Daddy and his girls

We’ve been getting our feet under us… Jrock went back to work the day after we got home, so the girls and I have been keeping busy: baking bread, going to the beach, hanging out the laundry, etc.  We still haven’t unpacked, but that’s the way it goes.  They are upstairs watcvhing football with Daddy right now so I have a moment to post.

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Ok, so then they started throwing a tantrum upstairs over one of their new toys and Daddy and I put them down for a nap!

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Anyway, here are some pictures from the first few days. The pics of our trip will start appearing next week

The first day home. They really dig their room.. and strangely, wanted to sleep in their own beds right off the bat (having never slept apart, this surprised the heck out of us.) They love their starbucks mugs – although when we went to fill up at the local coffee shop all they wanted was water.

Eating breakfast. They really love boiled oat groats (traditional brekkie food in ET) and since it’s cheap and healthy – bottoms up!

Making bread with Mommy. They are really helpful. We need to get some bigger stools or something for the kitchen, though…

Watering the Cucs. this is the only time they have gone out in the back yard, since they are still really REALLY afraid of Maggie and Laughlin (who were inside when I took this picture.) Unfortunately, I missed most of the harvest this year – peas and beans went to seed, but we did enjoy the peaches of the tree, turnips and carrots!

Fab girls. Our girls get to choose what they wear – check out Spice’s exceedingly funky outfit on the left! Complete with the Minny Mouse shoes and the mohawk ‘do’s. That one will be a cool dresser, I think. Sugar is more functional – still pretty though!

Overwhelmed girls but relieved and happy mommy

Thank goodness! It sure is nice to be back.

I just want to start by thanking everyone who was so kind and helped us out during the difficult time – from my mom jumping on a plane with 6 hours notice, to my sister posting this stuff up, to my friend T helping me pack, to C mowing our lawn, to M booking our flights… etc! and to the innumerable well-wishers and friends routing for us.. it’s all so appreciated.

My email inbox has over 500 new messages that Jrock hadn’t dealt with – so please, know that I appreciate all your messages and will reply as I find the time.

Here are a couple of pictures of us arriving at the airport yesterday.  The girls did awesome on the trip – I was a wreck (never again am I traveling with 2 three year olds be myself internationally!) We were met at the airport by a wonderful host of our friends… thanks so much to the whole crowd.  Unfortunately, tghe girls were pretty taken back by the balloons and excitement, so they just cried and wouldn’t say hi.  But as soon as they hit the car and jumped into their carseats – well, they were as happy as clams!   

Part of the gang – thanks so much to everyone who came!

Coming down the ramp – this is when they started to cry!

Yesterday we went out for curry (they like it hot) and today went to the park and bought bike helmets.  Eventually we’ll get around to unpacking and the other stuff.  In the meanwhile, we’re just trying to gradually get them used to the dogs and cats (the kitty they will pet – the dogs they scream when they see them – seriously scream in terror – ) and get the house in shape.  Tonight Jrock is putting a lock on the medicine cabinet (only a foot off the floor) and other essentials.

I’ll post up more pics and stories soon… We have thousands of pictures… litterally. 

Warm appreciation! and thanks to all!!!

Nicky

Additional thanks from the traveling Gramma (my Mum):

“I realize that they won’t probably all read this posting but I want to extend my personal thanks,in no particular order,to all our many friends in Ethiopia and Canada, both Ethiopian and Canadian. Sentyue, a friend I met near the end of our stay who is a true example of the Good Samaritan. The Weygoss and Kids Link staff who went more than the extra mile for us. Countless Ethiopians who stopped us in the street, at the internet cafe and at each and every eating establishment we ate at, to exclaim over ‘our’ beautiful twins and thank us for caring for their children. (Thank you to them for their loving attitude to their children and their gifts of encouragement and acceptance of our newly expanded family.) Of course I can’t forget each adopting family and other hotel guests (including our friend from Saudi Arabia!) who responded with smiles, encouragement and suggestions to our stumbling through the first hours and days with Sugar and Spice.

