Annual Ethiopian Picnic

Yesterday was the annual picnic for our local Ethiopian adoption group. There were over a hundred RSVPs and it was so good to see all of the beautiful Ethiopian faces there.

We've gone to events in the past where Macy was afraid to actually talk to any of the other kids. I'm sure it's a combination of wanting to assimilate fully into the American culture and still being slightly afraid that the other Ethiopians might just be there to bring her back. I've spoken with other adoptive moms whose children were very much the same.

On the way to the picnic we discussed how one of the older girls, Kidist, would be there to braid hair and Macy was convinced to have hers done this time. When we got there she backed out though. Trying not to show my frustration I assured her that it was okay and we could always have it done another time.

As everyone was packing up to leave, Macy said "But what about my hair?" This girl has some timing, doesn't she? Luckily Kidist was kind enough to do some braids for us at the last minute...in the dark...being eaten alive by mosquitoes...while Macy cried her eyes out. She has a sensitive head, which is why we wanted braids in the first place, because we'd be able to go a few weeks without having to wash and brush her hair. She's also a bit melodramatic.

I think it turned out so cute! She looks like a completely different girl to me.

The kids had an amazing time running around with new friends, painting, eating Ethiopian food, treats, drinking lots of lemonade and swinging until they threw up. (Yes, literally.)

Haircuts!

I was feeling brave (and bored and cooped up) yesterday so I took the kids out early in the morning to run errands. We happened to be by Great Clips and they happened to desperately need haircuts, so I took them all in. The three of them may be as unruly as their hair, but they all did really well.

Here's a before of Macy and Felix. Marc and I joke that Felix looks like Gene Wilder in the original Willy Wonka (which we happen to watch ev.ry.day in our house). Macy's hair is really growing out, so she has sort of a mullet in the back and wings on the sides.

And aren't they sweet all cuddled up together? Here's the after... (she's actually wearing a headband, so it looks shorter)

She wants to grow it long, so we just cut the sides and back and left the top long. I can tell it's going to be YEARS before it grows out fully.

And here's Felix....

The top could be a little shorter, but at least he doesn't have the Mad Scientist look any more! He is going to be a lady killer with those eyes! I couldn't have gotten three cuter kids.

Here's Fletcher's "before" photo....typical Fletch. It was cold here earlier in the week, so I told him to put on a sweatshirt. This is what he came out wearing - a sweatshirt, two jackets and his robe over it. Not to mention three pair of socks. (I see a future vote for "class clown".)


Hard to see his haircut in this silly photo, and his "fauxhawk" had gone flat. Oh well, you'll just have to trust me when I say he is really for school and looks handsome!

Hair success!

When we met Macy in Ethiopia her hair was done in tiny little puffs all over her head. (That's her BFF Moges in the photo with us.)


We left it like that for a few days until we had to take it out to wash her hair, but had the ladies at the guesthouse fixed it like that again before we left. She loved it.

When we got home we let it go natural for quite some time until I felt confident enough to give it a try. She sat very patiently while I recreated the hair do....but she evidently thought it was a hair don't because she got teary and took it all out. We went through that twice. And it really looked good - it wasn't that it looked horrible or anything, I swear! We think maybe it reminded her of her old life.

Over the past few weeks I've seen her put two of those stretchy headbands in her hair, one over each ear, several times. It really looked ridiculous and we wouldn't let her go out like that. (Think Princess Lea, but with wild hair sticking out over each bun.) Yesterday it dawned on me that she may have been trying to make these puffs. This was her referral photo...before they chopped her hair off. Doesn't she look so different now??


Her hair isn't quite long enough to get it all up in puffs, but she was *very* happy with this! (Fletch took the picture, so the lighting is kind of bad.)


Isn't it cute? Again, she looks like a completely different girl like this. I think she looks older when it's down. She's pretty darn cute either way.

I have to throw this one in. Fletch and Macy taking turns with the eggs this morning. Awwwww.....