Theology

Tihi's theology...

SO Funny

Screaming

This is ALL Carmen has been doing recently.

Gotcha Day!

Yes, it has been a YEAR since we first met the girls and picked them up from the orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Can you believe it?
Things we reminisced about:

• when we walked in the room where all the children were and our three girls came forward. Turi walked forward dutifully and excited and hugged us. Bitsu walked forward shyly and hugged us. Tihi walked forward reluctantly and a little bit scared and hugged us.
• giving them new outfits to wear
  
• getting back to the guesthouse where we were staying and wondering what to do next
• playing with kites and balls with them outside
• feeling worn out after a few hours and wanting a nap
• eating our first meal together: spaghetti with red sauce
• getting through the airport and how excited the girls were to be on a plane
• how exhausted we all were when we finally landed in the States

SO much stuff. We gave them a dress with a matching dress for their dolls. They loved it, as you can see in the pics. We can't believe it's been a year already. Carmen is turning 7 months in a week. Where does the time go??

Laundry Day...

Carmen does love playing with big things.

Girls...

Girls make me laugh. Mine do, anyway. They each have a baby, which is kind of real-size. And then they have these small dolls (like Barbies...I don't even know where they got them all). They do everything with these dolls. They have: given them baths (repeatedly...do they get dirty?), sewed clothes for them, crocheted blankets and coats for them, made furniture for them out of legos, taken them outside to play in the snow, made shoes for them out of play dough and let it harden...
Everyday, they pull out their drawer where their dolls are and they play. Same thing...everyday. Here Turi is teaching them to read. I have to admit. I really love it. They never get bored and their dolls must be learning a lot! They have saved all their old schoolbooks so they can "teach our babies". I would hate to have dumb dolls.
Speaking of school, the girls are doing great. Turi is now in 4th/5th grade math. It's done all with a disc and her books so it's one less subject I have to teach (hurray!). Bitsu has just moved into 3rd grade math. Tihi is easily doing 1st grade work: math, reading and phonics. Turi and Bitsu have graduated from their phonics work and are just doing spelling drills everyday (which also doesn't require me!).
Carmen has fallen into a sweet routine. He sleeps 7:30-7:30 and takes a two hour nap in the morning and a 3 hour in the afternoon. I made the mistake of thinking he needed less sleep last week and we had a fussy week. We're doing better now :).
What do I do with all me time? Goodness, good question. I find myself straightening pillows that are already straight or brushing the cat...again. Actually, I am meeting with 2 women and doing Bible storying with them. I meet with some neighborhood women every other week to do a storying time. I love that. I am starting a new Bible study tonight (a little nervous:)) in the Greek area of campus. It came up as a need and I volunteered. Can a mother of four find anything to talk about with college, sorority women??? Stay tuned to find out....

Carmen and Tihi