Mostly, however, I want to thank you, J and Grandpa. Nicky, for inviting me to participate in this miracle – bringing two beautiful children home to their family. J and Grandpa B for supporting my traveling with you while they took the difficult road and stayed at home. I will always remember this special time was a loving gift from the three of you. God bless you.”

Just a quick note to let everyone know that I spoke to the whole family this evening on the phone – safe and at home in Kelowna. Nicky and Jrock sounded wiped, but glad to be home. Sugar and Spice were very excited to be in Canada at last, and didn’t sound tired at all! (of course) They even serenaded their Uncle M and I with their rendition of ‘Old MacDonald’ over the speaker phone. Totally cute. I can’t wait to meet them.

Welcome home, guys. We missed you.

Cheers

Ena

PS- Thanks to all who came to the airport to welcome the family home!

What good girls these are!  They are patiently waiting out on the balcony blowing bubbles while Daddy checks his football and I write this update at the internet cafe.  They so cute – toe to toe.  One guy just came in and said “Are they twins?” – we hear this probably 4 or 5 times if we walk down the street to the mall or something… twins are quite remarkable here.  And everybody is so kind – nobody cares that we are farengi (white foreingers).  In fact, we’ve had innumerable people thank us for giving the kids a better chance and “God Bless You”s galore.  Canada may be judgemental about foreign adoption; Ethiopia is not.  I want to say as a side note, that one of the things I appreciate so much about Ethiopians – they have to be some of the least racist people I have ever met – just so accepting of others, of other cultures… so kind and friendly.  And of course so loving towards children.  The girls always get kisses on the cheek and hands when we go anywhere. 
 
I digress – but I guess I’m happy and grateful to be going home.  And the crustiness you get when you’ve been somewhere abroad too long (and want to go home) is melting away – replaced by a renewed appreciation for our friendships in Ethiopa, and the wonderful culture.  Our girls have so much to be proud of, being Ethiopian.
 
~~Nicky had to run….Emergency shint (pee) by Sugar.
 
Speaking of going home, we all leave Tueasday.  Nicky and the girls leave on Emirates via Dubai and Toronto then home.  She will arrive on Thursday at 10:24 am if anyone wants to meet the girls at the airport (AC flight from Toronto).  I leave Tuesday via Lufthanasa through Frankfurt, then Montreal, then Vancouver then home.  I get home on Wednesady night at 10 pm.  We are looking forward to seeing the animals and sleeping in our own beds.
 
The girls are doing very well with an ever expanding vocabulary.  Spice drew her first stick man yesterday complete with eyes, nose and stick legs and arms.  We saved the napkin from the restaurant. {Auntie Ena the art teacher is very excited about this!}  Sugar can kick the ball very strongly.  They both love injera and are very good eating out (they have had lots of practice).  Thye like their stories at night, blowing bubbles, taking baths, and shopping.  They are very excited to come to Canada and it seems like a magical place in their minds.
 
Looking forward to seeing you all again.
 
-JRock

{And a few more of Gramma’s pics for you all…   -Ena}

For all those of Nicky and Jrock’s friends in Kelowna, you are welcome to greet Nicky and the girls when they arrive in Canada!

Unfortunately, Jrock wasn’t able to get a flight home with them, so they all leave Addis on Tuesday, but while Jrock is going through Germany, Nicky, Sugar and Spice will be flying through Dubai. So Jrock arrives home on Wednesday night, and will go to the airport on Thursday morning to welcome the rest of his family home!

Any of their friends who wants to meet Nicky, Sugar and Spice with Jrock is welcome to. Please, someone bring a video camera for those of us who can’t be there! (I’m sure Nicky will want to post it to the blog!) They arrive on Thursday, August 27th at 10:25am on flight AC197.

I so wish I could be there. I’ll be busy learning Old Macdonald on the guitar for our skype sessions, since Nicky instructed me that it’s the only song the girls know, and they love to sing and dance…

Wishing safe travels to the whole clan – Nicky, Jrock, Sugar & Spice – and to anyone else travelling these days to pick up their babies!

