Our Gotcha Day Blog Post :o)

Today is "Gotcha Day"! 

We're playing soccer, "extreme hot potato", bop-it, Uno, Connect 4, soccer again...and watching tv sporadically.  Our flight to Addis was uneventful (yeah!) and today we're just goofing off and watching the boys finish their naps (shhh...don't tell them we're about to wake them up!). 

The visit to the care center was sweet, but two care takers cried when we arrived to get our son.  Habtamu was shy at first, but as we talked to his friends and they all showed off their family photo albums, he started talking more and filling us in on the "lost in translation" stuff.  His English is really pretty good and after a game of "courtyard soccer" (which Chels and I lost badly at), he is talking even more and becoming quite competitive with his Uno games. 

Went to lunch together and he asked me to cut up his chicken.  I think this was the first official motherly thing I got to do.  The second was tying his new shoes we brought for him (which he totally loves), and tonight I told him we'll teach him to tie his shoes.  He smiled and said "thank you!"  

Jared seemed a little overwhelmed at the care center, but that's because all the babies walked his way...and he's not really a baby guy.  The older kids stared at him noticing how TALL he is for a 14 year old. 

Chelsea wanted to hold all the babies and thought all the kids were just too cute (no surprise there, eh?).  She has seemingly loved playing games the past few hours with Habtamu, too.  She's all smiles and giggles and laughs when she loses at something saying "dang, mom, he's really good!" 

Now that the boys are up and moving again (yes, this post was done in shifts today), Go Fish is the new fave.  Kyle reminded me that when he came in January, he and Habtamu played many a game...and when he saw Go Fish cards come out today, his eyes lit up.  So cute!

PS)  Our traveling buddies did great on the plane!  And if you're adopting older kids, I totally recommend  bringing a child with you for entertainment purposes.  And not just your adopted child's entertainment, either...yours!  I'm totally enjoying watching the kids play "beam the small soccer ball at one another and try to knock Jared out!"  In fact, I even got that one on video - HA!

And now a word from Chelsea:  I was excited to meet Habtamu!  He is fun to play with - especially when we play soccer!

And now a word from Jared (who will type it himself, apparently):  Africa is different than I expected. Funny how the people are so nice and have so little compared to me... and people in the USA are rich and snobby, and ungratetful and have everything. Habtamu is kicking my butt at Go Fish and Soccer.  I am starving and food here is ok and very very cheap.  In fact...we're headed out for dinner now.  Bye.

And now a word from Habtamu:  "Hi Corey!"  "Hi Miranda". 

And finally, mom and dad miss you both, too!  We Love You!!!!