My Future Stylist!

It was been a very busy few weeks. The girls got to meet Auntie Christa and Uncle Dave from Scotland and Uncle Mattie and Auntie Tamara and our Cousins Joseph and Jacob from Michigan. We love you guys! We were in a cabin in Nisswa, MN. It was a little rough on the girls at first but they quickly got use to all the attention and then loved very minute. It was so neat to see our families fall in love with our 2 beautiful girls as much as we have. We truly are blessed with 4 great kids and families and friends that have been so supportive.

I was searching through all the pictures finding the best ones to post. Sorry, Travis but I couldn't resist. That's what Uncles are for, to practice doing hair

Christa and Dave were here for about 10 days. After they left I had actually start thinking about going back to work, which I did on Monday. I was really hard. We never did the daycare thing with Logan and Dylan so that is new for us. Our Neighbor has a daycare, and is really sweet. So over we went at 6:45 Monday morning. The girls were fine. They did well all week. Me, not so much and Bob wasn't thrilled either. But I guess we need to make the best of it.

On the 25th we will be home 3 months and think back to those first few weeks and how far we all have all come. I am truly amazed.

Dress up!

These were so cute I had to post them! We were looking at pictures of Ethiopia and the girls wanted to put their Ethiopian dresses on. Somehow Junie and Murphy had to get dressed up too!

2 months!

We have been home for 2 months now. Sorry I haven't posted in a while, the time just seems to fly by. We have taken the girls to meet extended family, great grandparents, aunts and other friends. They are getting more social and do well in new situations anymore.

We had our first sleepover friend. Bob's niece Anna who is 5 came and spent the night. It was the first time they had met so they were all a little shy at first but after a little while they got along really well.

We got family portraits done at the park by our house. I haven't seen the pictures yet but it went well. The girls got their ears pierced a couple weeks ago. They did really well. They love them! They keep wanting their hair done and headbands are not cutting it anymore. The pictures are of Birtukan with her hair in little puffs. I think I did a pretty good job for my first attempt at girl hair.

The girls started speaking to each other in English now, which is bittersweet for me. They really like to talk on the phone, play with babies and dance. They have a play kitchen but I guess I need to cook more because most of the time they make lotion. I made a homemade lotion for their skin.

We are all ready for winter with snowpants, hats, mittens, and boots. Pretty soon they will be Minnesota girls!

It's been a month

We finally got a family picture. Tuesday the girls have been home 1 month! It seems al ot longer. I can imagine them not being here now.

We went to the International Adoption Clinic Yesterday. They were poked and prodded, We even had to do a stool sample! The girls did well. They felt they could possible be a bit older so when we go back in 6 months They will test their development again and get an xray of their wrist to determine their age. They also have heart murmurs that have to be looked at. Other than that they felt they are doing well.

This past week the girls have really opened up to interacting with other people. They are less clingy when we meet new people or are somewhere new. and they always give everyone their prettiest smiles.

Sleeping Beauties!

Ethiopian and American Girls

Here are some pictures of the girls in their Ethiopian dresses that we got from the good-bye ceremony at the care center. Our Social Worker came for our post placement on Monday. That night Birtukan told us "Birtukan, American girl. Netsanet, American girl." We told them they are Ethiopian and American girls.

When we leaving Ethiopia I felt really sad for Everything the girls were losing. They will not grow in Ethiopia. Even if they go back there one day it won't be the same. They are both Ethiopian and American girls. It is my hope for our girls that they appreciate both cultures.

The best smiles ever!

The girls have the best smiles! They light up their whole faces, the whole room for that matter!

We went to visit my work this morning. Netsanet seem a little off all morning. Which she was because she throw up all over self right after we left. Luckily I had Logan with. So I have a sick sleeping baby and a laptop on my lap. This gives me an opportunity to check up. Logan is entertaining Birtukan, which is helpful.

The girls are going well. They pet the dogs a little bit now. I think Murphy liked it better when they were scared of him as he not overly fond of little kids, but he tolerates them very well.

Birtukan and I were looking at some kids clothes websites and she has very definite ideas about what she likes and what she doesn't. She does not like jeans so I must dressed dreadful all the time!

At the Beach

Here are a few pictures from when we took the girls to the beach. They seemed to like the water. They did go out very far but would splash water on each other and laugh!

Everyday seems like they get more settled and more comfortable. We have had our share of tantrums but not anything to bad. The girls are getting use to Junie and Murphy. They still don't like the dogs but at least will tolerate them being in the same room. Logan and Dylan seem to enjoy having little sisters. They had their first day of school yesterday and Birtukan and Netsanet were so excited when they got home. Overall I would say the first week home went really well. We are starting to here more and more English. One of Birtukan's favorite words is Shoes, which she loves! She is a girly girl. They have the best smiles, they light up an entire room!