy6GoSLe_X9kNnGyma_VWMUoJ4YzqMZMm69SDh3of7SkbYkZXDqqT2YPpg3TdzeCykOAd4c6Wz6t8gpDuH4hUIXvrCguH9xDb2sStcOl0FSRLEKQW6JXoVj5sYxQKcenXgdA_kbYJD9J/s320/20100528_2692_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxyFLydI_ixSDM9rF9uDbRHwkOuUbGxM6QkWyuJXzMCaoi8TXppoQXBF5zNP7wqdiUnJJNqFr83nluYB1BEc0dENmarVdtXIEgzWZ8z_TOhuMRcJJuJeLZs32RjbstU6aCZFw_2PGIDZH/s1600/20100529_2743_6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480475000737390386" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxyFLydI_ixSDM9rF9uDbRHwkOuUbGxM6QkWyuJXzMCaoi8TXppoQXBF5zNP7wqdiUnJJNqFr83nluYB1BEc0dENmarVdtXIEgzWZ8z_TOhuMRcJJuJeLZs32RjbstU6aCZFw_2PGIDZH/s320/20100529_2743_6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYghcYT4RufN_lVN4vLS___47iI4LGebE0KciH2vbVA0tuuDGeDIK6A6pw2nDU3n8jy8uvnWDRfOnIVD-flgN8mFShhvtkQMooYiVfvRQT_SQgnnDopP4ioI3dLfjwKyzUOi2nwQoDSMia/s1600/20100529_2742_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480474993403364482" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYghcYT4RufN_lVN4vLS___47iI4LGebE0KciH2vbVA0tuuDGeDIK6A6pw2nDU3n8jy8uvnWDRfOnIVD-flgN8mFShhvtkQMooYiVfvRQT_SQgnnDopP4ioI3dLfjwKyzUOi2nwQoDSMia/s320/20100529_2742_5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZYfvU1-waWY4YF3hLBi3ZtTXt-rFzKJfaKzwD3BrID8eae0EgYmiCmxfo5xqZOiUn_G9_BSwSCikGLQZUecDnliQqEcWjNSYt4ZnzMly8DuwffEpzL6L8LevCIwmRTmEOcs4Lk6ksjQ5/s1600/20100529_2741_4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480474991914315762" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyZYfvU1-waWY4YF3hLBi3ZtTXt-rFzKJfaKzwD3BrID8eae0EgYmiCmxfo5xqZOiUn_G9_BSwSCikGLQZUecDnliQqEcWjNSYt4ZnzMly8DuwffEpzL6L8LevCIwmRTmEOcs4Lk6ksjQ5/s320/20100529_2741_4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRavR_pkvegKnpazs-ZW9TPuu56CdrEDTlz3Ep35LXhucnbyZ32u-camgz_ovB2Ya65_QSAXEN8qgQtox3j6uVZHSVkz6gaoZozeq2gBCDAIx2HgJ7EqJ4dhsm1tejWNXbVoPg2GugNir/s1600/20100528_2696_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480474983832258658" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRavR_pkvegKnpazs-ZW9TPuu56CdrEDTlz3Ep35LXhucnbyZ32u-camgz_ovB2Ya65_QSAXEN8qgQtox3j6uVZHSVkz6gaoZozeq2gBCDAIx2HgJ7EqJ4dhsm1tejWNXbVoPg2GugNir/s320/20100528_2696_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I promise to post swimming pictures soon. Oh...last but not least, we finally got a new family picture done! So here we are...the Casa de Chaos crew! Happy summer and love to you all!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFyl7phVpg-EAhebakiPxHv_NVEvrkAG8qnkECFHdBpvaWpxEJEKBlWcZD36Ln8gF_uurZo716jottw5Dxs9ZopF9XSdvQK4OZzDywfmShAKasF4ZHzRjrvEBQTlZUiX6YYXpyxXIXxJj/s1600/Hernandez+4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480477131354814114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFyl7phVpg-EAhebakiPxHv_NVEvrkAG8qnkECFHdBpvaWpxEJEKBlWcZD36Ln8gF_uurZo716jottw5Dxs9ZopF9XSdvQK4OZzDywfmShAKasF4ZHzRjrvEBQTlZUiX6YYXpyxXIXxJj/s320/Hernandez+4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-23395209153581638852010-04-14T15:09:00.008-04:002010-04-14T15:33:16.747-04:00Baby girl turns 2!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUljKxJWCh6Slj1JIRdQ4pxzI9bsNBHw_17r4o_vvT-RFsVXexHkLsq_LbEcFES3VX7caFGYGJ48-VVXe_pPnMNXIY_2V7J63BDFAI4OS8AJ-o1KqhG9PtgTWqCKqFgdLUghMXDodKN0ki/s1600/20100402_2307_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460076766220712402" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUljKxJWCh6Slj1JIRdQ4pxzI9bsNBHw_17r4o_vvT-RFsVXexHkLsq_LbEcFES3VX7caFGYGJ48-VVXe_pPnMNXIY_2V7J63BDFAI4OS8AJ-o1KqhG9PtgTWqCKqFgdLUghMXDodKN0ki/s320/20100402_2307_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>My sweet Hanna turned two the day before Easter. We were blessed to have some of our aunts and uncles here for her birthday and had a nice family celebration at Grandma's house. Of course she had to have an Elmo cake! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugKAd3oeCPubji15uLqlSO4FBXYm1algiCsRrtxPaTOcv-kQGXQFMz0MBPAufZTdFRC_UihdySZnKim_FaF_f1YkPWitjl9-DzMuf6ffsWmHvxlwFaN1A2bwoVl840DfVyopC-NK5UvNc/s1600/20100402_2234_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074511825145682" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugKAd3oeCPubji15uLqlSO4FBXYm1algiCsRrtxPaTOcv-kQGXQFMz0MBPAufZTdFRC_UihdySZnKim_FaF_f1YkPWitjl9-DzMuf6ffsWmHvxlwFaN1A2bwoVl840DfVyopC-NK5UvNc/s320/20100402_2234_2.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Mom and Jesse helped with the candles...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsYr21w328rAarALOZuUdjmz0PbTD6a7nvLDEgD1vrT72_obJoUtpSCMe1oUNg0lKzfP5qUdVEBX-dwe3hjcOIxTQwGUboHRNIGqY92ooxdYrAUfWLn2FOIY0ZFmgHwJtyWtlUiShW4Ax/s1600/20100402_2237_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074518311467058" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsYr21w328rAarALOZuUdjmz0PbTD6a7nvLDEgD1vrT72_obJoUtpSCMe1oUNg0lKzfP5qUdVEBX-dwe3hjcOIxTQwGUboHRNIGqY92ooxdYrAUfWLn2FOIY0ZFmgHwJtyWtlUiShW4Ax/s320/20100402_2237_5.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>And Daddy helped open presents.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen-2eK2PmraVYkj8y1APCPCFTerUNAQZF-qtpaDdAB_ZxkDyOIHsOfcLR4o28-Cqg2eIzyi1IvbBRONyW16tBcqQZpKbBEtun-4R0CeLlvL-lYKW7n9hGi3siMnVvCsyrHRODc9JIHUpT/s1600/20100402_2258_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460074520305069314" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen-2eK2PmraVYkj8y1APCPCFTerUNAQZF-qtpaDdAB_ZxkDyOIHsOfcLR4o28-Cqg2eIzyi1IvbBRONyW16tBcqQZpKbBEtun-4R0CeLlvL-lYKW7n9hGi3siMnVvCsyrHRODc9JIHUpT/s320/20100402_2258_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Aunt Kimmie provided the "bling" and the awesome Princess/ballerina/fairy outfit!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63U8IEhb_OAvo3jIUdrIBbg6sc7akHsdPmZ3VsPVqW1u6g1LA8re8w4c1l9tiQfJJ4favhqOfibp2Ws_O2NBx13ekv0R85VAU-bJQGNAAbC501BCS9TYKJ_08L5DfXjDXF1Q8wQgq7YNK/s1600/20100402_2294_1_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460076759005109730" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63U8IEhb_OAvo3jIUdrIBbg6sc7akHsdPmZ3VsPVqW1u6g1LA8re8w4c1l9tiQfJJ4favhqOfibp2Ws_O2NBx13ekv0R85VAU-bJQGNAAbC501BCS9TYKJ_08L5DfXjDXF1Q8wQgq7YNK/s320/20100402_2294_1_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxHjViQ-5nYSGZAclfx_ukfFNX-hWO3UG4dGUUHmHUstFV7V0dY6ek6L3GIhFylLfE_u98D8mdvJIgIGPv9BP-xUceCUMWtvSWt2OoVBgQN-7PuiAMlrbwEBHLEYhR2vrew4uGOvx1KYf/s1600/20100402_2320_6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460076768682196530" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxHjViQ-5nYSGZAclfx_ukfFNX-hWO3UG4dGUUHmHUstFV7V0dY6ek6L3GIhFylLfE_u98D8mdvJIgIGPv9BP-xUceCUMWtvSWt2OoVBgQN-7PuiAMlrbwEBHLEYhR2vrew4uGOvx1KYf/s320/20100402_2320_6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmMJ4A1HUzyh67BRYXJAxmpuehEersTx7N5dmiQxXq0CJzLvV9hO5SDBz_8kVRA-tYvnWbaOUE8CzoSn6hoIUgjCH-wAjwusVwkhjzGNIjEBIrhw8PVUyw1ynQfOOULRkwzhS2nhoBOj-/s1600/20100402_2315_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460076762626077394" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmMJ4A1HUzyh67BRYXJAxmpuehEersTx7N5dmiQxXq0CJzLvV9hO5SDBz_8kVRA-tYvnWbaOUE8CzoSn6hoIUgjCH-wAjwusVwkhjzGNIjEBIrhw8PVUyw1ynQfOOULRkwzhS2nhoBOj-/s320/20100402_2315_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We also colored our Easter eggs that evening which was so much fun for all the kids. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCJYo4e7pcO4nkmUS4MnaEJt0CpjOgI_IFileNc4n1X4UV8RFh54wzSmvjp8OzIVz4LgtR5LYGvJIbfJAtOCde_zFJehBXuySMaz078IArletfFFw9GoMcH_2mXjZ8Qpe9fdxYYZVWEBe/s1600/20100402_2268_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075382772050578" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCJYo4e7pcO4nkmUS4MnaEJt0CpjOgI_IFileNc4n1X4UV8RFh54wzSmvjp8OzIVz4LgtR5LYGvJIbfJAtOCde_zFJehBXuySMaz078IArletfFFw9GoMcH_2mXjZ8Qpe9fdxYYZVWEBe/s320/20100402_2268_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D9qbQU4emhKsBq62Fw_h4e-g1W9g0npfapIaVu_J77etl-EPXGlTexoZiB4b6Z960W1Wi2o2_K_bxyQT3a9WASe14lNXFJMhq1HjxnMWRC82hJ5ah0lwHwE_jep1g3MC7QzlaPAbFaT0/s1600/20100402_2267_6_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075378164098162" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D9qbQU4emhKsBq62Fw_h4e-g1W9g0npfapIaVu_J77etl-EPXGlTexoZiB4b6Z960W1Wi2o2_K_bxyQT3a9WASe14lNXFJMhq1HjxnMWRC82hJ5ah0lwHwE_jep1g3MC7QzlaPAbFaT0/s320/20100402_2267_6_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kr1S6-AXCz9bjOWD7GVIl2EJl1OgziPlZUEmTt0oSlIx18VquQf4SnCCue605C8dl1678Bf5j9bla9jKei6LQVOIdiAlcOmMQmQ2F7nnQTb7ran7Ge5RfznVE_0aKlD4u3b6jjEAILoK/s1600/20100402_2263_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075387403826050" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kr1S6-AXCz9bjOWD7GVIl2EJl1OgziPlZUEmTt0oSlIx18VquQf4SnCCue605C8dl1678Bf5j9bla9jKei6LQVOIdiAlcOmMQmQ2F7nnQTb7ran7Ge5RfznVE_0aKlD4u3b6jjEAILoK/s320/20100402_2263_2.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We LOVE you Hanna Ruth! Happy Birthday sweet girl!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4UNy6w0P3BJlIBzlakuKwbVZpRNNC7TCbKnWFJYKZb9iz4rfcE90YfFyaRoGcmOCMx9lSToDLyLr1gbzb7dZQWhvV-Pw5xF2SYeXur07SQgT3UMcb2U_yDmpyZwkzCBAfZn5CPkESVlE/s1600/20100402_2233_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460075367200921842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4UNy6w0P3BJlIBzlakuKwbVZpRNNC7TCbKnWFJYKZb9iz4rfcE90YfFyaRoGcmOCMx9lSToDLyLr1gbzb7dZQWhvV-Pw5xF2SYeXur07SQgT3UMcb2U_yDmpyZwkzCBAfZn5CPkESVlE/s320/20100402_2233_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFs9baow9GEsCJhYjVxwrPMXL3Q7K4R7frDBzTzlHzg-mtJVPS_66b-aNsiWz7Siz3hyZ0jifQJ1jAhzrH7kXzxlc_buPVivqDuU0K7kmbBriRu5Z5F99kLccFrOWxwEKIfH0vIkKGxe9q/s1600/20100402_2268_2.JPG"></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-3583172780431604262010-04-06T16:04:00.004-04:002010-04-06T16:22:07.320-04:00Playing Catch-up!<div><br /><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9ckWLe9PP8AMQujUVqSqwk3sbgQ3zOPMVhJprQ1d8Jl4hRBYfvrqUEX_ynTwBxteDGjEf0AkddgFXtBtgIWb4wu37eBnltV1zdTr73jlWchKfYNpmc8h3osSjGLx9SFV1NIvASf_NKff/s1600/20100301_2038_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457118533634961970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9ckWLe9PP8AMQujUVqSqwk3sbgQ3zOPMVhJprQ1d8Jl4hRBYfvrqUEX_ynTwBxteDGjEf0AkddgFXtBtgIWb4wu37eBnltV1zdTr73jlWchKfYNpmc8h3osSjGLx9SFV1NIvASf_NKff/s320/20100301_2038_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Oh, I'm so far behind! Hanna's been home three months now, just turned two and I'm back at work. Where does the time go!? So now I'm gonna try to play some blog catch-up. I'll start with life at home with Hanna so far....</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uBpQ7Oth0dwIfuAIiCIGbvlWsoK4qaF3I5oqmST8zDtjJdU1U9y8JBPjRv9ARez9_56yXZyoWp4eqDS9WFpmg8EVJ_9w6TVYrWC2ZNgDfQFdhKtSQH0KNdyNggs0_Omlj9Ui2SzXqLrV/s1600/20100301_2036_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457118527266462322" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uBpQ7Oth0dwIfuAIiCIGbvlWsoK4qaF3I5oqmST8zDtjJdU1U9y8JBPjRv9ARez9_56yXZyoWp4eqDS9WFpmg8EVJ_9w6TVYrWC2ZNgDfQFdhKtSQH0KNdyNggs0_Omlj9Ui2SzXqLrV/s320/20100301_2036_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBOVTmK4CGGD0kLAFMzPzkYPuRg7A2M8EPKS88fw8yKnUON9yf15ueqazKUtV6XvFcWmMygFA_UFL6S8opnECfyhRB1IjnjsCeRrtsvv-FFADxfT0s0dxPqHRRERjfybFOk2-7ZR30cpn/s1600/20100301_2039_4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457118536631772466" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBOVTmK4CGGD0kLAFMzPzkYPuRg7A2M8EPKS88fw8yKnUON9yf15ueqazKUtV6XvFcWmMygFA_UFL6S8opnECfyhRB1IjnjsCeRrtsvv-FFADxfT0s0dxPqHRRERjfybFOk2-7ZR30cpn/s320/20100301_2039_4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />That pretty much describes it...she's a star! Sweet, funny, smart...with an amazing temper! She has just taken over the house and all of our hearts. I was so worried that she would be afraid of the dogs, but she LOVES them!...not sure if that is mutual at this point : )<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eYN5LWpb-GLdXa-EWIvMRsd2qu4kk8W-vXqoH5sYDcOyzSxm03FKrv2r03hK4Ce-BykbtNXmYfhtL9_ekhm6m_yThD_YW0lLYEePoxK6-sOZyrdXFEAG6_uhsF88t0R8AgPnAP-v4Wsx/s1600/20100303_2041_6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457118550916814962" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5eYN5LWpb-GLdXa-EWIvMRsd2qu4kk8W-vXqoH5sYDcOyzSxm03FKrv2r03hK4Ce-BykbtNXmYfhtL9_ekhm6m_yThD_YW0lLYEePoxK6-sOZyrdXFEAG6_uhsF88t0R8AgPnAP-v4Wsx/s320/20100303_2041_6.