tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53850632877060317782024-02-19T06:46:48.317-08:00God's GiftThe exciting journey of adoption.Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-67840197089938777982010-12-27T11:59:00.000-08:002010-12-27T13:22:33.232-08:00October and November<div style="text-align: left;">Well, the holiday season officially flew by. It has been three months since I last posted. So much has gone by. We have done so much and blogging is getting increasingly harder. But I am going to try to commit to weekly so I have the memories saved in words.</div><div><br /></div><div>October came and went. The boys absolutely loved Halloween. They were both Batman. Dawit was the original Batman and Sintayehu went as the Dark Knight. We had a whole weekend of festivities between school, church, family and friends. Dawit wore his costume for 8 straight days. At School we had a Fall Festival. It went well but the best part was the Magic Show. Sintayehu was picked to help out and his expressions were hilarious. We went to the pumpkin patch with the Diehls and the Dolls. It was so much fun. We got some good family pictures as well.We had a Halloween Party at my parents. It was so much fun. We did all sorts of Halloween games for the kids. They had a great time. The following night was Trick-or-treating. They were shy at first but figured it out really fast. We went trick-or-treating with the Brownings and Harris'. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KjscHtvTl2J6IZKM7-NH8pRatlSQGOadhaDVj9LDt4zvzN3VwVOWaK54xSs48UhQMx_fBt-_TOWk5bH3VkjPSqtA2LKwvDzfld28hoEzxtNPNDvC9VjWEfjih1noLejIE1bOIK_XBj6R/s320/IMG_1369.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555459159797918130" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000205;">Sintayehu in the slingshot at the pumpkin patch.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTiMS_vKBTdoY5p_L9bRknw0esApPPdb9VTydVHjM5PIm6fZmx3MGx85ervF_GFuw2sHsPVqQRUvyfN_KPlI9-JWEfo5t1p_FVD24YGTrBJmQB0Vy4SFFfM017LFtuHWjhv1H-k6OVKI4/s320/IMG_1327.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555459152281903154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dawit in the slingshot at the pumpkin patch.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7edio8XaZIIeYLCg1K9B4z9sJcvMjohVRzsFtREKINK7rHncgP3YeDyhl1ycbMX29xUfGst9fGmX0h6tCyf80uqoXnWsXonWTGbRfYPwNTSJ5y7aMUq0UC-8LBO62dLDxA5tfw8LxxqB/s320/IMG_1392.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555461223463759090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Silly Boys</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3opzENYIRJU8E7j6jWpBUsGn6mVFHXoSXOnz0Qa2_p6ZGqjUZsYxZ6XogZLbpPsZw4zdODc4kusWC-eojqQdpRNBEz4dc9bN7c8lg-d3ObXZci1IUOt_Rn7s6qjRejs_cRMDR5gQczjNi/s320/IMG_0788.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555459144954788914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><div style="text-align: center;">Took the boys to see Willy Wonka at the local theater.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXQIjbOdFknRtAMabmBAcRNQ6yjsVuyCvyAxMJ4I3gxFxR1_Ih3hl-EoaGKUoP5kkt7rrg_qIEJCnRS2h3Qlao-Fc-oOX6ZtZxU-9Hx-oi1U3euYdsVzt7C4P0PxGbu0xTJ2samJDjrDW/s320/IMG_0779.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555459140388871490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000206;">Trying to walk in Mommy's shoes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000206;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrstgxb9CLY2-E9Uo59GPyRs9MK9XD7AH_noTwzAda0HwsYBAYJts5B2JANQuLbyGkpmg0AekRMF6NdFUVl1hSaQtaxc48wcLBQTj4WMWTiSbJnB5jmvKmCCzpmtMu_mZ-Ve9Q24arrq6E/s1600/IMG_1441.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrstgxb9CLY2-E9Uo59GPyRs9MK9XD7AH_noTwzAda0HwsYBAYJts5B2JANQuLbyGkpmg0AekRMF6NdFUVl1hSaQtaxc48wcLBQTj4WMWTiSbJnB5jmvKmCCzpmtMu_mZ-Ve9Q24arrq6E/s320/IMG_1441.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555461215135906338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Carving Pumpkins</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyfSoWJBgJcVLSa-fYDc89kGRrJmj1lezmDxgrlEtaRMTTQXPdlc8kEmHK1QYqXNpgW-hrnMi2vJjgARmgBHk1RX8Nc2RGqKszOp9qAcyz9CM1q6EX6LqLwKM4N9feyTCZsZVpLCP4LBG/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyfSoWJBgJcVLSa-fYDc89kGRrJmj1lezmDxgrlEtaRMTTQXPdlc8kEmHK1QYqXNpgW-hrnMi2vJjgARmgBHk1RX8Nc2RGqKszOp9qAcyz9CM1q6EX6LqLwKM4N9feyTCZsZVpLCP4LBG/s320/IMG_1401.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555461209204723826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a>Carving Pumpkin<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxv0IYFRj7aRZoX8hhvD8Z593uGOSVRkeAHVdY9Q26b4q1_rHymZOppk5jsf4mihhXNQqfuiwrazRH1sgQR-tCm7r2SDkqJUOYvwQ6q1XgUM_52ANWRiZNrrUi37_MJS1s4DSSIN9kZCBK/s1600/IMG_6636.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxv0IYFRj7aRZoX8hhvD8Z593uGOSVRkeAHVdY9Q26b4q1_rHymZOppk5jsf4mihhXNQqfuiwrazRH1sgQR-tCm7r2SDkqJUOYvwQ6q1XgUM_52ANWRiZNrrUi37_MJS1s4DSSIN9kZCBK/s320/IMG_6636.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555461202573840338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a>Browning, Harris, Crain Clan + Sara<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedlftVQ_D7wch-sZzSanN8jXw3Esyp7oEcYoaXF1BsLDNMFldOUOvYUIBiz8xlQDIUjM2J31TovNDfg8mqctphwt1LgaqhBWuGmeL-wNGb7RgBZWsMP19_LYSwvnSX4MDMEEapEb-k0uB/s1600/IMG_6606.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedlftVQ_D7wch-sZzSanN8jXw3Esyp7oEcYoaXF1BsLDNMFldOUOvYUIBiz8xlQDIUjM2J31TovNDfg8mqctphwt1LgaqhBWuGmeL-wNGb7RgBZWsMP19_LYSwvnSX4MDMEEapEb-k0uB/s320/IMG_6606.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555461199498752946" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Batman to the rescue!!</div></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyfSoWJBgJcVLSa-fYDc89kGRrJmj1lezmDxgrlEtaRMTTQXPdlc8kEmHK1QYqXNpgW-hrnMi2vJjgARmgBHk1RX8Nc2RGqKszOp9qAcyz9CM1q6EX6LqLwKM4N9feyTCZsZVpLCP4LBG/s1600/IMG_1401.JPG"></a></span></div><div>During Veteran's Day weekend, we took the boys to Vegas. We stayed with my Auntie Tammy and Uncle Alan. We went to the Hoover Dam. This was the Highlight for S. He loved reading all of the facts for the building of the dam. He even got to stand in two states at once. He straddled the border of Nevada and Arizona. My Uncle told us of all the shows we could go see and then the boys asked if they could ride the escalator. We decided all of the free Vegas stuff would be exciting enough after that.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz0GCzf_PHefqIuQdofej2gy0_eWDi1z0bgYuDnG1zTGGCimjXWWUePv-K2kHIDhULpH787uik25Jhv7iCEl5ZFj2hWGBm9oIcyfSSbO39SvR8VT7L9Hp7X4afAV79n2816TauO5jRhlA/s1600/IMG_6800.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz0GCzf_PHefqIuQdofej2gy0_eWDi1z0bgYuDnG1zTGGCimjXWWUePv-K2kHIDhULpH787uik25Jhv7iCEl5ZFj2hWGBm9oIcyfSSbO39SvR8VT7L9Hp7X4afAV79n2816TauO5jRhlA/s320/IMG_6800.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555462869369119650" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Loving the Escalators!!!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3rGWJd_RvUAPM1DCt_2xK8IEBMBGBJBxUx85RHJATL95WGC67Gll38SSV4cAQp3RE3ic7JiQZc8Fwy-2JD0itQvTWR3SYxLs6f3wCRrynn1y0XrAiJ18QpbKZd1MGhqKSEUAGZQEmknd/s1600/IMG_6695.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3rGWJd_RvUAPM1DCt_2xK8IEBMBGBJBxUx85RHJATL95WGC67Gll38SSV4cAQp3RE3ic7JiQZc8Fwy-2JD0itQvTWR3SYxLs6f3wCRrynn1y0XrAiJ18QpbKZd1MGhqKSEUAGZQEmknd/s320/IMG_6695.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555462864134783826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Just us!!! at the Hoover Dam</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiUV56MY2W6sO44-2gemk61Ev58MOglBhI9RZrWS2_NgYog4uWOp1L9QzF6Drb3QdStrt-X4PbOba36AFpHHWn-HqeIRhCKB3QQGlzRB5EsbWo7NnIFTDvz3OO-80zF2l620V1VdMZefI/s1600/IMG_6674.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiUV56MY2W6sO44-2gemk61Ev58MOglBhI9RZrWS2_NgYog4uWOp1L9QzF6Drb3QdStrt-X4PbOba36AFpHHWn-HqeIRhCKB3QQGlzRB5EsbWo7NnIFTDvz3OO-80zF2l620V1VdMZefI/s320/IMG_6674.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555462860992964690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Inside the Dam</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtUVbfg5YVFjquLNHWyvHU_T2P30oT22YhR8PK6b6IbtVFqLncI1rCRfU9rTaK55KhothJiBYQmBvJGm7u7r66BLdaq55MkYfpmkBMFNvLnYN8qJ1Izqq1Mb79FYdv8ZDvO0Ih43ouevd/s1600/IMG_6651.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbtUVbfg5YVFjquLNHWyvHU_T2P30oT22YhR8PK6b6IbtVFqLncI1rCRfU9rTaK55KhothJiBYQmBvJGm7u7r66BLdaq55MkYfpmkBMFNvLnYN8qJ1Izqq1Mb79FYdv8ZDvO0Ih43ouevd/s320/IMG_6651.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555462852321145378" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Crains in front of the oldest working Crane</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2YgyKSmZvDVz0loMylGHGntelMJ3IGNtom8S4iimQr0DPsb2i3Csf4c8bBXobo-5HBmmM4svKYGtFG5eeWL0jTDk7bRL8zUkJVcY89oXCesb2MEaeDgyNbAGmhey3fXr-KZnvRzUO7No/s1600/IMG_6646.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2YgyKSmZvDVz0loMylGHGntelMJ3IGNtom8S4iimQr0DPsb2i3Csf4c8bBXobo-5HBmmM4svKYGtFG5eeWL0jTDk7bRL8zUkJVcY89oXCesb2MEaeDgyNbAGmhey3fXr-KZnvRzUO7No/s320/IMG_6646.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555462845087110258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">More Escalators :)</div><div>Thanksgiving was so much fun. They couldn't believe that we, Americans, had a holiday devoted to eating. We watched movies on the pilgrims and Indians. Talked about the first Thanksgiving and talked about being grateful. We had Thanksgiving at my sister's house. She cooked a fabulous meal and there was way to much food of course. Then my mom and I went to Walmart for the Black Friday deals. We were there from 10- 6 and boy were we tired. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sintayehu's soccer team is doing great. They were league champions and are going on to defend Yucaipa in the Commissioner's Cup in Temecula the first weekend of December. He is so excited. The practices are bloody cold. It has even snowed on us one night. I come to practice wrapped in several layers with a heater and the cold is still nipping at my toes. Can't wait for the tournament.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI28pe2pJrQEHujDF31hyphenhyphenJOW-2A1Q_rTk3WQqdHXA5HanNc6KWKqw9rCLDmOnjpDfLkq1eDXbt1ErdB4nDKiMKuPb1DusotZR1RnIC9AjLjS2hkUL9TMyP8uy8i2znpKQpuDNFxyJzq6sB/s320/IMG_1710.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555474181498787442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Sintayehu with his trophy</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcgUALjx5-5sXfOhaW-Sky9_cegRyPdvmIcNLFgLYP8_XNhsBHBOJKFPf210sm4wzvI90m624r8tIvhIJnPsP6nx3BeFWUjSnDhHbDBsgJGfaM3xQHboqIasAVggQYYDFQhKE5CO62kH6e/s320/IMG_1721.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555474196954503906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></div><div>Sintayehu performed skits from the Bible at a convalescent home with his youth group at the end of the month. The residents seemed to enjoy themselves but even more importantly, all of the kids want to go back soon. They are developing a servant's heart so quickly. They just seem to get it at this age.</div><div><br /></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqCaTkgucxJoj4ZdsTgwWJXaOiNgJXxZzygTqlOy4BvIXbKXIxJZz_P5R_6MLO0yDdWDKbEf0pvsntCeoUkeQ2w66pP-3y4YVrkR9rZOiVAs65DgVWAMTNXQIv6natwP_pZrCrdqqlncp/s320/156739_180174405331059_159628970718936_681350_5594098_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555474180473408562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">Sintayehu was Jesus Healing the Leper</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYAXU_ouLs1YCtvsic3jAtxd2zvIukAWgsCEyd_dWW7tFNQev6uaRi5FalglD0nwNt1KjnW44c6GmcKeqUpL4YmF4a6yM0_-nNg1vkcuYk_PEQzD9Xg3Wu0heYhKntA3F8ww6aho1wXJX/s320/Oak+Glen+Photo+Shoot-72.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555474196124510290" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /><div style="text-align: center;">Family Pics Taken by a great friend.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV2OFIcyLWGh0Ph0Vrp7A3pvv1fCjjTf41c31GbzKJ_-gaZjstiv3lfqbxXsaXB_EIzdtd2CXkWH7GQLFZZde0DHeRj1rBSO1cDC3vhdjs3zqsY5oQg7AOUN7iLYuNkyH_vkhivEiQzq1/s1600/IMG_6883.JPG"></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV2OFIcyLWGh0Ph0Vrp7A3pvv1fCjjTf41c31GbzKJ_-gaZjstiv3lfqbxXsaXB_EIzdtd2CXkWH7GQLFZZde0DHeRj1rBSO1cDC3vhdjs3zqsY5oQg7AOUN7iLYuNkyH_vkhivEiQzq1/s1600/IMG_6883.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsV2OFIcyLWGh0Ph0Vrp7A3pvv1fCjjTf41c31GbzKJ_-gaZjstiv3lfqbxXsaXB_EIzdtd2CXkWH7GQLFZZde0DHeRj1rBSO1cDC3vhdjs3zqsY5oQg7AOUN7iLYuNkyH_vkhivEiQzq1/s320/IMG_6883.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555474191462235794" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Shooting off Rockets in the park.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-84483399830293154952010-10-12T20:48:00.000-07:002010-10-12T21:24:27.015-07:00Awe<div style="text-align: left;">I don't know how long I will have feelings of pure joy and an overwhelming sense of amazement at the fact of becoming a mother, but I hope it is for the rest of my life. This morning, as I was dropping Sintayehu off at school I became overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude towards God's awesome and perfect plan. I started thinking back to before our plan was reshaped by God's.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our family began before Nick and I were even together. We were very good friends, even tried "going out" in the 8th grade, but in March of 1999, we were mere Juniors in High School. But across the world in a little village in Ethiopia, a woman, my age, was giving birth to a perfect little boy. While I was worrying about who I would go to Junior Prom with or giggling with excitement that I made CIF in swimming and was going to do an overnight swim meet with our Co-ed Swim team, a girl of the mere age of 16 was beginning her journey to motherhood. She was looking at our little angel. She walked to the hospital and gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. A boy that she would love, feed, hold, cuddle, and sing to. A boy that she would teach Jesus to, even though she couldn't read the Bible. A boy that she would teach to work hard and take pride in whatever he was doing. So, while I was doing traditional "American Teenage" activities: college prep, sports, dances, hanging out; our son was being raised very well by an incredibly loving woman. