What you really want to see:-)

Hello my family!

Look at this girl...making a bee line to her dad!

Welcome to America!

Sisters...look how close in size they are?

Our family! This is the first picture taken of all of us together. When I saw it, I thought...wow, that looks like a big family! Gotta LOVE IT!!!!

Things continue to go well with Aliya. This morning we took Mihiretu to his bus stop and then took Misganaw to pre-school. Aliya and I then did a little shopping at Sam's Club, hoping to see my Ethiopian friend who works there but she wasn't coming in until the afternoon...bummer. We'll try another day. She and Misganaw are watching Bee Movie right now, as she's feeling tired since it's like after bedtime in Ethiopia. It sure takes time to readjust or adjust in her case.

Yesterday, the whole family, minus me (since I needed to stay home and rest from my cold) went shopping and came home with bags and bags of clothes. Lots of great sales, thank God!! She did a fashion show with each and every thing they bought, right down to the purple Nike's. So cute!!

When I ask her how America is different than Ethiopia, she tells me that everything is different. She's doing well with food. We had lasagna last night (thanks Heather!) and everyone loved it. She likes pizza, ice cream, french fries (no ketchup), oranges and bananas. She likes scrambled eggs, toast and pancakes. She does not like lettuce or fresh veggies.

Her English really is good although she seems hesitant to use it too often. She takes everything in and seems to pick things up quickly, only needing to be told once. She's not too timid but not too bold. In short, God chose the perfect girl to be in our family. She laughs at the boys and thinks Dad is very nice. And she absolutely LOVES her sister, Katie.

Tonight, we're going to do some serious hair work. We'll start with a little hot oil treatment, then I'm going in with the comb. I have a feeling this is going to take some time to get through all her thick hair:-) Once we get it combed through, I'll have her wash it, add our hair milk and then I'll try to put a million little twists in it and finish it off with the most delicious smelling hair oil, Black Vanilla. Heavenly!

I'll post some more pics soon, just wanted you to see our homecoming! Life is definitely busier but wonderful. I'll be happy when I have my full voice back.

Love,

Laura