Christmas Letter 2012

Yep, I cheated. completely. Instead of a beautifully written Christmas letter on holiday themed stationary you get this. However, considering that the choices were no letter at all or this I think this is an acceptable compromise. I will start off with a yearly recap and then catch you up on how the boys are doing.

Just short of a year ago, Karl's and my life changed in the most frustratingly and amazing way. First let me explain. Just short of one year ago, we saw pictures of two little boys in Ethiopia who were looking for a family. The oldest, Ajura, is five, his name means "don't worry about me." He has a shy, hesitant smile, but even with that smile his dimples sneak out. Ahmi has just turned three. He always has his shoes on the wrong feet (still does) and a runny nose. All we really know about the boys is they are from Gambella, Ethiopia which is on the border of Sudan. The boys will be very dark skinned, tall, and will sweat a lot (Ajura most certainly does). We knew they were the boys we were searching for. We accepted the referral and then were told to expect to go to court in March and bring the boys home in May. Very funny. We watied and waited and waited to receive a court date. Finally, beginning of May, I received a phone call in the OR as I was just finishing a case. We had a court date on May 31st! We had to plan a trip to Africa in just a few short weeks. While waiting in the airport to leave Bismarck we realized we would be meeting our son for the first time on his sixth birthday! Meeting the boys and holding them was such an overwhelming and surreal experience and we were able to share this time with another family, the Rackaways, whom have become very special to us over this last year. Five short days after holding them in our arms for the first time we had to leave them in Africa while we headed home. Again we were told to expect to pick them up the end of July. Sure. We finally received the ok from the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia to bring our boys home the end of August. They have been in the U.S. with us since August 31st.

Ajura is still the quieter one of the two. He loves to ride his bike and really enjoys playing basketball with the kids at his school. He is in first grade and is doing very well. His English level is amazing to us and he consistently uses 5 words sentences at this point. He has wonderful, supportive kids in his class and his two teachers understand this little boy so well. He looks out for his little brother even bringing extras treats from school home to him. Ajura loves animals and helps look after our two dogs Nali (Barski as the kids call her) and Kinde (Peanut Butter). Ajura welcomes the snow and cold with open arms.

Ahmi is the wild man. He is the one who dances around and due to his age and lack of refrain says the silliest things. He will charm you so fast you won't know what hit you. Believe me. He just started preschool in December and hasn't been kicked out yet so we are thankful. He loves his big brother and will follow him to the ends of the earth. Ahmi isn't as sold on the cold and snow but loves to sled and push his trucks around for a little while.

Nali and Kinde have also had a huge adjustment to their lives and have been so amazing with the boys. We wouldn't be a family without them.

Karl is adjusting beautifully to fatherhood. Big shocker, I know, we all knew he would be great at it. When he isn't being Daddy, he works at Bobcat as a design engineer.  He still spends as much time with his girlfriend, Mother Nature, as possible. Hunting, fish hunting (as the kids call it), and any other activity you can do outside are his favorites. He is two boys and a wife's dream come true.

Lura is still working for St. Alexius as a nurse anesthetist in addition to being Mommy. Thanks to a wonderful support system she was able to go back to Milot, Haiti again this year were she assisted in the delivery of many babies and the tumor removal on a three day old. When she isn't doing laundry or cleaning up after the many boys in the house, Lura enjoys playing outside (when it isn't too cold) and spending time with friends (usually over a beer).

Thank you all for being such an important part of our lives this year and for the continued support for our new family. Cheers and blessings this holiday season and throughout the new year!

The Spears
(Karl, Lura, Ajura, Ahmi, Nali and Kinde)

After Thanksgiving we have been so busy with Christmas preparation, school program, soccer, basketball, Ahmi's 4th birthday... It really seems like there is no end to the madness. Ajura started to really participate in soccer and Ahmi's participation somewhat dwindled. Funny how that works. Ajura's real sport love is basketball. He started at the beginning of this month and really loves playing. Looking forward to his first game coming up in January. Ajura had his first holiday program at school and we were so nervous. Music class is not his favorite to say the least. There was a lot of, "Ajura if you link arms with the other kids and sway back and forth Daddy will take you on a dozer ride after school" situations occurring. Ajura kept telling me, "Mommy, Ajura scary." We encouraged him to do his best and he got on that stage and did the WHOLE thing!!! We and his teachers were so proud.

Ahmi's 4th birthday was on the 19th. We did a small party for him at Space Aliens restaurant the last Saturday and he had a great time there. The kids ran around and played games and then we went to our friend's house to open his presents. Ahmi was seriously overwhelmed by all the commotion and gift part of his birthday and Ajura wasn't too thrilled with all of the gift giving for Ahmi but we made it. One of his favorite gifts is a birthday card that sings, "Move It" from Madagascar. We hear that song a lot. On his actual birthday we had just family over for a dinner and birthday cake. Ahmi wanted tacos and ate 3 of them.

The four of us as a family went out to eat for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I didn't realize this was the first time since we were in Ethiopia together so when the waitress came to the table and asked us for our drink orders Ajura looked at her and said, "Avocado juice please." Well, avocado juice really isn't on tap in Bismarck, ND so we had to explain that to him and then we remembered that is what we would all order in Ethiopia. Ajura's English is developing so quickly and it is so fun right now to be able to talk to him about life in Ethiopia. His stories get very elaborate and exciting. It is so fun to be able to talk with each other.

Ahmi and Ajura went ice fish hunting (haha) for the first time this week with Daddy and as Karl puts it not much fish hunting was accomplished. As soon as he got the fish house set up Ajura had to caca and just like his mom he took one look at the porta potty he bailed. While this was occurring, Ahmi proceeded to step in the ice fishing hole and getting his foot and boot soaked up to his kneecap. They had a blast with each other and I got to hear a bunch of stories from their adventure when I was done with work that day. They like to eat smoked oysters and brownies on their ice fishing journeys. Weirdos.