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>We all adore her, but her big brother Jesse is especially enamored with her. Enough to play "princess" with her and actually smile for the picture.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI-euMgW7Toh61U1-ka8kfVXc9aheunOYjmpY51YqRkfDANnPEAfSNh6eD4q9CcMplPek7jKSEiGbafEnqRorfGPxsj4Pc9brL0Hg9F4R91TB5qvniujGPn_ZfIuEBmBwplWxE2-dzR1X/s1600/20100307_2051_1_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457118554215589570" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikI-euMgW7Toh61U1-ka8kfVXc9aheunOYjmpY51YqRkfDANnPEAfSNh6eD4q9CcMplPek7jKSEiGbafEnqRorfGPxsj4Pc9brL0Hg9F4R91TB5qvniujGPn_ZfIuEBmBwplWxE2-dzR1X/s320/20100307_2051_1_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And, speaking of my sweet, Jesse...my baby boy turned six just a few weeks ago!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vPunY4LrRcNnagAY4_4nE-tLwFAr8nyq8KV3Te8vWAwkIXtCM1wrxJQfyKlLGNhrn2_nF8WL5DNfJ2f70wVp778W0ztpnWMz5qdZYlS3mVIrueMEgmXKrbhbgR5ivt0E-5Df2TG7ZO5w/s1600/20100320_2131_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457120626659041554" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vPunY4LrRcNnagAY4_4nE-tLwFAr8nyq8KV3Te8vWAwkIXtCM1wrxJQfyKlLGNhrn2_nF8WL5DNfJ2f70wVp778W0ztpnWMz5qdZYlS3mVIrueMEgmXKrbhbgR5ivt0E-5Df2TG7ZO5w/s320/20100320_2131_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>He and his big brother share a laugh with his birthday card over breakfast...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNfipH2SHXn5zQeropPhmEc-2BtkELXLre5FTn4LV9wHJsZqbtsnX7_BG_cjBbiReuaU1ZX8IvVqQ4evCAIemjrvuHkVSavk6OXAJhNRkQTxzCfZC6QljcJsFkVvYbpfLWwaWJc8oz7dz/s1600/20100318_2059_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457120625436951410" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNfipH2SHXn5zQeropPhmEc-2BtkELXLre5FTn4LV9wHJsZqbtsnX7_BG_cjBbiReuaU1ZX8IvVqQ4evCAIemjrvuHkVSavk6OXAJhNRkQTxzCfZC6QljcJsFkVvYbpfLWwaWJc8oz7dz/s320/20100318_2059_3.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>And, after a great backyard barbeque with family and friends, he shows off his "Agent P" birthday jammies and new "mighty beans". (If you don't know what these things are, you are better off...if you are parent of young boys...you know.)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXLTYx0X6Bbi9JUSNZLi70w0aHATsQbVbpG0FjmWMi8eJgVosSj94T5xCIu79SRl-1C5Wti7O-uA0tRt8YTnr3C-rQjgmXJU46N5X92i4xdsrI6zV7fHyzqxPNt7MFy_7JrYjgcH5pbUk/s1600/20100320_2144_1_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457120637697650754" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGXLTYx0X6Bbi9JUSNZLi70w0aHATsQbVbpG0FjmWMi8eJgVosSj94T5xCIu79SRl-1C5Wti7O-uA0tRt8YTnr3C-rQjgmXJU46N5X92i4xdsrI6zV7fHyzqxPNt7MFy_7JrYjgcH5pbUk/s320/20100320_2144_1_1.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>Next up...Hanna turns two and Easter pics....hopefully I'll get them posted before the kids start college : ) I am so blessed!</div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-1334375232996971052010-02-08T21:01:00.010-05:002010-02-08T21:25:27.098-05:00Rock Star, Baby!!!! 3 Weeks Home.<div> Hanna is truly a rock star at our house right now. She loves music and really LOVES big brother's electric guitar...Thanks again, Aunt Kimmie ; ) She bobs her head and snaps her fingers to any beat. She and sissy are pretty funny rockin' out, side-by-side in Momma's minivan!<br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXywFeefZ6z06XHFG4Vm291TQ_klRvMETOWl7OidPBPbEwZGL0NH7uKQ4YPeltfvpxL8I5b_tsMm1O-308amv2_ttq8a6OxGYfgkmRyC3hoJ9tE9vo2Joy9WJASwAdOR2tLHR_X9_xyfWe/s1600-h/20100131_1859_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436059027240196258" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXywFeefZ6z06XHFG4Vm291TQ_klRvMETOWl7OidPBPbEwZGL0NH7uKQ4YPeltfvpxL8I5b_tsMm1O-308amv2_ttq8a6OxGYfgkmRyC3hoJ9tE9vo2Joy9WJASwAdOR2tLHR_X9_xyfWe/s320/20100131_1859_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Album cover...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60bYnrBTgvSY71ac_2udTE55WvTFTdZkehdotmWhq_5rYsmKGLb1PGqnuz6NsRc2kgthVyrBVT3B_E-qIW_lUtYmHsKzh2IVb1kKfJ1GitCX9zeH4AuHWvHY9GU66kxX-2Ttmxflei3Vc/s1600-h/20100131_1861_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436058804345226002" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi60bYnrBTgvSY71ac_2udTE55WvTFTdZkehdotmWhq_5rYsmKGLb1PGqnuz6NsRc2kgthVyrBVT3B_E-qIW_lUtYmHsKzh2IVb1kKfJ1GitCX9zeH4AuHWvHY9GU66kxX-2Ttmxflei3Vc/s320/20100131_1861_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I can't really believe it's been three weeks since we came home with Hanna...only one month since we the day we met her; it's just so surreal. You wait and wait for soooo long and angst so much and sweat and pack and overthink and freak out, etc, etc. It's just really so strange when suddenly you're like "wow, we've already made that trip, been home for three weeks, and it seems like we've just always been here, just like this." </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVqFOalWvx038we7sVKIvBkmAtcvyJy98So7ociik1MQe4WvYSzRFAmGwpBr0vHF1Za6jrLw4Sgxip9CEsk1v6YwIUDJ5kz984xNUZOOTgeth_YRL6REX4PzbGXbizM58AAoQMWQ1Rf9R/s1600-h/20100129_1802.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436061788993367922" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVqFOalWvx038we7sVKIvBkmAtcvyJy98So7ociik1MQe4WvYSzRFAmGwpBr0vHF1Za6jrLw4Sgxip9CEsk1v6YwIUDJ5kz984xNUZOOTgeth_YRL6REX4PzbGXbizM58AAoQMWQ1Rf9R/s320/20100129_1802.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-1sl9l-nIZ9edqDvgO_gcATYdSeezWkLEiLnxXBh2iVTALA8iMIwywXEbB4jLlhFKNWaGd2vD5SmwCxUxwb5oNisqiWJuHkvxsrQPXKdR7exf2Sg8U1TZDtg8AK5d1RUv5CScgRt42sh/s1600-h/20100123_1760.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436061806111402306" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-1sl9l-nIZ9edqDvgO_gcATYdSeezWkLEiLnxXBh2iVTALA8iMIwywXEbB4jLlhFKNWaGd2vD5SmwCxUxwb5oNisqiWJuHkvxsrQPXKdR7exf2Sg8U1TZDtg8AK5d1RUv5CScgRt42sh/s320/20100123_1760.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Hanna is just doing amazing. I almost feel guilty saying this because I know how difficult this journey can be, and we've been blessed AGAIN with a sweet, funny, confident, smart, good eating, good sleeping little girl. I almost feel afraid to say it to because I know we're still in the "honeymoon" period and I certainly don't want to jinx myself : ) She tells us when she needs to "ca ca"...and she does it, signals when she's done and assumes the position to be wiped. Too funny, but I am grateful for the non-poopy diapers!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwXSwKYtGU0v_UVVaoK89ieZM7a_LOmt-ve0AV4-CpokX9rxh3apfHADV1v64K_4QU8SHzyks34GQp2KhBuw8Sce9_HpNKpcMA8P6xU_DfX-739lx2ppxf-49u3vyE2_x0wCH4W9Dagpj/s1600-h/20100207_1885_4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436060801379762706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVwXSwKYtGU0v_UVVaoK89ieZM7a_LOmt-ve0AV4-CpokX9rxh3apfHADV1v64K_4QU8SHzyks34GQp2KhBuw8Sce9_HpNKpcMA8P6xU_DfX-739lx2ppxf-49u3vyE2_x0wCH4W9Dagpj/s320/20100207_1885_4.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SxIt_FL87XCujZb6d9ay78auuzfxl07vY3AhJqpIQBMrbG7kAbx4-dLMsWvQ0-18x543LfaR1hXW7M9ZmPgiYeNkmf8p8tUfnnKNvDzEYaD81JKR3EcPSTTQeoGlfRojuJBrFpXogba/s1600-h/20100207_1884_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436060797525108498" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8SxIt_FL87XCujZb6d9ay78auuzfxl07vY3AhJqpIQBMrbG7kAbx4-dLMsWvQ0-18x543LfaR1hXW7M9ZmPgiYeNkmf8p8tUfnnKNvDzEYaD81JKR3EcPSTTQeoGlfRojuJBrFpXogba/s320/20100207_1884_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgydRju2UHs5LiRB1RIRiFj6Xyghc2HrJU5kPk6UeN99xM7Tqjr8Lus_F_Hp0qdDgHpJbvF2C6Ctf88KVVQE5k4iIAlPATDIcGrL31XCISBi9u-Uqan0lJhCwDMgxHs53yjXOWv_ugiQqT/s1600-h/20100207_1883_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436060792078996898" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgydRju2UHs5LiRB1RIRiFj6Xyghc2HrJU5kPk6UeN99xM7Tqjr8Lus_F_Hp0qdDgHpJbvF2C6Ctf88KVVQE5k4iIAlPATDIcGrL31XCISBi9u-Uqan0lJhCwDMgxHs53yjXOWv_ugiQqT/s320/20100207_1883_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>She is really melding well with all the kids and our house is chaos at best, but so fun and full of laughter (and a few screams and meltdowns here and there). I am thrilled (and again fearful) to say that last night she slept in her own bed, in her OWN room! We put her bed down in her room with rails and all the kids piled in for the fun, so she loves is now and has done, so far, pretty well sleeping in it. This is just night two though, so we'll see. I do miss having her snuggle up to me in my bed, but she seems to sleep better by herself. She also got a big FIRST...SNOW! I think she liked it for about five minutes, and then decided she missed the gorgeous 78 degrees ofEthiopia! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGax-Ps1iVPtaYyH2jNbcscjitDbi0Vh3khu8nddeQYdOwkC3qfTjffYUOHtlk-5_KfO5pd0GZTykhQpmMIM-ohzOFwTqZYu6x9IL5UDrjQTg4MigYLu9yl7XkunHwGQQE7O5SaCSWDo80/s1600-h/20100130_1821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436061796629780514" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGax-Ps1iVPtaYyH2jNbcscjitDbi0Vh3khu8nddeQYdOwkC3qfTjffYUOHtlk-5_KfO5pd0GZTykhQpmMIM-ohzOFwTqZYu6x9IL5UDrjQTg4MigYLu9yl7XkunHwGQQE7O5SaCSWDo80/s320/20100130_1821.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>XOXO,</div><div>Casa Crew</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-1321637773374896302010-01-30T09:51:00.008-05:002010-01-30T10:08:57.744-05:00Two weeks home.<div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtGO32Oe96nWuseZkebtTEC77vGold55bEZ5sBB6_5agB2SVEoa0Xyd1RFDM46JXABCub5mSmxagvE4dh5E6qnM_xxjmjMqWqbrGFDRAQTBNd0eiykvT4LDNtE1Qp8aAVahWHLmy1wUGT/s1600-h/20100123_1739_9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432548058815290466" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEtGO32Oe96nWuseZkebtTEC77vGold55bEZ5sBB6_5agB2SVEoa0Xyd1RFDM46JXABCub5mSmxagvE4dh5E6qnM_xxjmjMqWqbrGFDRAQTBNd0eiykvT4LDNtE1Qp8aAVahWHLmy1wUGT/s320/20100123_1739_9.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5SMJFl4_OHqAN89x5V3mswyVbkRxem9KHAm3AHmalRTzRQQw6VLr1GVrOwLzNNHOfiQBcpPhyPenAqQHRF4QSzMoWCAd6sWLKOhQzfghTqTi9HFp-7TxyXsPVodAg90P8V3SONx1g9rs/s1600-h/20100123_1731_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547391030150562" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD5SMJFl4_OHqAN89x5V3mswyVbkRxem9KHAm3AHmalRTzRQQw6VLr1GVrOwLzNNHOfiQBcpPhyPenAqQHRF4QSzMoWCAd6sWLKOhQzfghTqTi9HFp-7TxyXsPVodAg90P8V3SONx1g9rs/s320/20100123_1731_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPn-z7Wwe7RE3yNhqaHNwi1A2uAYjGhU9Yg-eZ17V6LEyQ4L1i_xDjFalxb05MjHXzh7xC-6cIXEUUb3M2OC24GWHHTX5owx23NYsbRqejUx2Kg9PqEyFoS5GZs4MeV7F5qu-k3_npRAH/s1600-h/20100123_1735_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547408024076386" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiPn-z7Wwe7RE3yNhqaHNwi1A2uAYjGhU9Yg-eZ17V6LEyQ4L1i_xDjFalxb05MjHXzh7xC-6cIXEUUb3M2OC24GWHHTX5owx23NYsbRqejUx2Kg9PqEyFoS5GZs4MeV7F5qu-k3_npRAH/s320/20100123_1735_5.