Adventures of the Bik Pik

In the weeks leading up to our second trip to Ethiopia last fall, I did a lot of packing. Bereket's suitcase was filled to the brim with dresses, diapers, toys, books, and sippy cups. The collection covered most of what she would need  for our first five days together a family (although I'll admit I did go a bit overboard on the number of frilly dresses! I was so excited to have my pretty girl!)

We ventured out on a number of family walks into the neighborhood of our guesthouse to get the items that were either overlooked or weren't quite right.  We need B's Big Cow powered milk, a smaller size of diapers, teething supplies (is this ever a story for when she is older!), and we neglected a very special item for our long journey home: Bereket's very own carry-on for the airplane.  The diaper bag I had planned to use as a carry-on for both of us would simply not do the job for such a long journey.

The streets near our guesthouse were lined with small shops. Many of the shops had a backpack or two hanging from the ceiling. Many of the bags were dingy from age or the dusty streets, but eventually we found the backpack that was just right for our sweet little girl: a perfect pink backpack featuring Lucy and Snoopy from Peanuts.

Introducing Bereket to her backpack (Oct. 2011, Addis Ababa)

Bereket loved playing with the special purchase in our room at the guesthouse.

When we finally arrived home from Ethiopia, the precious pack was stored high on a shelf in her closet.  Five months later, I retrieved it for our family vacation to Mazatlan, Mexico.  Lucy and Snoopy went with us everywhere on our lovely trip: from the airport to the beach!

Arriving at Mazatlan's Airport in March, waiting impatiently for our bags!

We even had the backpack with us when we met Mexico's famous green frog!

Bereket has her Mommy and Daddy's travel bug. She often opens her closet door and points to the "Bik Pik" as she calls it! After I get it down for her, Bereket carefully looks inside the bag to see what treasures she may find. Then puts it on her back and looks at me expectantly. Her expression says it all, "Time to go on another adventure! Come on, Mom! Let's go to the airport and visit somewhere fun!"
 
We recently returned from an incredible week on Sanibel Island in Florida and the "Bik Pik" went with us everywhere.

Bereket put it on with great enthusiasm for our trip to see Santa!

Sanibel Island, Florida 2012

It was along for a surprise encounter with one of Santa's special reindeer on Captiva Island!

And of course we took the bag with us every day to the beach!

Now we are home and settling into our quiet winter routine. Our Peanuts friends are back in their spot in Bereket's closet.  I am not sure where our next adventure will take us, but I must admit I am as anxious as my daughter is to get out the "Bik Pik" for another journey! My prayer for us as a family is that we will be able to see much of this beautiful world together, and Lucy and Snoopy are welcome to come along for the ride!

Bereket and Dee-Dah's Big Day

Just two days after we returned home from our trip from Sanibel Island, our family had a big fun-filled day.

Bereket's winter dance recital was scheduled for December 15th. Since that was just 10 days before Jason's Christmas Day birthday, I invited our families to come watch Bereket dance and then join us at our house for a little birthday celebration (it was about time Jason had a proper birthday party!).

Cousins Isabelle and Daniel had a sleep-over at our house the night before, and Friday night's laughter and excitement continued on the dance floor when my friend Tara said they could dance with Bereket in the recital! Everyone had so much fun!

Bereket looked like such a little princess in the dance costume Grandma LuAnn gave her. My heart melts whenever I see her in it.

After the recital, it was back to our house for a simple meal followed by a tropical cake inspired by our trip to Sanibel.

It was so hard for the kids to wait to eat the cake. They each knew exactly what part of the cake they wanted!

But first, Daddy (or Dee-Dah as Bereket affectionately calls him lately) had to blow out his candles!

What a wonderful celebration.

Today is Christmas Day, Dee-Dah's actual birthday. We enjoyed Christmas presents and brunch at his parents' home in Wisconsin. After we ate, Bereket blew out a candle on a mini cupcake so Jason could make a birthday wish!

 Jason, you are so loved by all of us! Happy Birthday!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

My house is so quiet this weekend.  Jason is away in Wisconsin deer hunting and he brought Bereket along so she and Grandma Rebhahn could spend some quality time together.  So here I sit at a quiet kitchen table. There are no children running around dragging toys to all corners of the house, there are no delightful high-pitched giggles, no pleas of "Auntie, can I have another scoop of  ice cream?" or "Auntie, when are we going to make the craft?" So here I sit, reflecting on a beautiful Thanksgiving Day together with people I treasure.

Thursday had an unmistakable theme: The Christmas Tree!  For the third year in a row, we started our day's celebration at the beautiful Festival of Trees at the Mayo Civic Center.

Bereket and her cousins ran from tree to tree, hand in hand, exclaiming over each new and exciting discovery.

How I love that they are all the best of friends.

Our tree theme continued after lunch with an easy and super cute craft (thank you Pinterest!).  We all gathered around the kitchen table to make ice cream cone Christmas trees!

