M-O-N-T-A-N-A!

We made it to Montana! This is Henri and Lili's first trip to Big Sky Country. We've had a great break...can't believe our time here is almost over. Here are a few shots from our trip...more to come...but at least these will get you started.

Here is Henri on the train at Southgate Mall with a few of his cousins...Hadley, Danny, and Eastlyn:

Here is Lili with Nick...they loved the train. Henri kept stealing all the kids sippy cups...and Lili...she kept leaving the play pit to go shopping in Dillards. Funny. 

Here Kristin and I are with our cousin, Britney. We haven't all been together for years! Great to catch up! 

Britney, Auntie Dimpy, me, Mom, and Linsey...Linsey is due with baby Ollie any day... 

'Cause we're cousins...Identical cousins!

Henri eating in his mom's old high chair...and reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: 

Henri meeting Abdisa for the first time. They didn't quite know what to think.  

Poor Henri (and Lili)...both had beginning signs of ear infections. Here is Henri sleeping on his Auntie Toots' lap. Jeff tried to pick him up to put him in bed...and he said "no no no..." and went back to sleep. Needless to say...he was rocked for his entire nap... 

Lili's Godparents, Carol and Tim... 

Reading with Cookie... 

Playing with Cousin Emma...Henri's perfected "Emma." He calls her name all the time...very sweet... 

New trucks! 

Henri loved the airplane...and surprisingly...the flight was not so bad. Here we are on the layover in Salt Lake City. We took Henri and Lili and had them run and run and run until we had to reboard. He loved watching the "air-pane." 

Just in time for our arrival...Henri and Lili's first snow! 

Sleeping in the airport before boarding for Missoula. The running worked. 

Leaving Orlando...packed and ready... 

Loving the Bitteroot Valley views.... 

Henri...loving driving. Not really....but he's definitely practicing. Yikes. The legal age in MT is 15...only 13 years away! 

Lili and Auntie Toots and their fish lips... 

Celebrating Dad's 67th birthday...at the Sons of Norway lodge. 

More Montana pictures coming soon...having a fabulous trip!

Grandpa and Grandma came to visit

Jeff and I had the opportunity to escape Florida and attend Rebs and Peter's wedding in Mexico. It was a nice break for us...and luckily...mom and dad were able to come down and take care of Henri and Lili. Here are a few pics from their visit:

Henri and Lili are loving their new band in a box...here they are...practicing on the table. Yikes:

We decided to stay a few days at Disney before we left. We thought it would be a great idea to rent one of the family bikes for a little ride. Here is our fabulous biking experience...trapped off trail in the dirt. This was just before we almost drove into the side of someone's car. Fabulous!

Here we are before the fateful trip. Everyone is so smiley...little did we know...

Henri and Jeff going on "Small World"...for the third time. We had to drag Henri away...he kept saying..."boat, boat!"

On the carousel...Lili loved it...Henri...not so much...

Watching our fave movie...Micky's Philharmagic...Lili watched the entire film with her glasses on...Henri...again...not so much...

The whole fam at the movie!

Me and Henri...back on the Small World boat...

Ah...the Magical Magic Kingdom...

Lili playing at the hotel park...

Henri and Jeff going down the slide....

Here we are...going for a family walk...

Loving the balcony...an outdoor play-pen...


More pictures coming soon....trying to catch up while we are on vacation...enjoy!

Pictures from Hosanna

We are very fortunate to be a part of a listserve for all other families that are also adopting through Celebrate Children International. It's a wonderful feeling to be "connected" with other families, even if it might only be virtually. :)

Recently, a family posted the following photos of Hosanna. Both Henri and Lili are from this part of Ethiopia. While we hope someday to visit in person...here are a few pictures to enjoy. I wish I had captions for them...someday....

Bounce House...

One of our friends had a birthday party for their two children. Henri and Lili couldn't wait to join in the fun. I think Henri spent the entire afternoon moving....bouncing his brains out in the bounce-house, going down the slide, running around the yard, swinging, climbing...it was a very busy day.

Sissy also spent the day moving...but she was a little more excited about the acorns on the ground, and eating the left-overs dropped behind. :) She is so funny right now! Here are a few pictures from our afternoon:

Lili loves the swing...she's saying "hi" while she is pushed back and forth...

It was a big day for Henri and Lili...they both had their first sno-cones. Lili didn't know what to do...Henri...he couldn't put his down. Here he is swinging with the cone:

Mmmm....enjoying that first taste:

Bouncing in the bounce-house. He has so much fun! So much that he slept until 8:30 this morning. Usually they wake up at 6 or 6:30 a.m. It was a Christmas miracle at our house!

Mmm....Lili...checking out a discarded drink box:

Henri going down the slide...yes...this house was the mac-daddy version...bouncing and slides. Very cool.

Taking a moment to dribble the ball across the back yard:

A funny Henri:

Lili and her "scrunch" face. So cute, right?

This is actually from the night before...Lili just looked so sweet in this photo...I didn't want to forget. She is such a cute girl!



I feel like we are finally digging out from being in Mexico for Rebs wedding and having my parents for a visit. I have a ton of other photos...but wanted to at least post something....I'll try to post more soon.