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am grateful for their first mother. Grateful that she went on to have another son. Around the same time that Dawit was born, I was praying for a double line on a pregnancy stick. We had our first "scare." Scare for Nick, Dreams for me. I was two weeks late and while I knew we said we would wait two years before trying to have kids, I was ready and hopeful for this little skipped cycle. It stirred a yearning and desire to become a mom. Well, a week later and four negative sticks later, my cycle was back on track. There was never confirmation as to why it was so late, but in my heart of hearts, I had a very early miscarriage that never truly started enough to show positive on a test. But so started the quest for trying. </div><div><br /></div><div>It took Nick 6 more months before he would actively try to start a family. We thought it would be easy. Huh, boy were we wrong. Little did we know that starting a family would test our marriage in ways we didn't know possible. But we clung to eachother, and finally laid it all out for God. We prayed, fasted, read, meditated on scripture, but month after month, the answer was no. All of our initial fertility tests came back inconclusive. At the same time I started undergoing allergy treatment and tests. Turns out, I am allergic to everything. So we weighed our options and prayed. We prayed for a family. </div><div><br /></div><div>God definitely showed us that family doesn't have to share DNA. We both knew where we were being directed. All the while our family was growing across the world. First steps were being taken, first words were being spoken. Car crashes, falling off of horse drawn-carts, sibling fights. S started kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and third grade and D was getting ready for preschool when their world was turned upside down. I am sure it crumbled and became dark. They didn't know what was going to happen to them. I know they were SAD. A sadness I can't comprehend. I have never lost a parent. They were scared. A fear so primal that they resorted to infant behaviors for a while. Again, something I can't fathom. I have always been safe.</div><div><br /></div><div>But through the dark and across two continents and an ocean there was a couple who was praying for a family. Through the darkness, pain and grief, God was growing another family for these beautiful boys. God does not promise to keep us from suffering. But He does promise to deliver us from evil. If we choose to love Him, He promises to grant us the desires of our hearts. Even if our desires are not know fully to us. We prayed for the love of children. It didn't matter the age, gender or circumstances. We knew we had love to give and we just needed children who could receive it. So today I was in complete AWE of a God so grand.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHW59rbbeU0LEo9h8j4Xh6VYYqAF7hWBwLHm_6SEx_yeQp-lySh6woXVv9cxEKZosTMWvY5bAxCNlud1ya3IB-hCzOyhVsFi3ofU-pIAQcsdafj9wK4Zdix8ZukiAqLUKL-zr75HhEpevM/s320/IMG_0827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527379660336512850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is what pure joy can look like if we trust in HIM. </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not at all what I thought my family would look like in 1999 when I was 17 years old. But in 2010 at 28, I can't dream of it any other way.</div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-22734401877953090632010-10-02T19:01:00.000-07:002010-10-02T19:41:39.630-07:00Apple Picking, Soccer, Flu and Freak Storms<div style="text-align: left;">Last weekend we had the opportunity to get together with some of Nick's extended family. They came up for apple picking, or so they thought. Our weather has been weird enough this summer that the apples weren't quite ready. However the raspberries were delicious. We picked three baskets full and managed to avoid the bees. The bees were everywhere. Sintayehu DID NOT enjoy this activity and he made sure everyone knew it. It was really frustrating. Everyone else was having a good time though. We moseyed down the way to another family favorite ranch and no picking there either but we were able to make some Apple Cider. This was more Sintayehu's speed. (It was in the shade. He is not a heat kid and it was like the hottest weekend of the year.) Later we went to the park for a picnic with the family. The kids all got to play together and it was fun to see the boys hang out with their cousins.</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEG2N0_q2-_rnvx8D4Dlw9Jf57-oxAPsmcwzLgfPMcWulebiOTYn88D_YntSI4BuOT30UjOuztnWxDwH8LfLUxgkxTbB1Dkhd1AcgJm3MrwWggnmsWv6i0MssWEKA2M2Aufjyb7U8XTaU/s320/IMG_0813.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523639315737252898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iGc5BSnL7nc2RQq9bUXEowV4uAG2x1pjYsFgoSAS1cIFiRIc3IaZUlRPjN6r7TZsnlqrNgqzejZNQkyb3StGkdWwSMZ1CMmYwqgjgvw5X2yuZAdO-op8-DyuoKVV4MCYupLi89wL65Vf/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iGc5BSnL7nc2RQq9bUXEowV4uAG2x1pjYsFgoSAS1cIFiRIc3IaZUlRPjN6r7TZsnlqrNgqzejZNQkyb3StGkdWwSMZ1CMmYwqgjgvw5X2yuZAdO-op8-DyuoKVV4MCYupLi89wL65Vf/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iGc5BSnL7nc2RQq9bUXEowV4uAG2x1pjYsFgoSAS1cIFiRIc3IaZUlRPjN6r7TZsnlqrNgqzejZNQkyb3StGkdWwSMZ1CMmYwqgjgvw5X2yuZAdO-op8-DyuoKVV4MCYupLi89wL65Vf/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fGAKmfFg6oaCc-VlpV7NptjnZq1dOx2ubv08qc5Ko7LmV-2J7cPhA23MaOWySzd1DDTqBwtkHritJaF0fTt7Fe_cMTdilVicVOiPwyL9l-wVqyd2BpKD1Uy4B4_giHnRRxssj-decN0O/s1600/IMG_0945.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4fGAKmfFg6oaCc-VlpV7NptjnZq1dOx2ubv08qc5Ko7LmV-2J7cPhA23MaOWySzd1DDTqBwtkHritJaF0fTt7Fe_cMTdilVicVOiPwyL9l-wVqyd2BpKD1Uy4B4_giHnRRxssj-decN0O/s320/IMG_0945.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523639333639872610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /> </a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2x_z6W78c1NP8rNYo4GYbm5bJSA45-HrDp63-RwqRKu_9r-Krw776Zndjt4wzCFFWX3twx6yDS7fXnd3bv8nARI9ojEuZfG_NPEMBbBheod7oAibm-r8sBCNHIExqEZB5NjIpIQmGcZx/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2x_z6W78c1NP8rNYo4GYbm5bJSA45-HrDp63-RwqRKu_9r-Krw776Zndjt4wzCFFWX3twx6yDS7fXnd3bv8nARI9ojEuZfG_NPEMBbBheod7oAibm-r8sBCNHIExqEZB5NjIpIQmGcZx/s320/IMG_0850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523639325566587314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iGc5BSnL7nc2RQq9bUXEowV4uAG2x1pjYsFgoSAS1cIFiRIc3IaZUlRPjN6r7TZsnlqrNgqzejZNQkyb3StGkdWwSMZ1CMmYwqgjgvw5X2yuZAdO-op8-DyuoKVV4MCYupLi89wL65Vf/s1600/IMG_0827.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9iGc5BSnL7nc2RQq9bUXEowV4uAG2x1pjYsFgoSAS1cIFiRIc3IaZUlRPjN6r7TZsnlqrNgqzejZNQkyb3StGkdWwSMZ1CMmYwqgjgvw5X2yuZAdO-op8-DyuoKVV4MCYupLi89wL65Vf/s320/IMG_0827.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523639320878923698" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWZlIyn1ccUU7EBA1rcg9ksjmMOtG2yGcmrwO9V-jLYYoSbPxjXBBCOpx8UYxsyEJ1I-0mLVV8wol_yWdEfyYJNUhNwp-MDS9c5xqo4sQUOiZeczZyuAKGG8wz97TcpSbEbB_5GqUmNpl/s320/IMG_0971.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523639336570808242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEG2N0_q2-_rnvx8D4Dlw9Jf57-oxAPsmcwzLgfPMcWulebiOTYn88D_YntSI4BuOT30UjOuztnWxDwH8LfLUxgkxTbB1Dkhd1AcgJm3MrwWggnmsWv6i0MssWEKA2M2Aufjyb7U8XTaU/s1600/IMG_0813.jpg"></a>We have been loving watching Sintayehu grow in his soccer skills. He is doing so well. We are just waiting for his confidence to grow. He plays to the ball and gets frustrated when he doesn't get the results he wants. But he's improved so much already.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj493SSDmQRGB3f1GGICNlJYgYPDUN6r-FlkBYJY8ndzXcY06Rc6NfK-jjTFg6MxlvBEVme_rYX_w398f7tM95N_9AJNbbHaO5gQI1sxwGa48Tjc4MPDQJDRSWLFBTTfJwtU5s023PJlFts/s1600/IMG_1038.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj493SSDmQRGB3f1GGICNlJYgYPDUN6r-FlkBYJY8ndzXcY06Rc6NfK-jjTFg6MxlvBEVme_rYX_w398f7tM95N_9AJNbbHaO5gQI1sxwGa48Tjc4MPDQJDRSWLFBTTfJwtU5s023PJlFts/s320/IMG_1038.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523641499386700690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzUYu70cSsnCT2rCkWB4bpZOGvmLxj-InyqKLspszz2dCmUzjTPoyhFW1w6hpRM4vTcNa_68wIZmjgGXtDJQiG5Dhq-d1-frvTtBaB9bINgS3IjWgyvtLufdJ0OT4k0JcElz6wUIWQXEI/s1600/IMG_1017.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzUYu70cSsnCT2rCkWB4bpZOGvmLxj-InyqKLspszz2dCmUzjTPoyhFW1w6hpRM4vTcNa_68wIZmjgGXtDJQiG5Dhq-d1-frvTtBaB9bINgS3IjWgyvtLufdJ0OT4k0JcElz6wUIWQXEI/s320/IMG_1017.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523641495791081666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gvsxknLNZq92deTUBxg1VNI9Uwb_VYlCRoLErRzh9WJIYvtBi_QYnwra7GnQBVzbQryONKJ5VknxZo_dfnb4LR9_n6PZuK3JbWFN6y3dfxe_2KP5zWLlSHGvKkmBsxONVvZ37dU9loGw/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gvsxknLNZq92deTUBxg1VNI9Uwb_VYlCRoLErRzh9WJIYvtBi_QYnwra7GnQBVzbQryONKJ5VknxZo_dfnb4LR9_n6PZuK3JbWFN6y3dfxe_2KP5zWLlSHGvKkmBsxONVvZ37dU9loGw/s320/IMG_1008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523641492431744082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot9wcaX-VAjcU5_HhkVmekfQYmPrF5C7vjEcKyBEughHQajlzNtCt2yHZ878zghVJVHtwl06OQSRYkDO2czqcy4U_v_N6sBrvfLbs_swbmTfRZFRZGRt-32jN1kM3UOyWbkz5ifp1Ej_e/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhot9wcaX-VAjcU5_HhkVmekfQYmPrF5C7vjEcKyBEughHQajlzNtCt2yHZ878zghVJVHtwl06OQSRYkDO2czqcy4U_v_N6sBrvfLbs_swbmTfRZFRZGRt-32jN1kM3UOyWbkz5ifp1Ej_e/s320/IMG_1014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523641480505227922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Last week I managed to catch some kind of stomach bug. Ugg. Being sick is ten times worse as a mom. So much to do and I couldn't do anything but run back and forth from the bathroom to bed. But my mom came and helped while Nick was at work and Nick was awesome and got Dawit out of the house on Friday so I could get some more sleep. Today I am finally feeling better. By about noon I was able to stand with out the nausea. I can't tell you how many people thought we were pregnant. EVERYONE. But we aren't. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today we had a great thunderstorm around 4:00. It was awesome. We played a family soccer game and had a great time. Sintayehu felt like he was back in Ethiopia. It was a lot of fun and fairly our of sorts for our neck of the woods. So we just enjoyed it.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4zNLZzDBAurmKqLUjgd6SHQTj0LuOrJlIMvpzHmt442awKqFJ-KLu8eM7G0gtm3MF3crZExEyfxM7mQrnyNHbYWPaxSXg7APp6nH5PsHD_ByhJZgjhLSc7ntuN7c2FsCfgyDFqmF0wj8/s1600/IMG_1116.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4zNLZzDBAurmKqLUjgd6SHQTj0LuOrJlIMvpzHmt442awKqFJ-KLu8eM7G0gtm3MF3crZExEyfxM7mQrnyNHbYWPaxSXg7APp6nH5PsHD_ByhJZgjhLSc7ntuN7c2FsCfgyDFqmF0wj8/s320/IMG_1116.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523644231833308098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Ip79rDev7vetwb9b5NwXW5N8klw8PWcqg1exk0gDTDBBmBLxw8h43qR2zZOfCoO0uY_JoHbv5m4SOHIpMaA9di9U7p6j6Dpa2tZSREeK-R0ZX2knTyh7Fa01XKKN1fY4_7Zw0WriPXG/s1600/IMG_1122.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_Ip79rDev7vetwb9b5NwXW5N8klw8PWcqg1exk0gDTDBBmBLxw8h43qR2zZOfCoO0uY_JoHbv5m4SOHIpMaA9di9U7p6j6Dpa2tZSREeK-R0ZX2knTyh7Fa01XKKN1fY4_7Zw0WriPXG/s320/IMG_1122.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523644226874058290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Q5-wHsCcZwH-v3eLLlOrgEZPgakz-5ORtmntFwWoNCRbPxjyjUf1HwomymDPffX18fXRGrCyJVU8j5ve3sTQ9MuX19iDcttJ_7jtXGjnODiLFnF09mDgOUUmRHKFMaGAE5-48NqBL8q/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Q5-wHsCcZwH-v3eLLlOrgEZPgakz-5ORtmntFwWoNCRbPxjyjUf1HwomymDPffX18fXRGrCyJVU8j5ve3sTQ9MuX19iDcttJ_7jtXGjnODiLFnF09mDgOUUmRHKFMaGAE5-48NqBL8q/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523644219465533842" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnX10OU89p8I7doXN4MLFMVD8Im_5qqvn2s95hpp7OilmKul3CpHTbaVeBYnWLHfWvFD4K9-g-ZT06rzZWz4Jrub934UhyphenhyphenR8yGIhmQIQgVA80la6DvxXthgIoVd2npZH6Svi64-l2RIIlh/s1600/IMG_1152.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnX10OU89p8I7doXN4MLFMVD8Im_5qqvn2s95hpp7OilmKul3CpHTbaVeBYnWLHfWvFD4K9-g-ZT06rzZWz4Jrub934UhyphenhyphenR8yGIhmQIQgVA80la6DvxXthgIoVd2npZH6Svi64-l2RIIlh/s320/IMG_1152.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523644212399051506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqZXk3OlcWlxOiKJeCOuW4m2KB2jXUhhcn1l45Lb-kb-AlSsvwVsSbDxg-XwljOWL0U7Oof1CiSLiQtklg2Yr8Rc9AOYRMkxRI4_2J9kY0_ihK4G33LZnqRMuudKEkZnBnvIG7nucEGR8/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqZXk3OlcWlxOiKJeCOuW4m2KB2jXUhhcn1l45Lb-kb-AlSsvwVsSbDxg-XwljOWL0U7Oof1CiSLiQtklg2Yr8Rc9AOYRMkxRI4_2J9kY0_ihK4G33LZnqRMuudKEkZnBnvIG7nucEGR8/s320/IMG_1156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523644208558423442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-2232083102423014322010-09-17T21:48:00.000-07:002010-09-17T22:07:00.113-07:006 monthsToday, our boys have been home for six months. It's funny, the time has flown by but it also seems like they have been our family forever. I just finished reading through all of the posts since they have been home. We've been busy ;). Oh my. It's so amazing to think how all of our pain, with the waiting and delays, has just absolutely disappeared. The boys have just filled up our lives with a love that I had never known. It's incredible, my relationship with them has caused so many other relationships to grow as well. <br /><br />Nick and I are closer than ever. We may not have all of the alone time we we would like and our conversations are constantly interrupted but we have been filled with such a joy that we share together. <br /><br />My mom and I are much closer. It took a little bit as we were finding our footing and what we could all handle; but my appreciating for her patience and willingness to help put or hang back has quadroupled. Plus I don't know how she managed all 3 ignite extra-curricular schedules. <br /><br />Watching the patience my Dad has with the boys just makes mr respect him all the more. He is a very loving grandfather and Dad. <br /><br />Nana and Poopa just absolutely adore the boys and thoroughly enjoy spending time with them. And they are always there for an encouraging word, we know how self soubt can haunt a parent<br /><br />And my relationship with God has changed as well. Not because of a fulfilled promise but I can fully understand God's love for us. I couldn't quite comprehend his willingness to die on a cross for us. But I one hundred percent understand his desire for us to choose to love and praise Him. <br /><br />I have been working on a slideshow but it's not done. Hopefully this weekend unwilling post it. Tomorrow, Nick and I are going to our 10 year reunion. Grandma is taking te boys to chuck e cheeses, so hopefully Sintayehu won't be upset that he is not invited. He thought it was really rude to put No children on the invitation. <br /><br />For six months we have loved, battled, cried, mourned, grieved, rejoiced, learned, and grown. I can't wit to see what life continues to have in store for us.Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-11593295358375119132010-09-17T21:00:00.000-07:002010-09-17T21:04:39.199-07:00TeethMy little man has not one but two loose teeth. He is so excited. I am so bummed. My baby is growing faster than I think is ideal. He wont look like a little kid with those gigantic teeth in his mouth. This is all just going too quickly. Today I decided our family will stay 28, 11, and 5 forever. Someone let me know where I can buy that machine to freeze time.Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-89417682212245763132010-09-15T09:55:00.000-07:002010-09-15T10:11:12.753-07:00Ethiopian New Year, Soccer and Skateboarding<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsi6DzDGaNH1abRS4b3zZxQnmuKIGeQlJ70B7eTXw6pwcjRcMJNba299gV-uhkUQPr6PDLFqZcYs99hxerjjxfO85YjYK6zcQ4vJC9Ib8uF3zOSr3Lt2tUKB5IK1jumYI96CBvBGDE95j/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsi6DzDGaNH1abRS4b3zZxQnmuKIGeQlJ70B7eTXw6pwcjRcMJNba299gV-uhkUQPr6PDLFqZcYs99hxerjjxfO85YjYK6zcQ4vJC9Ib8uF3zOSr3Lt2tUKB5IK1jumYI96CBvBGDE95j/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517185911064522482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuPYqe-NtikrH_YJOIwZNsj27j2BqcZE6eSWJW8Dsk3s4nwV4UVhzb5JtQiACOiV-7bEOdzZBoybQyRJ3q7Ps_85nSjxLUoTkbZtNXnA9dz2SMd6igNqmY49Yp16LmJcAfo08nQjdB1cK/s1600/IMG_0789.JPG"><img style="display:block; 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margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaebjs8lpWBBNVBkQvuwDZ8K9J9DVj_iQCHPmSqekMtU-WxCnS0QFZQfvvW1_3Xtxo-MMzD3Mk0jI_lRpnKPn6-WvhFSG8sa8DaQI5OcdYIhlCF9pPG2bK2Ckns7zTRIrPx1zp28WFZfeb/s320/IMG_6558.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517187119982753826" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgHiQyn5mFS_kbJlcCY5VIIjT7mvvjdENpI5lonQU2TGspztij0JqkUXLhSQCO1DYMIkYQtIHywfNTc5FQhjmlzhxT2Jd2IzlVAWT_CzqVjP48Yt6zsnTm5LuP3JKYGRPP1EJfv2w3hiO/s1600/IMG_6564.JPG"></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgHiQyn5mFS_kbJlcCY5VIIjT7mvvjdENpI5lonQU2TGspztij0JqkUXLhSQCO1DYMIkYQtIHywfNTc5FQhjmlzhxT2Jd2IzlVAWT_CzqVjP48Yt6zsnTm5LuP3JKYGRPP1EJfv2w3hiO/s1600/IMG_6564.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgHiQyn5mFS_kbJlcCY5VIIjT7mvvjdENpI5lonQU2TGspztij0JqkUXLhSQCO1DYMIkYQtIHywfNTc5FQhjmlzhxT2Jd2IzlVAWT_CzqVjP48Yt6zsnTm5LuP3JKYGRPP1EJfv2w3hiO/s1600/IMG_6564.JPG"></a></u></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0UP23X4XWBmRH7UpnfhbVT8sck07KHDWSV8r8bRaOlMuUHsGlXFu419bvOB-XNRZS4KdtjDBslq0cq60tqhVlAQ7NfDFKRU9qH5b0hAB7R8RTOpF_9SAMsvZHNSBJGWiR6rPQjmr4N5x/s1600/IMG_6569.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij0UP23X4XWBmRH7UpnfhbVT8sck07KHDWSV8r8bRaOlMuUHsGlXFu419bvOB-XNRZS4KdtjDBslq0cq60tqhVlAQ7NfDFKRU9qH5b0hAB7R8RTOpF_9SAMsvZHNSBJGWiR6rPQjmr4N5x/s320/IMG_6569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517187149501774162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroZxJIWkbCK9r_bnWIi26SIX9t0lyYoep6imG5x2rgKVVu3qwwqHmNkBqxyfhGIbJTxLfe46rlicgtRiub_AV4cXcemKmQ5dNHoT0lP9lgFGFr-HjqvxLrxMDaoZdMWWmusros0cEV5p4/s1600/IMG_6565.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroZxJIWkbCK9r_bnWIi26SIX9t0lyYoep6imG5x2rgKVVu3qwwqHmNkBqxyfhGIbJTxLfe46rlicgtRiub_AV4cXcemKmQ5dNHoT0lP9lgFGFr-HjqvxLrxMDaoZdMWWmusros0cEV5p4/s320/IMG_6565.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517187143449762738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">We Are Blessed</div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-42221250996781509722010-09-01T17:09:00.000-07:002010-09-01T17:35:08.040-07:00Rocky StartToday I woke up to an 11 year old telling me we were late for school. We weren't. It was 5:45 in the morning and he didn't have to even wake up for another hour. Well the pestering continued and the morning turned into ka-ka. Each one of us yelled at someone. Every person in the house hit. And we were all miserable. Plus ants invaded every room in the house.<div><br /></div><div>I needed to re-do the morning. I wish I could. I went down to their level and I shouldn't have. So I am making it up. I prayed for patience, peace, understanding of the crazy mood swings. And thank God, I was renewed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our afternoon has been wonderful. Homework is going smoothly. Little man went down for a nap and we will soon be taking showers so we can go to Bible study.</div><div><br /></div><div>All I have to say is Thank you Lord for your constant power. You are so big and perfect. I constantly fall short and fail in so many areas, yet I remain in Your grace. I don't deserve redemption and renewal but You are faithful. Please use me as you see will. I am your servant and I will answer your call. Thank you for your abundant blessings. Amen</div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-26462484549807986842010-08-31T12:57:00.000-07:002010-08-31T13:23:35.043-07:00WhirlwindLast week went by so quickly. The Crain household was thrown into a blender and we all came out barely damaged. <div><br /></div><div>I went back to work last week and while I only work part-time, the first week of school is a full week to get routines going, get to know the kids, and meet the parents. It was so difficult being away from the boys all week. I wasn't getting home until 4:30 or 5 and we were going straight to soccer practice, bible study or some other function. So it was a long week that went by in a blur. Plus add our 115 degree heat and a broken air conditioner, I was not a happy camper.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Saturday, Sintayehu had opening ceremonies and his first "unofficial" soccer game. It was just a scrimmage, but they were in uniform, there were refs, and the mayor blew the whistle for the start of the game. Sintayehu was on cloud- nine. He had quite the cheering squad, Grandma, Poopa, Grandma Kathy, Uncle Richard and Trinity all showed up to watch his game. When his team scored, he ran to the nearest kid on his team and hugged him. It was really cute. Here are a couple of pictures from the game:</div><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsLNUmdhXnPrb_jBmMkxvfBqwtMa6bppDiw-QyOnuxC-wGOP6ju5aUI0ZEUhkvXBFtg69CEOfqINwdK0SQ2zmcZbf9blatXWa0DTpO9wLLTC7EfiKHwE9uXJNHwVd0neqRGL5aDJ7G52OA/s320/IMG_6504.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511667509610367714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">He got to do the kick off so he was super excited</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizapaO3gEzCWd9Pz1hNrGcwaukSQJDGP4vgooUo02COZ3Hz6p1dHjZF1uG7W2lI_j8jtKbLD-At5di8AU8YefHym4kiX963Xf3_LfzcV2rPBoM2KFWHS8ExQPazT6H0ssffdg-woDVMtTi/s320/IMG_6518.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511667516204896898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Running for the ball</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX0C89Rigq28PTZpw2NleSXuNSvwNnsCDOomSvB6-j83P3oTGm7JbUJ36iLb1WJjNOOl1xkLpjAsXUwCkwbfZ-34O3ef9xiuFcxMfwhNlDz9HF4csfgtvu4CAPWE4hQKDyUIZdYVAz-Xb/s1600/IMG_6539.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX0C89Rigq28PTZpw2NleSXuNSvwNnsCDOomSvB6-j83P3oTGm7JbUJ36iLb1WJjNOOl1xkLpjAsXUwCkwbfZ-34O3ef9xiuFcxMfwhNlDz9HF4csfgtvu4CAPWE4hQKDyUIZdYVAz-Xb/s320/IMG_6539.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511667534498292178" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">After the game.</div></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX0C89Rigq28PTZpw2NleSXuNSvwNnsCDOomSvB6-j83P3oTGm7JbUJ36iLb1WJjNOOl1xkLpjAsXUwCkwbfZ-34O3ef9xiuFcxMfwhNlDz9HF4csfgtvu4CAPWE4hQKDyUIZdYVAz-Xb/s1600/IMG_6539.jpg"></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This week I only work on Thursdays and Fridays so life is back on track. The boys behavior was so much better already. Mixing their routine up throws them for a loop which can be very difficult to navigate sometimes. </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sintayehu still loves school. I am proud of how well he is doing. He comes home and starts his homework with minimal hassle. We are working on him completing it and I checking it when he is done. His confidence level isn't very high for math so he wants constant reassurance that he is doing the step correctly. I am hoping by October he can do the lesson and let me look it over after he has finished. Luckily he is loving reading. He has almost finished all 4 "Diary of a Whimpy Kid" books in three weeks. He has about 40 pages left of the last book.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">His mother had instilled self pride and effort into him so well. She is a woman that I respect and hope to meet the same expectations. I am so honored to get to know her through them and to raise them with the same values.</div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-70629335474739506812010-08-18T15:15:00.000-07:002010-08-22T09:10:56.781-07:00First Days of SchoolSintayehu started school on Monday. He was so excited. I was able to get a few pics before school but I goofed and the battery died after only a couple. I did get video though. It was really cute to see how excited he was. I walked him to his classroom and met his teacher. He immediately found a friend and joined the boys in his class. <div><br /></div><div>When I picked him up he looked hot and tired. He said his brain was exhausted. It was difficult for him to translate so quickly. But he was eager to go back. Each day has gotten easier for him. He understands more and is slowly getting to know kids in his class. He got his first weekly progress report and the teacher said he is getting it. He got excellent on behavior, homework and classwork. He was even excited to do his weekend homework.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were fortunate in that his teacher has had three students from Africa in the past five years. So his teacher was really excited to learn about another African country. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dawit is still getting used to the day without his brother. On Day 3 of dropping off Sintayehu at school, Dawit says in a small little voice and a single tear on his cheek, "Good bye Sintayehu. I miss you" Check out the video of their reunion after the first day. *** sorry it's shakey. I was a bit excited myself ***</div><div><br /></div><div>I am also going back to school next week. It is so hard to leave them. I hate it. I may be exhausted, tired, and overwhelmed; but I want to be the one to see them wake up, get home from school and learn new things. I don't like missing those moments. I am praying for peace and understanding as I return to work. </div><div><br /></div><div>On a very happy note, our good friends the Doll's had a beautiful baby girl on Thursday. Her name is Ellery Von Doll. The family is healthy and smitten with their baby, and maybe a little sleep deprived. I am so excited for them. I can't wait to meet her, but I know how transition time is needed. So I am patient :)</div><div><br /></div><div><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w3bizfYBGAk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w3bizfYBGAk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-59501696285397741562010-08-14T18:46:00.000-07:002010-08-15T21:20:06.405-07:00Catching up Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpq8T-dgXochojrYpwyFnrpP4ox0X0J-6EwPeej0yX31arSZK5PGfEepga2aozBQX3X8UBxPi6JIUCb6BmlbWysahUVK1vXC7bM2EjTvfKni3CPnq_ykh16nAluG-fLToIf3mAyBm-SvM/s1600/IMG_6403.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpq8T-dgXochojrYpwyFnrpP4ox0X0J-6EwPeej0yX31arSZK5PGfEepga2aozBQX3X8UBxPi6JIUCb6BmlbWysahUVK1vXC7bM2EjTvfKni3CPnq_ykh16nAluG-fLToIf3mAyBm-SvM/s320/IMG_6403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505856620018168450" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>So...<div>We had Sintayehu's 11th Birthday party on Saturday. It was beautiful weather. The kids all played very nicely together. Again I was expecting melt downs, especially from the little man but he did really well. Sintayehu allowed him to help and they got along very nicely. It was lovely. Everyone stayed long enough to dig up some dinner and continue chatting. It was great to have family and friends together twice in one month.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:15.8333px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcWl-dJs69koXzxo1gXonOEMJllV5vhbX9LCIQ5a9prDFtnX1edHMjzB2UOwMBccBnIVLaTgzapYikW9YkBbUbKvB6B3mjV6oD3GdRzMnJLFDUbHHrOmWg5ANQQFst5-1EnTpI7xdqS0I/s320/IMG_6179.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505448890960262898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Opening gifts</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; font-size:15.8333px;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpTrZX2U7rChcvMlMV9-r9WpGFIJhMnkH5dAzFYuz9zCv-GZ1IKlMC5RWhH39LrXDiNPss3iQybMQcqSj_uJXir87e8LH4jCPIHrRxGY6BPY2qa0YG3ebbkqUfJKcfRQ-nmqSl3x4xFwC/s320/Photo+59.