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVLry6r5ATVjUBEdyiDkL7JzF0DFM8C57aqGVTSS4ktAiXe8rDfgrBQ59S5m3D7wM2hhyphenhyphen1yWGtEXsYM-1CUwVpRPlx0nquvN9fGoaGFO3EN5Io-K9Jy_NASUZBBHG2Y41HZPbFwRBIcFX/s1600-h/20100123_1733_3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547396583272754" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVLry6r5ATVjUBEdyiDkL7JzF0DFM8C57aqGVTSS4ktAiXe8rDfgrBQ59S5m3D7wM2hhyphenhyphen1yWGtEXsYM-1CUwVpRPlx0nquvN9fGoaGFO3EN5Io-K9Jy_NASUZBBHG2Y41HZPbFwRBIcFX/s320/20100123_1733_3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIuiJPcjvv4QIMc_8Z8fFVawJW5LRnCXpLsQjvJt2tRSjcLxuMPVePKHMICJr2kUAlV8EUAgENzj3prDLQtJswhWBjF2ejtCflbV5k0iHbeam_9mjK_Kp1IOnKAxJbhcMR8ASkVFtTtgG/s1600-h/20100123_1736_6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547414690960338" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNIuiJPcjvv4QIMc_8Z8fFVawJW5LRnCXpLsQjvJt2tRSjcLxuMPVePKHMICJr2kUAlV8EUAgENzj3prDLQtJswhWBjF2ejtCflbV5k0iHbeam_9mjK_Kp1IOnKAxJbhcMR8ASkVFtTtgG/s320/20100123_1736_6.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6IQidBwQVNVO_3R7h_Q8A3zaI5zo1gGBHw8k3HAlDptxB4ejQKX6LyJ7z5hmJA4iJ0iT-qm7uEugYPsOSrKupupyD_d8wgJfx84Ns4Cw7SFtwa5oVDClp3c9lc8wRTPklby01IEJF_OT/s1600-h/20100123_1735_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432547395348232754" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6IQidBwQVNVO_3R7h_Q8A3zaI5zo1gGBHw8k3HAlDptxB4ejQKX6LyJ7z5hmJA4iJ0iT-qm7uEugYPsOSrKupupyD_d8wgJfx84Ns4Cw7SFtwa5oVDClp3c9lc8wRTPklby01IEJF_OT/s320/20100123_1735_5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div>Yay for Saturdays! We have been home two weeks now and Hanna is settling in quite well. She is sleeping much better, although still waking up a few times a night and still getting Mommy up most days around 5 ish. I do love my snuggles though! I can honestly say at this point going from three to four kids has really not been much different, just now we have a toddler who requires a lot of attention and can't really tell us what she wants all the time. She does an excellent job of communicating most things, but any toddler gets frustrated from time to time with not being able to just "say" what they want. The kids all act like we just always been a family of six. I love the way that are all melding together...our family really does feel complete now. The girls pretty much have decided they are rockstars and run the house...which they do : )</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFvOvq_ANsKw59KHWqigp77ZZtTT_in35kcbGvyQu8XvRdkFD8oBSxe20rGuHlfLhsIakGoxIf_EUsr-kDxLevJG221JKRxe2WpoLjHvcIS5YeUVjMJFjQtT-naYbHiTH63z4qsU_nTf3/s1600-h/20100117_1688_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432548400227676322" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioFvOvq_ANsKw59KHWqigp77ZZtTT_in35kcbGvyQu8XvRdkFD8oBSxe20rGuHlfLhsIakGoxIf_EUsr-kDxLevJG221JKRxe2WpoLjHvcIS5YeUVjMJFjQtT-naYbHiTH63z4qsU_nTf3/s320/20100117_1688_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYMqqMtM4LeyJGpFiyEUJI9EzzYp8lhKB8DxXLlYguzD7klgY1mzkee9C_2hP23YWWqZRWdz5zoFKMiOatFVgn9KX4FEsdAszVHc8UrtbaHRJJYUxmrD4e8-FHbdoaApxKrnyG19s-Zf2/s1600-h/20100117_1687_1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432548393909550082" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYMqqMtM4LeyJGpFiyEUJI9EzzYp8lhKB8DxXLlYguzD7klgY1mzkee9C_2hP23YWWqZRWdz5zoFKMiOatFVgn9KX4FEsdAszVHc8UrtbaHRJJYUxmrD4e8-FHbdoaApxKrnyG19s-Zf2/s320/20100117_1687_1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />SAY WHAT?!!!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MuScQcTKLacMUI4_ymBovSHW0rJAlcOyKt5hfj-ZBoEaQV2jyRqYHC7m1p1UJ9Bwu8L5xI8TR5mpPyeakBHg6_MUPWjgiVLZy_1BMHiiTKC9URjB5UrZsxSeEQMxoUN0Rp6izXbc_lJL/s1600-h/20100120_1699_5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432549016755255826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MuScQcTKLacMUI4_ymBovSHW0rJAlcOyKt5hfj-ZBoEaQV2jyRqYHC7m1p1UJ9Bwu8L5xI8TR5mpPyeakBHg6_MUPWjgiVLZy_1BMHiiTKC9URjB5UrZsxSeEQMxoUN0Rp6izXbc_lJL/s320/20100120_1699_5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I had to post this picture...I took "L's" braids out last week and combed her hair out. It has gotten so long...she had quite the "fro". So far Hanna is eating pretty much everything and anything...but has a special appreciation for Chocolate pudding and salsa...that's Mommy's girl!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo68yngIvZnMBlNSAglK_9W4FCJGJ1d5Q2xiQr23PS7nFGZ1pyKR_9zVLaL8YBHAK3jywDybqO6W6EdT5fsQrsc6ZWz_WW1lo1ERdMDTrH3WfD3veHmQxzhcKyBAhwflsPcUp8IcaXkmZk/s1600-h/20100120_1696_2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432549770735172738" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo68yngIvZnMBlNSAglK_9W4FCJGJ1d5Q2xiQr23PS7nFGZ1pyKR_9zVLaL8YBHAK3jywDybqO6W6EdT5fsQrsc6ZWz_WW1lo1ERdMDTrH3WfD3veHmQxzhcKyBAhwflsPcUp8IcaXkmZk/s320/20100120_1696_2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>More updates soon!<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-44937917836825304642010-01-23T21:10:00.008-05:002010-01-23T21:37:59.641-05:00A few quick trip pics...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yVQ7OAGra1b9WfUcjZh6ZIvlqOVuWDtL6V2QkHdAkvKT-Mrx4KEB-wTm64e_cV8xbbmvfh0Tqc6hT0Sk3Rmue6fPUnjAZSj52iIVPnBLKlAui_fSeXIT0pvPdU33SyTCZglY0E0NjWjs/s1600-h/20100114_1616_(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430128061645580114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yVQ7OAGra1b9WfUcjZh6ZIvlqOVuWDtL6V2QkHdAkvKT-Mrx4KEB-wTm64e_cV8xbbmvfh0Tqc6hT0Sk3Rmue6fPUnjAZSj52iIVPnBLKlAui_fSeXIT0pvPdU33SyTCZglY0E0NjWjs/s320/20100114_1616_(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Say that fast five times! : )<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn2McNuq29ttdDBJbhLL2U3sgIEOSr9zIsoQS0nsPpr2BEJN67dzZ48bgGrcMt-Wmb55BU4ZnZiB9RJqDPe5p17rQz49gTPZZj84lsWbaX6kfKLs7CHpudI0Ubb-mEEIyYbsPDs6X0OLs/s1600-h/20100115_1635.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430124893498883058" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfn2McNuq29ttdDBJbhLL2U3sgIEOSr9zIsoQS0nsPpr2BEJN67dzZ48bgGrcMt-Wmb55BU4ZnZiB9RJqDPe5p17rQz49gTPZZj84lsWbaX6kfKLs7CHpudI0Ubb-mEEIyYbsPDs6X0OLs/s320/20100115_1635.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>We've been home one week today, and for the most part it has been a fantastic week. Hanna has done so well and has really shown us her silly and sweet personality. The other kids love her and are doing really well with her as well. Just a few toy territory things here and there, but I'm so proud of all my kids for being so selfless and loving their new sister. The only issue we seem to be having is sleep with her. She fights (and I mean fights) going to sleep at nap time and bed time. I usually have to hold her until she is out cold...she won't let me lay her down or even sit in the rocking chair. Then, she wakes up at least two to three times a night screaming and we go through the whole 30 minutes or more routine. I shouldn't complain...she has done so much better than I thought she would in so many ways, but sleep deprivation is not fun. She was so good on the flight home. She really didn't cry hardly at all and we were lucky to get the bulkhead in the plane and the bassinet! Sweet! She slept in it, ate in it, played in it...yay! We were going to pay extra to upgrade to first class so we would have some room, but by the grace of God a very nice agent at Ethiopian airlines was able to get us the prime seats for FREE! Yay!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywYjvlH7p1xgjONj6wGmTLmCpBxJcShIPv47kwrGTYjpP8OYNtoTyqfMnRE7TZgqY6LoibbI55qo829astqO0Oq4p9AIo7o422QINXYuYSWnUnZfH8r1Oi6W-d_Un-Tsk8mVXOo-rJFrU/s1600-h/20100115_1651.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430124905777883986" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywYjvlH7p1xgjONj6wGmTLmCpBxJcShIPv47kwrGTYjpP8OYNtoTyqfMnRE7TZgqY6LoibbI55qo829astqO0Oq4p9AIo7o422QINXYuYSWnUnZfH8r1Oi6W-d_Un-Tsk8mVXOo-rJFrU/s320/20100115_1651.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf3l44KKcgNLEC1_eiX3vSam3V21aPSsQ5XD00z7ODpug6Mj9dMJg_2Gp06b3rZVKFFm_uWbaA4yfeW8pk9LBZV-Gc9HcMkaSl7VxVcBvxBaGrYb1JUZ6ReDp8wak8O6Xt0HRhUqNUxIl/s1600-h/20100115_1636.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430124899571886338" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsf3l44KKcgNLEC1_eiX3vSam3V21aPSsQ5XD00z7ODpug6Mj9dMJg_2Gp06b3rZVKFFm_uWbaA4yfeW8pk9LBZV-Gc9HcMkaSl7VxVcBvxBaGrYb1JUZ6ReDp8wak8O6Xt0HRhUqNUxIl/s320/20100115_1636.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We discovered that people don't mind being late...and aren't in any hurry despite anyone else needing to be some where on time. What I mean is we were an hour and a half late leaving Ethiopia, basically because people took their dear. sweet. time. getting on the @$#%$&$* plane. It was unbelievable. It was 24 hours by the time we left our hotel in Ethiopia, until we touched down in Knoxville and boy were we ready to get off. the. plane. We had this screen right in front of us the entire flight and it was agonizing to watch our little plane go every tiny little millimeter toward D.C. Boy were we glad to see this one...</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-BjJ2gv6WXCIXWBY7YMahiWjgFGD7lbxeVD5LBkz0IJDk3OS7YPQFdtVuQg0s6AeevkZ3kao1FVdD1ZYpQyje4kYIEHlrOaOUnfzv11HZzdUQ0WmydSCTbe5m2AObxTzTCDV6s2S55_-/s1600-h/20100115_1652.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430125963274091138" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl-BjJ2gv6WXCIXWBY7YMahiWjgFGD7lbxeVD5LBkz0IJDk3OS7YPQFdtVuQg0s6AeevkZ3kao1FVdD1ZYpQyje4kYIEHlrOaOUnfzv11HZzdUQ0WmydSCTbe5m2AObxTzTCDV6s2S55_-/s320/20100115_1652.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>We almost missed our connecting flight and literally ran through Immigration and the D.C. airport with Hanna strapped on my front and Tom and I both loaded down with baggage. I was so relieved when we made our gate just before boarding and almost kissed the gate agent when he told us Tom had time to get us a diet coke...with ICE! For those of you who have travelled outside the country much, you know how much you miss ice. Anyway, that was seriously the best Diet Coke I have ever had in my entire life. Nectar of the gods!<br />Finally, we were on our way home! That quick one hour flight from D.C. went by so fast, it made my head spin. Here is Hanna's first glimpse of her new home from the airplane...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd2X5VxSSgy-y2sYQJpVSGqUsw1qU2Iqbqj12OkPmg1Z_-htIgonIvztOvH6PvtHky6hUW7Dn2CO2HXfBpKhr9tG_-DFNmvHKE3km1mg6S7suXyzDa8BPaRLA8DJ1m15LxE0hAYrNqfML/s1600-h/20100116_1663.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430127433062721570" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKd2X5VxSSgy-y2sYQJpVSGqUsw1qU2Iqbqj12OkPmg1Z_-htIgonIvztOvH6PvtHky6hUW7Dn2CO2HXfBpKhr9tG_-DFNmvHKE3km1mg6S7suXyzDa8BPaRLA8DJ1m15LxE0hAYrNqfML/s320/20100116_1663.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I think she approves!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHBG-d9JTPZLuq1mma8pDppyjpxARSkZWS7CWU9FiZyePoaSwU3dHf1y1j194SPkOkWdNEW-tIHFlXBhONr7B-NctgQtfB-7jgRvWb5enopj3ybrE07xN7A_L1QRnymsY-z2JiAPLu5Yt/s1600-h/20100116_1666.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430127444010884530" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHBG-d9JTPZLuq1mma8pDppyjpxARSkZWS7CWU9FiZyePoaSwU3dHf1y1j194SPkOkWdNEW-tIHFlXBhONr7B-NctgQtfB-7jgRvWb5enopj3ybrE07xN7A_L1QRnymsY-z2JiAPLu5Yt/s320/20100116_1666.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Pretty amazing that she looks that happy after that many hours of travel.</div><div>Here are just a few more pictures from our time in the hotel with Hanna. You can see what a hoot she is...and that she loves her bath. I'll update with recent family pictures soon. For now, I better get to bed before the first "wake up call" comes. </div><div>That's my girl...you should hear the burp she let out after this! : )</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEoJiRrPfovhyGLqgS5dcG_BZB6akRFrHjePblHw2dbxH3fULST3jbTQc8jIuybwp_gX4TXUK5glPELUXZ1sh6AZQvVoZrAS7oqot5anhmdpCiVaHjhUJoLVxC_0lYAevxUHXGqIodJ93/s1600-h/20100114_1625.