2 months waiting

Here we are at 2 months since we have submitted our dossier. Nothing new to report, except we're waiting, waiting, waiting. But that doesn't mean I haven't been busy (in no particular order):

• Planted and landscaped one of our front flower beds with my dad.
• Said goodbye to my Grandpa Tedford. Rest in peace.
• Rode the oldest carousel this side of the Mississippi. 

• Kicked butt at trivia. Lucas and I play with various friends at different bars and restaurants.We have won 3 weeks in a row at Moe's BBQ. It's pretty fun and we win food and drinks! www.geekswhodrink.com
• Celebrated Claudia's birthday with fancy cocktails, a rooftop dinner, and some music.

• Hung out with my good friend Trina who I haven't seen in ages.
• Had dinner in Longmont with Lucas's family and brother Gabe who was visiting from Portland, OR.
• Attended 3 weddings: Eleanor + Kevin, Jason + Becky, Megan +Jeff

• Lucas is now playing in all his bands again. He's had 4 shows and 11 practices.
• Went to a rock n' roll BBQ at Larimer Lounge to see our friends in Snake Rattle Rattle Snake play. They're getting pretty big these days.
• Played putt putt golf. I sunk this shot, by the way.

• Played Blue Rhino in the park.
• Helped our friend Kat move into her new place.
• Saw my Uncle Mike, visiting from Brevard, NC
• Walked the Poudre River trail with Claudia while Lucas went on a Triumph motorcycle ride with his dad.
• Went to La Loma (sorry we went without you, Lane) with Lucas' mom, Nick and Jon.
• Hung out with my good friend Sarah who I haven't seen in ages.
• Received the most adorable quilt (#1) made by my mom. Awaiting quilt #2!

• Went to the hugest antique mall at the Brass Armadillo. Luckily they had maps so we knew how to get out. You'll be seeing Christmas gifts coming your way with some re-purposed items from here.
• My poster on Ending Childhood Hunger in Colorado got accepted and I'll be presenting it at the American Public Health Association Conference at the end of October.
• Ate Ethiopian food with Lucas's parents and brother Barry. Sadly, the pictures were erased. 
• Watched a candle-lit Sweet Tooth Meat Tooth (our friends Doug and Hayley's musical side-project) performance under the stars in the "germ garden" next door to Kitty's South.
• Had the tree in front of our house removed. By order of the city.
• Had our lawn, or maybe I should more appropriately say weeds, cut down by my dad with a mega mower. By order of the city.
• Fixed my vacuum cleaner with my bare hands and a screw driver.
• Lucas got in a minor car accident and now has regularly scheduled chiropractor appointments.
• Survived an earthquake....?
• Hung out with my Uncle Dan and lovely cousin Jackie, visiting from Martinez, CA

• Had a few happy hours with good friends.
• Hung out with my cousin Jared and his adorable family, visiting from Kansas City, KS
• Talked about how to eat healthy on a budget live on Channel 4 News.
• Continued our beloved Wednesday rotating dinner night with friends Doug, Hayley, Robbie and Stephanie.
• Helped my sister design flowers for a wedding or two. 

Happy Ethiopian New Year!

Melkam Addis Amet!

Today is the Ethiopian New Year, called Enkutatash (en-koo-TAH-tash). I thought I would give a little history/culture lesson today since we don't have any new info while we're waiting for our babies.

Most of Ethiopia still follows the Orthodox Julian calendar. Unlike the Western or Gregorian calendar, the Julian year has 12 months of 30 days each and an additional 13th month with 5 or 6 days (depending on Leap Year).

Meskerem is the first month of the Ethiopian year. The first day of Meskerem, New Year’s Day, falls on our September 11 this year. Ethiopian New Year is a time to express hopes and dreams for the future.

Enkutatash marks the end of the rainy season in Ethiopia, when fields bloom and the spring begins. The literal meaning of Enkutatash is the “gift of jewels”. This is in reference to the gifts the Queen of Sheba received after her expensive journey to visit King Solomon in Jerusalem. The first day of Meskerem also marks the commemoration of Saint John the Baptist.

In Ethiopia, people celebrate New Year by placing flaming torches of dry leaves and wood in front of their houses on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, the people attend church, dressed in traditional Ethiopian attire. Historically, people would send flowers to mark the occasion, but greeting cards have become more popular. Villagers celebrate with singing and dancing.

Lucas and I plan to celebrate this holiday once our children are here. Creating new traditions with family is something we've always been excited about. So, if you get yellow flowers on September 11th from us, know that we're including you in the celebration. At the end of the rainy season and on New Year's day, yellow daisies bloom across the wild fields surrounding Addis Ababa called Yadey Abeba, identical to our Tickseed Sunflower.

We'll also go out for ET food, as most restaurants will stay open late for feasts and dancing.

On the 10th anniversary of the terrible events that happened at the Twin Towers, although we'll never forget, we're now ready to embrace and celebrate a new culture that will be a part of us very soon.