Our Trip To Ethiopia: The Middle Part Hulat (2)

For your pleasure: A photo montage of some random other happenings during the entitled “middle” of our trip...

The little chica and me outside of Ritmo Guesthouse.

Sosi and I, still recovering, passed out in our room at Ritmo. This was the day after our bed broke (while the three of us were in it--moments after getting Sosi to sleep) and it was replaced with a new one. Not kidding. We had to keep everything off of the floor to keep it dry which is why our suitcases are on the bookshelf. The bookshelf also dubbed as our clothesline for our wet laundry.

Our little lady with her papa--she started showing us that sweet smiles on day 5. This was the outfit we had sent in Noemi's "Welcome Bag." We learned shortly after our arrival that she had never received it and it was handed to us, unopened. We decided that we needed a photo of her in it for posterity.

I would have to agree. Thanks to my friend, Jill, for finding the onsie that says it all.

The road we walked everyday between Layla House and Ritmo Guesthouse.

Many families live and sell their goods along this road.

Eating our daily order of sambosas--the tasty lentil-filled fried pockets of goodness from a cafe across the street from Layla. For only 2 Birr each (less than 20 cents) we had our lunch. Triple yum.

The laundry area at Layla house. The kids produce enough laundry to pay the salaries of 4 laundry workers. These ladies mean business--everything is washed by hand.

The laundry, hanging out to dry outside of the baby nurseries and toddler room.

We are not permitted to post photos of children at Layla House, but we can show you the uniforms they wear to school everyday. Every class has a different color sweater vest with this AAI patch. Too cute.

Hanging out with the kids in the play yard on a sunny day.

Noemi chowing down on the spicy couscous and tomatoes served at Wanna House. So much for the rice cereal and formula we brought...

This was the fruit stand we frequented for bananas and avacados once we realized Sosi was eating more than rice cereal.

Sosi saying "goodbye" to her favorite caregiver at Wanna House, Yenet. We had received many photos of Yenet with Sosi before traveling to Ethiopia, so we were thrilled to be able to meet and thank her in person.

Donovan explores a little Ethiopian honey wine while out to dinner (sans kiddos) with other adoptive families, including our friend Zachary.

Our shared plate of deliciousness.

Mekonen: Hey Sosi, you wanna ditch the monkeys and get outta here?

Sosi: If you stop pulling my hair and sucking my toes.

You move too fast for me, big boy.

Rachael, Jon and Mekonen leaving for the airport. We were sad to see them go!