Summer swimming

Ethan and Levi love swimming.. and their fun new goggles (they call them "glasses")

Laramie is a little fish in the water! Watch out!

The kids are loving summer swimming at the gym. The boys are having their first-ever swim lessons. It is so fun to watch them as they both LOVE the water. No fear. They leap right in, keep their faces in the water, and think every swim lesson is a great one. How fun is THAT? Laramie is on an intermediate swim team, which is a perfect fit for her. It is encouraging to know that the girl who used to scream in the water is now excited about a swim meet later this month. Thank you, Lord! The older girls are swimming laps independently and having fun getting back into shape. They are joining Mom at a few of the workout classes, which marks a whole new season of life in our house.  Mom and Dad are having a fitness competition to see who can be in the best shape by summer's end... let the competition begin! I love my family!

Our one year adoption annniversary!

May 28, 2011....it has been one year since we left Ethiopia with Ethan and Levi and stepped off the plane in California (tired and weary!) to be a new family of eight. What a year it has been! Full of joy and laughter and fun, as well as incredible hard work, tears and sadness. Praise be to God who equips us to handle and fulfill what He calls us to do! I am thanking the Lord for our amazing daughters who have navigated the last year with large degrees of patience, selflessness and grace to their mom and dad. I am thanking the Lord for our amazingly resilient sons, who lost all that they knew as "normal" in Ethiopia but have grown to love us and call us Mom and Dad and love our family and want to be a part of crazy (but fun!) Grant life. I am thanking God for my amazing husband, who was willing to step out in uncharted waters to follow God's call to Ethiopia, and who daily keeps our family on track and brings fun and laughter to our lives. I am thanking God for my adoptive friends who have helped, counseled and sustained me throughout this last year. I am thanking God for my life. What a year it has been. An amazing journey that continues on.....

March 2012 - Legal name changing day

April 2011 - Ethiopia

A fun first birthday for our 6 year old

Sometimes our adoption life has surreal moments, and giving our six year old son his first birthday party was one of those. Ethan was so very eager to have a birthday, a birthday cake, open gifts, etc. He was thrilled to play a bit of Wii golf (his form needs a little help!) play a little family football, and have a fun family day. Here is Ethan enjoying his day:

A "Cars" theme for Ethan's 6th birthday

Our little man loves gifts!

Our gag gift... Ethan will tell you his favorite food is KETCHUP. It is a condiment, son, not a food!

Happy Birthday, Ethan! We love you!!

Ethan is six years old!

Ethan turns six years old today. Just one year and a few days ago we met Ethan Gezahegn in Ethiopia. So much has happened in the last year. We love our smart, resilient, silly six year old. Happy Birthday, Ethan!

Ethan is six!

The Great Easter Egg Hunt of 2012

Victoria and Savannah

Ethan

We had our Easter Egg hunt on "Easter Eve", as Daddy has to work tomorrow. This was the boys' first egg hunt, and they loved it! Their older sisters were a big help in showing them the fine art of egg hunting.

Laramie

Levi

I love my kids!

Fun with pipe cleaners! Who knew what you could do?

We've got the best kids ever... loving, kind, funny, creative! Life is good.

Well Bless this Momma's Heart!

What Momma would not be totally blessed by this interaction.... at bedtime prayers tonight I asked each child "What are you most thankful to God about today? Levi, age 3, thought for a moment and then looked at me and said, "Beautiful Momma". Sigh. Heart melting. God is good!