Packed and ready!!

I just wanted to post pictures of the donations we'll be taking to the orphanages in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A huge part of this was generous donations from friends and family. We asked for donations of formula, A&D ointment, underwear, socks and crib sheets! You all delivered and we are so grateful! Many of you gave freely of monetary donations. That was very helpful because we were able to provide the exact items needed.

We are also taking paddle balls, plastic horses and safari animals and ball point pens for the children. Pens are coveted items, we hear. Pens mean children can write! =)

• 5 pkgs. Girls underwear
• 3 pkgs. Boys underwear
• 2 pkgs. Boys socks
• 3 pkgs. Girls socks
• $1500 worth of formula
• 17 pkgs. Notebook paper
• 8 crib sheets
• 30 cartons of A&D Ointment
• 10 School folders
• 13 K-2 School Workbooks
• 8 pr. flip flops
• 120 paddle balls
• 100 plastic toy animals (4" size)
• Over 150 ball point pens

All packed into one rubbermaid bin (Thank you T!!) five checked suitcases and eight carry ons! WHEW. I'm glad we're all packed!

Thank you EVERYONE for your generosity and love. Drubek

Introducing Two Of The Most Beautiful Children Ever!!!

And presenting, for the first time ever on "SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL"...The entire reason that "Something Beautiful" was even created...
Our AMAZING children, Roman Abinet & Ruby Kalkidan Ferguson!!! We will meet them on Wednesday, January 28, 2008 for the very first time!!
Mama, Dada, big sister Chloe and big brother Elliot are SO excited!!!

Drubek

I've been tagged!

I think the rules are to go into my photo files and choose the fourth picture in my fourth file. So here ya go, Andrew and baby Sabah!!! Sabah is the beautiful daughter of my friend T, who brought her home in early December. She is a wonderful child and we've enjoyed meeting her. Sabah is also Ruby's BFF! We can't wait to reunite them in a couple of weeks!

Parents to a teen now!

Well, it's official. Chloe is a teenager!!! She's had tendencies towards teenager ism for awhile, at times, but now, it's here to stay. She's such a lovely girl. Sweet and helpful most of the time. But there can be that naughty side that comes out every once in awhile! At times she just knows everything. Or, when asked to do something (at times) she "already was going to do it!!!" So there!!! I keep saying "At times" because there are the majority of times when she is amazing and we are so blessed to have this wonderful eldest child.
I know she will be a marvelous big sister (again) and continue to be a huge helper.
I took Chloe and her BFF to the mall for some girl time today. We had fun shopping and getting our nails and toes done. The girls were treated to dinner at the Olive Garden. It was a very nice day.
Elliot got to enjoy his day with our dear friends, the Boldens. He loves spending time there...I joked that they probably changed his name and were keeping him now!

I want to post pictures of the babies so bad. Six days until we leave to go to Addis Ababa. Eight days until we actually meet Roman and Ruby!!! It might be presumptuous, but we're gonna try to blog a bit while in country...stay tuned to see if this is possible!

drubek

Still Nesting!

Here is Roman's crib. I love the color green and the brown is so precious with it! True to my new found 'modern' phase, his bedding had to be in geometric shapes. Someday I will have my dream house and it won't be so 'country-ish'! So, I am living vicariously through my children!! My two favorite rooms in the house both contain my babies cribs! You'll notice that the pictures only show Roman's stuff...the rest of my bedroom wasn't tidy enough to show it off. Maybe next month! Oh wait, I'll be too busy bonding with babies to clean! =)
Here is a pic of some of the diaper supply. The rest are under Roman's crib. Four cases will probably go pretty fast!
Roman's crib, supplies and blankets for the babies.

Where tiny baby boy will sleep!

Love the design!!!

Drubek

Nesting

Chloe and Ruby's bedroom! Chloe helped pick out the bedding for the crib so it would match her personal style that she had already created. I think it works really well!
Here is a cool mirror we found at IKEA. Chloe and Ruby's room is bubble gum pink, raspberry pink, turquoise and lime green. Accents are round mirrors and circles! One wall is diagonally painted w/ the bubble gum pink and turquoise.

We had to figure out a way to store Chloe's drum set because of space, so we were able to fit most of it under Ruby's crib. The bass drum is being used (carefully) as a bedside table. Chloe reads her Bible each night, so it is a great spot for that. Let's just hope nobody sits on it! =)

We've been very busy nesting around our house! The whole family has joined in. It helps pass the time until we travel on Jan. 26. So much to do though, still!

I'm posting Roman's crib next! It's just as darling!!! He has to share crib space in our room for awhile...then he'll move into big brother Elliot's room! But that project will have to wait until another day.

Drubek