Acheivments & Fun in the Summer

Last Friday, we did our 12 month post-placement report, our last one with our Social Worker that needs sent to Ethiopia & we celebrated at "Five Guys"...great burger & fries near the Social Worker's office...especially special because Dad & I ate at "Five Guys" as our last American meal in the DC airport on the way to Ethiopia...neither of us had ever heard of it...but we enjoyed every bite...it was a fun way to start & end our blessed journey!

OK, do you see a little resemblence between Ellyana & I? It was a far stretch for Brian to see too, but maybe the face shape a little, the shape of our eyes when we smile, the curly hair...or maybe just me trying to look like my little beauty queen ;)

Last stop at the Social Workers office :)

BJ enjoyed playing in the All-Star tourney...here's a pic of him in the catcher's gear...he's growing up...its been so great to have him around this summer, can't believe I have 2 kiddos heading to Elementary School in the fall!!!

We loved having our friends over for a backyard "swim" party...we are so thankful for the good friends God has placed in our lives!

And here it is, the boys turning in their Summer Reading Program logs to get their Certificates & prizes, lots of books have been read to get here...all of it being made extra special because the Children's Librarian is also our dear neighbor!

We are so thankful for the blessings of summer...friends, fun & some FREE TIME!!!!

We did a lot of this...

We got back from a WONDERFUL vacation with my family...
Ellyana decided from the 1st moment in the pool that she wanted to swim by herself...so with enough gear...she did...it was darling to watch her heading around the pool...

She may have been trying to avoid this ;) Zach & BJ totally loved the pool also...it was so nice to have them as independent swimmers (without floaties!)
Precious picture of the kids headed back from the pool, Zach & his dear cousin Mycah sharing a towel...they were 2 peas in a pod the whole time!We enjoyed the beach every day & in the evening we headed down to watch the sunset & the kids loved doing smores!Sister playing in the sooty sand by the fire, right before she headed into Lake Michigan...fully clothed! She loves the water, and she loves sand too (she fits right in our family!)

Buddies...A few times "out" to get ice cream...

And too many of these to count (especially without great results)...our attempt at an updated family picture...

Our kids

And a "grandkid picture"...this is all the cousins, including our newest little boy cousin, just 2 weeks old...my sister-in-law got some better pictures, but its fun to see them all together!!!

What great memories of being together & having fun! Thank you so much, Mom & Dad!

What have we been up to!!?!

An amazing visit from Bliss the Clown (aka Aunt Heidi)...the T-ball team loved her!

The end of school, how do we say it another way, it felt like the craziness of the holiday season...here's BJ's end of the year program
Somebody LOVES ice cream at BJ's school's Ice Cream Social (french fries, potato chips, ice cream are some of her very favorites...can you say All-American?...and also she LOVES fruit, just like Zach!)
Displaying his magnetized boat at the school Open House night Darling dress from my aunt & uncle when they were in Hawaii...she didn't want to sit on the front step...she'd rather be on the run

Grandpa & Grandma K were here for the boy's T-ball trophy night

"Sister Bear"all dress up in cleats, hat & Zach's sweatshirt

And then the very busy week of Vacation Bible School, I wanted to get them all in their VBS t-shirts...its hard to get them to all stand together...and well, it seemed fitting to get the picture in the van since it seemed to be where we were a lot of the week

And off to Brian's family, with lots of celebrations & fun (I did lose my camera for a big chunk of the weekend so here are a few shots)
The boys having fun


"Doing corn", 1st year we were there for the big event...Zach did not understand why he couldn't eat the corn right as he husked it

Fun with cousins at the pond

We are CELEBRATING summer & summer break around here, I have been looking forward to this for a long time!!!!

Meet our newest friend...

Charis is HOME with her forever family!!!!! We have never met her, but we already love her so much...she has been up on fridge's world prayer map for many months...we are so thankful for God bringing another precious orphan HOME!!!! check out Ben & Kristy's blog at http://kccommunicationwiththeoutsideworld.blogspot.com/

She's been home...

Ellyana's been home with us longer than she lived in Ethiopia! Our precious baby is growing up so fast! As we passed this milestone, we are so thankful for the beautiful country & people from which she came & we are so thankful that God gave us the perfect girl to be in our family...we love her so very, very much!
The 1st picture is our referral picture of her, Feb 2009...

These are 2 of her in the orphanage & care center before she came home.
Here's mommy picking her up...

Our very HAPPY FAMILY DAY!!!! We have celebrated lots of 1st's...1st teeth... 1st beautiful Michigan fall..1st Halloween...

Celebrating her beautiful Ethiopian heritage...1st birthday...
1st steps...
1st Christmas...
1st Michigan winter...

1st Valentine's Day...1st Easter...
1st vacation...

1st T-ball season (lots of snacks ;)

And here she is our beautiful girl, inside & out as we like to say...and as we see her grow we are reminded of the song that gave us her name...

“Elliana’s Song” by Watermark

Baby woman, tiny in stature now
But your heart is a treasure
Little princess come follow behind me now I am reaching for you
(chorus)
Elliana, God has answered my prayers
Elliana, God will conquer my fears
To mother a daughter, to look you in the eye
To know that I had everything, to walk with you in life
To give you to Jesus that He would impart
The wisdom that I'm longing for to mother your heart
Elliana, God has answered my prayers
There will be others to lead and to guide you girl
But only one you'll call Mother, the honor is all mine
To show you what a woman's like I'm so glad you're mine
(chorus)
Tenderness of God is twirling around In our living room tonight
Lighten up your daddy's eyes
And know that he just wants to freeze you in time
(chorus)