Ena

Just a quick note to let everyone know that as of this morning, they have the visas! Yay! Now they just have to get the travel visa for Germany…usually just a day or so turn around. So travel plans are underway….

Yay!

Ena

Here are a few of my favourite pictures from Gramma’s camera. They aren’t necessarily the best pictures, but the ones that made me pause…that show my sis being a mom (so cool), that show a little about the girls’ personalities, and that just made me go “Awwww….”. I can’t wait to see the pictures of the whole family when they get back!

(I know this seems like a lot of pics, but take into account that Gramma brought back about 900 with her! [first grandkids   ] I’ve really narrowed it down…)

Hope you liked them!

Ena

 Hello Ena, 
 
I arrived in Addis last Friday after a long flight, but was happy to be here to see Nicky and the girls.  They were a little worried at first and not completely receptive but things have improved with time.  We spent a couple of days in Addis in the rain and then went south to sunshine and great times.  We went to Bishangari Eco lodge on Lake Langano and boy what an experience!  We stayed in a modern Godjo by the lake with full restaraunt facilites.  The wildlfe was amazing!  Hippos, Colobus monkeys, baboons, warthogs outside our door, and birds galore.  As well, we saw many local farmers and people working with livestock and crops.  We were able to swim in the lake every day and Sugar and Spice loved “wash body”.  It was certainly a trip of a lifetime. 
 
After four days at Bishangari, we went to Adama to visit Faya orphanage as well as Selam orphanage.  We were able to take the donations raised when the intiial news of Imagines bankruptcy had hit and supply Faya with bunkbeds, cribs, formula, bedding supplies, mattresses, toys, and baby oils.  M at Faya gave Nicky some cooking lessons.
 
Today we have arrived back to Addis to good news!  The visa will be ready tomorrow and in Addis on Wednesday.  So it looks like we will be arriving soon!!  Sugar and Spice are very excited to go to Canada.  It looks like that next week we will be heading home!!
 
We have many beautiful photos to share but will have to wait until we get back to Canada.
 
Ciao until then
-J Rock

With Gramma back, there are a lot more pictures to post… here are a few she emailed me. I’ll get the rest over the next few weeks, so keep checking back!

Sugar, Spice, Nicky and Gramma.

This is one of the learning games Nicky has been playing with the girls to build vocabulary. She says a word, they repeat it, then run to touch the correct picture.

For the girls, every plane is going to Canada. They point and shout “Canada” whenever they see one. So cute.

They loved playing with Gramma’s hair – it’s straight, fine softness was totally new to them. They “braided” it a lot (meaning they combed it and twisted it, which hasn’t a hope of doing anything…   )

A very happy Gramma with Sugar, outside the natural history museum. She looks like a gran, doesn’t she? (been rehearsing that look for years, hoping and waiting for Gramma status…)

And finally, my fave so far… a pic of Mommy and girls. They were hanging out outside the museum, being a little silly. They discovered that all three of them have the ability to roll their tongues – a genetic trait – but that Gramma can’t. It comes from Grandpa’s side of the family, because, as I discovered in Banff,  Nonna and Great Aunt T can’t either. Very cool. Sugar is on the left (with the pear on her shirt), and Spice is on the right…with the pink, as always.

Howdy to all our Canadian friends!! A big thanks to K and M&D who sent Jrock some pics, and K – I got your CD.  Thanks so much!  R in the Nth Ok – we dropped off your package and it got into he right hands
 
So Jrock arrived 2 nights ago – and boy o boy was I glad to see him.  I actually did better than I thought without Mom – of course the girls and I miss her – her help was so invaluable.  Once I had to leave piles of toys etc in the hotel lobby for a few hours since my two rugrats were screaming and I had to take them upstairs.  Thank goodness it is such a small hotel becauses I had left my wallet on the top, but it was all safe at the front desk when I came back down.  A word about the hotel – the Weygoss is AWESOME.  It’s so perfect for families and it has been our home away from home! The four ladies at the front are so awesome with the kids – they play behind the front desk and check people in.  The guard outside is this wonderful grandfatherly like figure – he has the same name (male version) as one of our girls… He kicks the soccer ball around with them in the courtyard and if they fall he has this trick where he gets the girls to beat on the pavement (getting it back!) with the broom and then they feel all better. Hilarious. Anyway – I highly recommend it to anyone travelling with a family.
 
