Update to Crain: Family of Four

We have been home for a little over a week now and we are finally getting into a groove.  However, now that I have said this, the next couple of days will probably be hell J.  The boys have met all of their grandparents and love spending time with them.  This time has finally come to reality.  I love seeing everyone play with them  They have taken a particular liking to Uncle Josh and Auntie Brookie.  They call Uncle Josh Uncle Fas (fart).  They think it is really funny to pass gas on his head when they are riding on his shoulders.

They love riding their bikes.  We go to the park almost every day to let them ride.  Unfortunately, our street is busy and there are no sidewalks.  It’s ok though, it has been great park weather.  We got training wheels for Sintayehu’s bike so now he’s starting to keep up with his brother.  He was getting really frustrated when his four year old brother would ride circles around him.  Dawit loves his helmet.  He wears it almost all day long.  He lost his hat in Ethiopia when he stuck his head out the window to throw up and I really need to replace it.  It’s really cute though.

We have had a lot of firsts.  They get a kick out of the automatic everything.  The first store they went into was PETCO and Dawit stared at the doors for almost a minute.  When we left, Sintayehu said, “open please” and then “thank you” as he went through.  I about died laughing.  They were each allowed to pick out a fish to go with the one remaining fish at home.  Sintayehu named the original fish Joy.  He picked out a rainbow shark and named him PasFick, after the Pacific Ocean.  Dawit picked out a white fish, a silver Molly and named it Alem; which is a made up word apparently. 

We took the boys to Forest Falls the other day.  It is a waterfall that you can easily hike to.  Now it has been 75 degrees since we have been home and I know that there is still snow in the mountains, but it didn’t even occur to me that there would still be lots of snow up there.  I dressed the boys in board shorts, water shoes and a t-shirt.  I brought sweats and socks and change of underwear and shirt.  We got up there and there was at least two feet of snow.  They were so excited they jumped out of the car and started running around and throwing snowballs at Uncle Josh.  I must say they were troopers.  There was another family all bundled up for the snow and we looked like we were going to the river.  After 45 min we finally made our way toward the waterfall where there was no snow (south Side).  They boys climbed the trail and we had a snack at the top of the falls, well middle actually.   The water was flowing to hard to cross and go to the top. 

After we played we took the boys to get new shoes.  They each picked out a new pair of shoes without any problems.  Dawit  grabbed  a pair of light up toy story tennis shoes and Sintayehu  got a pair blue Velcro tennis shoes.   Then we went to Oak Glen for lunch and the petting zoo.  They boys did great for the most part.  Dawit was scared of the animals at first but warmed up to them eventually.  We finished with an overwhelming trip to a candy shoppe where our great day ended, way too many choices for them.  Oh well!!  It was a great day save that. 

Poopa (grandpa)  Gave the boys razors and they love them.  It is much easier for them to ride on the patio then their bikes.  We have some great pics of them riding around.  They LOVE them

They have learned my favorite song, Hands by the almost and sing it all day.   Everytime we get in the car we have to listen to it.  I think riding in the car is my favorite time of the day.  Every one is happy.  Sintayehu asks lots of questions and tries to figure things out.  Dawit listens to every one speaking English.  We feel like a real family when we are in a car.  (In comparison to us feeling like we are in survival mode most of the time).

Their English is coming along well.  Dawit says, “you done”  when he is done with anything.  I ask, “You Done?”  So he thinks that is the right response.  I crack up all the time.  Sintayehu says Oooh in a sing song way that is so funny and when Dawit really likes something he says Yeah sing songy too. 

This is the hardest thing we have ever done but God is blessing our family in so many ways.  We feel so privileged to be parents to these boys.  We love them so much!!!

one of Sintayehu's portraits