Happy Easter 2016

Happy Easter from the brightly-dressed Kinnells

Essie, AJ, Chloe

Mom & Dad

Instead of Easter baskets, Grandma filled some fun hats with candy.  Here are our hat models.

Clowning with the Twins

As anyone who knows them can tell you, Essie and Chloe are a hoot.  They love to laugh and have fun.  Here is a little glimpse into the high comedy stylings of our 10-year-old twins:

Plantains from the store = good props for some improv comedy:

Not too long ago, we traded in our old minivan.  Before our first road trip, Dad ordered to hold this solemn ceremony:

Crazy Hair Day at school.  Chloe wasn't into it, but Essie...

So it was a warm, sunny Saturday, and we were "bored".  Dad got out some scrap wood and we put together some outdoor play toys:

Stilts - we can't walk on them yet, but they're fun to stand on.

A balance board, or "hoverboard" as the girls call it

Going for a new record.  (Chloe currently holds it at 1 minute, 19 seconds.)

The next day they had to show Mom what they had been up to while she was working a 10 hour day.

Essie

Chloe

Essie & Chloe: 7 Years Home

This, our first family picture, was taken seven years ago today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

These were among the first pictures we received of our girls in September 2008 from their village near Kamashi, Ethiopia - about 12 hours northwest of Addis on the Ethiopia/Sudan border.

This photo was sent to us after we passed court in February 2009 - it is the twins at the adoption agency's transition home in Addis Ababa.

May 2009 - age 3

2010 - age 5

2011 - age 6

2012 - age 7

2013 - age 8

2014 - age 9

2015 - age 10

Girls Basketball

The girls enjoyed playing basketball on their school's recreational league team this year.  It was their first year playing with the standard, regulation height of the hoop.  They were also the only girls and only 4th graders on their team (all the boys are in 3rd grade).  Though they only won 1 game, Essie's skills as point guard improved greatly and both girls became awesome defenders.

Wilmore Cubs 2016

After their last game.

WES Jump Rope Team 2016

The girls have been enjoying being a part of their school's jump rope team once again this year.  Their team performed a show at halftime of an Asbury University's Women's Basketball game this week.  As always, they were highly entertaining.  We missed AJ being out there though. 

Waiving to the crowd

A Quick Trip to Indiana

Last weekend was my Mom's birthday so I made a quick, solo trip to Indiana to see her and the rest of my family.  Her new house is almost finished, which is super exciting for her.  The poor woman has been roughing it in an RV while she waits for her house to be finished.  

My Mom's cat TROUBLE (yes, his name is in all caps for a reason & this picture shows how fitting his name is).  

He was hiding in the sink and every time someone walked by to pet him, he'd attack.

I didn't realize I'd get to be part of the "fun" of laying floor.

We got the hallway finished!

Half of Mom's room done

And even got a bit of "my" room done (guestroom)

The fireplace looks great!

The kitchen is almost done.

Uncle Andy thought it would be fun to give Caleb a ride on Mom's lazy Susan.  

I'm not sure he was quite as into it as Andy was.

And then we had to celebrate the birthday girl!

We asked a friend of my parents to make a quilt from my Dad's old t-shirts and gave it to my Mom for her birthday.  She did a wonderful job.