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430128069053967682" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEoJiRrPfovhyGLqgS5dcG_BZB6akRFrHjePblHw2dbxH3fULST3jbTQc8jIuybwp_gX4TXUK5glPELUXZ1sh6AZQvVoZrAS7oqot5anhmdpCiVaHjhUJoLVxC_0lYAevxUHXGqIodJ93/s320/20100114_1625.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBBqNhPgsd5pMVyGkJEOxbmcOupMa4TlZWRlPqUF0Xc_2D1Ppphp6gzFSHM366OBONWI0kJB5tYjONFsxWyN8XuMeUcUna9_aelA5YXpstIM9GbVWfJ8QyhMK3AwgWePQ2ITmkrTdrJo5/s1600-h/20100114_1622.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430128065131365778" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBBqNhPgsd5pMVyGkJEOxbmcOupMa4TlZWRlPqUF0Xc_2D1Ppphp6gzFSHM366OBONWI0kJB5tYjONFsxWyN8XuMeUcUna9_aelA5YXpstIM9GbVWfJ8QyhMK3AwgWePQ2ITmkrTdrJo5/s320/20100114_1622.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qWaPqF1jz2N7g5ZgwqWjIKOLRVxZ2B04hZLK6pPk6Cr-c9XROwMry6zZs4ktO_pry9-vEC-1eo3XCmkqaeLDeKNslFsi7ShcjfIhawJLOUzPEwqM5-gsp6BAJF1rwUuo6eIUIeoQwHvi/s1600-h/20100114_1618_(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430128061202269682" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qWaPqF1jz2N7g5ZgwqWjIKOLRVxZ2B04hZLK6pPk6Cr-c9XROwMry6zZs4ktO_pry9-vEC-1eo3XCmkqaeLDeKNslFsi7ShcjfIhawJLOUzPEwqM5-gsp6BAJF1rwUuo6eIUIeoQwHvi/s320/20100114_1618_(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-32464586135576464852010-01-16T19:34:00.003-05:002010-01-16T19:38:26.885-05:00Home! Exhausted. Blessed!Hey all,<br /><br />We made it home and had a wonderful homecoming. My dear friend, talented photographer, and fellow adoptive Mom, Tracie, shot us coming home at the airport and made this video today. She is awesome! Thanks to everyone who came out to welcome us home!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob79jbqMepc">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob79jbqMepc</a><br /><br />Many many thanks (not enough manys) to my angelic bestest friend, Dawn, and my amazing Mom for taking such great care of the kids while we were gone. We really just can't thank you enough or tell you how much we love you.<br /><br />I'll post more pictures when I am not completely sleep deprived ; - ) Hanna is out cold and I am about to join her.Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-22993413761863840442010-01-16T09:28:00.001-05:002010-01-16T09:30:01.590-05:00They made their flight home!WAHOOOOO! They will be home in about 2 hours! Yay!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Welcome home Hanna!!!!</span><br /></div><br />Signing off, TheresaEthioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-68359637907501031082010-01-16T08:54:00.000-05:002010-01-16T08:56:13.167-05:00Landed in DC!Theresa here...<br /><br />Stacy, Tom, and Hanna have landed in DC! However, their flight was an hour behind schedule so they are trying their best to make their next flight. We'll know soon whether they made it or not. Keep them in your prayers! This has been a looooong flight/journey home and they are ready to get back.Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-48939445228623710442010-01-15T21:17:00.003-05:002010-01-15T21:22:35.904-05:00They are coming home!It's Theresa here again...I got an email from Stacy today! They are in the air right now on their way back home from Ethiopia, and they are very excited to be coming home with Hanna and to get back to their other 3 precious children! Here is her update... (The email message doesn't seem to want to sit still so pardon the strange spacing below, haha):<br /><br />"Hanna is doing fantastic! She is so funny...silly and playful and very loving<br />with both of us already. Last night when I was trying to get her to sleep, she<br />just kept kissing my face all over. she'd turn my head from side to side and<br />kiss me over and over. I loved it! She's had a few meltdowns, but for the most<br />part, has already bonded very well with Tom and me. All of the staff at the<br />hotel want to hold her, but she only wants us....<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yay</span>! By the way, for all the<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">AGCI</span> people, the hotel is awesome! The food is great, the staff have been so<br />nice and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">accommodating</span>...we even have a workout facility and hairdryers. I'm<br />missing the other kids like crazy and can't wait to see how they all do when they<br />are all together. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Casa</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">de</span> Chaos is about to get even louder!"<br /><br />So far everything is on schedule, but the possible delay could happen in the morning, so I will update her blog if I hear of any delays from her. Let's keep them in our prayers that this long flight will whiz by and go very smoothly for them!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-29126592574525002032010-01-11T11:11:00.003-05:002010-01-11T12:32:12.227-05:00Update!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupEXAAQte9XaLVsn7aCm-iqCap6BfHFqwUzMFOEU6B9SFadJ8NgKTBn5XT0cEUQ9KCe2wwKJghFzpVGuydwLszgO0nFQIBqedj9pIuUw47KeveXgAqIUvykauowjcHLgavVsu9Mn99-X8/s1600-h/Hanna.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupEXAAQte9XaLVsn7aCm-iqCap6BfHFqwUzMFOEU6B9SFadJ8NgKTBn5XT0cEUQ9KCe2wwKJghFzpVGuydwLszgO0nFQIBqedj9pIuUw47KeveXgAqIUvykauowjcHLgavVsu9Mn99-X8/s320/Hanna.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425536242648899330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdeOhOpA3FLkbUz287ShrQZ6CAiQItyUJE0dNx5b18gbE1v9ZhxqUC7oiQyW8wIYru3Ntu8nGwJXN3kuzRtuvnwZqdMW_tibi9jYZ5cHLQZfyLAtlJADQJS9qh0r8sNExPiXJhMFFnb9u/s1600-h/Hanna+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdeOhOpA3FLkbUz287ShrQZ6CAiQItyUJE0dNx5b18gbE1v9ZhxqUC7oiQyW8wIYru3Ntu8nGwJXN3kuzRtuvnwZqdMW_tibi9jYZ5cHLQZfyLAtlJADQJS9qh0r8sNExPiXJhMFFnb9u/s320/Hanna+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425536228561177954" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here she is!!!!<br /><br />Hey everyone! This is Theresa, a friend of the family.<br /><br />I got a call this morning from Stacy, but it was actually 5pm on Monday in Ethiopia. They said that the flight to Ethiopia was long and that they didn't get much rest, but they have been having an amazing time in Ethiopia! They met Hanna yesterday and she walked right over to them while holding the hand of her special nanny. I can tell that they are already smitten by sweet Hanna. While talking to me, Stacy was laughing at how Hanna kept going over to Tom and giving him kisses! They said that she is spunky, silly, stubborn and very sweet. She is sleeping and eating very well. They love their hotel and the new Hannah's Hope. They had their Embassy appointment this morning and it went smoothly. The travel group of 10 families is meshing so well and they are having a great time. Tomorrow they are going to do some shopping and they feel that Hanna will do just fine hanging out at Hannah's Hope while they shop. Stacy said that Hanna is definitely a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">momma's</span> girl and loves to be held by Stacy...but she is really warming up to Tom, with kisses and playing with him. Stacy said that she thinks that Hanna is going to fit right in with the family. The special nannies at Hannah's Hope remember L, who was the first child adopted from Hannah's Hope Ethiopia, and they have been kissing her picture that Stacy and Tom brought to show them. Their update made my day! And I know you guys were anxious to hear about them. All is well!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-82293634428144773432010-01-06T10:40:00.007-05:002010-01-06T10:57:25.183-05:00Christmas Pics and Travel news...The boys were just a "little" excited about getting to open presents on Christmas Eve. We went out for an early Mexican feast and then to the candellight service at church, so by the time we got home and "jammied-up" they were pretty wound up.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ys3J5uiARqNAhXT-jz6lS9Orlerxb42BVu0OHmec14tkwUblSe-JJkRNNJfWNs8li_guJJi-Uwyflrul1UkVV_WjWtMVJYK2gTGPiMZN7L3hvqhu8g6wWfHMVGXYLP7e8ZL68lBgN4GR/s1600-h/crazy+excited+boys.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423653062831514114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ys3J5uiARqNAhXT-jz6lS9Orlerxb42BVu0OHmec14tkwUblSe-JJkRNNJfWNs8li_guJJi-Uwyflrul1UkVV_WjWtMVJYK2gTGPiMZN7L3hvqhu8g6wWfHMVGXYLP7e8ZL68lBgN4GR/s320/crazy+excited+boys.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>The CHRISTmas de Chaos was really lovely, and really not too chaotic. My Mom went to Florida to spend the holidays with my sister, and most of the rest of our family was here for Thanksgiving, so it was just the five of us, laying around in our jammies, enjoying way too much food and playing with new toys. The kids really had a nice Christmas and Santa was good to them too.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErs6j6AJEId0TcbvrO7MUiE7ajEW5VPbcSKeoHjFT_PQ97yI5ggUG9PBMRudRkUlAIlE-8UC45xDlR1oR8IZ7D-LI5-aAosA-Bjg0-EJp5GsYo9O5cXmLakUT4ADnWvqNxyzAMiYj-QMe/s1600-h/3+kids+easel+excited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423653057020002018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErs6j6AJEId0TcbvrO7MUiE7ajEW5VPbcSKeoHjFT_PQ97yI5ggUG9PBMRudRkUlAIlE-8UC45xDlR1oR8IZ7D-LI5-aAosA-Bjg0-EJp5GsYo9O5cXmLakUT4ADnWvqNxyzAMiYj-QMe/s320/3+kids+easel+excited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>J2 was so excited that Santa brought him an art easel. He loves to color and paint and draw...definitely one of his favorite gifts.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gi7wLYYlk56Ij4VDgPkUwo1_Ozcg3u4sZPp7Tw_cD5Nq_gbDa67ER_VJRmRKlqDcyeC5w22W3RMuAP3DPCPkGEgnTIJAImyULgFb9vwJ1QsBMH4vfBdJu6ZrmpUz5sLs9MWL6ZDFTvFx/s1600-h/Jesse+Xmas+easel.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423653062395144098" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8gi7wLYYlk56Ij4VDgPkUwo1_Ozcg3u4sZPp7Tw_cD5Nq_gbDa67ER_VJRmRKlqDcyeC5w22W3RMuAP3DPCPkGEgnTIJAImyULgFb9vwJ1QsBMH4vfBdJu6ZrmpUz5sLs9MWL6ZDFTvFx/s320/Jesse+Xmas+easel.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>L, or course, got lots of "Cars" stuff.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvftlLeR7jt5mAnQlmrOd3jnof4FnshhzagRyCfOlOQ-ykrc9F0FkwZDXdIwUrka0CkrhD3RCBlRt2AKsNfB_Y_S2TuEi6a3ZsBRS6ODpHh9JBWyahEMT0-plQOwJFh8lqaAyc8cVaL1E/s1600-h/Three+kids+look+at+present.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423653069758156578" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvftlLeR7jt5mAnQlmrOd3jnof4FnshhzagRyCfOlOQ-ykrc9F0FkwZDXdIwUrka0CkrhD3RCBlRt2AKsNfB_Y_S2TuEi6a3ZsBRS6ODpHh9JBWyahEMT0-plQOwJFh8lqaAyc8cVaL1E/s320/Three+kids+look+at+present.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7MjECBuoo0imgiTluLkpbqJKzUNlfRAb76MEbJa67sYMZhKbuptkTs3h-_63RS-pGg5SLQUcOi8w8hM4sgfaQCa1OsvYW2jxC0gsQ9hpYIw9GhQ5cyrmQwuVgFCohHOyZqBBKMGx1Yqo/s1600-h/Liyah+w+car.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423654736218633842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7MjECBuoo0imgiTluLkpbqJKzUNlfRAb76MEbJa67sYMZhKbuptkTs3h-_63RS-pGg5SLQUcOi8w8hM4sgfaQCa1OsvYW2jxC0gsQ9hpYIw9GhQ5cyrmQwuVgFCohHOyZqBBKMGx1Yqo/s320/Liyah+w+car.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>And J1 was attacked by a giant squid...that came with their pirate ship...