Green frosting held the little candy ornaments in place.

 Isabelle's second tree was extra fancy as she strung some yarn "lights" on it.

Wha-lah!

Everyone's trees were beautiful in their own way, but Grannie's were the best!

Nice work, Grannie!

One day I will look back at this day and remember it simply as "perfection."

 

Let Us Eat Cake!

Thursday marked one year since we picked Bereket up at the Hilawe Center and officially started our life together. We celebrated Gotcha Day with a family lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant. To be honest, Bereket had already had lunch at daycare and was a little restless to have to sit and watch her parents eat. For her, it wasn't a super fun celebration.

We had a proper party at our home on Saturday. We shared a big, beautiful cake and munchies with some special friends who have shown our family lots of love and support during our first year.

 

 

 

Bereket loved the cake (she got more than one piece since it was her special day!). And she had a lot of fun catching up with great friends. So did we!

 

 

As we celebrated over a piece of marble cake with butter creme frosting, I thought of the cake we enjoyed as a family one year ago with the staff at the Hilawe Center and all of Bereket's little friends there. We were saying good-bye to her old life as we started a new one together. Wow, was that a beautiful and emotional gathering!

Jason cutting Bereket's Good-bye cake

Our first dessert as a family!

We were starting a new life together. A life now one year strong!

Saying farewell to all our friends at the Hilawe Center. October 4, 2011

One Year Ago Today.... We Became a Family!

One year ago today, something extraordinary happened. I became a mother.

I write for a living, and yet I have no idea how to put into words what this year has been, what it has meant.

Bereket, the day we picked you up at the Hilawe Center was without a doubt the very best of my life and I know Daddy feels the exact same way!  The days that followed in Ethiopia, our very first as a family, were nothing short of magic.  The first cuddles, the first giggles, the first family walks through the streets of Addis Ababa, the first meals together. It was all such a beautiful adventure.


One of our first cuddles! A bus ride always put you right to sleep in Addis!

First family photo after the U.S. Embassy made our family official one year ago today!

Feeding you your special "Big Cow" milk for the first time.

Reading Dr. Suess on our little balcony in Addis.

Time for a funny story!  I'll never forget the sheer joy you experienced after tasting your first yogurt-covered raisin at our guesthouse. You wanted more and more and more!  As we traveled through three different airports on the long journey home, you always had a little box of  the sweet treats in your hand.  I didn't realize until we were at our destination airport in Minneapolis that you were not eating the raisins, but rather sucking off the yogurt and then spitting out the raisins when no one was looking! My dear, you left a trail of soggy little raisins all over the world!

They taste so good and make noise when you shake them!

You have grown so much this year! Take a look at these pictures, the first is of you being silly in the laundry basket before going out to experience your first Minnesota snow. It was in early December of 2011.

December, 2011

Now, look at a photo of you in that same laundry basket taken just two weeks ago. How you have changed in just 9 months! You are growing into such a beautiful young lady!

September, 2012

We have enjoyed so many incredible "firsts" as a family. To help us all remember how beautiful this time has been, I made a little scrapbook for us.  It's called, "Bereket's First Year with Mommy and Daddy." I love your huge smile on the cover!

                                                   

Bereket, you are the greatest blessing of our lives.  We treasure every sweet second with you and we can't wait to see what wonderful adventures a new year together will bring!

Glamour Girl

On Sunday, Jason was away fishing so my dear friend Jolene came down from Minneapolis for a "girls' day." Jolene is one of Bereket's two amazing Godmothers and we always have a wonderful time when she comes to visit! But before we could head out to our favorite neighborhood coffee shop for lunch, I needed to fix my face..and Bereket waited for just the right moment to sneak a peek inside Momma's magic makeup bag! This is always guaranteed to be a great adventure!

She started off small with just a blush brush.

                                         

Then came the blush to go on that brush!
                                         
When mom had to run to take a phone call in the other room, thats when the real fun was had!
                                         
Love this girl! Love how the little things like exploring Momma's makeup bag can bring her so much joy!

A Sweet Fall Adventure

On Sunday, Jason and I took Bereket to Vino in the Valley. The little outdoor pizza and pasta restaurant set right in a vineyard is one of our favorite fall escapes. We discovered this enchanted spot just before we went to Ethiopia to bring Bereket home last September and we were so excited to bring her with us this time!  

After we had our fill of caesar salad and wood-fired pizzas, we set out to explore the beautiful vineyard and grounds. It was a warm, bright afternoon, the leaves were starting to change color, and early fall was in all its glory!

We took a hayride through the vineyard to the river. Bereket was thrilled!

On the way home, we stopped by our favorite apple orchard.  Bereket was a true explorer in their outdoor straw maze!

 And she wasn't the least bit scared when she encountered this other-worldly creature!

 

What a wonderful way to celebrate a new season! May the memories of this warm, special day keep our hearts warm in the cooler months to come!