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505448878807450658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">It was a batman themed party</span></div><div>The next day we headed to church and after church we headed up the local mountains for some camping. Nick took this week off to spend as a family before there are some big changes (Sintayehu going to school, Me going back to work, and Dawit spending some days without his brother). It was great up there. The weather didn't peak above 75 the entire time we were there. The boys enjoyed the time up there. They learned how to play horseshoes, shuffleboard, and played some basketball with the "Big Boys" which resulted in some skinned knees. The boys also showed off their soccer skills and rode a horse for the first time. It was great. I told nick we should sell our house and live in a little trailer. And then no one would have to work. We could just spend our time as a family. He wasn't too keen on the idea. But we had a great time.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2FhD-WdUQugIHF1_usdsXWiox3S8ahRYOWZaxV4itUzD52GrmBjnvwjJ3dEusNM9omoDuWE46s-6BK-NqRP_6m57yu1qmpSeMbw_rB1f5-gRSFSv_JY6DZ85XDy3X0Sn5cu3DjHkTzSY/s320/IMG_6358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505451052005477362" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">D-man checkin on his brother</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIRUVQwCLX7LFRgUYIV0_5QEjM3jEUTTOg623-3Vx_a_JgThvWE9RGB9qJUgk-FvMt8Tma8APJu5jKlGpe7NnEp_cOCBd2-MuCf0963g91RiUOgDSsezEdNvptp52s6VyuXN762-r4hv9/s320/IMG_6218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505451046445969298" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Skills...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2r7fO4bKr6kq6VXVT1oK7GIp9cBZVctJ5kYuXhCmiSPqM6NBezYBJ96ulWZGD0613NgbVHI5K4m-PySNQ68UpwaHNizTnp7fCl9wqAE-xAWEZk8KT1ICCTFAcpOKLeAAReC4gAQt1GRut/s320/IMG_6308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505451030956467282" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Family photo</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBN7gZ7m4fsLSWtJG9XFRvoBdsBuvQa0VzKYMwVTLqCHW9cTZdRSK4csv4bqosMth3PTzoJSmVcVx4MJDQ_Ln26gAcI2HXXvyciANgm05bg3V4D3oUcHCsEXa8veaIOmdKHIwbvIhisdyg/s320/IMG_6267.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505451023408270466" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Rock Climbing</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oDwVh24qGR64CQALXexGN95Bx2J45qm2Py7GBuJ7nYH0MG_n5ozrb6Q3LfuBw5hOSp5bxmuWAvlk_EdW1zVycF1UcKZLgtVkY0b7Plu5nGMbLOz-SPmb9zHzljoHInynWq1NrU2uB0jM/s320/IMG_6208.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505451016940550082" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">A great way to carry your drink around the campground without looking like a lush.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;">Well we got home from camping and I called to get Sintayehu signed up for soccer and wouldn't you know it, he was going to have practice in two hours. So Nick and he ran out to get soccer gear while Dawit and I did some unpacking. We went to his first ever soccer practice and was tired but he loved it. He even asked to go running to build up his endurance. So cute. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpq8T-dgXochojrYpwyFnrpP4ox0X0J-6EwPeej0yX31arSZK5PGfEepga2aozBQX3X8UBxPi6JIUCb6BmlbWysahUVK1vXC7bM2EjTvfKni3CPnq_ykh16nAluG-fLToIf3mAyBm-SvM/s320/IMG_6403.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505856620018168450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-41344986838636019932010-08-13T21:03:00.000-07:002010-08-13T22:49:33.003-07:00Catching up part 1<div style="text-align: left;">We have had such a good time lately that blogging has been neglected. But we are starting to get back into the swing of routine. So much has happened in the last month and a half. The boys are doing so well. Their English is wonderful. I can't even tell you how much they have learned. They are my heroes and my inspiration. I can tell you that I will be a very different teacher this year. I am coming at teaching with a whole new perspective. They will have made me a more effective, compassionate, patient, and repetitive teacher.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am going to break this into a couple of posts. Updates on events, behavior, and how parenthood has changed me.</div><div><br /></div><div>So first this is what we have been up to.</div><div>In July we had Dawit's Birthday party. We were expecting total meltdowns from both of them and to our surprise, they were both patient and extremely well-behaved. We were blessed with the presence of many close friends and family. We tried to keep it a kid oriented party; so we invited family and friends with kids. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimVVwwwPVeWpwTbx_MNLhJUP5rsIDLnterZqFzsxiek9c7omnPZhRbeBR8km1Re715fGxu46V17WKAeQvp6-Y5dcgam_NqEf9ODheVCr-9sRmgwlWY2-knIsbv8FXLQUhrDqUGZEcaWbEA/s320/IMG_5726.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505114241438236834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Blowing out his candles.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAy6Fw4q0S0FXOvLWE-TaSR54p2yeZIx5_mUp_-n3XBL3RIT2itPQohA-3AysU3eKm7IxD0fFoN9m0Y6sSks3XDJAq0k6ixbznFR8Bv7BJK2SfjY_Q3piwfDhRwyvgdzsVwail80GcUJ4/s320/IMG_5733.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505113481804116690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">So excited for his car.</span></div><div>After his birthday was done and over with we started getting Sintayehu ready to go to camp at forest home. He was up there for a week. I wasn't comfortable with him spending the night, even though a very close friend was up there with him. So we dropped him off at 7:00 in the morning and Nick picked him up around 9:30 at night. On Wednesday, Nick went up as the male counselor and he was able to spend the last two nights up there. He loved it. I am not sure how much of the biblical message he understood, but the social aspect was wonderful. He was able to hang out with 300 kids that were the same age. He had to make choices, be responsible, and make friends. The experience was priceless and he made memories and bonds that helped him feel more welcome in the US. He realized he had commonalities with these kids even though he has grown up with a completely different background.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOjdH4XdoDIZ8DCX4yzwN4uOb_dxYsomulZ7-K0WjkVaKemgM808HpgTLytLSO7LdmOyFQOqbELEtXUoCgx3C7t_BaZUpJu5xlRnjEWMfMYpO3QGiqa6xKqV_I_UbvjbhvDCxrq8_V7eI/s320/IMG_5858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505117003703906690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The hike to their tent.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8nCWCEcW7H6GvOrRyrlBF-Pq_3_H5KW58Tr6ajdsC01kivb52AOxFr9vdxf4nYhHhRn5dTJXQ68_MZN_8YrXpCneybZRf_ZEghslU7faPA68j0E4iF-OfAoPbGOYhIbUwfKe-TTM2puDY/s320/IMG_5864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505116997388966786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Straight into the pool</span></span></div><div>Meanwhile, Dawit and I had a very busy week. We went to the water park with a great friend and her two kids. Dawit is right in the middle of their ages. It was 113* that day and even the water felt hot. The kids had a great time and it was wonderful to be able to have some time with another adult. We also went to the circus, where my camera died, but Dawit was amazed the entire time. His eyes were big and the smile was huge. All of the kids around us were asking for glow in the dark necklaces Dawit wanted the motorcycle that they were riding in the globe.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg7T85W1FWt8n7AL8Cqkp2EryYS1lGO1x0jtzWiK840y_IPkP3tWdNYVPYTikOduVEM046HGQwfLHP3xF7vBapD81KSeAPq7sOnMP93Ad3mofXoHVijrV9drSprgltNTGhA-7iwimsEiR/s1600/IMG_5890.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtg7T85W1FWt8n7AL8Cqkp2EryYS1lGO1x0jtzWiK840y_IPkP3tWdNYVPYTikOduVEM046HGQwfLHP3xF7vBapD81KSeAPq7sOnMP93Ad3mofXoHVijrV9drSprgltNTGhA-7iwimsEiR/s320/IMG_5890.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505125871633805122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sij1KY9ujjI-h6kC-WaBWiF-WLxcP5FlwOJCTHbjrfL02Q3JSWOMLtu0We1E7uuQIToiksqjASZfPY6WQPODH93crITDwVmhTladvQC7SgO6EM-kgrhrWFFbpzGVVs1U49HrfSTHFjak/s1600/IMG_5886.JPG"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My silly boy with his peanut butter sandwich.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Sij1KY9ujjI-h6kC-WaBWiF-WLxcP5FlwOJCTHbjrfL02Q3JSWOMLtu0We1E7uuQIToiksqjASZfPY6WQPODH93crITDwVmhTladvQC7SgO6EM-kgrhrWFFbpzGVVs1U49HrfSTHFjak/s320/IMG_5886.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505125866695980930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Yes, we are sitting outside the park eating because we are CHEAP. They want $7 for a hotdog...CRAZY!</span></div><div>It was Nick's Birthday while they were at camp so Dawit and I made a cake and a birthday banner for him. We had a delicious dinner and the boys behaved very well all day for Daddy. </div><div><br /></div><div>That following weekend we went to Camp Pendleton to camp with some great friends of ours. We had so much fun. Their were three families and the kids all got along great. It was a great time. It was some much needed connection with other families. We are so thankful to have the Brownings and Harris' in our lives. They fill our cups when they are low. Every family needs a few great people in their lives to help you keep going. They are ours. The kids swam in the ocean, flew kites, kayaked in the bay and we all went to see Toy Story 3. And of course, there were the campfires, where trivia, stories and jokes were being told. And the trip was topped off by a dolphin show in the waves not more than twenty feet out.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZRlXGOBAFco5y8HO_aJXOEuOPfLZhqgx9j3IX9AgNIa3buaEtSE6hjF9tOUgQbrjzO4R4kg4ObXqtLN1XXrAMxXnIW2gOAJfGtjtglkj0mck743H_Mvq5KGMD4obgzTFMXWXPboDElvO/s320/IMG_5907.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505128523411991314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Kayaking with the crew.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL7yxz7GKy_Axtk9Lr4nUa4K2ID8erVy5HO2QmI5YdLTLNsaKfQbKv5R5RbzCiEJyHGs5U5hA2583ANV1fnM0zZE6Ps7-MtXwBlerBgMR9SiGEQUTR8HQiiV1Lub8__cP4r3GiS5uiIDN/s320/IMG_5895.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505128513893424482" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Kids at Pizza Port in Carlsbad.</span></span></div><div>We celebrated my dad's birthday when we got home on Sunday. It was nice to swim and relax and of course, eat a delicious meal. It was a great evening and my whole family was there which is hard to do these days. The boys had fun playing in the pool with the family and my dad seemed so happy to have everyone home for his birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div>The next day the boys and myself were treated to the aquarium of the pacific by the Rosenbaums. They are this amazing family, who also just grew their family through Ethiopia, that live close by and are friends with very old family friends of ours. It is amazing the connections being made. We had a great time. Our boys enjoy their boys so much and little Ruby is just a little princess. I am praying that a deep friendship will develop with this family. </div><div>Sintayehu loved the seals. He told me he wants to swim with the seals for his next birthday. Dawit was in love with the "Scudda divers" I can't wait to break out our equipment and let them try it in the pool.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvnE1yRJ3ZdfQgFLc2pscOylGC9VDD9vABMCUT9pKwnCx2yxcnGHvrmMDcllncsneDgLEJfkZERh5rIekOpyAUhuTOtVAlDq7lB-SXDn1kuQtJoixt5iP7w-u0hRqMS0_HpNYPpYF0-FX/s320/IMG_6035.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505130903552783074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Feeling the sting rays and sand sharks.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5-CcKXStPWA4HTzm2Tw7-Z7YspbT54s0COJs4BOb7a11o13dJiSJxZqVvrhNg6ujUeRYRcdwF8NiK7c_OwZ2-urLBU7vvzYhrw69mT2ZnEKkYJkDr7rjeVU5frvNqQoBSzlZ4A5DDm8T/s320/IMG_6104.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505130892112996162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">Sintayehu's profile and the jellyfish.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JGNQrwUd4Xed-MpOHNx8EHv_hx9nxpIoc5ppSc2xotXBigQ8LlrS1A-4vQBaqwEp19pPqKkjNjYlu_FnfyzRVILZqyW3m9kIG3czxinBo30Etz5ZeuL89e80hx4x3Z3UQovTWAA_J6zP/s320/IMG_6101.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505130889378727858" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">He loved watching all of the animals.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">We enrolled Sintayehu in school last week. He is so exited. He brings it up several times a day. He was assigned a teacher and we tried to find his classroom but was denied access to the campus. Oh well, I think we might go check it out this weekend just to get some jitters and anxiety out. We got all of his school shopping done except for some clothes that he needs. He has grown so much in five months. 4.5 inches and 16 pounds. It's no wonder his legs hurt.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last weekend was Sintayehu's "11th American Birthday". His real birthday is March 14th but all of the legal paperwork says August 7th. This is quite a big deal for a kid, but that is for a later post. We started the celebrations Friday night in Los Angeles. We went to Little Ethiopia and let him choose which restaurant he wanted. We can highly recommend Rosalind's and the Merkato. Meals by Genet is a little pricier and has more of a European flare to it but the food is delicious. But he wanted to try a new place so we went to the Little Ethiopian Restaurant. It was small but the service was excellent as well as the food. They all doted on our little men. After they found out it was his birthday they brought out a full birthday cake with 11 candles and some Ethiopian coffee and chai. DELICIOUS!!! You have not had good coffee till you have had freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee. The men sitting in the bar each congratulated him and gave him money with their handshakes. He was excited. The people are beautiful and there are few better activities than listening to the comfort of the boys speaking in their native tongue. It is a warming feeling, and I feel privileged to be part of it. We gave Sintayehu an Ethiopian drum for his birthday that we bought while in country. When Dawit asked to play with it, he said,"yes, but be very careful, this is very special to me." It brought tears to my eyes to hear the excitement and gratitude in his voice. We were also honored to have two of the three grandmas with us on this trip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemOhJE0ErBLp8jBPRGM5BOIDLGkUQmKDQc9qsdnpzNZiuoBkWLf26iV81W2UYa_9hJjrKnApGeiUtqsWC7k9myCb3kplGRezewXFqT4r2FRQVVIB9jeLfkbzs2xYBAYCfMmI5xNRoSx0L/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505135957962320098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The family meal.