But I digress.  Jrock arrived a bit late two nights ago… some things are different here, like you need your passport and have to pay to get into the airport.  The girls were really really nervous there – partly meeting the infamous daddy and partly just all the people.  It will be quite overwhelming travelling home, I think.  I sure hope our visa is there so we can go home with Jrock!!  It was awesome to see him – With little ones running about I forgot what a big, stable strength he is. 
 
Our first night he had coffee ceremony at the hotel – small hotel.. they delayed the nightly ceremony 2 hours just for him! – and then put the girls to bed.  Yesterday we walked to the bank – big event! :_-) and Spice actually let him carry her in the carrier – amazing.  She never let Gramma. Sugar is much more wary of him.  Then we relaxed until late afternoon when we went shopping with S, our Ethiopian friend.
 
We spent a good portion of the $1000 (plus our contribution) to Faya… We bought two cribs, (but mattresses and sheets yet to come), a bunk bed with a mattress, and a huge dresser.  It was fun, and we are so glad that the kind people who donated to Imagine when it needed it (pre-Gold Compnay Bailout) decided to funnel the donations to Faya.  I understand from Jrock that some ppeople wanted their money back, so J in Van is arranging that out of the other donated cash, and then she is donating the remainder online.
 
Anyway, we had fun, and will buy the rest of the stuff when we spend the weekend in Adama a week from now.
 
Today we went AGAIN to the Natural history Museum.. it’s badly stuffed animals from across Ethiopia, but the girls love love love it.. and the guide is so nice and answers all their questions.  The bird life and animals are amazing here – especially the birds! and I can’t wait to see it in person.
 
Tomorrow we finally leave Addis - after almost four weeks! It will be awesome.  We are going south (and downhill) to Lake Langano and staying at Bishangari Lodge – Ethiopia’s first (and I understand best!) ecolodge.  It’ll be expensive but worth it, from all reports – birds, wildlife, swimming in the lake – FRESH AIR (the smog in Addis is BAD) and quiet.  We will be there for five days. Then we are going back to Adama (aka Nazareth) for 3 days.  We are dropping the cribs, etc off on our way down but will buy the teff and formula and other stuff in Adama on the return trip (for Faya)  We will be staying at the Safari Lodge – kind of kitsch but cheap and nice and it has a pool.  Plus S’s sister M who runs Faya said she would teach me to mix my own berbere and make shiro – awesome! So that will be fun. Then we will be back in addis for 2 days before we go on our next adventure.
 
So a little more about Jrock and the girls… I asked him what strikes him most about Ethiopia so far, and he said “the diversity of people” and “how friendly everyone is.” 
 
I should have asked him what he thinks about his daughters! (lol) But he is upstairs cuddling them to sleep.  Sugar hasn’t given him a kiss yet, and she cried once when I left them playing in the courtyard together (no mommy) but she loves playing with him… Spice is much more accepting (generally) and she’s quite taken.  He’s been learning “our” language – a mix of English, Amharic and sign… and doing really well.  At first he didn’t understand how you have to isolate words so they can pick them up – they would get lost with his sentences.  But he is doing a lot better, they are understanding him more (and vice versa!) and he’s realizing how the whole second language thing works (my forte, not his.. but he’s a bright guy )
 
Sugar has been on pretty good behaviour, though – it’s a second honeymoon! yipee!! lol… no tantrums for two days.  Just a mini-meltdown today.. Jrock was looking pretty worried at just that, but I said “you just wait!!” They are legendary for their screaming fits – the desk ladies downstairs can hear it when they have a tantrum , down in the lounge!  
 
