Because We Are This Cool.

Real Superheroes Wear Sunglasses

So proud of his accomplishment

Taking a closer look

Stylin'

Muscles!

Grandma & Grandpa

Lap Full of Boys!

Girl Time.

(And yes, there are empty frames and upside-down pictures on my wall.  Don't judge.)

  

Checkin' out Grandpa

I guess he's ok!

Hangin' with Grandma

Swinging

And the obligatory group shot.

The collection of which are the makings of a blooper reel.

These are as good as they get.

(I wish they had sound.  There is a whole lotta "Cheeeeeeeeeeese" goin' on!)

But this one is my favorite!

bahahaha

They Say Blondes Have More Fun.

Just a few short hours after the previous post's picture was taken,
the boys had been outside playing, and we called them in for supper.

Only to find them looking like this:

Which really doesn't even begin to portray the amount of sand caked in their hair.  

Let me just say that curls hold a lot of sand.

Verbages and Cuteness

More for my own memory than anything else, I want to write down the English words Eli has acquired so far.

1.  Pseee (please)
2.  Appo (apple)
3.  Nana (banana)
4.  Baya (Raya)
5.  Acha/Icha (Isaac)
6.  Bababa (Ababa, yes, they all call Daddy "Ababa."  Isaac is influential like that.)
7.  Mommy
8.  Pah-ee (potty)
9.  Hiyo (Hello)
10. Cah (car- also used for boat, airplane, motorcycle, etc)
11. Bye-Bye
12.  No, No, No!  (and wags his finger while generally looking devious)

Cheeeeeeese!

(Thanks, Grandma Barb, for the matching outfits!)

And some fun words that Isaac says:
1.  Hopticotcher (helicopter)
2.  Skwetchin (stretching)
3.  Annie-ems (M&Ms)
4.  Stirsty (thirsty)

Her Royal Cuteness.

(Thanks Grandma Carrie, for the pretty dress!)

Sneak Peek

Head on Over HERE and see a preview of the pics we just had taken!  Thanks Emily, they are Awesome!!

Another Picture Update

My Little Supermen to the Rescue!

He loves his Raya-Baby!

Pretty Girl

(Not quite sure where I was aiming when I snapped this, but it was too cute to pass up!)

Puffs! 

(Turns out she hates anyone messing with her hair, and really it's a little short anyway.

But they were pretty cute while they lasted... after the screaming stopped.)

D is for Destruction

With a grin like this, it may come as no surprise to you that this boy has brought destruction to a whole new level in our house.

This was what we did today:

This morning I removed from his mouth 2 quarters and 5 pennies. And later in the day, a nickel. I don't know where he keeps finding money. I wish I had such an easy time acquiring money.

He took off his diaper at naptime and peed all over the crib.

He decided he didn't want his apple juice anymore and dumped it all over the kitchen floor (and himself.)

He refused to eat anything for lunch that wasn't a Dorito.  (I did eventually manage to feed him applesauce using Doritos as "incentive.")

He twice climbed up on the kitchen table (in an effort to procure more Doritos I think).

He started running himself a bath about 3 times today, and was already naked and climbing in by the time I got there.

And in general, can deconstruct a household in typical 2 year old fashion (dumping out bins of toys, hurling things down the stairs, sitting on the baby), but at world record pace.



It's lucky for him that he's so cute.

More Pictures and an Update

Matchy Boys

They love to match!  Unfortunately, most of their matching clothes are pjs.  

Makes daytime harder if we're going anywhere.

Muscles!

Splish Splash

I had both the littles to the doctor today, and learned that they are both tiny.  Raya is on the curve (barely) for height, but under the curve for weight.  Eli is well under the curves for both height and weight (which surprised no one.) The most discouraging part was that compared to his embassy physical, Eli has gained a whopping... nothing.  He's exactly the same, in the 6 weeks that we've had him.  I guess this should not surprise me either, given his aversion to eating.  But I'd hoped.  (And yes, I realize 6 weeks is not that long, and we haven't been home for many of those 6 weeks.  Not that he eats any more here than he did there...)

The good news is that Eli has a healthy stranger anxiety, which means he's attaching.  Raya is usually pretty content to be held by most anyone who is a lady.  She does not like men for some reason, and sadly, John is no exception.  Which is weird, considering she liked him just fine when he was in the Congo.

