I have hardly blogged all summer! Excuse me for being at the pool, watching movies, fixing countless meals and doing laundry! Ok, sorry. Got defensive for a minute there.
Anywoo...summer is going fast. The end of June brought Esias (and my sister Tiel)'s birthdays and then right on the heels of that my new nephew Malcom was born! So we had quite an eventful few weeks there. Esias is now a full-fledged three year old and lovin' it. He can hold up two figures and say "three" (that third finger likes to stay down and be ornery!). He's starting to make more and more word-like sounds and try to engage other people with words instead of being so silent in public. He's had weekly swallow therapy for a month and a half now and that is going well. In all other ways, he's a normal, happy, ornery, active three-year old boy!
So in the matter of my new nephew...have I mentioned I love him? Oh my heart. He is presh.us.
Eden spent a few days concentrating hard on a writing contest sponsored by our local TV station. She's already planned what to do with the $1500 grand prize WHEN she wins ;) The contest was writing an essay on what you want to be when you grow up. She would like to be a reporter/newswriter and I think her essay could be a serious contender (though I am tempering my pride in her work with some realism for her sake). She is a very creative writer and I would say quite good with words, especially for her age. By the way, she would buy a plane ticket to either Africa or China and an American Girl Doll with her money if she wins.
Elly is still working on getting her two bottom baby teeth out. The permanent teeth are completely grown in and yet she is so afraid of losing her baby teeth. We have an appt. schedule with a pediatric dentist (she has the right to use gas) and Elly knows that if she won't wiggle those babies out by that day, she's getting up pulled. I really despise the teeth-losing phase of life.
Dan and I are deep in the middle of fundraising for our upcoming Ethiopia trip. I am so thrilled to be able to go back again. So want to throw my hands around the necks of Birtukan and Nesibu and give them a big squeeze. And if time allows, we will go back to the place where Esias spent his 10 months of his life, Gelegela Orphanage.
Right now (meaning today and for the next 12 days) we are hosting two students from WuHan China. It has been (already) a great experience. The kids LOVE our students, 20 year old Ruen Xiao Ying and 19 year old Fu Hong. The are both girls and so sweet and kind. They unloaded all kinds of gifts on us last night. Such sweethearts. They are sleeping in the basement, hopefully the kids will give them privacy. The kids have had a hard time realizing that it's not like when Grammy and Papa sleep over; you can't just go jumping on Chinese college students at 7am to wake them up ;)
So, busy busy busy as usual. But all good! We are so blessed. For serious.