I shouldn’t make it sound like they are little monsters, though.  I was reflecting on my past posts… they are actually completely lovely little girls.  Everyone here just loves them, and I can see why they were teacher’s favorites back at the transition home.  Spice has the most hilarious sense of humour – she keeps us in stitches with her faces and expressions.. she does sarcastic impressions of herself, Sugar, and me especially   (Is sarcasm at 3 normal? )
 
Sugar is so athletic and Jrock was saying “she ran down the stairs full tilt by herself!” (although I recommended this wasn’t the best idea..)  She has sticky fingers and delights in showing you what she’s pinched off you a minute ago.  She’s forthright and honest – and sticks her tongue out in the cutest way when she is laughing / concentrating / having fun.
 
And both of the girls are really considerate to each other… they hold each other’s stuff and get worried if the other isn’t happy.  They are their own best friends… I think because they are so different they get along really really well…
 
Anyway, I’d better go upstairs.  I’ll tell ya – this parenting thing is WAY easier with a partner!!!  I don’t know how you single moms do it… honestly.  But life is easier when Jrock is here, and I find myself enjoying the girls more and more, since he is helping with more of the hard stuff.
 
More news in a week!
Nicky

Howdy everybody. I just wanted to let you all know where we’re at…

Gramma (my mum) is back in Canada. I got to have a little time with her yesterday, and it was wonderful hearing about Nicky and the girls from her. She’s happy to be home, but she’ll miss spending time with her grandaughters and daughter.

It was neat to hear her talk about the girls, learning a bit more about them from someone who’s spent some time with them. It was really cool to hear about how Nicky is adjusting, and how she’s a natural at this Mommy thing!  It was also fun getting to window shop for little girls’ clothes with Gramma (my mum), Nonna (my Grandma, the girls’ great-gran), and my Auntie (aka G.A.T. – Great-Aunt T.) We had a blast picking out things we liked, things we thought Nicky would like, and especially all the pink and frilly stuff that Spice (our little fashionista) would love and Nicky would hate! Thank you to the three of them for meeting me in Banff for a day.  (oh yeah, we may have also stopped by the candy store for a treat…)

We heard today that Jrock has arrived in Ethiopia and is with Nicky and the girls. Finally, the whole family together! They’ll be holidaying around Ethiopia for the next couple of weeks, coming back to Addis and the Weygoss every so often, both to check in about passports and to provide a little bit of a ‘home base’ for the girls. Apparently the girls are totally in love with their new Daddy – who wouldn’t want such a nice, calm, funny, gentle Daddy, though? I can’t wait until they meet Grandpa (my daddy), and figure out that the big, wiskery guy is a total teddy bear with Grandpa mints in his pocket…

I’m hoping to have some photos soon – Gramma didn’t have a copy to give me yet on Friday (but I got to see a bunch on her camera!), and Jrock also took the download cable with him, so maybe we’ll have some of the four of them!

Ena

Hello everybody! from Ethiopia.  We’re just finishing up our third week in Addis – and Mum is off tonight on the plane.  She’s been a wonderful help – it’s been hard for her to be hands off with the kids (although I see her sneaking a kiss now and then!) but she’s been a trouper – always gophering stuff for me, and holding the backpack – and of course, playing with the kids and giving me a moment’s break. We will miss her.  The girls really enjoy brushing her hair – the two of them stand on the bed behind her and “braid ” it (sharuba!) which is rerally just twisting the hair.  
 
Twins are a handful – or rather! two handfuls!  Good thing I have two arms.  When we go out about 1/3 of the time I end up carrying one in each arm (that’s 60 lbs people!!) I don’t remember exactly what I have written about them… but I’all repeat if necessary.
 
Sugar and Spice each have a little of each element.  Sugar actually has been throwing tantrums several times a day… they are both strong-willed girls.  They obviously never got “no” at the transition home.  I wouldn’t say they were spoiled… but I would say indulged!  So at first, for the first week, they were sad… now they seem to have recovered completely.  (But when we visited the orphanage, it wasn’t so good.. tell you about that in a minute.  )  The second week we were defining boundaries… when one is sad, the other starts to cry … but if one is angry, the other doesn’t get sucked into it.  There were some mega tantrum days – I mean, kicking, screaming, running away from me… the whole bit… But near the end of the second week there was a difference.. they were screaming in my arms and calling for me when the tantrum started. 
 