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxTWEwnDyyGuG7AmCGov-x6Qe5OD24B6TusnDFO6tlk9CJm-1Z97P3a_JB1tS7a0pNHpYtVTOkdXrvP_PM1d9kd5lJhPTBvi1gmfNdhPqgfrwOtdWXUiu0r3sTuBjma9yoJYOEnPOlvKq/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505135950335059474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">MMMMM... Chai "pronounced shy"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFPHAUOT7E99fnwsaOQ4f5vBQ-oj_lhGATHfYJaN9xkg7JRGJN3fDr3NzRqIN_E-jFOGsKzC-DYA1dt4QttkuBvXguZdpXw9giqo7TxAukb1wZiyRT9w8jeucNrwp7gih_pjbtJ4PEew3/s320/DSC_0060.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505135938966124242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">My Love</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUvksbRpYMuLdSpncpXcRMWiXcr4G7ezOj9V6g9yqzsLjbJ6KwYtYbCDi7YlAWQfIqRs-M0PbmlRDpwa2yHNPvXhSxpgRlTdedugtZ4Ly9YzcaKKqen9ZvXck4l07KcNpxm1eGeHaCWVC/s320/DSC_0041.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505135933554371106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">The little drummer boy. They both had a surprising amount of rhythm. (You should see them dance. People will blame us for their lack of skills :) )</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">Well that takes us up to last weekend. I will finish tomorrow because I am exhausted.</span></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35e7ZzTF8SDUP5Y0c6bpTWRO8-z1WCRgi92UCtmk3BMuZHqZGerM-c1yBpCG6g09Owvpst4a5jSfWsvaaAaeUu2zv4cLwB4j2MyoOFzQVWoCJdYAfZIWHvjKLOVzaqSYsNk4px5sg3nln/s320/IMG_5808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505137690168086242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">And just because it was so funny to see all three of them in the little blow up pool. Right after the final World Cup Game.</span></span></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-40821786422670167632010-07-09T17:22:00.001-07:002010-07-09T22:45:09.158-07:00Five Years Old<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday was Dawit's Birthday.</div><div><br /></div><div>He woke up very excited. After I told him Happy Birthday, at 5:45 when he crawled in bed, he stood up and said, "I'm big!!" He looked down at me with a big ole' smile on his face. This birthday idea is new and he was so excited and anxious he was on the verge of tears all day. We ate his favorite breakfast; waffles and Chai. Then he played on the computer for a while. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was happy for him but five years old sounds so much bigger than four. Silly I know, but I am sad they are growing up. It was a year ago that we saw their beautiful faces and fell in love with them. His face has changed so much in a year. He looked like a baby in the referral pic and he looks like a elementary school kid now :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Well later that morning Grandma Kathy surprised us with a short visit and a Curious George Baseball bat. Then we joined Poopa for lunch to celebrate both of their birthdays. The boys were able to play in an arcade for the first time. They choose air hockey a couple of times and it was fun to watch them play each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>We ran to the store to get some ingredients for an Ethiopian Cuisine and then home again. Uncle Josh came over with a remote control car for the birthday boy. He loved it. He played with it for a good long.</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpIXtMSQ4MqVZFpquRnLNapfWT2JICvs-srCcrdTK1k4wRqIaQqrSWyeNq54Ht0vSzI1CTBSdLNmS7Fe9m9O-X_STdKogzFqllenmypoFk1TyaSteXGCURURh9vPO5lV4L2mEt3dXrYfJ/s1600/IMG_5614.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpIXtMSQ4MqVZFpquRnLNapfWT2JICvs-srCcrdTK1k4wRqIaQqrSWyeNq54Ht0vSzI1CTBSdLNmS7Fe9m9O-X_STdKogzFqllenmypoFk1TyaSteXGCURURh9vPO5lV4L2mEt3dXrYfJ/s1600/IMG_5614.JPG"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpIXtMSQ4MqVZFpquRnLNapfWT2JICvs-srCcrdTK1k4wRqIaQqrSWyeNq54Ht0vSzI1CTBSdLNmS7Fe9m9O-X_STdKogzFqllenmypoFk1TyaSteXGCURURh9vPO5lV4L2mEt3dXrYfJ/s1600/IMG_5614.JPG"></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Daddy finally came home and we ate a meal of turkey kulet, vegetable aleecha, sambusas, injera, and lentils. And then we had cake... It was so funny to watch his little face blow out the candles, not once, not twice, but three times. First on accident and then again just for fun. And then we gave him his big Tonka truck. His eyes lit up to the size of saucers. He was so excited.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is so amazing to think that God hand picked our family. A year ago we were trying to apply for our sons and this year they are out of the orphanage celebrating their life with us, their family. God is so amazing, so great, so wonderful, so perfect. I know it's hard to trust when life seems so uncertain, but our God is faithful. His plan is perfect, His time is perfect, He is perfect. Thank you God for being so big. Thank you for loving and caring for us. Loving us enough to give us this absolute gift of life. I am sorry for the worry and the doubt. Please forgive me for the questioning and self pity. Please help me to remain strong in my faith during the hard times as well as the great. But most of all please let your love and grace shine through me for all to see. Help me to sing your praises every day of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngDxDSPlgd5tyxbY8VgUl5ut0FECSuhJyw8wn7AOJ7NXFLJ7ZBXjv6sgtO9tui7IemlytU7SKLe3q6Gd5AWQ3yQS6jGw_coBr6rOwukoVubfx9Q9cz3xvSl3MYN5RSdz41zXSVh7sOJHd/s1600/IMG_5612.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngDxDSPlgd5tyxbY8VgUl5ut0FECSuhJyw8wn7AOJ7NXFLJ7ZBXjv6sgtO9tui7IemlytU7SKLe3q6Gd5AWQ3yQS6jGw_coBr6rOwukoVubfx9Q9cz3xvSl3MYN5RSdz41zXSVh7sOJHd/s320/IMG_5612.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492144933843705442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Racing at the arcade</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k3kApJyGp8tCDVEZhDGPOkBp1SjyjrDNHaVdpVqVNa8_vDC_Vr__pCXTmyWIjncEjpJAti5XDd5FPSjUX40h5AYeNvyozaq8Lvxgy6TZYAIfznCWwY2QA9JDk-aqihZTd0wKpP5IIRzv/s1600/IMG_5653.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5k3kApJyGp8tCDVEZhDGPOkBp1SjyjrDNHaVdpVqVNa8_vDC_Vr__pCXTmyWIjncEjpJAti5XDd5FPSjUX40h5AYeNvyozaq8Lvxgy6TZYAIfznCWwY2QA9JDk-aqihZTd0wKpP5IIRzv/s320/IMG_5653.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492141795300504066" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle Josh is caring for baby Marta</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGHwgrgpm_bddKNJNr2jWG9dkp0pgALyLEacQE5fbR5NUkEbwIHrnlbh8NIu5iKZHAVon_fGDdlJPRTOFyw65kVnByoOIaxwLkYz70mfdZdpI33pHwldoKH14SoyIbV7PYm_uhiXnJ0Q9/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG"></a></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGHwgrgpm_bddKNJNr2jWG9dkp0pgALyLEacQE5fbR5NUkEbwIHrnlbh8NIu5iKZHAVon_fGDdlJPRTOFyw65kVnByoOIaxwLkYz70mfdZdpI33pHwldoKH14SoyIbV7PYm_uhiXnJ0Q9/s1600/IMG_5638.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGHwgrgpm_bddKNJNr2jWG9dkp0pgALyLEacQE5fbR5NUkEbwIHrnlbh8NIu5iKZHAVon_fGDdlJPRTOFyw65kVnByoOIaxwLkYz70mfdZdpI33pHwldoKH14SoyIbV7PYm_uhiXnJ0Q9/s320/IMG_5638.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492141787141321922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">New present</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CfCjZ19xI7MoMBPYG9yiAmaD0_2UrrzMwsP46DFMo_M7OrvsV2GSuYo_AgJ37hDiFlRbj2HILkFbQmJ1xC-z_k2gd2JdZK2YucqYGnofj3xCu7kTjcL4LDaJ7eefCjuYra1mr2sU6VX0/s1600/IMG_5654.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CfCjZ19xI7MoMBPYG9yiAmaD0_2UrrzMwsP46DFMo_M7OrvsV2GSuYo_AgJ37hDiFlRbj2HILkFbQmJ1xC-z_k2gd2JdZK2YucqYGnofj3xCu7kTjcL4LDaJ7eefCjuYra1mr2sU6VX0/s320/IMG_5654.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492141806139792850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ethiopian cuisine</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37nKKaEVERXtYLDwqgundzHvdaZ0i8szgawAntbNCK7a-oUFUL0fDrAGCVquZVn6b-XjPEtBS2gcSe5gAIsiFuvys8dq2mUvpWjpu2fX7k1l8cuHS2q2PMEWwb4MzL68VbzdzkiOlMvDg/s1600/IMG_5657.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37nKKaEVERXtYLDwqgundzHvdaZ0i8szgawAntbNCK7a-oUFUL0fDrAGCVquZVn6b-XjPEtBS2gcSe5gAIsiFuvys8dq2mUvpWjpu2fX7k1l8cuHS2q2PMEWwb4MzL68VbzdzkiOlMvDg/s320/IMG_5657.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492142339239473554" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Feeding each other... Ethiopian Style</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvmzHOgZamx4e7hhyVFl4-KF9ni5D9ubS96MQS6-JAnWYjzATGqmAVIpVv9rnMN6m_cfJyobXFlIo5tFhQ3O5UC1G2he22xssFz5Hc-7PATtYnqAaUkb7c-Wb-YUFrvbD4py4pD-ZmrN4/s1600/IMG_5656.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvmzHOgZamx4e7hhyVFl4-KF9ni5D9ubS96MQS6-JAnWYjzATGqmAVIpVv9rnMN6m_cfJyobXFlIo5tFhQ3O5UC1G2he22xssFz5Hc-7PATtYnqAaUkb7c-Wb-YUFrvbD4py4pD-ZmrN4/s320/IMG_5656.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492141815229077778" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaRyKnQdOMBeKBfGPQyLOYlpcDrmadoWrvVSQcPfHDWqynTRz6mwiiRhmnIPUAgm8bzMk7-HQVdFuptqGfXtTpw5H96aN9dQLoSVBpQNeqOAYKE1l1-6Dphw-d5-8cOWGNCDkqCiHNF8S/s1600/IMG_5660.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifaRyKnQdOMBeKBfGPQyLOYlpcDrmadoWrvVSQcPfHDWqynTRz6mwiiRhmnIPUAgm8bzMk7-HQVdFuptqGfXtTpw5H96aN9dQLoSVBpQNeqOAYKE1l1-6Dphw-d5-8cOWGNCDkqCiHNF8S/s320/IMG_5660.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492142353589499026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJpRwx6bR426P83oUnhJMVcKKabPemnucY3ya0S0ra-7Rzbu-CGglFAziyaJsZnZWU4c97JfshwA2-RWjugUalJkizNSogcG2kDvXUBMLxEMC7rM5KjMa7GRLUt8swtsJCbQWYgb5GTQK/s1600/IMG_5662.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizJpRwx6bR426P83oUnhJMVcKKabPemnucY3ya0S0ra-7Rzbu-CGglFAziyaJsZnZWU4c97JfshwA2-RWjugUalJkizNSogcG2kDvXUBMLxEMC7rM5KjMa7GRLUt8swtsJCbQWYgb5GTQK/s320/IMG_5662.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492144947301020450" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhoZMZxXAeqderU3Ok6ixFAbi1peL1xgcPLuJYaeKBuSYTB-Wlye7oeaqss8Aq9GefCTuDhwFzc0w-5RUPU11gkGQL_dgWycV9d24UH3JrY1WLBzqpRVtjGbE1xdiEn4cjj9u-uUiD8VZ/s1600/IMG_5673.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Zega Jue?... are we ready?</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhoZMZxXAeqderU3Ok6ixFAbi1peL1xgcPLuJYaeKBuSYTB-Wlye7oeaqss8Aq9GefCTuDhwFzc0w-5RUPU11gkGQL_dgWycV9d24UH3JrY1WLBzqpRVtjGbE1xdiEn4cjj9u-uUiD8VZ/s1600/IMG_5673.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhoZMZxXAeqderU3Ok6ixFAbi1peL1xgcPLuJYaeKBuSYTB-Wlye7oeaqss8Aq9GefCTuDhwFzc0w-5RUPU11gkGQL_dgWycV9d24UH3JrY1WLBzqpRVtjGbE1xdiEn4cjj9u-uUiD8VZ/s320/IMG_5673.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492142347890636418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making a wish and blowing out the candles</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqROaQMBZCgepPpZawOCTM3OFe0DEL3WJykmUB1NR6LTNYA9b8eHj6kzg4igY70hGzbzk_ChcLTLQlZ6TgP7Csan3EqZYrs5UafaAlNchygkI-PRbun8qKGfw4s_S7SwPKuNDJFMz7i3K/s320/IMG_5679.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492142363752446098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRUNESx0oxYlJC4epNAFHWwgF9JsRGZqWJ0ZtudlVHZAivSg7NjSDQWZ1ogrz10Gt6s_veY-UryXGN9tFHF2ODOQozF6sEcEhYvz3i0XqgmPGuTmb9ED_m9vvo4q1JwnYOaE4sQk-sieQ/s1600/IMG_5684.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRUNESx0oxYlJC4epNAFHWwgF9JsRGZqWJ0ZtudlVHZAivSg7NjSDQWZ1ogrz10Gt6s_veY-UryXGN9tFHF2ODOQozF6sEcEhYvz3i0XqgmPGuTmb9ED_m9vvo4q1JwnYOaE4sQk-sieQ/s320/IMG_5684.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492142370640311586" style="text-align: left; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is mine?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtAoItCjA4fNg6x7BZU3-UEpcd3IbTcKSkFd1NAJ1G8wrUlkm3_MQrlRFkoafZjaIpOmwccmrXEVveIUKk4mkeloheeq0Blz94QXbD7BzoE3hZslyR8RXUeM1zS_jXqIZePYEW7BRSg3j/s1600/IMG_5694.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtAoItCjA4fNg6x7BZU3-UEpcd3IbTcKSkFd1NAJ1G8wrUlkm3_MQrlRFkoafZjaIpOmwccmrXEVveIUKk4mkeloheeq0Blz94QXbD7BzoE3hZslyR8RXUeM1zS_jXqIZePYEW7BRSg3j/s320/IMG_5694.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492144941259262898" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The smile says it all</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzM_k35jieaW1obhjIiCD3fUAd9cbvlPXtC_2YDzx4YiXocrral6CXo7HnxuPcx-YqL3b6wLTJXbFQBdxVswFlh_g1IXcr5Hrtge0EWsmMqsDhpJf3b6xnUyoq1nFmiRs0wOEV2HKeWIxj/s1600/IMG_5696.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzM_k35jieaW1obhjIiCD3fUAd9cbvlPXtC_2YDzx4YiXocrral6CXo7HnxuPcx-YqL3b6wLTJXbFQBdxVswFlh_g1IXcr5Hrtge0EWsmMqsDhpJf3b6xnUyoq1nFmiRs0wOEV2HKeWIxj/s320/IMG_5696.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5492144956807925314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Momma I love it</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/r7HdgSJzeC8&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/r7HdgSJzeC8&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-48055763820920038682010-07-06T21:19:00.001-07:002010-07-06T21:54:23.339-07:00MIA from the blogworld<div style="text-align: left;">Yes I am apologizing. Not that many people read this... I keep it mostly for myself. But we have been just enjoying our family so much that by the time everyone is in bed, I am beat which means no time for blogging. Our boys are growing leaps and bounds. We are getting ready for the little man's birthday this weekend. He is so excited. The excitement seems to get the best of him some times and melt-downs happen. Oh well.