365

What a difference a year can make. 365 days ago we stumbled off an airplane into the arms of sweet friends after a harrowing 40+ hour of flights plus emergency 24 hour DC layover so our new family of 4 could catch our breath after the trauma of our kids' first transcontinental flight.

Proof that we were utterly spent after this trip HOME.

The first time our kids had ever been in a car seat.

365 days ago Judah didn't know a word of English, and Addise didn't have a single tooth.

365 days ago I had no idea how much my heart would expand in ravishing love for our 2 babes.

365 days ago I had no idea how much it'd cost us to raise two toddlers.

365 days Brian and I wouldn't have guessed how many stories we'd tell each other after they went to bed, instead of just talking amongst ourselves.

365 days later, we celebrated our 1 year together at HOME as a FAMILY of 4+1 in a most unusual yet fitting way. This morning, Brian ran his first half marathon (that's 13.1 miles!!) for our friends in Malawi. On behalf of World Vision he raised over $1000 to help build clean water wells. He ran alongside over 700 other World Vision runners who together raised over $350,000 for the forgotten and poor of our world. It was only fitting that with our children, who are no longer orphans, we remembered those who are once like they were.

Celebrating 1 year HOME together!!! Picture just moments after Brian completed his 13.1 mile race in support of our friends in Malawi (with World Vision).

Today, I kissed our babies a little more than often, snuggled them after their naps a little tighter, practiced more patience in their difficult moments, tickled them longer, and deeply thanked our God for our growing family.

Tonight, we celebrated Brian's race and our big family day with PJs, special prayers of blessing, and pizza.

What a difference a year can make! 

Here's to year two as a family of 4+1.

Halloween - a little monkey and a lion

Our kids celebrated their first American Halloween in-style this year. We joined some friends and their 3 kids so they could show our Ethiopians the trick-or-treating ropes. The entire extravaganza only lasted about 1 hour, and it was mostly successful [minus the creepy 8-year-old boy slinking around in a skeleton costume who scared the living daylights out of Judah...enter momma bear. I almost beat the crap out of that kid...and his parents]. Enjoy some pictures of our cutest little monkey and lion...

This little monkey was equally stoked about her costume and confused about why we kept insisting she make monkey noises.

Judah the Lion [cliche but it really had to happen] and his buddy "Greg" from In 'n Out. Hehe.

A little pre-game warm-up.

Halloween in SoCal = Sandled feet.

Can we all say together, "DADDY'S GIRL!"

He made a mean "ROAR!" all night. Judah the Lion also insisted in walking inside every stranger's house when they gave him candy. No bueno. He did a great job saying, "Trick or treat" and "Thank you" to every good neighbor.

She's one happy monkey with a blue headband.

Being pushed around the neighborhood in her own car. She was committed to driving. This was also the point in the trick-or-treating where she just got real tired and must've wondered, "What are these crazy Americans doing?!"

First family Halloween photo.

Since we don't give our kiddos candy, Brian and I immediately divided the spoils between the two of us. Hehe. We saved back a few items as potty rewards for our yet-to-be-potty-train son.

All in all, a very fun first Halloween as a family.

Little Moments in October

This month has been filled with little moments with our kiddos. Moments I'll likely forget by winter but want to remember long after they go to school. Here are a few snapshots that capture the essence of our two Ethiopian beauties...

Football Saturdays: our kids are dressed in their Illini gear and enjoying a little Disney movie time while the grown-ups watch football!

Judah loves playing with bubbles. Not so much blowing them but spilling them everywhere. Focused. Detail-oriented. Specific. This is Judah. Those shoes he calls "foofa shoes" because they remind him of "Yo Gabba Gabba".

Typical Addise: silly, overly expressive, sticking her booty out, open-mouth smile.

She's started folding her hands. I don't understand why but she makes me laugh!

After his nap, Judah likes to tuck in Big Toe for his nap. Judah is the sweetest boy!

Bath bubbles are a daily favorite. "Judah help you" is one of his most used new phrases!

Her curls are multiplying as does her bath time exuberance.

This little guy begins and ends his day reading. This is a fairy tale book "gamm-ma" bought for him.

This lasts about 14 seconds. Here she's learning Spanish and English. She's been laying on her belly a lot these days and it makes me chuckle.

20 months old at her 18 month doctor appointment.  She's 31 lbs [95%] and 34" [92%]. She's our giant beast.

Mommy-Daughter grocery run. Yes, I'm feeding her lunch at the store. Totally ghetto but she loved the string cheese we eventually purchased and the deli meat. Those stickers on her dress are from braving her 2 immunizations that day.

Wide-eyed wonder at a birthday party with balloons. It was Judah's first time at a bounce house and he happily played forever.

Even in the hard days, these are the days I want to remember.