A Special Trip

We got home last night and tomorrow are gone again. We are soaking up the time that Michael has between summer school and school for vacation. This next trip is a special one and you, Gunyea, are coming with! We are going to visit a dear friend and her family in Denver.


You see, it was Miss Connie that played a huge role in helping us bring you home, Gunyea. She and her family, hold a special place in our hearts and I'm sure I will cry when you get to meet her...tomorrow! Looking forward to spending time with her family and showing you the mountains.

Photo.

P.S. This is a side note but I've got to share! Michael and Gunyea are downtown today getting important papers for our cars. He just called and said, "Kristyn, I think our little black son is the key to the hearts of the people at the federal building in KC. I walked in and people flocked out of their offices, like the children would when we stopped our bus in rural Ethiopia. One lady said, "Ooh, he is like sugar on a lollipop!" He got the papers he needed in no time, while Tegegne showed off for the ladies.

Hello Gunyea!

Gunyea! Hello from San Francisco. We miss you, and can't wait to hug your neck! From what we here, you are living it up at Big Sky with Gma and Pa. It's so fun to call you. Hearing "Mommyeh and Ababayeh...I love you!" over the phone --in your extra loud voice-- is super sweet. 


Here's what we were doing in these pictures:


1. Resting on the beach an hour north of the city in a cute town called Bolinas. We had to leave the foggy city for some real sunshine and beach time. Road signs have been removed so this place can only be found by natives.  


2. We are staying with Lauren and Larry, natives who knew the back route. They were so kind to take us on this lovely venture to Bolinas! 


3. Overlooking Stinson Beach on our windy drive back to the city. The drive reminded us of being in Hawaii. It was beautiful!


4. Looking at really neat art at the SF Museum of Modern Art. After seeing all of the art we hung out on the rooftop garden for more sunshine.


5. and 6. Ababayeh and I rented bikes today and rode through Golden Gate Park, along the coast, and by some of the nicest houses in the city.  This photo is half way onto the Golden Gate Bridge. Ababayeh read that they go through 1000 gallons of paint a week to keep the bridge looking like it just stepped out of the paint shop. 38 painters touch up with "international orange" continuously.


We are having lots of fun and I'm sure you are too. See you soon, big guy.


Love,
Mommyeh and Ababayeh

My Oh My

Tegegne Dena Jones - Our Son

Sept 2009

October 2009

November 2009

January 2010

 February 2010

March 2010 

Also March 2010

April 2010

May 2010

June 2010

June 2010

July 2010

Tegegne Dena Jones, 


My oh my how you have changed in six months, or even ten when we saw our first photo of you! I can't begin to count the ways. You went from wearing a size 4 shoe to your size 7 high top sneakers which you pick out to wear to school now. (size 6 still fits) You are growing a half inch every month or so. You will always be our little guy, but you are growing up! You've been playing dolls with your teddy bears and asked that they wear "sleepy diapers" to bed. You rock them and strap them in the stroller for a walk. You try to open "Mommyeh's door" to the car like Ababayeh taught you too. Your new friend at school is Jordan, ironically or not, the only other dark skinned fellow in your class. (Don't worry Olive, he still asks about you more than Jordan!) Your summertime favorite food is cherries. You love to swim, call Grandpa & Gramma on the phone, and you prefer the underwear with the train. You love to "dip" your food into any sauce, and you've definitely learned to say cheese and give a cheese-like smile.  You pray for neighbors and friends at lunch time, after we've said our regular prayer. I'm always surprised at who you think of, and I figure that the person genuinely needs prayer at the moment. My oh my, have six months really gone by?


Six months ago we were flying home with you, praying Lord have Mercy on our very sick child. And He did, son. He had mercy on you, and we praise him. For you were fearfully and wonderfully made, and meant to be our son. You were not meant to be an orphan forever, you were meant to have a family. Us. And we were meant for you. Thank you God.


(Lord, have mercy on those that are orphans still. Have mercy on them and bring them into forever families, just like you brought Gunyea to us.)

Olive Jump?

