Saturday, June 26, 2010

Another update...more pictures!

Day 2

This morning Zach and I went with another family to a shopping centre. We decided against going to the National Museum again since we’ve been before. It was nice to be able to go shopping and think about the gifts we were getting and the people they would go to as opposed to our last shopping trip in ET that was so cutthroat we just started throwing stuff frantically in bags. :-) Our driver we hired gave us a really awesome tour/running commentary on the country on our way to the centre. Most of it we knew already but his language was so colorful (even explaining the reason why boys and girls are given their Christian names at different times-because Eve was to blame for the fall of man and thus women wait longer for their Christian names…they also, in case you didn’t know, have menses and childbirth because of their tempting ways). :-)

After the shopping trip we came back and both fell asleep, we seem to be struggling a bit more with the altitude this time around. Going from the flat plains of Iowa to the mountains of Ethiopia is harder on this body than I remember!

We just got back from hanging with the boys. To be quite honest, it’s exhausting. This is because we are all in the same room with the other kids in our travel group and so everyone is running around distracted. It’s really hard to hang with the boys when there’s so much else to do! We did notice that they kept coming back to us, which we think is a really good sign. Tomas, at the beginning of our time, wants nothing to do with me. He shrugs his shoulder at me and only gives Zach love. But I take him away from everyone else or read a book or wrestle him and by the end he has no problem holding my hand and sitting on my lap. Binyam appears to have fallen in love with us. One of our travel group peeps said “Binyam has the best personality of all the kids, I think.” I think he’s on to something.

Both boys are just supremely smart. I taught Tomas how to take pictures and he sat on my lap for quite some time taking his own pictures, a photographer in the making? Then he looked at the back of the camera and knew just how to play the pictures back to me. He then identified everyone in the picture. Tomas loves seeing his brothers and sister at home. The way he says “Dailah” melts my heart.

Though our time with them is fun and exciting, we are looking forward more to the time we will have with them in our hotel when we can come back into our room and just start the parenting part of this. Zach described our time in the care center with them as a play date, and that’s an appropriate description I think.


Tonight we go to the Crown Hotel for the cultural dinner and dancing. Though we’ve been there before we plan on going again because it’s terrific authentic Ethiopian food and just a fun atmosphere. Plus we have a better camera this time around (thanks Frank) and hope to get better pictures of the dancing.

We are starting to miss the kids and look forward to Tuesday when we have the boys in our care. We plan on calling home then so the kids can talk to the boys.

Tomorrow we leave for our trip south to Durame. We are looking forward to seeing the countryside of Ethiopia again and meeting various people who have touched our hearts. We will be staying the night in Durame so no blogging tomorrow.

It will be a long day tomorrow but one that typically makes the entire trip worth it.

Love you Trysten, Tariku and Dailah!







15 comments:

Beth said...

How I truly love seeing you with your boys. Just wonderful and precious and perfect. So so happy for you and cannot wait to see the boys again. I think Lucia Ethiopia will be excited to see her friends. Prayers for your trip to Durame. Aching to be back all the time. Love to you. B

Pooch said...

LOVE!!!!

Meg said...

such sweet boys! praying for your Durame trip.

Tammy said...

Thanks for sharing your story. Your boys sound and look so sweet. Praying for you!

Lindsey said...

Oh my, they are just precious! They look a lot alike. Many prayers for you! And, looking forward to more updates.

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for keeping us updated! I love hearing your stories and reliving our own adoption story again!

Cindy said...

I am loving every minute! I hope your trip to Durame goes beautifully. Can't wait for the next update!

Papa Frank said...

I am looking forward to getting my first hugs and kisses from our newest grandsons. After you all get settled in back here, I can't wait to bring them with their brothers and sister to the zoo, family museum, Bandits baseball game, and more. I will love seeing all of the local fun sites through their eyes. Be safe, have fun, and enjoy. Love you all!!!

Jake and Emily said...

I just keep saying CUTE....Cute....CUTE! :) The 2nd picture on this page I said "WOAH....Tomas does look like Tariku...and Ashley thinks they both have your chin, Tesi! :) Can't wait to see you all!

Chatter said...

Holy Moly Tomas looks JUST LIKE TARIKU!! They are definitely going to be mistaken for twins. That's just crazy. I am loving the updates.
Love ya!!

Rachel said...

WoW! I am so happy for you!<3

Rachel said...

Wow, such an amazing report. You all look soooo happy. Can´t wait for another update. :)

George said...

Your boys are the sweetest...I'm so happy they're finally in your arms! We got a chance to love on them when we traveled to bring home our daughter at the end of March...they are truly 2 incredibly sweet (and energetic)boys! :-)

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh!! These pictures made me cry. First of all, the boys are gorgeous and look so happy. What genuine smiles! I am so happy for your family. Can't wait to see more pictures and your reunion with the rest of your family. It's amazing. Tomas totally looks like Tariku!

rbrum said...

The last picture of the big kiss made me get tears in my eyes. BEAUTIFUL. love, family, finally, BLESSINGS to your family, PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS!!!!