Monday, June 22, 2009

Our boys, including Max

I just had to post this picture b/c it is great in so many ways. This was Lleyton and Parker yesterday morning before we made a trip to Target. Parker had his hat on so Lleyton, of course, had to have the same. Lleyton insisted on wearing his John Deere boots to Target, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Bennett for the boots, he clearly loves them. Then there is Max. Max always lurks when there is food around. He is waiting for Lleyton to make one wrong move before he pounces on whatever food Lleyton is holding. Needless to say, there hasn't been a dull moment here over the last two weeks.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Our new life...

Our lives are much different now that we have two little ones (one not-so-little) running around. With the tough times also comes many enjoyable times, like last night when Sara, her mom, Lleyton, Parker and myself joined my mom and dad for a boat ride on the lake. The boys love the lake!

Times like those make up for most of the very difficult times we have had in the last couple of weeks. I am hoping that once Parker picks up more english and once we get his teeth taken care of, then it will be much easier for him to get adjusted to this new life we have thrust him into. My expectation would be that after that happens, Sara and I will be able to then get adjusted ourselves. Until then, we will have some bumps in the road here and there, but we will also have plenty of moments like the ones pictured below.

The boys getting to know each other a bit in the airport after we arrived home from Ethiopia.


Bathtime always proves to be enjoyable for the two of them.


You needn't speak the same language to enjoy a slip-n-slide together.




Whether you are American, Ethiopian, Russian, or any other nationality, you are going to like cupcakes.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Welcome home Parker Lelesa

After a whirlwind trip to Ethiopia, we are now home with Parker Lelesa. We are doing our best to get things settled down a bit, but I am guessing it is going to take awhile. One of these days I will post all about our trip to Africa, but I don't feel I have the time to write the never ending post about our trip. The trip was nothing short of life changing.

The kid eats everything (except chocolate, cheese, and ice cream). He was asked at lunch the other day, in his native tongue, what food he likes to eat. He answered with "whatever they put in front of me." We can certainly attest to that. He would stuff his mouth with food until he almost gagged. We quickly learned how to say small bites, tinnish.


On a previous post I deemed him strikingly handsome. I am sticking by that.


One of the images I will never allow myself to forget. These women hike to the top of a mountain in search of wood and other things, and then back down with it on their backs.


He doesn't mind being the center of attention every once in awhile.


Traditional Ethiopian food, injera. It has the consistency and feel of a wet shammy.


Don't worry about Parker Lelesa being afraid of flying, as this was him shortly after takeoff jumping around acting silly.