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0wQe7novr2OIBnFgthr1BvLcRrxv7a7_D9blsHW-Jj9GCfo7gO0BnbY8HJ5iN84kH6NTiorW6cAZRhSu6-4XzyW9gmj5xF61hjetDhsr9sfAgJLPGqBuYW8z7XwQeb8QECU5CGQLCyTN/s1600-h/Jacob+squid.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423654733791221602" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0wQe7novr2OIBnFgthr1BvLcRrxv7a7_D9blsHW-Jj9GCfo7gO0BnbY8HJ5iN84kH6NTiorW6cAZRhSu6-4XzyW9gmj5xF61hjetDhsr9sfAgJLPGqBuYW8z7XwQeb8QECU5CGQLCyTN/s320/Jacob+squid.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I have to say that I was quite proud of all of them for being happy for each other's gifts and for sharing all of their gifts so well. Now, if we could just get that "cleaning up" part down...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YOAUlm5dbNgD7ZkmNCoqRuHSFPPVzHkcZSVeIfbDzgsxiEIFHJSgCIN_7FYyc2skHE1KpFx6bH8o2AuISBskEG3y34zjSC3MCoxnit-qNDc5K5xBUUYtUfuY7HWYVcH0f5IKmM7gb4k0/s1600-h/three+kids+presents.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423654738794538594" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YOAUlm5dbNgD7ZkmNCoqRuHSFPPVzHkcZSVeIfbDzgsxiEIFHJSgCIN_7FYyc2skHE1KpFx6bH8o2AuISBskEG3y34zjSC3MCoxnit-qNDc5K5xBUUYtUfuY7HWYVcH0f5IKmM7gb4k0/s320/three+kids+presents.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>ADOPTION TRAVEL UPDATE:</div><div>Mommy and Daddy leave very early Friday, Jan 8th for Ethiopia. We are all soooo excited to bring H home finally. We will arrive in Addis on Jan 9th and hold her for the first time on the 10th. My friend, T, will be updating the blog if I can get through to her by phone or e-mail (sometimes tricky over there), so stay tuned. I hope to see many of you at the airport when we return on the 16th, but be sure to check here for any changes to our travel plans. We love you all and thank you so much for your prayers and support as we welcome a new daughter into our family. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-75305300619951338722009-12-22T13:41:00.002-05:002009-12-22T13:45:17.908-05:00TICKETS BOOKED!!! Ethiopia here we come...Just got official word on our travel dates and booked our flights. We will fly to Ethiopia on the 8th of January, arrive on the 9th (after a very very very long flight), and hold our sweet girl on the 10th! I am so excited...just a few short weeks away! We will return on January 16th at 11:38 and would LOVE for everyone to come out to the airport to meet our newest family member. Just please remember to meet down in the baggage claim so that our kids and Grandma can meet their new sister and Granddaughter first. Thank you all so much! God is good!!!!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-47346850177285183372009-12-22T10:09:00.010-05:002009-12-22T10:30:44.579-05:00It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Chaos!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HppZ0uRbPcPdGPz7VKL1a029VzmP0KN7WevP1EkufWi027J_1LlgYcSMTP5nTKIvLwKzIERz5ouRAPZ4nVfkXUqOthNheuG6vYgaCqmhzTad5_nn-m3Uk-7C9nmyYkfc0yWClGKUdYHN/s1600-h/kids+looking+out+window.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418078897540557506" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9HppZ0uRbPcPdGPz7VKL1a029VzmP0KN7WevP1EkufWi027J_1LlgYcSMTP5nTKIvLwKzIERz5ouRAPZ4nVfkXUqOthNheuG6vYgaCqmhzTad5_nn-m3Uk-7C9nmyYkfc0yWClGKUdYHN/s320/kids+looking+out+window.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wi65g6RWLU8HPlz034Lh6v2RGyInlkYPIGTWIsLpaVpCnAEzzODuXpDPWplDkEXmFzrY1ADIILmS5G9S-U3zm08Eao5KcDPeMEronNY3zPSD06hEmJpkvOt2GS7qoSCIP7zjFnbFPYfh/s1600-h/House+front+snow.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418078904668516306" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wi65g6RWLU8HPlz034Lh6v2RGyInlkYPIGTWIsLpaVpCnAEzzODuXpDPWplDkEXmFzrY1ADIILmS5G9S-U3zm08Eao5KcDPeMEronNY3zPSD06hEmJpkvOt2GS7qoSCIP7zjFnbFPYfh/s320/House+front+snow.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div>Tis the season for sugar-hyped, gift-wanting, Christmas-crazed kiddos at the Casa de Chaos! We are having so much fun and are so excited for Christmas to be here. Just a few weeks ago we actually got some snow! Not much, but the kids had a blast playing outside...until it melted about an hour later : )</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN7J9HxZJcMeBC6RpzSLR0cXkAPHgE-qY2xGPeJLiZttSPKAyBx2w0YtNQkI7TccyEVPxxzVWzGKbEwlCR4p4g1g0v3paOQQsUSV2HJ8ckAe0endiVZFZr903D52DH4fSKszZwPkW0O9J/s1600-h/3+kids+snow.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418078884429787234" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN7J9HxZJcMeBC6RpzSLR0cXkAPHgE-qY2xGPeJLiZttSPKAyBx2w0YtNQkI7TccyEVPxxzVWzGKbEwlCR4p4g1g0v3paOQQsUSV2HJ8ckAe0endiVZFZr903D52DH4fSKszZwPkW0O9J/s320/3+kids+snow.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>We also had to have our traditional Christmas cookie making and decorating day...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk_vTM95X2YcR5zzLweeiulFeAjey5f4cSGTr1FRPSbxMj6i-3xq1Dq_QmYtBV3fNA9UA41HA2VH-6RH0zwB_ggNt7iZ_QHXSyjG08IfD0shRGHsCfflXhyphenhyphenE-uY1Hg8jgWeNr55zoCgKO/s1600-h/Boys+dough.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079685242120370" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrk_vTM95X2YcR5zzLweeiulFeAjey5f4cSGTr1FRPSbxMj6i-3xq1Dq_QmYtBV3fNA9UA41HA2VH-6RH0zwB_ggNt7iZ_QHXSyjG08IfD0shRGHsCfflXhyphenhyphenE-uY1Hg8jgWeNr55zoCgKO/s320/Boys+dough.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvlj9k4IeFlnlxsnU5Tl2nkfNrRkKjHU83Ho9HwRnnak0-Jt4UwRFipcnL5dmBbRCrtoNTnkS_dnBeXdaSdUdwzT7JizrrOY05nloDfLlQgMtWBzjvbC4FStt5P9XNHR_VgGf1aOTnccL/s1600-h/Liyah+roll+dough.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079692935357186" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvlj9k4IeFlnlxsnU5Tl2nkfNrRkKjHU83Ho9HwRnnak0-Jt4UwRFipcnL5dmBbRCrtoNTnkS_dnBeXdaSdUdwzT7JizrrOY05nloDfLlQgMtWBzjvbC4FStt5P9XNHR_VgGf1aOTnccL/s320/Liyah+roll+dough.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qW3zfW3IXCqX8SgpV4ArjfBarXDrO0MKMXdF2IpNUPSHSk_4VSAgrv9RHnYrVclhs0jRoEGULLgT5niiZhEWvlKAid8rZlYvSPA8j0vw_ehLjf2_0_pe197uovlfS4RMUGE1PbO8V6ev/s1600-h/Jacob+Dad+flour.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079690138288754" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qW3zfW3IXCqX8SgpV4ArjfBarXDrO0MKMXdF2IpNUPSHSk_4VSAgrv9RHnYrVclhs0jRoEGULLgT5niiZhEWvlKAid8rZlYvSPA8j0vw_ehLjf2_0_pe197uovlfS4RMUGE1PbO8V6ev/s320/Jacob+Dad+flour.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgWSPAIzjfIGtSbcd0omB1YKKoNz9E6y4TO-BXE8KdGhfu7gTYREigpTLT8lwsv2QBlchMiC6T3aYtSiuMHgzIXTPMnmB7dOiXDzH9MMQZoH4ZqdDs8mcmI3dN-RiP8f-QKXG4gj7I8uo/s1600-h/Liyah+Jess+decorate.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079695189969138" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgWSPAIzjfIGtSbcd0omB1YKKoNz9E6y4TO-BXE8KdGhfu7gTYREigpTLT8lwsv2QBlchMiC6T3aYtSiuMHgzIXTPMnmB7dOiXDzH9MMQZoH4ZqdDs8mcmI3dN-RiP8f-QKXG4gj7I8uo/s320/Liyah+Jess+decorate.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, for L a few sprinkles just won't do...<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0gMtBUkns6-clPwC9zEDZ2WhqeD3_I9xZTFENQz-1rnnDB3i3eIX4fXl5TTnH-liFAtWqXDWdug2iCr1cobZNFjWdm26_MNxNMeB7Rc32uuhXGwUGl121VeX1DiEp6-2Tgglo7yi79at/s1600-h/Liyah+lots+of+sprinkles.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418079699192759282" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0gMtBUkns6-clPwC9zEDZ2WhqeD3_I9xZTFENQz-1rnnDB3i3eIX4fXl5TTnH-liFAtWqXDWdug2iCr1cobZNFjWdm26_MNxNMeB7Rc32uuhXGwUGl121VeX1DiEp6-2Tgglo7yi79at/s320/Liyah+lots+of+sprinkles.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzr39dP1LngDam3X36F0ZgnEBvqRbk_Dbm7pSR2PgyKjlokzXRdCWOZaAhUqlc2s8fO2_5KHoAekNz5EplTeef0vqH-WwCTtmbCsbMbEMwSqA6X3QQN9yQuAj5992WgG4UmcK_RLfxzG0/s1600-h/Liyahs+cookies.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418080468147174882" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzr39dP1LngDam3X36F0ZgnEBvqRbk_Dbm7pSR2PgyKjlokzXRdCWOZaAhUqlc2s8fO2_5KHoAekNz5EplTeef0vqH-WwCTtmbCsbMbEMwSqA6X3QQN9yQuAj5992WgG4UmcK_RLfxzG0/s320/Liyahs+cookies.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Pretty proud of their mess...um, I mean beautifully decorated cookies! We will have to save a few for Santa though : )</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH0p4fR9YxAFp8IyRizWYvkshE7rN3RVyJ8v7_7WxjOX2KsO8o-zE6i5jZ4obEbkO_uE0X3UqaYf0fXNb5oK__c5sOXsnEiLmCzk_KMQYIYVO03FEtGmthYG0Awg-ppn9TjdWiJNXDbEq/s1600-h/Kids+cookies+too+much+sugar.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418080476002558114" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhH0p4fR9YxAFp8IyRizWYvkshE7rN3RVyJ8v7_7WxjOX2KsO8o-zE6i5jZ4obEbkO_uE0X3UqaYf0fXNb5oK__c5sOXsnEiLmCzk_KMQYIYVO03FEtGmthYG0Awg-ppn9TjdWiJNXDbEq/s320/Kids+cookies+too+much+sugar.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>And of course, we are trying to stay focused on the true meaning of CHRISTmas...the birth of our dear Lord and Savior! We are just so amazingly blessed! And ,this Christmas, we are thrilled to add a new sister to the family...even if we don't get to bring her home until January. Thanks Grandma Bonnie for the new family ornament...we love it! Merry Christmas to all and may you have a blessed New Year!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4UL4RQ-3qEkGVOF7zg0Q4UwSUF3yUPeEL6redXt1qeY-4eJuKKW5Edue6OhXObJIXzR-EVIitdxQMNlYZMmkiElHn7QRWrpNsBmu8Mmiob11e43dQQCvyyaUUDEJpCQbmdg8VNZyWhcn/s1600-h/09+Ornament.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418081802836351314" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4UL4RQ-3qEkGVOF7zg0Q4UwSUF3yUPeEL6redXt1qeY-4eJuKKW5Edue6OhXObJIXzR-EVIitdxQMNlYZMmkiElHn7QRWrpNsBmu8Mmiob11e43dQQCvyyaUUDEJpCQbmdg8VNZyWhcn/s320/09+Ornament.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-36453478768163070322009-12-10T13:36:00.002-05:002009-12-10T13:40:10.972-05:00She's OURS!!!!Yipppeeeee!!!! She is ours!!!! We just got word that little H is now offically our daughter!!! Now, we wait for the U.S. Embassy to give us a date to travel to bring her home. I am on cloud 9!!!!! Thank you God!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-51882198351224296482009-12-07T15:34:00.009-05:002009-12-07T19:43:24.882-05:00Can I have a little cheese with my whine?So, I have to admit that I have been a bit depressed, anxious and in a bit of a funk for the last couple of weeks. While I am THRILLED for all of the families passing court, travelling and bringing home their children, I must admit that selfishly, it hurts too. I know that anyone who's ever been there knows what I mean. This is our fourth adoption and we've been on both ends of this rope...getting lucky through the process, while others wait...having to redo documents while others breezed through the process...been there, done that. It never gets any easier, but it really is soooooooo worth it!<br />Now, our second court date is this Thursday, the 10th in Ethiopia...well, actually Wednesday night as we sleep; and I am just so nervous. I do trust God and His timing, but I am truly scared that one stupid little piece of paperwork will keep us from passing and then we'll have to wait another month for our next courtdate to find that that one stupid piece of paperwork is still not there. I'm not normally one to mire myself down in negative thoughts, I just MISS MY GIRL and I want to be with her. Seeing the videos my friends John and Theresa took of her were such a blessing, but it definitely makes it that much harder to wait to hold her and look into her sweet face.<br />I am hopeful that we will pass this week...and bracing myself to not be totally devastated if we don't. I would appreciate any prayers on our behalf...especially for my poor husband, who has to deal with me. Let's hope second time's the charm!