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have seen some regression in Dawit's behavior; ie: thumb-sucking, needing to be held and cuddled more, being rocked to sleep at night. Our therapist told us this was actually a good sign. She explained that he is letting down his guard and is depending on us, which means attachment is occurring. Yeah!!! </div><div><br /></div><div>Sintayehu on the other hand is becoming more independent. He is playing with age appropriate toys and games and doesn't want the baby stuff like he did when he first came home. Again Big Yeah!!!! Their English amazes me. They can both speak in complete sentences. Questions get all mixed up but we get the gist of the question. I get a little worried when they talk to others. I totally understand what they are saying but through the accents and the jumbled sentences, some people get very confused. But they are learning.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are going to the beach tomorrow. It will be our first official day at the beach. We went to San Diego but it was a quick ocean trip. Basically exposed them and took pics and left. So it will be fun to play in the water. It's supposed to be cold so who knows how it will end. Their temperature tolerance is very small.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have two bike riders now. They both can ride with out training wheels. They were very excited. I think Dawit was just as excited for Sintayehu to ride as he was for himself. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nick and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary last week. We went to a Grease sing a long at the Hollywood Bowl with some very good friends. It was great to be able to have a second glass of wine and grown up talk with out any interruptions. I didn't realize Nick and I don't have full conversations anymore. They are usually only 1-2 sentences interrupted by questions, whining, or fighting. So we decided the kids are going to bed earlier so we can have some husband/wife time. It was really hard leaving the kids. And they did not seem to like being left behind. They had fun with Grandma, but their feelings were hurt.</div><div><br /></div><div>We celebrated the fourth of July with lots of swimming and eating. Dawit slept through the fireworks. Sintayehu's amazed face was priceless. Like a bonehead, I didn't take any pictures so that beautiful expression will be burned in my and Nick's memory forever</div><div><br /></div><div>We are utilizing the free/cheap activities around. We have been to the movies, concerts in the park, played the drums at the library and there is much more to come. It has been so fun spending time with them. I love being a mom. It is the second greatest thing ever. The first is being a wife. I am so abundantly blessed by God's grace and graciousness. </div><div><br /></div><div>ps. if you are waiting to bring home your kiddo/s, hold on the end is close and it's all a distant memory once they are in your arms. It is the greatest gift God will give you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXegrIhxEz0rkUkpRCEJ4-CWrjr2GCQrjEDFuaA7SLTkU_bIeI6uxNw4b39k86aDA3wk3YOyL0uCNaCq1kxFmvfn8l4oTm552o8SMn6wJSgEWvs6ztTWuT5ZVSej2Pv9dyREDt5z3NOMpe/s1600/IMG_5538.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXegrIhxEz0rkUkpRCEJ4-CWrjr2GCQrjEDFuaA7SLTkU_bIeI6uxNw4b39k86aDA3wk3YOyL0uCNaCq1kxFmvfn8l4oTm552o8SMn6wJSgEWvs6ztTWuT5ZVSej2Pv9dyREDt5z3NOMpe/s320/IMG_5538.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491020539364842930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Wahoo the little wheels are gone</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip50aoFVHK7RyxDEDJHXYjPWkkqNyos8ukzB5Hc0-ndzRD1m4su25xwMQy_3cuPWgD0tROayzb-_Gb3b3fxUEBUt8TeHiYF9w-HA5im1sPg0il18dvcWoG3-oc_35c7BHHjXLoRhY9gmbQ/s1600/IMG_5546.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip50aoFVHK7RyxDEDJHXYjPWkkqNyos8ukzB5Hc0-ndzRD1m4su25xwMQy_3cuPWgD0tROayzb-_Gb3b3fxUEBUt8TeHiYF9w-HA5im1sPg0il18dvcWoG3-oc_35c7BHHjXLoRhY9gmbQ/s320/IMG_5546.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491020530895262578" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Yep, all three men in the house got matching tattoos</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Qh8gyNIo6Ej89zpwbTP3W6cUNWPnjYkVExXNc38NJDmYx1ObB9BD0Nb_oulAA9Web4PlqG_lALs2aXwggenZBlobj1L6o7G-Z37uy01UegG7hp5pKkdOYrki9q4_XzNzpkIoZKqJyXR/s1600/IMG_5532.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Qh8gyNIo6Ej89zpwbTP3W6cUNWPnjYkVExXNc38NJDmYx1ObB9BD0Nb_oulAA9Web4PlqG_lALs2aXwggenZBlobj1L6o7G-Z37uy01UegG7hp5pKkdOYrki9q4_XzNzpkIoZKqJyXR/s320/IMG_5532.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491020520612405090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Level 3 percussion at the library. These were the coolest drums, sound shapes.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ER3M393QIPJgPAl-JurxSMzpieC-zpsKTvUZiuCBMq7HwaIeG7C2Hc8RcxZHHfrBHo6nUZ7IXmvuLLL3yczjoh1rRn4xaPuo5LVg_PaVXi5hyphenhyphenmg3Ckj-xUcpapOe6fHX5kwxi8z2m9zC/s1600/IMG_5442.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ER3M393QIPJgPAl-JurxSMzpieC-zpsKTvUZiuCBMq7HwaIeG7C2Hc8RcxZHHfrBHo6nUZ7IXmvuLLL3yczjoh1rRn4xaPuo5LVg_PaVXi5hyphenhyphenmg3Ckj-xUcpapOe6fHX5kwxi8z2m9zC/s320/IMG_5442.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491020511708135170" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Look No Training Wheels!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSvHrDMicpw2eScnjLbToFynYabOBDXs09AJ6A4e5xPN1x1Iq3tz1qfIKmmoXx_OL964fOQks20jHyq8RW2gzyWpo9lSr6-g_DeSWsUEE977hRBZFRim_SV17ch0P4JTjTxKbN70Fz8dt/s1600/IMG_5431.jpg"></a></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSvHrDMicpw2eScnjLbToFynYabOBDXs09AJ6A4e5xPN1x1Iq3tz1qfIKmmoXx_OL964fOQks20jHyq8RW2gzyWpo9lSr6-g_DeSWsUEE977hRBZFRim_SV17ch0P4JTjTxKbN70Fz8dt/s1600/IMG_5431.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuSvHrDMicpw2eScnjLbToFynYabOBDXs09AJ6A4e5xPN1x1Iq3tz1qfIKmmoXx_OL964fOQks20jHyq8RW2gzyWpo9lSr6-g_DeSWsUEE977hRBZFRim_SV17ch0P4JTjTxKbN70Fz8dt/s320/IMG_5431.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491020504385172946" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Excited about his new overalls</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsK_2TKSBZNpI7kWLNXU4qXPDqhhkmfJgPJw2wJyLyULOUuCKk-2megfVrGeqraom6X18mkXNdsJR5brK4tzHP49S3-51_3s9R-rwd1tRBiRhonmlcK6vNxaKixp3T1Ztcd-NU_8hZ02O/s1600/IMG_5425.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsK_2TKSBZNpI7kWLNXU4qXPDqhhkmfJgPJw2wJyLyULOUuCKk-2megfVrGeqraom6X18mkXNdsJR5brK4tzHP49S3-51_3s9R-rwd1tRBiRhonmlcK6vNxaKixp3T1Ztcd-NU_8hZ02O/s320/IMG_5425.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491022314647317234" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a>Catching ants for the toads<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQP0_T7leLOzepxGsnZ5SRzf_rjVN0rMOq1TlIWJ-TePY0C5GfAPBDzQzeEVSMPP6oo9GgkxxVbp72WEMHgafzCDtuYdLYPEbqb9sFx0JGcFY4KTbi1Qzry1H8Hqkt5l9f9lsSLb0VLfS/s1600/IMG_5499.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQP0_T7leLOzepxGsnZ5SRzf_rjVN0rMOq1TlIWJ-TePY0C5GfAPBDzQzeEVSMPP6oo9GgkxxVbp72WEMHgafzCDtuYdLYPEbqb9sFx0JGcFY4KTbi1Qzry1H8Hqkt5l9f9lsSLb0VLfS/s1600/IMG_5499.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQP0_T7leLOzepxGsnZ5SRzf_rjVN0rMOq1TlIWJ-TePY0C5GfAPBDzQzeEVSMPP6oo9GgkxxVbp72WEMHgafzCDtuYdLYPEbqb9sFx0JGcFY4KTbi1Qzry1H8Hqkt5l9f9lsSLb0VLfS/s320/IMG_5499.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491022301347906626" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My baby</div><div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-10484036121664800932010-06-24T17:18:00.000-07:002010-06-24T17:41:10.845-07:00PerspectiveSince beginning the process of adopting and blogging, I have been obsessed with reading the details, dates, and progress of adoptions all over the world. I have read about God's work for the orphans, seen many types of fundraising, and triumphant unions that seemed hindered by Satan himself. In the end, all of the stories are joyful. In the end God wins. The families are united with their new son or daughter or both. Praise and rejoicing is called for. God has done what seemed impossible.<div><br /></div><div>Today I was a couch potato and through facebook, one thing lead to another and I ended up on a blog much different than my usual suspects, click <a href="http://notsobrightandshiny.blogspot.com/">here</a> if you would like to read about Sarah Jones journey through motherhood. While her journey started seven years ago with her son growing in her own belly, they have had to pray, trust, and fund raise for a different reason. Their son was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis and Prune Belly disease. He has spent his life fighting to breathe. If you read their story have tissue nearby. It hits you in the gut and makes you cry. The end of Conner' life is soon. They are fundraising not to start a new life but to commemorate one that is ending. If you would like to donate to Conner's funeral costs please go to their page and donate on the left hand side. They are 84% of the way there and he is in his final moments. These parents are fighters. They are believers. They are dedicated. They are parents preparing to say good by to their 7 year old son. Donate $5, $10, $100 whatever you can to ease there journey. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today I woke up feeling thankful for our own blessings; after reading their story thankful isn't even close to the word to use.</div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-81379125525160411232010-06-22T22:12:00.000-07:002010-06-24T10:13:11.805-07:00Summer, Father's Day and 3 months in America<div style="text-align: left;">This last week was pretty busy. We are officially on Summer Break. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Yahooooo</span>!!!! That means that I get to spend all my time with the boys. I love it. No more leaving them to go to work. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dawit</span> is starting to realize that I will be here in the mornings. He comes running in, anywhere between 3:30 and 7:00 saying "Mommy no work? Daddy go work?" Even though we are loosing sleep; life couldn't be better. And the improvement in behavior and attitudes has been huge. They still get mad; but who doesn't? Consistency is definitely a big deal in their behavior.</div><div><br /></div><div>We celebrated 3 months home last week. The boys have officially been in our care longer than in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">CHI's</span>. But unfortunately not their orphanage. (we have 16 more months before that is true) We are getting ready for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dawit's</span> birthday party. He talks about it often. He picked a curious George theme. </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAOaJuNA6REaR02jeKBBDkM1db2c47AUesD9ow6cHjb8L-VMa6pGUkbrUAHAYhomqaVqwGmMNGVniVj1vgasrNNjJWaxBgxi0TAr3QxeTSluPGvAnEa6sR_y8gwVijVras5Z1M2wOdVrO/s1600/_MG_6310.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAOaJuNA6REaR02jeKBBDkM1db2c47AUesD9ow6cHjb8L-VMa6pGUkbrUAHAYhomqaVqwGmMNGVniVj1vgasrNNjJWaxBgxi0TAr3QxeTSluPGvAnEa6sR_y8gwVijVras5Z1M2wOdVrO/s320/_MG_6310.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486386783138991666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">My Little Monkey is turning 5</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> He even prays for a happy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">George</span> party. It's very cute when he inserts it in the middle of his Amharic prayer. I love it. He usually gets a goofy grin on his face after he changes the prayer. And then will say, "pray like mommy daddy".</div><br /><div><br /></div><div>HUGE progress with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Sintayehu</span> this week. He officially stopped saying he doesn't like America. Again, just jinxed myself but what a great thing. He even said America was on his top 5 list of great things. Below Praying to God, Learning, and family; but it ranked above eating :) Talk about priorities. He has his figured out better than most adults. He is anxiously waiting to do some traveling this summer. Our vacations have to be short/cheap this year due to the traveling to Ethiopia, but we can do some great California trips.</div><div><br /></div><div>We made our first Ethiopian meal and I got two thumbs up from the boys. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Sintayehu</span> wanted to share his food with the families in our Bible study. So we made <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Kulet</span> (usually beef but we did turkey stew), miser <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wat</span> (without much pepper), and Amharic. The Miser <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">wat</span> was "perfect" according to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sintayehu</span>, and the others got a "thanks for trying" but in the end they liked them more than the ones they had at the local Ethiopian Restaurants. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Sintayehu</span> wants to start taping our meal attempts and put them on You Tube for other adoptive families. So that is our next adventure :)</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvWeg9lInt_0RkjcW8wdXsKGISv7nWG9CMHpCgt1Bd8vhodctt-0UAII2HATb0M6-iJhtVVQdoNvcy3iFHiI3j3eE1Z6LBEnL7cpgFsUV9A0UUSuRZIZwT6Sv_TxLg_VFyYUy18Hv8i2N/s1600/IMG_5377.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvWeg9lInt_0RkjcW8wdXsKGISv7nWG9CMHpCgt1Bd8vhodctt-0UAII2HATb0M6-iJhtVVQdoNvcy3iFHiI3j3eE1Z6LBEnL7cpgFsUV9A0UUSuRZIZwT6Sv_TxLg_VFyYUy18Hv8i2N/s320/IMG_5377.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486386769785042962" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Father's day went really well. We celebrated with Nick on Saturday. We went to Big Bear to a deserted mining town. