Advent 2011

 Decorating (and lots of excitement!)

 wiggly toothed Mekdes-clause (she's lost two teeth so far, each one within a week after Ella loosing the same tooth, there is a lot of tooth related excitement and drama in our house this winter!)

making a gingerbread house        

  festive hair

 welcoming daddy home

antagonizing wild beasts (M's first time at a zoo)

 Ella had her Christmas Piano Team concert in Seattle and her ballet performance as a "towns kid" in the Nativity. (Mekdes decided that she did not want to take dance after attending some ballet and hip hop classes)

 Nana and Papa visited for 2 wonderful weeks

 We had to travel up Mt Baker to find some snow, the girls loved sledding, Bini wanted nothing to do with being out in the cold!

 pig pile on Papa

 lots of baking with nana

Ella and Mekdes both sewed felt bird sachets and made duck tape coasters to give as gifts,  Ella also made bottle cap magnets.  

I even got crafty and finally made stockings (something I've been wanting to do since Ella was born!)

The girls each picked out a picture of a stocking on line and I used those as my patterns

Not being a very crafty person I was silly with excitement when they were finished.  Bini will have to wait until next year for his. 

 Ella read a scripture and sang with the other children at our church's Christmas eve service (Mekdes had no interest in participating and Bini barked throughout practice so we kept him off stage).
 After church  Ella and Mekdes stood on the porch singing, then Mekdes saw the blinking red light of an airplane high in the sky and started jumping up and down and pointing "I see santa!" with such magical excitement. (We have been totally honest with her about Santa, but it's fun when they still get caught up in the moment)

 A christmas miracle, our first family photo where we're all looking towards the camera.

On Christmas morning the girls got up together and were able to open their stocking before we woke Bini, then they insisted that Greg and I open all the gifts that they made for us before opening any of their gifts. I love their excitement about giving.  They made us beautiful cards and books.

"This is my favoritest day ever!"- Mekdes

 Nana made this awesome knight costume for Biniyam (once when Ella asked "Bini, do you want to be a knight?" he answered "Sure, I'll be the moon." )

Ella's big Christmas request was for the new Magic Tree House book.  Much to her surprise and delight there were actually two new books out in the series, she finished them both within a week.

The "big gift"we gave the girls were roller skates, Mekdes was so excited "remember mom, remember when we were in the store and I was crying and crying because I wanted you to buy me some of these" Yes dear, it was back in Oct., but I do so clearly remember. On Christmas day, after church and turkey, the girls- roller skates on, disco ball swirling, tunes blaring, and adults to cling to-  hit the garage and broke in their new wheels.
By the end of vacation they had hit the rink twice and were doing a pretty impressive job skating.  At the rink Bini's wheels were tightened so much he was practically walking, after a few minutes he declared "this is easy!"

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying 2012.

Sisters

They ran past me into the bathroom and shut the door.  I could hear giggles, lots of giggles, and when the emerged I asked what they'd been doing.
"We were telling secrets, because I have a sister now, and that's what sisters do!" - Ella

Wordless Wednesday- Whidbey

Biniyam's dance moves

Halloween 2011

 Once the candles were lit Bini burst into song "Happy Birthday to you..."

 See the wink, it's something new, we explained winking to Mekdes one day and then she had about a week when she would do this exaggerated wink whenever possible.  And the black on black outfit, I suggested she wear her pink pants with that top and she told me "no mom, this (top) and this (pants), it's very cool" how does she get that? She picks up so much!

 not so scary that night, but now that they've been on the steps for a few weeks, oh they are scary!

 Mekdes had her first field trip and she was so excited.  Ella had a teacher work day so we were all able to join Mekdes' class at the farm for some soggy fun.

 Ella's school does a "Historic Halloween" which is a pretty big deal.  The kids chose a person in history, write a speech in the first person, practice a lot, and then present their speeches in front of a room full of parents.  Ella chose to be Catherine Hamlin, a fistula surgeon who has worked in Ethiopia for the past 52 years (Greg and I were able to meet her on our trip to pick up Biniyam) There is a wonderful documentary called A Walk to Beautiful about Dr Hamlin and the fistula patients in Ethiopia. Ella's speech was only 3 sentences but she did great and didn't seem nervous at all.

 Happy Halloween! from Princess Tiana, the mermaid, and the puppy dog (Bini wanted to be Bob the tomato, I made him a costume, he refused to put it on, so hence the to small doggy costume) We joined the crowds for after school trick or treating around the stores in the old part of town, it's fun because we get to see so many costumes and run into friends.  How did Mekdes like her first Halloween experience? silly question right? She loved it, and after 2 hrs told me she was tired and ready to go home.

 I love this picture of Mekdes, because it so so her, see the position of her hands on her hips as she's eye to eye with the scary head.  She's so strong, and her stance is letting this head know she is not going to let him scare her!

After dinner we went trick or treating around our neighborhood.  At one of the houses Mekdes was handed candy, turned to me and said (loudly) "Wow mom, she is SO old!.. I hope she doesn't die!" I was able to hold it together until reaching the sidewalk and then just burst into laughter.  Got to love it, she is just so honest.  And Biniyam was Biniyam, pure entertainment and a lot of energy!