Fat Seagulls

I bet you never thought you'd see that as a blog title, but I can't get over how obese the seagulls are in New Jersey. They are so fat they can barely walk. They look like they need hip replacements. You might be interested to know it's not just me who noticed this, it's been studied by a University (I do think it was the same university who found that if you don't get enough sleep you'll be tired, but still).

In all seriousness, Abegail and I took a quick trip to New Jersey Thursday to see her best friend from Liberia, Tarry and her sister Maima. Tarry and Maima have been home a year and a half but living in Minnesota we didn't have a chance to catch up with them. We are now just four hours from their home in Bradley Beach, NJ. Not including Abegail and Emmanuel we've seen 13 out of the 24 children who were at the AFAA house when we went two years ago. It amazes me. When we left Liberia I thought I'd see their cousins (Martu and Mackie) and Akins Junior again. I never imagined I would be able to see and get to know so many after they were adopted. Seeing kids for the first time here still stuns me. I always say their name with a question mark, not able to fully recognize them. They are all several inches taller, healthy looking, clean, wearing nice clothes. It is the best sight! Abegail and Tarry didn't miss a beat, like many good friends, they were giggling and catching up immediately. Thursday just happened to be Tarry's 10th birthday.

Soccer for E-man and Abegail has already begun and we are getting ready for school. Now it is really apparent we are not in Minnesota. For one thing they are wearing sweatshirts in Minnesota now and it is still about 99 percent humidity here. (Trust me I'm not complaining about the weather). The school open house this week is sure to have me with a deer in the headlights look trying to figure out where to go, wishing Tori's mom or Ellen's Mom would just magically appear, and pondering whether or not I'm really ready for the responsibility of room mother.

We've had a great summer. Last week our neighbors from Minnesota (Jane, Cindy, & Drue) came to visit. We did three solid days of sightseeing. (So much so the kids now call the Washington Monument the pencil) Now if only we can get that camera fixed!