Ethiopia - Day 3 "Gotcha Day!"

Tuesday, February 16th

This is the day we were able to take the boys with us from the Transition House. They are forever and for always ours!

The morning was spent shopping (a row of small shops selling Ethiopian clothing, scarves, wooden carved animals, beaded necklaces and earrings, and small knick knacks) with the help of Famy and David. We bought two different outfits for the boys, an outfit for our nieces Samantha and Maddy Jo (but shhh, it's a surprise and they won't find out until this weekend!), and a shirt for both Mike and I. Then lunch at the Guest House (AMAZING chef!!!) and Mike and I went to the roof and took some pictures and video before heading off to "get" the boys.

This picture taken from the van in the morning on the way to shopping. It was very common to see people set up with food or other products right along the sidewalk:

Addis Ababa from the roof of the Guest House - you can see the mountains all around:

Still on the Guest House roof, the people and streets below:

There are chickens in this picture. They lived right in the family's back yard:

At the Transition House after giving care packages from other families to their kids, we get ours!

Ryan Elijah Ephrem:

John Michael Eyob:

Look at the trust Ryan Ephrem has already - he fell asleep in my arms!

Visiting with nannies at the other Transition House where the older children, including our boys, lived.

The boys in their beds:

Most of our travel group with their children back at the Guest House:

First moments in our room at the Guest House:

Thoughts/Advice to those coming after us:

1. We had high hopes of shopping for special little gifts for the boys from now until their 18th birthday - those died pretty quickly!! But that's okay, there's the Internet!

2. If you are adopting an older child, take lots of pictures quickly at the Transition House, there wasn't much time there.

3. Enjoy this day - it is truly the best!!!!!!!!!!!!