Guest Blogger.

Well, as can be seen by the title, there is going to be a guest blogger this week. While Jenny, Matt, Eliana, and Katie are in Ethiopia to pick up the girls; Uncle Pat will be your special guest blogger. Jenny has asked me to take over and keep everyone up-to-date as they keep me posted through emails. Hopefully, I will be able to keep everyone informed and not bored until the "pro-bloggers" return. Jen let me know that it is very important to keep her blog friends up-to-date. and since the Smiths shall be a little busy...

It is currently 6:15AM and I just returned from taking my sister and family to the Airport. Eliana was wide awake and having a blast. She fits perfectly under the notifications board, so she spent a lot of time playing with us, running under it back and forth. Their flight out of the Burgh should be leaving right about now, then it is off to Ethiopia from DC.

If I remember to bring my cable up I will see about adding pictures of Eliana at the airport. Well, I am spent. It's time for me to get some shut eye.

-Uncle Pat.

You must excuse us, we have the crazies!

That's right, with just three nights before we leave for Ethiopia, we have come down with a serious case of the crazies, even Eliana. Nothing that a 15 hour plane ride and meeting our two new daughters/sisters for the first time can't cure. We are sorry for not posting lately but the crazies really cut down on your blogging time. We can't thank all of you enough for the love and continued support that you give us. We have been hard at work (with lots of help from family and friends) trying to get the new bedrooms together(pictures to come later), especially Jenny. She has done an amazing job!! The following are some random pictures of Eliana over the last couple weeks, including Easter. We will try to post again before we go. :)





Easter

Don't call me on March 28th

...because I'll be on my way to Ethiopia!!!!

We got word today that we're through court and we are expected in Ethiopia by March 29th!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!We're going to get our girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ravioli

Fairly recent pictures:

Only a few... Blogger is feeling stingy...

Could this face be any more pathetic?

Recipe of the week: Dinich wat. Good? Yes.
So hot it makes your insides burn after you eat it? Oh yes.

News on the girls: none.

Family news: my cousin Jodi got some good medical news today that makes us dance and throw hugs around like Daugherty's do.

Date night: last night. Matt and I went to see The Spirit of Uganda
It was beautiful, very well done, and quite an emotional event for Matt and me.
Then we went to dinner with our good friends Mary and Craig. Before we were parents we used to go out with them pretty frequently, but parenting cuts down on the nights out, you know. It was really nice to spend the evening with them over a good dinner.
Grandma was kind enough to babysit for us. She's been such a huge help these past few weeks: helping around the house, babysitting, doing our laundry! She's a real find that Grandma of ours.

Lots of good things to look forward to this week (thank goodness, because another Monday with no news is a little depressing): Monica's birthday dinner is Friday, play group with the local Guatemala adoptive families is Saturday AND my cousin Jodi is coming to spend the weekend with us!

Today I am thankful for: patience.
And wishing I had more: patience.

No news is....

the norm.

But that's ok.
I've been practicing my Ethiopian food cooking. And eating. Recently I have made Kik Alitcha and Shiro Wat. Both turned out pretty good. I'm considering them mastered and moving on to new recipes later this week.
I went to the Indian grocery where I can buy some of the spices/supplies I need at a much better price than ordering online. Yay!
Our first ever dishwasher was installed this weekend - Thanks Yohos!
The girls' rooms are coming along. The room Matt and I moved into is done.
Work is slow.
The baby doesn't sleep at night anymore.
So neither do I.



......


That's it. Nothing else to report.
We're good. Just hangin' in, you know?

Waiting.....