Foul Ball

Last night Brian took Alex, Josh, Alemu and Israel to the Padres Game. One of our favorite players Adrian Gonzalez hit a foul ball in their section and the man who caught the ball gave it to Alemu. As you can see on his face this was really cool. Thanks Brian!

So what do you do with your donations while waiting to send them???

An 18 year old boy...a punching bag!

Water by the gallon!

It was the day before Emily was to leave to go back to Ethiopia. We had a few stores to go to and Israel kept asking me for things. At the drugstore where we got Emily's pictures printed I let them pick out a candy. When we got in the car Israel wanted water. Of course the warm bottle that I had in the car wasn't good enough. Now we are at the grocery store and he is still bugging me for water. We were walking by the outside water dispenser and I said jokingly that I was going to stick his head in there and give him some water. Emily piped up and said that she would pay the quarter to watch. So...being a person to never back down to a challenge in goes their heads. They each got an entire gallon of water to themselves.

Look Who's One!

Family Picture July 2009

Long Overdo!!!

I know that it has been way too long since I posted a blog. Life has been extremely busy. You know I am a mother of 7!!! My sister actually threatened that she was going to stop checking my blog because it has been so long. Well...Cindy, here we go.


The last two months have been great. Emily has been home from Africa and it has been the only time that all 7 of my children have been together. I was excited for her to get home and see the "little boys" interact with the family. You see she had them for 3 months in Ethiopia preparing them for their new family and what life would be like in America. She would be the best judge of "how they are doing". I worry about that...alot. I find myself asking them "are you happy?" Of course they always say "yes". I just am waiting for the homesickness to settle in. This all has to be so confusing for them. As their language improves the conversations deepen. Emily leaves tomorrow and I am not sure how they will react to that. I know that they don't want to go back to Ethiopia so why would she?


Last night, Brian stopped at an Ethiopian restaurant and got take-out. The "little boys" loved the injera. They haven't had any for 5 months. I can't believe that 5 months have gone by so fast. And yet, it feels like so much longer at other times. Israel (7 yrs.) is improving everyday with his behavior. He is very curious and touches everything. The over-reacting has really deminshed. Alemu (11 yrs.) is opening up more and more about his life prior to being with us. Chuck and I both love to hear him talk about his past. Last week I told Alemu that I was going to sunbath until I was dark like him. He laughed and told me that I couldn't get that dark. I then asked him if he could love me even though my skin was white and he said "yes". It was a sweet moment between us.


Last Thursday, was re-adoption day!!!! Whoo Hoo. The "little boys" didn't want to stop swimming and get all dressed up. Go figure. But...they did and we all met at the court house and had a small intimate gathering with the judge. It was a very special time for our family.


Jake graduated from high-school last month. 4 down and 3 to go. He plans on attending the community college and then transfering to a 4 yr. college. Thank you to all the family and friends who took the time to share in this special day with Jake.


Alex turned 16 a couple of weeks ago. He is working on his drivers license. Way to go Alex!


Alemu is preparing for middle school. What a culture shock that is going to be. He is getting excited about the whole school shopping thing. He desperately wants to go to the "Disney Channel" which means Disneyland. Maybe we can make it up there this fall.


Israel read his first sentence in english with Autumn. He was so excited that they called me at work and told me all about it and then read it to me when I got home. He was beaming from ear to ear.



Emily gave a presentation about her ministry at church. She did a great job and really shared her heart and passion for the Ethiopian people. I am so proud of her and will miss her terribly. Please pray for her as you think of her.



Chuckie is heading to Roseburg, Oregon next Monday. He is going to live with his grandparents and attend the community college. I think the change will be good for him and I know that his Mum-Mum will fatten him up a little with her good cooking.



Autumn & Brian and Elias are all doing well. They are very natural at parenting. Elias is absolutely perfect! I love him so much and love being his Mimi. He is walking really good. Hasn't been able to get up without crawling over to something nor can he walk without his hands above his head. It is the cutest thing.



I have been sewing (quilting) like crazy. I wanted to send two ladies (nannies) that I had met while in Ethiopia and one little girl a quilt back with Emily. Well...she then asked if I could make two more for the two new nannies. I gave in and said yes. So....I am on #5 right now. Have I mentioned that she is leaving tomorrow? So, I will be sewing all night.



I have photos for all the things that we have been doing the last couple of months but because I haven't downloaded my pics that is why I havem't been updating my blog. So last night I decided that I will just write the post and then at a later date add the photos.

I am excited to post our new "Family Photo" that was taken last night. I will try to do that tomorrow. The photographer earned her money last night trying to get 11 people all looking at her at the same time. I really sensed that it was important to the "little boys" to be in a family photo displayed in the house. I think it is another small way to show them that they are stuck with us for the rest of their lives! They were trying to tell me where in the house we should hang it. Of course it was smack in the middle of everything.

This will now get me current and I will try to post more frequently. ;)



Ann

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUTUMN!

My "Little Girl" is 25 today!

Where has 25 years gone? I remember it like it was yesterday. She was so fun as a child. One of my favorite memories is her opening our pantry in the kitchen and stacking the soup cans as high as she could reach and then climbing onto the shelf that she had just emptyed. I thought for sure that she was going to drop one of those cans on her toes but she never did. This was a daily routine for a long time. Oh...and when she learned to ride a two-wheel bike. The neighbors actually came outside to watch because she was so stinkin small. She was only 4 yrs. old and was zipping along with the big kids. I am sitting here wishing for those times back but yet so EXCITED for the time we are in right now. She has grown into a beautiful woman inside and out and I am so proud to be her Mother. It is such a blessing to have your grown children in your everyday lives. And, don't get me started about how awesome of a mother that she is and how much fun being a grandmother is. I love life!