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Sintayehu</span> was in 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> heaven. With all of the history and explanations of the years and events, he couldn't stop smiling. And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Dawit</span> liked climbing on the rocks. On Sunday, we hung out at my parent's house with my family and Bar-b-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">qued</span> and swam, according to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Sintayehu</span>, it was the best day because it was church and family (there are those priorities again). We took some cute pics for presents for father's day</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj260RQY1hYYIFjirCaCYCXCNGT35t79xiN0-hUOQsXDE4L3CHDTBUfsTUi97nBTU8SS1SD3Qp8LoNNCPahqFWBJC-twrn8vUzcGhtvNOONn4RFY3__-ylvzaZ0z7TQhTQLXx01-EbDWU3L/s1600/IMG_5406.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj260RQY1hYYIFjirCaCYCXCNGT35t79xiN0-hUOQsXDE4L3CHDTBUfsTUi97nBTU8SS1SD3Qp8LoNNCPahqFWBJC-twrn8vUzcGhtvNOONn4RFY3__-ylvzaZ0z7TQhTQLXx01-EbDWU3L/s320/IMG_5406.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486386751840624706" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Old Mine in Holcomb Valley</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlK82RqqrkxSYFiRhxZkU7DJYREA44EuFEMVs0Ugej6jwZZYNauUu3eqkO3T_GT3ikABfMl_59S6FPbhCUDzBvYiMgXjhKDdlo2_3ftq5NLPYcug-dok5NOhPzfUgNwmMcTt4jlNR5LD7/s1600/IMG_5402.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlK82RqqrkxSYFiRhxZkU7DJYREA44EuFEMVs0Ugej6jwZZYNauUu3eqkO3T_GT3ikABfMl_59S6FPbhCUDzBvYiMgXjhKDdlo2_3ftq5NLPYcug-dok5NOhPzfUgNwmMcTt4jlNR5LD7/s320/IMG_5402.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486386738919489906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing on Rocks in Holcomb Valley</div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71GQsJ76zXzrhaaWLonnFiL5B1Ble88El2oCha4T7TcCBn2aFuhrAh5QE8YR0FVMg3hAvLwLku_DPz6spGU7IwmtdBMfALuIlL9AiAdmNND3Wrqsq49Cxx5daqa1yp6ruogp0cf3qMT5k/s1600/_MG_5820.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71GQsJ76zXzrhaaWLonnFiL5B1Ble88El2oCha4T7TcCBn2aFuhrAh5QE8YR0FVMg3hAvLwLku_DPz6spGU7IwmtdBMfALuIlL9AiAdmNND3Wrqsq49Cxx5daqa1yp6ruogp0cf3qMT5k/s320/_MG_5820.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486386802044084018" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NvKOOKyjp-3hMjlwB4cKM-DjpqY-rIEXto53-xowtCMfJzdMhxSSSxG-kc6pt8EcWudmZP1QWlze9QQHweoAKK1g0V7wRehP82D3fukEvJIECSapxRQ4fyoA0Lvoqg178a03VE96-d9p/s1600/_MG_5803.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-NvKOOKyjp-3hMjlwB4cKM-DjpqY-rIEXto53-xowtCMfJzdMhxSSSxG-kc6pt8EcWudmZP1QWlze9QQHweoAKK1g0V7wRehP82D3fukEvJIECSapxRQ4fyoA0Lvoqg178a03VE96-d9p/s320/_MG_5803.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486388636030881266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXYjLKKI0_OjZYGvk1Kg2F9NMDP5ruAxgylTIr0iK5L7S2xNNEAOMAc602fQ7MLfplr7CBQ_en-C-yaMZ9XWP4IOc4T0H4JV4SBsMpO-m70lCbTk_6PBiEkT-EQtsgqIlZNW1vSOlHcou/s1600/_MG_5879.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXYjLKKI0_OjZYGvk1Kg2F9NMDP5ruAxgylTIr0iK5L7S2xNNEAOMAc602fQ7MLfplr7CBQ_en-C-yaMZ9XWP4IOc4T0H4JV4SBsMpO-m70lCbTk_6PBiEkT-EQtsgqIlZNW1vSOlHcou/s320/_MG_5879.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486388622113961122" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius7M5P7hxu2s4Oxu272gT-8bcHa0ZeAi7bS-2oQrSgpX8nCw4YmdYrAzc9b10Rz2Dj1vwA39IsSjeCuyzcdwSU4fQifvb72FGQRXxObT48ACilwSNkLBvKFboiEC53gP9KY6ZFTLod2HD/s1600/_MG_6198.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius7M5P7hxu2s4Oxu272gT-8bcHa0ZeAi7bS-2oQrSgpX8nCw4YmdYrAzc9b10Rz2Dj1vwA39IsSjeCuyzcdwSU4fQifvb72FGQRXxObT48ACilwSNkLBvKFboiEC53gP9KY6ZFTLod2HD/s320/_MG_6198.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486388604659658034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK3jF87WvRsKz5B9ina6j_QYeLWdlyEfMYQa4cXmz-Qv_a8ut71A6BERGb7ENdO3k7kntO3dDW9XSRTJ7sfRlpKZseOWXpcChqoDuxTKJEqHhyRFwKcl-4LVJZg-9pxy4UNAWcl8W417v/s1600/_MG_6119.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoK3jF87WvRsKz5B9ina6j_QYeLWdlyEfMYQa4cXmz-Qv_a8ut71A6BERGb7ENdO3k7kntO3dDW9XSRTJ7sfRlpKZseOWXpcChqoDuxTKJEqHhyRFwKcl-4LVJZg-9pxy4UNAWcl8W417v/s320/_MG_6119.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486388597206814610" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAJKe-Lcx7WQKz8CE_lhrnmnBvwG4sbl2_p_VFjN_F7BuViQ6IioloUa-ecK9KKFegTVT1bQVqKZoDGrrFtWagp96e30U7F7mdRsaAHCY_VhZOHEkRzbQwoIqRCbituMTG0Eh8NnMOAJh/s1600/_MG_6295.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAJKe-Lcx7WQKz8CE_lhrnmnBvwG4sbl2_p_VFjN_F7BuViQ6IioloUa-ecK9KKFegTVT1bQVqKZoDGrrFtWagp96e30U7F7mdRsaAHCY_VhZOHEkRzbQwoIqRCbituMTG0Eh8NnMOAJh/s320/_MG_6295.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486388588107052690" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><br /></div></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-40102341305426109162010-06-16T09:18:00.000-07:002010-06-16T09:29:30.007-07:00Compliment or Insult?So our youngest is fascinated with Kaa-Kaa. He goes several times a day, takes a long time and likes to say goodbye to it when he flushes it down the drain. <div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, after going #2 he stood up to study his Kaa-kaa. He informed me that there were three. He then made me look at the kaa-kaa. "See Mom" he begins to say. "See what?" I ask. "It's Mom, Dawit and Baby(doll) and they are holding hands." Well, sure enough they were decreasing in size and all touching. </div><div><br /></div><div>He wouldn't let me flush it. So, we let it sit for a few hours till some one else needed to use the toilet. He was very sad to see it go.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know what that means... He identifies me with his kaa-kaa. Oh well!!! I guess that could be a compliment. Kaa-kaa is dependable, relieving, and healthy. If that's how he views me, that's great. </div><div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-77623174487795639652010-06-14T08:50:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:06:59.538-07:0090<div style="text-align: center;"><br />Last weekend we celebrated Papa's 90th Birthday. It was a great evening. Our boys were able to meet most of their cousins, aunts and uncles. Many family members flew in from Chicago to be with Papa on his day. Here are some photos from the day.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxO7kP-2oSxxnZju1ZXUb3KYJwBGiarmZI8cAIyDmHKKHSRLp_6NHKLIsY2wCt8x3S-BRbPJ8wM7riDOo0xa4gyVKT_QUx-sIKSnOqGuseUgRhad9275Zvg1gaezu9KVLCkyio6YeWvUp9/s320/_MG_5346.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482658664037449794" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">"The Big Man"</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ETMjXCwu7tYCOLY8JBRHTBRQRTWGqur3OWAwMNQvgMzqYd_EjGktbMDKfjjkWX4q9FKLFYg09zTQ3v82dbVVGHK-vDDfp1OHqo2-wM28cnagthjN9i4aNVv1Kj3GV9Jndc1PljxSTQ-9/s320/_MG_5364.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482659608658740642" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the speech</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5bD1ZdAgMlyXpUVuvZbWxbz-pyfcRM9foA988RXffheSRSLEkOMZObbDRCO5rEsi2xfBybQfYaeK5369d1boJ1vff0di2L3OvglsdNSZoXGE_Pfn9CrSF5xkbwTpqd3mxDB965IE72z4/s320/_MG_5357.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482659580396677922" /><div style="text-align: center;">Still in-love</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTZJsqujGDwIlbfTw2bZe8Xo0qd58a4U8mXAQPI4ji5T20lleKKyo1NzYQ_fDsN1Jd9HVqv_rveUrxQUMnAMoVGlp5_xgLcatyXAsmVc5JuOowUREK1wfx9xZIbXtQK97TGn2ddUmBLG5/s320/_MG_5377.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482658690488732114" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Gammie (You only make it to 90 with the love of a great woman)</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-N2SVNN7mKbEi8spRPPv0q5mZjnqcJqOMXAg1HhyuOCN-iQmkp4BT9-9D6P9cr_PZzflW8gd7X5DnMTA0RvlQZ55r0_2R_CAqi8IRTyQix0AT-9udgnjXazp-yDsNjbZEapuY7qDxfvB/s320/_MG_5380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482659614991984322" /><div style="text-align: center;">A special song from Emily</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm77paqs035ke5g-i-fDXLEZn0P5QXPfhKhKwCRamENOo-7EMyAuUelm7ncreWiO2xQTXZmkCEteCx6mKb7JjT_OBKGIneO3E_aVUKc6xFduyNiSMVKtYPmhyphenhyphenefkQdmx1jG51h56Qh7Wcs/s1600/_MG_5322.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm77paqs035ke5g-i-fDXLEZn0P5QXPfhKhKwCRamENOo-7EMyAuUelm7ncreWiO2xQTXZmkCEteCx6mKb7JjT_OBKGIneO3E_aVUKc6xFduyNiSMVKtYPmhyphenhyphenefkQdmx1jG51h56Qh7Wcs/s320/_MG_5322.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482659597363256402" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Uncle Tom and Aunt Buda</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXithDGT0ubq5b87AYm5EHRdTDamfXnzvjFuSNwc5h0X6-UGVoCaZIFUrY6XF1UPNguJJkbpbFbf3c-dzXeHICYIFr18LhnB4nHO0P-tohN3vM_MgAdIfTBj65YGIHhasllpv3BwL5z5p/s1600/_MG_5391.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXithDGT0ubq5b87AYm5EHRdTDamfXnzvjFuSNwc5h0X6-UGVoCaZIFUrY6XF1UPNguJJkbpbFbf3c-dzXeHICYIFr18LhnB4nHO0P-tohN3vM_MgAdIfTBj65YGIHhasllpv3BwL5z5p/s320/_MG_5391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482658684218112658" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Most of the Great-Grandchildren</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hVr4glyx5JvyVbzxxg3J83Yi1sLaSO9l0JeIHSwm-ajf3oLrQqg-tBjOU_pQNwJR0IBQhZTGtAjr_wHxrLXWtaLGwqe04Dv4rQzirbPJLCRHCHxg35wYIdOFVkNCsJOIO8NkUmtHj3ns/s1600/_MG_5388.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hVr4glyx5JvyVbzxxg3J83Yi1sLaSO9l0JeIHSwm-ajf3oLrQqg-tBjOU_pQNwJR0IBQhZTGtAjr_wHxrLXWtaLGwqe04Dv4rQzirbPJLCRHCHxg35wYIdOFVkNCsJOIO8NkUmtHj3ns/s1600/_MG_5388.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hVr4glyx5JvyVbzxxg3J83Yi1sLaSO9l0JeIHSwm-ajf3oLrQqg-tBjOU_pQNwJR0IBQhZTGtAjr_wHxrLXWtaLGwqe04Dv4rQzirbPJLCRHCHxg35wYIdOFVkNCsJOIO8NkUmtHj3ns/s320/_MG_5388.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482658670475749058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The Whole Gang</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1G8lbmQH-pTv5B3p_Dm_nSBxtDGgWBap9OWv_VLaxw5Mq5OwsL5C9ydOSPhfJ7vqGu6UOKWLyMdR5DylqxOFh3xGqUPnlMuS7vxE3LF46st6aU3C2HX6U8Qkd8xFXSJ4CxBDtEAu6hPM/s1600/_MG_5358.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1G8lbmQH-pTv5B3p_Dm_nSBxtDGgWBap9OWv_VLaxw5Mq5OwsL5C9ydOSPhfJ7vqGu6UOKWLyMdR5DylqxOFh3xGqUPnlMuS7vxE3LF46st6aU3C2HX6U8Qkd8xFXSJ4CxBDtEAu6hPM/s320/_MG_5358.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482658654052067346" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Happy 90th Papa!!!</div></div></div></div></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-48336038389103272582010-06-13T16:34:00.000-07:002010-06-13T16:42:16.723-07:00Love 'em<div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGf2OIjJP6KfJx1PBonjTju8PHWbeuGRMLZdjoax0rpfvkYI0U6ay_NyrCsBJ1wrOTvHcikXXMSvy4HxKbkCGtaoej9XQQ5FcKPOzG0YNz_KMTbV5M_J15-1gGWmPHQbniriaNESBCA_v/s1600/_MG_5712.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGf2OIjJP6KfJx1PBonjTju8PHWbeuGRMLZdjoax0rpfvkYI0U6ay_NyrCsBJ1wrOTvHcikXXMSvy4HxKbkCGtaoej9XQQ5FcKPOzG0YNz_KMTbV5M_J15-1gGWmPHQbniriaNESBCA_v/s320/_MG_5712.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482406375200292002" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rZLZsGX_TyZ4hu00Hdh5qGNliMM8jBimSioofXVJQaNZnZYtKzFm2gxpT5CBtcl6k3BWrpqGMG5tb_BcLP4WQRGfeLtwbyCdKlIoA5dLx9uZzF2qWybB0CWsHxdBrGPhyphenhyphena1T-oFDz0sW/s1600/_MG_5601.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rZLZsGX_TyZ4hu00Hdh5qGNliMM8jBimSioofXVJQaNZnZYtKzFm2gxpT5CBtcl6k3BWrpqGMG5tb_BcLP4WQRGfeLtwbyCdKlIoA5dLx9uZzF2qWybB0CWsHxdBrGPhyphenhyphena1T-oFDz0sW/s320/_MG_5601.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482407043831195250" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDbLVLWBOHMEM8F1fETUd6LUaxpfs6wAl7EZl6ym-zK7COHhjrBB-lFmlssvILw4IQIjGiocg_7b5PqLmDou1ZjV6_jluQo4UHLfUgkPCfKBzeb9-1YOjnS5tUnShqO6BoLH7T5BvfLl2/s320/_MG_5524.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482406412085495298" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN29f8L9loZ0NvPkg7V1bCJefRrqfidfynhqvKrZEshKxylH9_C_gHskXBYzuSbEUJBoR1i_H4hfRNYNBbwudG1Y9UHUFLdO6x258OGHQ7otfNQ9SMwrG-aRGcXgM192cy2mujoGTCOTkE/s1600/_MG_5478.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN29f8L9loZ0NvPkg7V1bCJefRrqfidfynhqvKrZEshKxylH9_C_gHskXBYzuSbEUJBoR1i_H4hfRNYNBbwudG1Y9UHUFLdO6x258OGHQ7otfNQ9SMwrG-aRGcXgM192cy2mujoGTCOTkE/s320/_MG_5478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482407019343143410" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBCVuIWwbQqOpQqqCwzWMOD0M6G8z9gDSQZYC9FMEBgSK7QUHdGSnnfM-slLRyt_2AUOcJQ1bUp6vuUBrENcnKO93r4hyphenhyphenZNbCKyV4Fy-4N5KSLXWYsJMPKnCG-CW-dmK7Da9O9yjcAxig/s1600/_MG_5554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBCVuIWwbQqOpQqqCwzWMOD0M6G8z9gDSQZYC9FMEBgSK7QUHdGSnnfM-slLRyt_2AUOcJQ1bUp6vuUBrENcnKO93r4hyphenhyphenZNbCKyV4Fy-4N5KSLXWYsJMPKnCG-CW-dmK7Da9O9yjcAxig/s320/_MG_5554.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482406392486025490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MJsty_kAPo04L9eEdH4YV9_gIRgAp5OCjIXgjvr1Fz3QcVzu6oPYWcPuNwBlaU4IkNXZyNngYHxahFzz2V8uQAABGrkdeRzbdXI5mt7Vzx_nuTADJlmFjRqqNq65rkRmtwgWRdjvUgvU/s1600/_MG_5528.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MJsty_kAPo04L9eEdH4YV9_gIRgAp5OCjIXgjvr1Fz3QcVzu6oPYWcPuNwBlaU4IkNXZyNngYHxahFzz2V8uQAABGrkdeRzbdXI5mt7Vzx_nuTADJlmFjRqqNq65rkRmtwgWRdjvUgvU/s320/_MG_5528.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482406385734258210" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht32PmmOoQhpi48Zcohu3GY_XCzVBozvKYa2ID9PoMTaUTzox2qoxKekfyivFFN1wgTZgT3AXtoZWh3ONe8HdO6XgykfO4HYgY0ZLuFVVL4RKiewydrx81EOPvVsqz6SrBt9-_l4xzYvvi/s1600/_MG_5694.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht32PmmOoQhpi48Zcohu3GY_XCzVBozvKYa2ID9PoMTaUTzox2qoxKekfyivFFN1wgTZgT3AXtoZWh3ONe8HdO6XgykfO4HYgY0ZLuFVVL4RKiewydrx81EOPvVsqz6SrBt9-_l4xzYvvi/s320/_MG_5694.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482406365362562274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline; "><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJJ6SJEWw1hJHh5vb4heCd_lm7MSXNfDZ7Vjp2Xv0SrsoHMBxqzvFLXFFVyKceZcNu8yodoI45KKqfESUrtfP4v_8kcfHq2DCLzEDVE7MNOZEsm5h1YlumbpImDR9sQ-kXH7YPVO1Qaqo/s1600/_MG_5491.