That's about it for updates here.  We should have some awesome family pictures soon!  Can't wait.  :)

A Picture Post (One Week Home!)

Eli rockin' the Du-Rag.  

Bath Time

Happy Girl

I'm getting very good at Multi-Child Rocking

This tiny princess has her first tooth popping through!  

(I realize you can't see it that well in this picture.  It's the best I could do.)

Visitors

So far we've had visits from Grandma Barb and Grandpa Dan, who stopped by as we were pulling in the driveway, just home from the airport.

The next day Grandpa Dennis stopped by in his big truck and visited for a little while.

On the 4th of July, we went to to John's parents for burgers and the kids got to meet Jason and KC.

Apparently they like Uncle Jason.

I admit I've been rather slackery about taking pictures, however.  I don't have any of Grandma or KC. 

I'll work on that.

Catching Up

So we've been home a few days now.  The New Kids are doing great.  They both had colds at first, and sleep was a valuable commodity around here, but both seem to be less snotty lately, and therefore are sleeping better.  Raya even slept through the night the last 2 nights!

Isaac is having a little harder time adjusting, although this not surprising.  With my being gone for 5 weeks, and then my lap being full of rather demanding children (who tolerate other people selectively and only in moderation) he has been kind of struggling to find where he fits now.  But he is a very proud big brother, and has declared that he "loves his Raya-baby."  I guess the jury's still out on Eli.

Isaac and Eli get along... sometimes.  Isaac loves to update me on everything that Eli does.  It bears a distinct resemblance to incessant tattling.  Eli (like most 2 year olds) does not like to be told No.  He has a bit of a pinching habit that Isaac does not appreciate.  And he follows Isaac around all the time.  Sometimes Isaac likes this, other times he does not.

And for posterity's sake, here are some details of our trip home, and thoughts in general:
The kids traveled like champs.  The first flight left at 8:30pm, Kinshasa time.  This is conveniently bedtime.  Therefore, they both slept much of this flight, which landed at 4am.  They were mostly awake in the airport at Brussels, and then our next flight left at 11 something, so Eli was awake long enough to catch the lunch cart, and then slept for probably 4 hours or more of that flight as well.  He was awake again as we went through Immigration in Newark and then during our layover there.  The next flight left again at bedtime (Kinshasa time) so he slept through that 2.5 hour flight as well.  We then had one more short (45 minute) flight to our local airport.  He didn't sleep through that one, but he was pretty well-behaved, and mostly looked out the window, although he didn't particularly care to keep his seat belt on.  Raya naps on and off and loves just sitting on your lap, so flying around the world was right up her alley.  Neither of them seemed to have any problems with their ears or anything either, so we were thankful for that!

Eli really hates to be restrained in any fashion, so I was really dreading putting him in a car seat, but was pleasantly surprised that he doesn't mind at all.  Probably because it means he's going for a ride- He loves cars!  And actually it almost always puts him to sleep.  It's like magic.

We've been out and about a little bit already.  We went to the park this morning to play with Isaac's friend Ty, which Isaac loved.  It's good to do some things for Isaac now and then, since so much of my day revolves around either Eli or Raya.  They did fine.  Really, 5 weeks in the Congo was obviously great for their attachment process.  They seem very comfortable with me, and don't mind going places, as long as I am within their line of vision.  Isaac of course, had a blast, especially when the sprinklers came on in the grass providing some welcome relief from the heat!

Speaking of going places, we are supposed to be in the Homeland this weekend with my whole family.  We had planned this months ago when we thought we'd be long home by now.  I'm tempted to still go, but John can't go, and I'm pretty sure driving 8 hours with 3 kids under 5 (not to mention leaving John again already) would not be the best idea I've ever had.   But I hate being the only one not there and missing out on all the fun.  I suppose I'll try and go out in August instead.  :(

Home!

We made it home last night.  

I'll post more details and updates soon, but just know that we are all here safe and together!

(This picture cracks me up.  

I look as exhausted as I feel.  Eli is clearly half asleep too.  He didn't move a muscle the whole time we're taking these, however there is not a single one where both Isaac and Raya are looking toward the camera.  This whole series of photos is so funny.  Good thing you all can't see them!)