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-66054089510507823602009-12-02T10:42:00.008-05:002009-12-02T15:48:57.435-05:00Adoption Roller Coaster...AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!Adoption is not for the faint of heart. It's a roller coaster ride...up...down....way up...way down fast....SCREAM!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a bumpy journey, for sure...but well worth the ride. As I type this, we await our second court date next Thursday. Yesterday, my dear friends, John and Theresa, who just returned from Ethiopia with their new daughter, somehow found the time to not only send me several pictures of our "H', but also made me a little music video, complete with several shots of my girl on video. Talk about cloud 9! I laughed and cried and ached to hold her, but wow, did getting a video of her make my day!<br />Later that same day...SCREACHING HALT! Followed by superfast downhill ride..!!!!..AHHHH. We found out that three other families who did not pass their first time either, did not pass their second time in court. They didn't pass the first time for the same reason we didn't pass...so naturally, I freaked out thinking the same thing will happen to us. Last time we were missing a letter....so five weeks later, could we still be missing the same letter? Of course, I immediately called our case worker and asked if they knew for sure that it was there, but we are dealing with foreign courts so sometimes they can't find these things out until we don't pass court again. AHHHHHHHH!!!! We saw her gorgeous face for the first time on August 24th...it's been way too long...I want my baby home! Mommy meltdown!!!!<br />And, then once again....God gave me His peace...the peace that surpasses all understanding. My favorite verse..."Trust in the Lord with all your heart...lean not on your own understanding..." Proverbs 3:5, came to mind. And, sure enough my morning devotional was none other than that very verse, coupled with a very wonderful reminder of God's perfect timing and control. How can I complain? God has blessed me with three, and soon four of the most amazing children, through adoption...and he made me a sister in Christ. adopted into God's family by Jesus. Amazing! So, I'm climbing back into the seat, lowering the bar, buckling the seatbelt and hanging on for the next part of this crazy ride. Please continue to pray for all of the families who are experiencing delays in their process and for these silly court things to be resolved. Today, I am also choosing to be grateful to God and to the amazing birthmothers and birthfathers that have allowed me to become a Mommy. Hanging on and hoping for the best....Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-30813696153532407592009-11-12T16:04:00.005-05:002009-11-12T16:36:19.718-05:00Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqLXYpGdm5Q6X5kMh-Tz3JyEnNA5nMjtURWaLAGUgpDMiNVJb_GjTci-WV11sBQtaDOQvWpQQaZB4IUHBYt6oN43b7UgsuJu8rnZ02jou4nfLtTRbRBD4Q76OiG3nBcKVpPAAq3o1RqYA/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+052.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403333884892082354" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqLXYpGdm5Q6X5kMh-Tz3JyEnNA5nMjtURWaLAGUgpDMiNVJb_GjTci-WV11sBQtaDOQvWpQQaZB4IUHBYt6oN43b7UgsuJu8rnZ02jou4nfLtTRbRBD4Q76OiG3nBcKVpPAAq3o1RqYA/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+052.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCb0fBN9ktwDRjT64uOyGY1uoWgjIdGMqf4FL3KvRAxElSz3MKHagGuOu0A2PH8sxN56TC5zUltkcnQWjxyRIiU_VV3LRUXUyTsC_CxPZ9xE-JKhGMfcyVLImllHMTGTeWvxVP0m0qJ4M/s1600-h/Daddy+and+Liyah.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403333882472908018" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCb0fBN9ktwDRjT64uOyGY1uoWgjIdGMqf4FL3KvRAxElSz3MKHagGuOu0A2PH8sxN56TC5zUltkcnQWjxyRIiU_VV3LRUXUyTsC_CxPZ9xE-JKhGMfcyVLImllHMTGTeWvxVP0m0qJ4M/s320/Daddy+and+Liyah.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Today, my "baby" girl turns 3! I can't believe she's already 3...even though she looks like she's closer to 5 : ) We will go out for Mexican food tonight and have a small neighborhood pizza party on Sunday.</div><div>3 things (there are so many) that I love about my feisty girl:<br /></div><div>1) Always happy, always dancing or hopping around wherever she goes.</div><div>2) So sweet...loves to give hugs and kisses. I love it most when she grabs your face and really plants one on ya!</div><div>3)Miss Independent! This can be good and bad, but I love that I don't worry that she will have a lot of confidence. Daddy and I laugh that we will have to "warn" her dates, not worry that they will prey on her : )</div><div>I also have to add that she is sooooo excited to be a big sister. She is always telling me how she will hold "H" and hug her and she won't let anyone sleep in "H's" bed. I love it! I know they will be the best of friends!</div><br /><div><strong>Adoption Update:</strong> I was very relieved to hear that "H's" birthfather DID make the court appointment and was able to confirm her relinquishment. I am sooo happy to know that he probably got to go see her and was given the letter we wrote him and the photo album we made of our family. We didn't pass court because of a missing document (from the Ethiopian government), that should be in place for our December 10th appointment. So, if all goes well, we are looking at late January to bring her home. Keep those prayers coming! Thank you to all of our amazing friends and family for your support and prayers, and thank you God for giving me the peace of knowing that you are NEVER one nano-second too early or too late. YOUR timing is perfect!!!</div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-89525113977495506432009-11-11T16:24:00.001-05:002009-11-11T16:28:22.838-05:00We Didn't pass court...now what? : (We found out today that unfortunately, we did not pass court in Ethiopia on Monday. I still don't know why...our agency is trying to find out, but I suspect that maybe H's birthfather could not make it the 8 hours to Addis Ababa for our appointment. We have been rescheduled for December 10th...a LONG way off for me. I'm so heartbroken, but I know that God is in control and that He has the plan...not me! Please pray that all will work out...we obviously won't have her home for the holidays, but we will have many more holidays to spend with her, God willing.Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-35233634645634138222009-11-09T16:30:00.008-05:002009-11-09T16:46:06.955-05:00No News...but New Floors!<div><div><div><div><div><div><div>Well, our court date was today in Ethiopia, but it may be a few days before we find out whether or not we passed. If we passed, we will most likely travel at the end of December. I have to admit that I am pretty disappointed...I was really wanting to have our newest daughter home for Christmas, but I have to remember...not MY timing! I'm praying to hear about court soon and still hoping for earlier travel, but not much I can do at this point, but enjoy the holidays with my family and love on all my crazy babies here!</div><div>Last weekend was a very busy and extremely exhausting one for us. T and I decided to rip out our nasty old carpet and put down hardwood floors on our mainfloor. Yes, I am doing some SERIOUS nesting! Anyway, we recruited some amazing friends to help, but it turned out to be a much bigger job than we originally thought. After ripping up the carpet and somewhere close to a GAZILLION staples and nails, we discovered that we were going to have to replace a couple of places on our floor that had water damage before we could even begin to seal and lay the floor. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3-kU0LP8PZjW9lamqogFJsuy78V7enCX4DxgDPxhIpSNtIR9kCnyoDkAmHw5jdo5t2FNXF9qHoBbzEN6_Ma-3lA8iDojt0-4zblBOu0nzqtXh_VdxpTUmg3uz0dbzLrTOjyDoTlb1foK/s1600-h/November+Floors+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402221702949668866" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3-kU0LP8PZjW9lamqogFJsuy78V7enCX4DxgDPxhIpSNtIR9kCnyoDkAmHw5jdo5t2FNXF9qHoBbzEN6_Ma-3lA8iDojt0-4zblBOu0nzqtXh_VdxpTUmg3uz0dbzLrTOjyDoTlb1foK/s320/November+Floors+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp4nBTlL_HsrBTQaDtoU1igAFAZge1uj89GmqO9UtHHUSfU4DfUMWDEiQ6N25lLqkJG7C00evtfkjdpD04reBhGD_kkyeUlOpb4-kbFnH9_9ziIL-INubbV7LDDOOVHLKrF0PkZ1SYzH_/s1600-h/November+Floors+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402221708329514578" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmp4nBTlL_HsrBTQaDtoU1igAFAZge1uj89GmqO9UtHHUSfU4DfUMWDEiQ6N25lLqkJG7C00evtfkjdpD04reBhGD_kkyeUlOpb4-kbFnH9_9ziIL-INubbV7LDDOOVHLKrF0PkZ1SYzH_/s320/November+Floors+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CPV86GZ5KmRZ8HqyObE9s5KwvJXeCWZtbtkWM1cjP20lf7Dk7dgmmtZTs8ZwsXZFSNhxNrkV5Um46VXg_aSAmH1aCCDHe-CKJM-kSOH1ypPx43EYN___xKgCgbnITluFDtQaeKHFw9N7/s1600-h/November+Floors+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402221717856202386" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CPV86GZ5KmRZ8HqyObE9s5KwvJXeCWZtbtkWM1cjP20lf7Dk7dgmmtZTs8ZwsXZFSNhxNrkV5Um46VXg_aSAmH1aCCDHe-CKJM-kSOH1ypPx43EYN___xKgCgbnITluFDtQaeKHFw9N7/s320/November+Floors+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoRiVkttAoJq4Ygx3C_iHTCR8Mp4K2uHS0aPp8kKMlgGDJ-2QQBFh9ryMEBRZXtlizBmguX7N6FUhCKIG-pCy1unoMJTRThpujTmEargaiK7HhDjfp0g0hjwG9ndFvHxb0lV3duxW1Srq/s1600-h/November+Floors+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402221723589501938" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoRiVkttAoJq4Ygx3C_iHTCR8Mp4K2uHS0aPp8kKMlgGDJ-2QQBFh9ryMEBRZXtlizBmguX7N6FUhCKIG-pCy1unoMJTRThpujTmEargaiK7HhDjfp0g0hjwG9ndFvHxb0lV3duxW1Srq/s320/November+Floors+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Bummer! But, at least now we have decent and non-rotting floors in our house...yay! Thank you God for our friend, Will, who is a true "artist" with woodworking and carpentry. Without his know-how and drive, we would be laying floor for months. Our friend, Paul, was also kind enough to come and help us lay the flooring. As it was, we were able to finish it by late Sunday night and it is BEAUTIFUL! </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSCEQ7_9NpnpJyrZ5mfLksKRMsz_0IdBsIa9UHvc3idi5QDP6yiYBzYE1tFZONttLjIdSp19rYpjXCiosnmG_KjyeXNNti7YOvEAxsk0TK5qkSaehxQ1L5yCcOeDNNWCwamEJ_cKtwLGC/s1600-h/November+Floors+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402222782372085298" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSCEQ7_9NpnpJyrZ5mfLksKRMsz_0IdBsIa9UHvc3idi5QDP6yiYBzYE1tFZONttLjIdSp19rYpjXCiosnmG_KjyeXNNti7YOvEAxsk0TK5qkSaehxQ1L5yCcOeDNNWCwamEJ_cKtwLGC/s320/November+Floors+019.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-fqxfY-RaCiVLg3qPKA0pGoNLE8z4hK8bhUH-vJV1mZwe4ZUzmWQUUml01vCKbUJN7lsWJGlidVW5SpL5ZHhNQl-klswz7alL8n5OMumKY_RosAIQO_sf9wzFJbfZ3CwDW1dGixenUxC/s1600-h/November+Floors+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402222794543879778" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-fqxfY-RaCiVLg3qPKA0pGoNLE8z4hK8bhUH-vJV1mZwe4ZUzmWQUUml01vCKbUJN7lsWJGlidVW5SpL5ZHhNQl-klswz7alL8n5OMumKY_RosAIQO_sf9wzFJbfZ3CwDW1dGixenUxC/s320/November+Floors+026.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeck8xDyHqH-72OH9p7-XZ9Jp_fdNh2xSfTddWWEkNHVAw9qLz_kS2IdV1tinC7W7JFgS9pyyR8e0XgGDYqDUmKeRTya_eVJpaV0ReQ5cBOpfpVkEM0GfKAuTHRlbEKjPxgtxYTa-05bJ/s1600-h/November+Floors+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402222797982379394" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeck8xDyHqH-72OH9p7-XZ9Jp_fdNh2xSfTddWWEkNHVAw9qLz_kS2IdV1tinC7W7JFgS9pyyR8e0XgGDYqDUmKeRTya_eVJpaV0ReQ5cBOpfpVkEM0GfKAuTHRlbEKjPxgtxYTa-05bJ/s320/November+Floors+028.