One year for Lisle

One year ago today, Ethiopian Airlines flight 501 touched down in Washington, D.C.  After going through immigration, the USA had a new citizen, Festum Thomas Spears... a train wreck of a name; we'll be fixing that next month. To us, he is Carlisle Fitsum Spears; our Lisle.  It's been a wonderful year getting to know our new little boy, filled with many joys and many challenges.  He's done a ton of growing:  physically he's about eight inches taller and ten pounds heavier; he's also speaking English, going to school, speech therapy, occupational therapy and playing organized sports...growing as a little person.  We can't imagine life without him.
 

Then

 Dulles Airport 

First snow

First Christmas home

Now

 Today at our house

 Henry Doorly Zoo in September

Last month, hunting butterflies

The final firsts

It's hard to believe, but we are coming up on one year as a family of nine.  The end of summer and the beginning of fall leads to the last of the firsts for Lisle...here are some pictures documenting a few events.

Lost Valley Ranch in Colorado with our little cowpoke.

Lisle rode Astro everyday for a week all by himself.

Tubing with Thomas...Lisle was Mr. Cool until he was dumped minutes later.

Vala's Pumpkin Patch

The not-so-haunted house.

Corn!

Danger at the Pumpkin Mine

Lisle and Sarah on the train.

Halloween

The twins helped Lisle make a jack-o-lantern.

Ready to go...disco diva Sarah, vampire-businessman Candace, 

zombie Thomas, and Spiderman Lisle.

Super amazing spiderman.

Trick or treat?!

 The littles carved their own pumpkins this year.

More to come in an upcoming post...so much is going on here ALL THE TIME...I need to make more of an effort to keep up.