A good family

Yesterday we had a visit with our social worker, Michelle, so she can prepare our first post-placement report to be sent to Ethiopia. It's been almost three months since we came home with Candace and Sarah. We have had trying times, fun times, sad times, hard times and loving times. We're all learning to be a different family than the one we were prior to June. It's not perfect, but it's a good family. :)

Here are some pictures I took today when Anna and I were playing outside with the twins.

Sarah and Candace on our beach

Candace on the trampoline

Sarah

Anna, Sarah and Candace

Candace, Mommy and Sarah

Umm, it was a make-up free day, don't hold it against me.

Every girl is a princess...

Born to be royalty, just like their mommy.

Spreading her wings

This is a picture of Anna, Candace, Sarah and Emily in front of Emily's dorm at Iowa State. We moved her in on Saturday to start her career as a Cyclone. This is one of those difficult parts of parenting... it's our job to help them grow up; but it's hard to let them leave. We miss you, Emily. XXOO

A beautiful day

Today, on day 67 at home with our twins here in rural Nebraska, a minor miracle has occurred... we had our first conflict free day! No tears, no yelling, no running off, no pitching fits of any kind... from the twins or me! Or anyone else in the family! And this includes both a trip to Target where no toys were purchased and the dreaded bedtime. It's a beautiful day. :)

Two months!

Today Candace Selam and Sarah Fikir have been home and part of our family for two months. I will say that the second month has been a lot easier than the first. Communication has improved by leaps and bounds as the girls learn more words and are using simple sentences in English. We have fewer blow-ups and tantrums as rules and expectations remain consistent. Bedtime continues to be a bit of an ordeal most nights though.

The very best development of the last two or three weeks is simply... love. I as a mom have fallen in love with my twins in a concrete way as opposed to the more abstract love we felt for them while we were waiting for them and right after we came home. I feel like an attachment is growing for them too and they feel a real connection and love for me.

That's nice. It makes me feel that eventually, everything is going to fall into place. I'm still tired, we still have some not-so-good days, but everything is going to be good.