About attachment: well, they are pretty much velcroed to me.  One night we went to an Indian restaurant with friends and they were enthralled with our male friend and sat on his lap for supper – but mostly they only want me, which is really good.
 
Their teacher thought that they are about 3 1/2 – although they are really tiny, they are definetly that old.. and bright.  They carry on entire conversaions with each other – and we three understand each other perfectly in our mix of Amharic, English and sign language.  They are bright – they probably understand 40+ words of English… maybe more, and speak 25+, I would say.  Everything from shoes to wet to rain to no to photo to puppy. 
 
And what do we do all day?  Well, mostly we try to go out in the morning… since about a week ago I have reinstated the nap in the afternoon after lunch.  Yesterday we wnent to this park – Bihere Tsige recreation centre – outside of Addis with a friend from Ghana and her little one.  It was really nice – well, the park was totally different than we would expect in Canada or Ghana – they trim the grass with mini sithes and hand clippers, and then cart it off to feed the cows.  But the girls got to run and run – probably for the first time in their lives… and they just loved it. (Remember, they spent a year in a courtyard, and then before that they were really too young to make miles.)
 
I’m so looking forward to getting out of Addis when JRock arrives.  We took a one day trip to Adama (Nazareth) and it was so awesome to breath fresh air and see the countryside. We went to visit Faya Orphanage… that’s what the girls had a hard time with.  They just wouldn’t stop crying.  Too confusing, I think, since it is a bit like the transition home.  But the kids there are lovely and the lady who runs it, M, and her brother S are just great.
 
The folks in Canada raised a bunch of money for  KidsLink / Imagine in Ethiopia – but then the gold company bailed it out.  So Jenny and co. asked around what they wanted to do with it, and they donated the $2000?? (I think) to Faya online, and then I have $1000 US here.  So our new friend S is taking us shopping the day before we leave Addis (for Lake Langano) and then we’re taking a bus load of cribs, bunkbeds, pasta, cleaning supplies, etc. (M’s list) to the Faya orphanage on the way down (we go past Adama.  That should be great.)
 
By the way, S has become our friend – he took three ladies and three babies shopping for traditional outfits last Sunday – now there’s a man!- and will be travelling a bit with Jrock and I as well later on.. A wonderful guy.
 
Anyway, the girls have been playing nicely around the hotel (it’s a small hotel) for a good 45 minutes (takes a long time to type on this keyboard) so I’d better go.  Sorry for all the disjointed info, but that’s the way it goes.
 
Can’t wait to see what all this looks like one the blog when I get back! ha ha
 
Jrock is arriving Friday – yipee!!! I miss him so much and It will be so great for him to meet the girls… and they are looking forward to it.  They always talk to him on the phone and point him out in all the photos.  So cute.
 
Ciao!
Nicky

In addition to having this email in my inbox today, I also had some photos from the very kind J. Welcome back, hope your baby is well. Thanks so much for forwarding these to Jrock. ~Ena

Hello friends and family.  I just wanted to update you that I will be heading to Addis this Thursday August 6 to meet up with Nicky, Sugar, and Spice.  It has been a long few weeks since Nicky left on the 13th and I am excited to be travelling.  We are going to tour around some and see some different areas in the country.  We hope to ALL be coming home 2-3 weeks after the 6th.  Nicky’s mom, R, is coming home on the 5th.  Thank-you R for being with Nicky these last few weeks and helping out so much!  It is appreciated.

The girls paperwork is currently at the High commission in Nairobi waiting for a Visa.  Visas have been processed rapidly over the last 3 weeks, so lets hope the pace continues!

Over the last few days, Nicky and the family have travelled to Adama and spent a day there, went to a natural history museum and another museum, and toured around Addis.  Yesterday, they were going to venture to a market in Addis.

Hopefully, I will be bringing some travel news soon and more pictures.  Nicky took the camera to Addis, but forgot the download cord.  I will be taking the cord with me.  Thank-you to everyone who has sent pictures!

J-rock