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>I'll post more pictures once I can polish it and get all the furniture back where it belongs. I am just thrilled with the floors, but I have to say, this is probably the sorest I have ever been! I have a whole new respect for people that do this kind of work every day. </div>Please continue to pray for us and for our sweet girl in Ethiopia as we wait (impatiently) and put our trust in the Lord to bring her home to us soon.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-74202328712514846682009-11-04T15:20:00.007-05:002009-11-04T15:36:55.819-05:00October Pumkins and Ghouls!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7qb6aduNeXsd8ISgrnu_FRpeK8YuJe5ILEM1AtSFxiCd5YkySShQxiKixulGdPG3CUvOv1GDfFeJfPFx7RoVdjv1ISrjEpFIY4AIHDdxzVEhFrr4Qm1u39s7OO_ZpedRqSf1uuV5GVLJ/s1600-h/Mom+and+kids+sign.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348837805121346" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7qb6aduNeXsd8ISgrnu_FRpeK8YuJe5ILEM1AtSFxiCd5YkySShQxiKixulGdPG3CUvOv1GDfFeJfPFx7RoVdjv1ISrjEpFIY4AIHDdxzVEhFrr4Qm1u39s7OO_ZpedRqSf1uuV5GVLJ/s320/Mom+and+kids+sign.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>The Casa de Chaos is always rockin' and this month has been exceptionally crazy. I do love the fall though...especially here in East Tennessee...just breathtaking! Wanted to catch up on some activities and show off my adorable little ghoulies! The Pumpkin patch is always one of my favorite fall activities. We all had a great time and hauled back five pumpkins and a car-load of tired people!</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfR9Pq0gCOvpYp2cx9cE-MOhSs0Ca4okc0q_OLzTT38seBjYj3LTxPGGOvA4lbyX3-xGxGq01NTbZctigBB71EP_wxYCaeixTYXogAi35xCXJkma0AqYL8PTledQoP5KIsksBJvVQsxgk/s1600-h/20091025_0854.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400347506711101234" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfR9Pq0gCOvpYp2cx9cE-MOhSs0Ca4okc0q_OLzTT38seBjYj3LTxPGGOvA4lbyX3-xGxGq01NTbZctigBB71EP_wxYCaeixTYXogAi35xCXJkma0AqYL8PTledQoP5KIsksBJvVQsxgk/s320/20091025_0854.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_6fFKZFC6iKixkQamLYCKgne3FN0O4XZVtsFqkTsYSB8MNbyAORfZxp3Dj9JcyAeXxxdlu-YjL504AEetZeA7Rob4ko3pStb9O0peeaRt32f_w211pzud7mRuW_Cwb7fo6xCRUntousu/s1600-h/20091025_0855.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400347507532866674" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_6fFKZFC6iKixkQamLYCKgne3FN0O4XZVtsFqkTsYSB8MNbyAORfZxp3Dj9JcyAeXxxdlu-YjL504AEetZeA7Rob4ko3pStb9O0peeaRt32f_w211pzud7mRuW_Cwb7fo6xCRUntousu/s320/20091025_0855.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXTO3PAk1Q7_6jeGun7Fj4Y1XaJpTDVJzYOqAv6hmTjlisNz4SxnKzfb0a9oAm0BIwnKbk6w5ks1qdkSKU6l9o0uLErYF6c3b18xSRMPfYZ6ndb2vEZSpPMDLl9jYXeEXhtt4Sko8i65l/s1600-h/Jesse+pumpkin.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400347514890276994" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDXTO3PAk1Q7_6jeGun7Fj4Y1XaJpTDVJzYOqAv6hmTjlisNz4SxnKzfb0a9oAm0BIwnKbk6w5ks1qdkSKU6l9o0uLErYF6c3b18xSRMPfYZ6ndb2vEZSpPMDLl9jYXeEXhtt4Sko8i65l/s320/Jesse+pumpkin.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-zkpbWyB-2oa1sPrqvQRLA_trAhPOQgnWEBiMwouZXby5LDNe69VhAjqLnE90GCfUFi-2RbLvB8stp0MI6ZAsGrD-T8D2Kzme7FagcBGA1wya_0jAjgqBFwpa1mNbA0n26ALKg8RCQfC/s1600-h/20091025_0861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400347514068226914" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-zkpbWyB-2oa1sPrqvQRLA_trAhPOQgnWEBiMwouZXby5LDNe69VhAjqLnE90GCfUFi-2RbLvB8stp0MI6ZAsGrD-T8D2Kzme7FagcBGA1wya_0jAjgqBFwpa1mNbA0n26ALKg8RCQfC/s320/20091025_0861.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And, then of course, we carved them and decorated for Halloween. This is the first year that J1 wanted to be something scary...not too horror-ble though. J2 chose to be "Dark" Vader, but I think he just chose that because he wanted to get a light "saver". L, ever my tom-boy (God love her) opted for Thomas the train, even though my Mom and I were leaning toward a lady bug or Tiana (the new disney princess). Maybe H will be a bit more of a girly girl, but then what will I do? : )<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2EEbqNnLQyx3g6aDrltp0C7aPOUp1ywKHiIiqB3eIO7OgsCEbfrwJEHzqz-7paWG57cI9_9GFsFbfOXLaj9q_wyL3eLyg3H8g9swcGgSS9BpEkVez5QtJ3y5NQrSSQnvYiyCqgjemieP/s1600-h/20091031_0928+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348823853606882" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2EEbqNnLQyx3g6aDrltp0C7aPOUp1ywKHiIiqB3eIO7OgsCEbfrwJEHzqz-7paWG57cI9_9GFsFbfOXLaj9q_wyL3eLyg3H8g9swcGgSS9BpEkVez5QtJ3y5NQrSSQnvYiyCqgjemieP/s320/20091031_0928+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxRT6CaY_EbGyjH6zVfAnOFoYu-5zGe4qapKbJFP8onL9td_5YqlcpNiwhTvHKYFYXwIonzL92T_znz4GK1_NTOUu2VynrQbIgWUaZrVkvJKrX9k5m78yTFGTWiKkSd5_ElfDNnzmoDYB/s1600-h/20091031_0925+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348828740123266" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxRT6CaY_EbGyjH6zVfAnOFoYu-5zGe4qapKbJFP8onL9td_5YqlcpNiwhTvHKYFYXwIonzL92T_znz4GK1_NTOUu2VynrQbIgWUaZrVkvJKrX9k5m78yTFGTWiKkSd5_ElfDNnzmoDYB/s320/20091031_0925+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Here's L with "Mr. Lazy Bones"...he never got up!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcAEva35F2PX3wuXBhviRl8IM_ohg9-JH34Fw6iUPVjS3_QiHpkAsYA3ryD74AgDhE_FxM50QOni9QemuN44c87je2UnRYnzav6WHoR_9sEvleLm0yNLICuL0Chd13_qS00wSKbioBhGm/s1600-h/20091031_0926+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400348830959553090" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhcAEva35F2PX3wuXBhviRl8IM_ohg9-JH34Fw6iUPVjS3_QiHpkAsYA3ryD74AgDhE_FxM50QOni9QemuN44c87je2UnRYnzav6WHoR_9sEvleLm0yNLICuL0Chd13_qS00wSKbioBhGm/s320/20091031_0926+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div>ADOPTION UPDATE:</div><div>Our Ethiopian court date is November 9th, but since Ethiopia is seven hours ahead of us, our court hearing will take place probably while we sleep (or try to sleep) on Sunday night. We do not go there for this court appointment, but we will hopefully find out early next week if we passed. If so, there is still a good chance we will have H home for Christmas. If not, I will definitely have some major boo hoos, but I trust in the Lord and His perfect timing. Of course, we will take all the prayer we can get, so thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to lift our family in prayer.<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-77838376293448376002009-10-22T14:02:00.002-04:002009-10-22T14:06:27.191-04:00FINALLY!!!! COURT DATE!!!!So after I finally chilled out and waited for God's hand on this...our case manager, Julie called me today to tell us that we have a court date. November 9th! Not as early as I'd hoped, but I totally trust God and His timing. Please pray for all to go well and for H's birthfather to be able to make the long trip to Addis Ababa for our court date. Pray also that he will have peace and know that we love and will take wonderful care of this amazing little girl. And, please pray that God is preparing all of our hearts for all the new adjustments and for our family of five to become a family of six!! God is so good...I have a very grateful heart today.Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-67529650501320888842009-10-12T09:26:00.005-04:002009-10-12T10:14:23.377-04:00C'mon Courts!!!!!Ok, so we are two weeks into October and still don't have our court date in Ethiopia. The courts were supposed to open last week (at least that's the rumor, no one seems to know for sure). We know a family who was supposed to have their court appointment last Friday night, but haven't heard yet if they passed or not. (Please be praying for them and for the East family, <a href="http://eastiesandcompany.blogspot.com/">http://eastiesandcompany.blogspot.com/</a>, who have their court appointment this Wednesday!) Several families who were scheduled for the first week of October were rescheduled into the third week of October, so although I'm still hoping and praying we will make it into October, the reality is that it will probably be November....and then hopefully travelling before Christmas.<br />The waiting is SOOOO hard. Even though we've been through this three times already, it never gets any easier to wait, especially when you have those huge brown eyes looking at you through pictures and those sweet little cheeks dying to be kissed, and those cute, dimpled little hands needing to be held. I think if we don't hear something this week, I will indeed go crazy. (ok, yeah, I'm already there, but I'll probably really start driving everyone else around me nuts too : )<br />What also makes this harder for me is that little "H" is already 18 months old and has already had so much loss and pain in her short little life. She recently was moved from the only home she had ever known eight hours North, where everything is different...especially the language. Soon, some strange people that look, smell and talk completely different will come and scoop her up and take her far, far away. I can only imagine how difficult that would be for a toddler, nearing two years old, who is in the stages of understanding what's different and fearing<br />all the new experiences. I thank God for the wonderful care she is getting and I pray that she is looking at our pictures that we sent her and understands that we will be her forever family soon. I pray that God is preparing her little heart for all the changes still to come and that he will fill her with peace and not fear. I am also so thankful that her little friend, Orange is with her now in Ethiopia and will be her friend here in Knoxville as well. How amazing is that?! At least she will have a familiar face here when she comes home. And, I especially thank God for my sweet childen, who are so excited to have their little sister come home and who I know will love on her and help her and let her know they are always here for her.<br />Please be praying for all the families and children who are in "process" and please pray that we will be able to bring our sweet girl home very soon. Thank you all for your prayers and support!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-66926978296444612172009-09-10T13:12:00.015-04:002009-09-14T08:28:18.714-04:00All About AugustYeah...I know it's September, but I've got all kinds of full-time working, busy-mama, crazy-woman excuses. Anyway, August was an amazing month at the Casa...with lots of activities, school starting, and of course...our referral of our new daughter! So, here's just a few pictures to catch everyone up on the chaos. Daddy and the boys spent one Saturday having "guy time" at Lowes. They got these nifty work aprons, goggles and each built a great little boat that we HAD to take to the swimming pool later that day to try out. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfPmKSn__oP5n0neFLSWWuI4_2K2mcuEj1v0K9FkqVDStNwzjs_SAaMwy4r9gtV2TxNRvLfm5qKDinBPDU-tKYwk1ZP8jITclDDKRT3yWvfH8KVINIx_ss0hZTgCSYoREUBtRz4GrXPFm/s1600-h/20090807_0688+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379888605929439442" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfPmKSn__oP5n0neFLSWWuI4_2K2mcuEj1v0K9FkqVDStNwzjs_SAaMwy4r9gtV2TxNRvLfm5qKDinBPDU-tKYwk1ZP8jITclDDKRT3yWvfH8KVINIx_ss0hZTgCSYoREUBtRz4GrXPFm/s320/20090807_0688+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntgJao5FNzHq1bWDQuMG5mgj8uxDAZK_onpQN7rRALNy-7dVG07BFKed7aoxb56uz3RVgLUDw6gQvnjq18_apUikhxM7cYklZnWQBpepeMpRDInZPM1YBzyRlhBhlTutUJhhhEbhgQMGO/s1600-h/20090807_0686.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379888631998942834" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntgJao5FNzHq1bWDQuMG5mgj8uxDAZK_onpQN7rRALNy-7dVG07BFKed7aoxb56uz3RVgLUDw6gQvnjq18_apUikhxM7cYklZnWQBpepeMpRDInZPM1YBzyRlhBhlTutUJhhhEbhgQMGO/s320/20090807_0686.