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJJ6SJEWw1hJHh5vb4heCd_lm7MSXNfDZ7Vjp2Xv0SrsoHMBxqzvFLXFFVyKceZcNu8yodoI45KKqfESUrtfP4v_8kcfHq2DCLzEDVE7MNOZEsm5h1YlumbpImDR9sQ-kXH7YPVO1Qaqo/s320/_MG_5491.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482407029322893202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a></span></span></span><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-35066366870321360112010-06-08T20:10:00.000-07:002010-06-09T08:53:14.739-07:00ParentingSo apparently, becoming a parent no longer means you can go to the bathroom or shower without at least two interuptions. Which include little fingers sticking under the door with a little voice saying "Mommy I miss you!! Please let me in". So cute, but not so cute for the digestive track.Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-36504220204946916532010-06-05T16:30:00.000-07:002010-06-05T22:40:02.714-07:00Beautiful Day<div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1HDu0nUKkPSXU32F0dz4bx9JIzqhwzDAxQX1U5g3ZlG1gqKdeDlbgDpZrCRbWZRSyTK-ao9lQDU3dvWxEQ8125shhtY93OYaZ5ts-BdE1QaS1zAzMjZPDsIxvHLodSz3vDD7dwfouxq0/s320/IMG_5181.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530083274649666" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItLYVI19aV_USUyctM62_8lY9U332QCmDydfoxyOLoRybs-OAXgUjAYo0hgK64ea8HyPwL_b8JA7CxBOYK6inN0hjv_eeiemhSjVtn7lGktdIG4UKzKUqlksVcwLR-yhJ9OXA0iSruRRR/s1600/IMG_5159.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItLYVI19aV_USUyctM62_8lY9U332QCmDydfoxyOLoRybs-OAXgUjAYo0hgK64ea8HyPwL_b8JA7CxBOYK6inN0hjv_eeiemhSjVtn7lGktdIG4UKzKUqlksVcwLR-yhJ9OXA0iSruRRR/s320/IMG_5159.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530724575037698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRq6NJ7z987q-lJ9hMpQtGHcf4Rwosavmyp-SFyw8cR-sAfYkKnE4NpNgBxQFSV96wdhqf0wS6enlXroi2I7Zf4elk0dIJ7XHTUhmW0lpvXTRpAAWRiISYsRBM9VeSAc34BGfwfmQykK5K/s1600/IMG_5201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRq6NJ7z987q-lJ9hMpQtGHcf4Rwosavmyp-SFyw8cR-sAfYkKnE4NpNgBxQFSV96wdhqf0wS6enlXroi2I7Zf4elk0dIJ7XHTUhmW0lpvXTRpAAWRiISYsRBM9VeSAc34BGfwfmQykK5K/s320/IMG_5201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530718608911490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cbSLNIScUfszaSA_RbFKHH1DzyUbZonbWSBx9lILvVQBivaF_MOSrfjFaysy-3XfDs8tW0UTjJBSamZ8lRj9un0_G7ObGshusdLoxC4V9fM3inCAzjsVAqK0MfNMJ9C2RzE_UY-P8kmN/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2cbSLNIScUfszaSA_RbFKHH1DzyUbZonbWSBx9lILvVQBivaF_MOSrfjFaysy-3XfDs8tW0UTjJBSamZ8lRj9un0_G7ObGshusdLoxC4V9fM3inCAzjsVAqK0MfNMJ9C2RzE_UY-P8kmN/s320/IMG_5177.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530712791657122" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1HDu0nUKkPSXU32F0dz4bx9JIzqhwzDAxQX1U5g3ZlG1gqKdeDlbgDpZrCRbWZRSyTK-ao9lQDU3dvWxEQ8125shhtY93OYaZ5ts-BdE1QaS1zAzMjZPDsIxvHLodSz3vDD7dwfouxq0/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG"><br /></a></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EAdYwqzGq3KqTOBMQcv9uynfQQzN5EPSKE2u4sNe3Gb22MTds2C2wNnGEpGNHZEN71nZwU9NPo9FAkxEodWZI4g81PtGBi-T5rFpowr7UNWn9K4BbhbVHxAZrg__sP83umZBGAWell_N/s1600/IMG_5165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EAdYwqzGq3KqTOBMQcv9uynfQQzN5EPSKE2u4sNe3Gb22MTds2C2wNnGEpGNHZEN71nZwU9NPo9FAkxEodWZI4g81PtGBi-T5rFpowr7UNWn9K4BbhbVHxAZrg__sP83umZBGAWell_N/s320/IMG_5165.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530074659416434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaonN9RAdSrAF5mor_5ZeBKI1vv6ShWNBq2XYIjOnU1htIv01PDOImBxl0pKrfzK84Udd-ioSALG4dsZiqg5iwdlIE1AGmaa-oM9ApJq-7RIgLcHrPDSfn_Wyv-Fdvb_RX9NcvBDIbgP-T/s1600/IMG_5151.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaonN9RAdSrAF5mor_5ZeBKI1vv6ShWNBq2XYIjOnU1htIv01PDOImBxl0pKrfzK84Udd-ioSALG4dsZiqg5iwdlIE1AGmaa-oM9ApJq-7RIgLcHrPDSfn_Wyv-Fdvb_RX9NcvBDIbgP-T/s320/IMG_5151.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479530065341335858" /></a><br />We had an awesome day today. After having a difficult week; it was great thoroughly enjoy eachother. We spent the day swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's. The boys seem to be in their element when they are in the water. We did tricks, cannonballs, played with water toys and had a delicious barbeque. And now we are on our way to Papa's 90th birthday party. What a beautiful SaturdayBreannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-58322317893067985442010-06-02T22:04:00.000-07:002010-06-02T22:08:39.471-07:00Frozen Yogurt<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; ">Why does frozen yogurt make everyone so happy?</span></span></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw15y2ijlY2pyePTXa58jzsOnbfNefzUXQIv3jZ6HLKvni07NNsUIitxkwC34bW_P7j-3Ddu9BG_5gMtWF0E9vmseK3SWKRBLrGqKJ7PBI8Cb2FQ4bJjWg9bK0D8f84Lhdro42ONPLPna/s1600/IMG_5053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw15y2ijlY2pyePTXa58jzsOnbfNefzUXQIv3jZ6HLKvni07NNsUIitxkwC34bW_P7j-3Ddu9BG_5gMtWF0E9vmseK3SWKRBLrGqKJ7PBI8Cb2FQ4bJjWg9bK0D8f84Lhdro42ONPLPna/s320/IMG_5053.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478409681106681794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-5n2OTdnk34XZSRVUx2pc_X5UNJml9q58Co6yruNICpCummAUiEyS3Xm2Yx9sWXEgmviA4HSTBIG2qHwXlmCFAzFTB4nnaMHqur__Q_tXFGbdDCvW0K-IqXfjZ9q2lF_z0njzuWZAb4F/s1600/IMG_5051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-5n2OTdnk34XZSRVUx2pc_X5UNJml9q58Co6yruNICpCummAUiEyS3Xm2Yx9sWXEgmviA4HSTBIG2qHwXlmCFAzFTB4nnaMHqur__Q_tXFGbdDCvW0K-IqXfjZ9q2lF_z0njzuWZAb4F/s320/IMG_5051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478409670176636658" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-42348516389903069902010-06-01T21:51:00.000-07:002010-06-01T22:00:22.148-07:003 steps forward... 2 steps backI should know this is part of life. But it always surprises me. Our family has had five really great days together. And then we had tonight. It was one for the books. It seems as though happiness can only come in short bursts for our kids. If they were happy all day, they have to be miserable at night. Is this true for all children? <div><br /></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-86846898410118467602010-05-29T20:53:00.000-07:002010-05-29T22:24:12.190-07:00God Bless AmericaFriday, my family got to be part of something very special. An event I hope everyone gets the opportunity to witness. An event filled with patriotism, excitement, anticipation, and love. We were at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA when the 4th LAR returned home from fighting in Afghanistan. <div><br /></div><div>Words can not describe the emotions that filled the day. All I know is that I feel very blessed to have witness the reunion of families. There were husbands kissing wives, Mom's kissing sons father's meeting their newborns and our own Uncle Matt meeting his new nephews. I felt so honored to be an American and so thankful for the dedication of our military men and women. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#666666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div>Like I said words don't describe it.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-size: 12px; white-space: pre; "><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h8kTZ9w_LGU&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h8kTZ9w_LGU&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-91293585343586861492010-05-25T21:41:00.000-07:002010-05-25T21:43:49.636-07:00Man's Best Friend<div><br /></div>Talk about loyalty...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BGnZVNjuYqUZFC2Iql_ev1QwlxyqyC-j6pQHbIirV6ncATLqHEpryCpEXcRjimS4bj99A_dUKFQN0O_3Nzmu37JWr9-oXwcPHfK0BJ4dJrfJ_HJ6tUanoKG4AOt3WRMqJpUak7YNwEBQ/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BGnZVNjuYqUZFC2Iql_ev1QwlxyqyC-j6pQHbIirV6ncATLqHEpryCpEXcRjimS4bj99A_dUKFQN0O_3Nzmu37JWr9-oXwcPHfK0BJ4dJrfJ_HJ6tUanoKG4AOt3WRMqJpUak7YNwEBQ/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475434561785322914" /></a><br />This is big. Our boy is no longer scared of the dogs. He called Dutch in to keep him company.Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5385063287706031778.post-51136497667563847392010-05-25T09:49:00.000-07:002010-05-25T10:10:53.340-07:00Humor<div style="text-align: left;">Sintayehu's English is really coming along. He is starting to understand some dual meaning jokes. We knew he liked comedies. He laughs really hard at the humor in many of the Disney movies but they were usually slapstick kind of humor. But recently, he is laughing at the word jokes too. And then yesterday he told us a few jokes and laughed at some sarcasm. He is learning so fast. It is amazing. Nick and I were cracking up when he realized some of the jokes.</div><br />We are having so much fun. We absolutely love being their parents. Don't get me wrong, we have some very hard moments and days; but those just make the fun days that much better. I didn't know how fun this parenting thing would be.<br /><br />We went to the water park this past weekend. These boys absolutely LOVE the water. Sintayehu loved the wave pool. He spent so much time in the pool that he only went on the other slides one time. He put his goggles on and jumped through the waves. At one point he jumped up yelling, "This is soo Coool" Dawit loved the slides. The faster the better. He is going to be our little dare devil. He was sad he couldn't do the drop out slide because he was to small. He has about 8 inches to go so it will be a long while before he's able to do that one. He liked the pitch black slide, especially once it was over and he realized there would be an end to the darkness. But once the lines got long he was content riding the kiddie slides. The lines were only 3-5 min for those. And by the end of the day, I was content just watching him. Nick was freezing in the wave pool with Sintayehu.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmQNQqfQ7fIvVRU0YtG5efdabVql-0WcP1u5LnwaQ0kIwogplXIeFKbbj4f1bkgltVLsjTwksvQR_NFCur5QPKi2SFKP3bhXOh1LFR3fvOgjjDC2DPmtiVwiRmCjo4sLRhw7wgKOUJkA1/s1600/IMG_4936.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmQNQqfQ7fIvVRU0YtG5efdabVql-0WcP1u5LnwaQ0kIwogplXIeFKbbj4f1bkgltVLsjTwksvQR_NFCur5QPKi2SFKP3bhXOh1LFR3fvOgjjDC2DPmtiVwiRmCjo4sLRhw7wgKOUJkA1/s320/IMG_4936.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475254506839534930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>This is what the little man wanted to wear to the water park.<br /><br />I can't wait for summer to be here. I absolutely hate leaving them. They are with fantastic Grandparents and look forward to seeing them; but it is so hard to not be with them. I am told it gets easier. I hope so. I still cry on the way to work. I think about the memories or events that I am going to miss. I hate it. But I guess that's part of life.<div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRRSXLGoaNQW8hT2aRUzQFvQLyg8Su9dy_hOY6Qvg38CfHOC2bjl7ROvTpXvxznz5um5e-SmvV4tlB3LJ_OzsrHomiD-JLVmHVGwvKEZjuXnr2PkeCQ5OYDjbRZmpMJ4Lqlc25GhvhdSV/s1600/IMG_4953.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRRSXLGoaNQW8hT2aRUzQFvQLyg8Su9dy_hOY6Qvg38CfHOC2bjl7ROvTpXvxznz5um5e-SmvV4tlB3LJ_OzsrHomiD-JLVmHVGwvKEZjuXnr2PkeCQ5OYDjbRZmpMJ4Lqlc25GhvhdSV/s320/IMG_4953.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475254544704080562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTFn3B5u6HEzBS6HdoHec-wcL32Bww52yMrMT2hkUI1UrMoDoSw5tjuDDOR2Xi29boQbyzC3KialhcpQ8fi8BTALMoOfpueLla0gtI1WVaSoRwgwTEwOZeVl_0WPCTmO8IAdn1hXFQhLQ/s1600/IMG_4952.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTFn3B5u6HEzBS6HdoHec-wcL32Bww52yMrMT2hkUI1UrMoDoSw5tjuDDOR2Xi29boQbyzC3KialhcpQ8fi8BTALMoOfpueLla0gtI1WVaSoRwgwTEwOZeVl_0WPCTmO8IAdn1hXFQhLQ/s320/IMG_4952.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475255821768055330" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div>Sintayehu got some new Ethiopian books in the mail yesterday. He was so excited to read them and Dawit liked the packaging...<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTFn3B5u6HEzBS6HdoHec-wcL32Bww52yMrMT2hkUI1UrMoDoSw5tjuDDOR2Xi29boQbyzC3KialhcpQ8fi8BTALMoOfpueLla0gtI1WVaSoRwgwTEwOZeVl_0WPCTmO8IAdn1hXFQhLQ/s1600/IMG_4952.jpg"><br /></a></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54pMGK_PYk-1r1EaW17OyPKW-JEpFvtuJOrgHqj2yOxQl-Mg90VI_8OEhqSd7N3DZBbUML8_vv05IaJdwIzMy62sJBKnzilmlApmuwTUQc7W06ZwYEBfuwPtRRlT0dJKhvjLVgSl5uk5I/s1600/IMG_4892.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54pMGK_PYk-1r1EaW17OyPKW-JEpFvtuJOrgHqj2yOxQl-Mg90VI_8OEhqSd7N3DZBbUML8_vv05IaJdwIzMy62sJBKnzilmlApmuwTUQc7W06ZwYEBfuwPtRRlT0dJKhvjLVgSl5uk5I/s320/IMG_4892.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475254528834349810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /><br /></a><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vAjn7QcEULdPNxCKqYbyN4nPraHD3r2TQvGk_4MSJWbH3mqZet9rXZTOjHHx1RY66Cg2BRuUQezBeLNAVwUB_MyGBWAU9V5TMQlWu1oxjoSxJPUL4l5sq2hB_hwv8VVBRlw-ZepRFRo8/s1600/IMG_4894.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vAjn7QcEULdPNxCKqYbyN4nPraHD3r2TQvGk_4MSJWbH3mqZet9rXZTOjHHx1RY66Cg2BRuUQezBeLNAVwUB_MyGBWAU9V5TMQlWu1oxjoSxJPUL4l5sq2hB_hwv8VVBRlw-ZepRFRo8/s320/IMG_4894.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475254522181069522" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Nick introduced the boys to racquetball last Friday. They had a blast. Only one minor injury.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2IrE4EL6H8-K2YWjkYL2cGimU6YeUgOEuw6Ps4IQPOmPqfmgTW7sSxDnMhVxyYEl90-UDbKQDU96zRBRbmLe1Y1DkZ2fw1Eioxt10WcRo-m0yrLXyrPWypKB8yXUqdHEGyaL7doxr4qG/s1600/IMG_4885.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2IrE4EL6H8-K2YWjkYL2cGimU6YeUgOEuw6Ps4IQPOmPqfmgTW7sSxDnMhVxyYEl90-UDbKQDU96zRBRbmLe1Y1DkZ2fw1Eioxt10WcRo-m0yrLXyrPWypKB8yXUqdHEGyaL7doxr4qG/s320/IMG_4885.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475254512983617810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me and my little men. There is a nice trail that outskirts our town. The boys enjoyed the hike.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(notice the helmet, there was no bikes :))</div><br /></div></div>Breannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00240786423657123678noreply@blogger.com0