Go here to watch a funny video of Gunyea and Olive playing in her back yard. You are a wild and brave boy! You were trying to get Olive to jump in the water too.

Happy Week

We are off to school and work to start off our week. Spent the weekend with Uncle Eric and Aunt Erica in IL where you swam like a little fish. Erica did an excellent job of teaching you to swim. You loved it so much. I'll be in touch soon with more updates from the Joneses!


P.S. Happy Anniversary Uncle Eric and Aunt Erica! 8 years, way to go!

It's Tour Time

The Tour de France is going full speed and your dad is so in tune. Maybe next year we'll catch some of the stages live in France. Yesterday he was telling me about the cobblestones that the guys raced where there were some insane crashes.

Here are some photos that we got from the 2009 Tour of Missouri of Thor Hushovd, Levi Leipheimer, and George Hincapie. 

Thor, a powerhouse, won the dreaded cobblestone stage 3 of the tour.  

Missed You

Photo by Erika. 


Today was your first "official" day of school. And my first day back to work. I've got to say that I missed you like crazy and I thought of you often throughout the day.  I got home around 6,  Ababayeh cooked dinner (how sweet), while you and I played, danced, and laughed. I could tell that you missed me too. Love you, little stink bug.

School

Your first "unofficial" day of school. I was so nervous to get you to school on time, remember to pack your lunch, extra underwear, etc that I forgot to plan anything fun for my"day off!" I dropped you off, met your kind teachers, and gave them the low down, tried to give you a good bye kiss, and I was off. Walking out of school, and got a text from my cousin who works at a salon in town. She was offering free facials if we could get there before noon. So I went. Got an hour facial and massage. Thank you Lord! And thank you, Tarah! Then I ate lunch alone, (well, with my book and journal) at Eden Alley (yum), found a pair of gray booties at UO for $10. Then back to pick you up. Miss Marti gave a good report. She said you tried to make friends, played hard, ate another kid's carrot, and made a windmill. Seemed like you had fun, and if one carrot was the only issue, I think you did okay.

So we celebrated with a special treat, and now you are napping 2 hours later than normal. But that's okay because we've got a dinner party with some French guests (that hosted Michael in Bayonne) so we may be out late.

Mad Skills

This morning we say hello Wednesday! We are glad to see you! Will you show us a good time?


You woke with these first words, "Cereal and milk?" You always ask for this right as I open the door. Most mornings I acknowledge that you will get cereal and milk, then proceed to cuddle and kiss you for a minute. Some mornings you say, "No THANK you Mommyeh," but I can usually sneak in a good kiss and hug. You must take off your "sleepy diaper" and put on underwear before eating breakfast. The training toilet is gone and you use a step stool for the big potty now. It's much easier than transferring goods from one place to the next.


So we've been to the park with a soccer ball (volleyball pretending to be a soccer ball) and Owen, and Trail Mix, and water. Last night the whole gang, including T and Micah were at the park with a real soccer ball. Micah (who played soccer in college) mentioned that your soccer skill seems to be familiar to you. You could run and keep the ball going close to your feet, and you would throw the ball over your head, just like a goalie. It's fun for me to imagine that you played soccer or at least watched soccer in the countryside of Sodo. Your dad and I were proud none-the-less, and we both laughed. We laughed because we had the feeling of "Wow, our kid is awesome." The same feeling all parents have about their kids at some point...where they want the rest of the world to stop and look at how stinkin' great their kid is. We were watching you like you were about to score a goal at the World Cup!


And then another kid comes running up with a soccer ball. Sam. He was also very good at kicking the ball and quite fast. He will turn 3 in a month. You will turn 3 in 3 months. So your dad and I were brought back to reality. It was obvious that Sam awesome too! You are still the awesome-ist to us and if you ever go to the World Cup or play in a neighborhood soccer league we will watch and cheer with all our hearts!


We love you kid.


(wanted to upload THIS photo, but uploader was not working.)

Goggles

Today you found some of my old goggles.  "Gunyea funny", as you would say...