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7ZWtEY0hjmaAID_QXKtg02dJvsZaqdo8jFrasCH2zQr0iwgdfKeO_JxXCYm_u6_IHSN4VKZxEoybbKpw5aGuoDtC5R_hx9kmOFyc23tPOWUgvZdDxTGDrHieTMvqTfQ3JAxhHKqaDKyp/s1600-h/20090807_0684.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379888620068180834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7ZWtEY0hjmaAID_QXKtg02dJvsZaqdo8jFrasCH2zQr0iwgdfKeO_JxXCYm_u6_IHSN4VKZxEoybbKpw5aGuoDtC5R_hx9kmOFyc23tPOWUgvZdDxTGDrHieTMvqTfQ3JAxhHKqaDKyp/s320/20090807_0684.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbwJD207xhcv7rgHBe0xq06rnwWbrJYK3vO3jbnW3KlwCMogJVV8C5qPkSBdGdG-mh-_ED0TPZKTuMeoT8CeLEKlLelQsFPYSQuXjSLdHDQDTU63pKe4uESveNCssjRs_jbjaq9LyOHHN/s1600-h/20090807_0689+(2).JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379888611330644706" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbwJD207xhcv7rgHBe0xq06rnwWbrJYK3vO3jbnW3KlwCMogJVV8C5qPkSBdGdG-mh-_ED0TPZKTuMeoT8CeLEKlLelQsFPYSQuXjSLdHDQDTU63pKe4uESveNCssjRs_jbjaq9LyOHHN/s320/20090807_0689+(2).JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Both of the boys started school...this year they are in the same school and big brother is showing little bro all the ins and outs of elementary school and bus-riding. They are both loving school and are still very excited about their "homework"...that ought to wear off in about a week : ) I have to admit that watching my "little man" get on the bus was a little heart-breaking, but I love that his big brother holds his hand and watches out for him. Love them!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PfWDMwOLnhf4Xw0DZrLAz9u9kOHUnqpefKgIiLNfVyRTmgHlgtUew3qpNu2z9rN4PVGM_FlyBDwFsuKPkVctMrT2FGQhsSlZ3Yw9ZdI0qJcyb-ad3eTKHkPYZ-WJP045vrbGOyttXcTX/s1600-h/20090830_0758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379890337371679058" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PfWDMwOLnhf4Xw0DZrLAz9u9kOHUnqpefKgIiLNfVyRTmgHlgtUew3qpNu2z9rN4PVGM_FlyBDwFsuKPkVctMrT2FGQhsSlZ3Yw9ZdI0qJcyb-ad3eTKHkPYZ-WJP045vrbGOyttXcTX/s320/20090830_0758.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwvyhQVNHiuguQYRUlofTRItD55j4Z0N51cC4-qm0gssX9EW3cn-xhqw4hSV9fAOHhDQ93WR-RrQyQvYATgyomrfkMJzaWzy09dnqGON_k6NU0sZetTiUlAOL7YBicPxWkbXRqc1ejL4j/s1600-h/20090820_0728.JPG"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARDTRhoZyZhHNh-nd0qquLwj3qmvV0VKB_KMGWDj4HO7L9tj0vpEFjvKw0BZvMhjKQ4Fs3eJ9pR48LNjtkzUIUaPJG95zGFIqCPpKlkNACW_mAii7mvBJ9_EsdL2hAD8TkbhczRt4xVj9/s1600-h/20090830_0763.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379890360402961970" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARDTRhoZyZhHNh-nd0qquLwj3qmvV0VKB_KMGWDj4HO7L9tj0vpEFjvKw0BZvMhjKQ4Fs3eJ9pR48LNjtkzUIUaPJG95zGFIqCPpKlkNACW_mAii7mvBJ9_EsdL2hAD8TkbhczRt4xVj9/s320/20090830_0763.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNmEwejXxLEvnZcTuX1xOeQzgAEG8_4fFM2j7wBxp50tEZ_pkQcmmTBT0X2jvGKViSpFrmvG8eR43u0hLo7qjRfff1yO2_L5RUynypwfdGM27zvV4fH1G3B_fMiwUt0xOGkV5iKB1_Plk/s1600-h/20090830_0765.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379890374731426978" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNmEwejXxLEvnZcTuX1xOeQzgAEG8_4fFM2j7wBxp50tEZ_pkQcmmTBT0X2jvGKViSpFrmvG8eR43u0hLo7qjRfff1yO2_L5RUynypwfdGM27zvV4fH1G3B_fMiwUt0xOGkV5iKB1_Plk/s320/20090830_0765.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />T had a conference in Wisconsin at a really neat resort on the lake, so with the help of Grandma and my awesome BFF, I was able to fly up for a couple of days and enjoy some rest and time away with the hubster. We REALLY enjoyed it and need to do that more often, but leaving three, and soon-to-be four small kids is no easy feat! I'm so grateful for the two days I had of "down time" and time to reconnect with T.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzUBVCkx3eH1Qmxa2vDApdedayUwLNGR7sZt5cylqbY52XPSIPXwL-r8uXJhK5pt7iA2JMR7vb5zdzwdY5J3P5dXG1T2n0KaeXfmWj6DR8El3z82BP_CiCOoKuM-zk0qfMELStcJYDoVu/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379892513667596018" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzUBVCkx3eH1Qmxa2vDApdedayUwLNGR7sZt5cylqbY52XPSIPXwL-r8uXJhK5pt7iA2JMR7vb5zdzwdY5J3P5dXG1T2n0KaeXfmWj6DR8El3z82BP_CiCOoKuM-zk0qfMELStcJYDoVu/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The view from our room. It was overcast that day, but still so gorgeous.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIIpY3CY2slHKoN7hiLdHELzL-uvRRYLVQX1xBTzAiQvemMrrvLbbf5elbcWMLHNlvxeRPtWQ2OgVMYcMg27R0hh6IhuYXWPb333pDhQcr7OdbqplYFwBNfiELq0cdWxv3l9RxNRXcQAT/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379892519534187154" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIIpY3CY2slHKoN7hiLdHELzL-uvRRYLVQX1xBTzAiQvemMrrvLbbf5elbcWMLHNlvxeRPtWQ2OgVMYcMg27R0hh6IhuYXWPb333pDhQcr7OdbqplYFwBNfiELq0cdWxv3l9RxNRXcQAT/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b0X-ASxqVDJKNzvarzAxzobT22s1Tq3BTs9WDNQOnFMg-Y-eSFUlzwyhT9g6L1DfUyTdHyMXDYZ6yKmGQ0A_XAchNyA_dc8NLX2JSJV2H1WVWuZ_kIpouv0dOTlIpfaBS45Bn8jLaccV/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379892530826830226" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7b0X-ASxqVDJKNzvarzAxzobT22s1Tq3BTs9WDNQOnFMg-Y-eSFUlzwyhT9g6L1DfUyTdHyMXDYZ6yKmGQ0A_XAchNyA_dc8NLX2JSJV2H1WVWuZ_kIpouv0dOTlIpfaBS45Bn8jLaccV/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last, but not least...our girl, "L"! I just love this dress Grandma Marie bought for her and she actually will let me put it on her and wear the headband! She is very very strong willed and normally anything Mommy picks out for her to wear is greeted with a firm "no!". We pick our battles don't we? Most days, she goes to pre-school in mis-matched, ragged play clothes and her brothers old Lightening McQueen crocs, but hey, that's one of the many things that I love about her. She is soooooo excited about her little sister, telling me all the time that she is going to "rock her in the rocking chair" and asks to see her picture all the time. When she sees it she screams her name and does a little dance...so sweet! Of course, the boys are excited too.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphB2T7Kvg9Gcc_AOhxnQ4jpSSjbTZKT7y_V1Z8-W4hPdAS6xOMoqnhRsiCvx9BH-wiW71xO-ti4RzeGyMqo59DZ3VI6ZplQ9RlkTnnjQQDtEQ5mbbQB2fy4Yc1x69Bb6p7xC2SYCahwLB/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379894354658886242" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphB2T7Kvg9Gcc_AOhxnQ4jpSSjbTZKT7y_V1Z8-W4hPdAS6xOMoqnhRsiCvx9BH-wiW71xO-ti4RzeGyMqo59DZ3VI6ZplQ9RlkTnnjQQDtEQ5mbbQB2fy4Yc1x69Bb6p7xC2SYCahwLB/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUnTykztk_ejsjhTtKqxRdE8KjHFoTxfFTm3JpKoBG8NjnwvvTPT9GLHtHB2oSuB69zd0MISkSSpjzdACo0EBUdfmAB3KaOGTqi2yPwpNtOy-bCSOczWThhNHa1LfOjvjqbUS5zHezEg6/s1600-h/August+school+wisc+etc+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379894365389753090" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguUnTykztk_ejsjhTtKqxRdE8KjHFoTxfFTm3JpKoBG8NjnwvvTPT9GLHtHB2oSuB69zd0MISkSSpjzdACo0EBUdfmAB3KaOGTqi2yPwpNtOy-bCSOczWThhNHa1LfOjvjqbUS5zHezEg6/s320/August+school+wisc+etc+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Adoption Update: Unfortunately, the Ethiopian courts are not assigning new court dates until they reopen in October, so now we wait some more to see how much more we have to wait for a court date ; ( Still praying we will still get an October date, but we'll see. In the meantime, keep praying for little "H" and I hope to get some updates on her soon. Hope you are all having a spectacular September!Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431848207714906436.post-87082962977059129342009-08-28T14:27:00.006-04:002009-08-28T14:56:27.068-04:00"THE CALL!!!!"It finally came...of course, when I least expected it. I mean, I knew we were next in line for a toddler girl, but I didn't think it would happen when it did. See, usually the "calls" come earlier in the day, so on Monday, August 24th, when 4pm passed by I thought "well, not today". T has been out of town so much over the last few weeks and I've been basically a single Mom, so Monday night I decided to take the kids out to eat. Yeah, I'm crazy...three small kids at a restaurant. Anyway, as expected, the kids were running wild, melting down, fighting over crayons, whining about what they would or wouldn't eat, and being "quietly yelled at" by Mommy to sit down! So, when the phone rang I thought it was my Mom. I had invited her to meet us for dinner and thought maybe she had decided to have some sense and NOT join us : ). But nooooo, it was Julie from AGCI!!!!! When I saw the number I couldn't believe it...I answered and tried to hear Julie while attempting to corral two kids heading for the outside fence (we were on the patio) when thankfully, my Mom showed up. I mouthed to her that it was our agency and my angel of a Mom took over the craziness of ordering drinks and trying to quiet down the chaos. Anyway, I said "Hey Julie...do you have some good news for me?". And, she said, "well, I have a little girl to talk to you about..."<br /><br />Well, she told me a little bit about our sweet H and I caught things here and there between yelling "sit down!" and "stop blowing bubbles in your milk"! We agreed that she would e-mail me all the information and pictures and I would check them out as soon as I could get home. Great! I'm at a restaurant with three wild kids and no computer AND my husband is out of town. I immediately texted T..."REFERRAL!!!!", since he was in a conference and he texted back that he would call me asap. So, I rushed the kids through dinner, kissed my Mom and said thanks for coming and got home as quickly as possible. So, I tell the kids to get their jammies on and brush their teeth and I run for the computer. I text T like 8 times...."call me", "CALL ME!!"..."CALL ME NOW!!!"...and "WHERE ARE U!?". And, of course, the kids are running around like animals..."L" is naked and running around singing "I shake my booty", the boys are fighting over some cheapo happy meal toy and I am about to fly to Wisconsin to choke my husband for not calling. Finally, T calls and he's booting up his computer, which according to my calculations at the time took, like, 3 years! Anyway, we finally both open the picture and both at the same time said "Oh, look at her, she's beautiful"! We oohed and aahed and congratulated each other and said we would talk more later. I didn't say anthing to the kids about what was going on, cause I wanted T and I to see everything first, but right about then little "L" comes in the room, looks at the computer and says happily but very matter-of-factly "that's my baby sister, H". She knew. I just looked at her and smiled and said, "yes, it is honey". Well, that got the boys all riled up and soon I had three little monkeys all in my lap wanting to see the pictures of their new little sister.<br /><br />We are just so thrilled and grateful to God for another amazing child. She is 16 months old, sweet as can be and too cute for words...looks a lot like "L" and I cannot wait to kiss her little cheeks. What happens now is that we submit more paperwork, and wait for a court date in Ethiopia. Once we pass court it will take about 3 or 4 weeks until we can travel to bring her home. Please pray that we will get a court appointment soon and that all will go smoothly and we will get her home sooner rather than later. We should have her home in time for Christmas, but I sure would be extra-super-thankful if she was home for Thanksgiving!<br /><br />Please also pray for her birthfamily and for the selflessness and loss that have experienced. We will love this little girl so much and do everything we can for her. I am just so grateful. So blessed. So so incredibly blessed.Ethioguatemamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13392197080733876494noreply@blogger.com12