We're Coming Home!!!!!!!

We arrived in D.C. this morning but could not get all 3 of us on the same flight today. So, we got a hotel room and will be coming back to Denver tomorrow (Tuesday) on United flight #403 from Dulles arriving at 10:30. If you want to meet us at the airport we would love to see you there! It actually worked out very well for us today. We were tired, stinky and a little bit cranky. We checked in around 1, and ate lunch here. We had a blast just laughing and eating together. Girma is hilarious and keeps us cracking up. His facial expressions are priceless. He raises his eyebrows better than Groucho Marx for a 'yes' and shrugs his shoulders for 'no'. He also pretends to be really sad and then cracks up at himself. He is quite the trickster too. He gave Denise the plane headphones, then unplugged them and gave her a look like "they work great don't they".
After lunch we gave Girma a bath. he didn't really want to get in at first but had fun pretty quick. The funniest thing was watching him try to pull the shower tab up, then get doused with water on top of his head and face. He completely freaks out and frantically slams the tab down again. Within seconds he did the exact same thing all over again. He did this at least 5 times. I couldn't even clean him I was laughing so hard.
After that we grabbed a taxi and headed downtown to see the sights. Unfortunately, we weren't prepared to carrry a 4-yr-old all day without a stroller so we just hit the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. Then we bought some trinkets and headed back.
The highlight of the day was taking Girma to the pool and spa. After the bath, we were ready for anything. He is so excitable and completely fearless. He was very hesitant at first, but once he saw me go in the water he was game. He loved to splash and blow bubbles, and he even held his nose and ducked his head under water. He choked a few times, but quickly recovered and had a blast. Video to follow. He found out the door under the TV fits him and he climbed in and pretended to cry or wimper then opened the door with a big smile. After swimming he organized all of his toys in there nice and neat.
We are really glad this day worked out. Ethiopia was so hectic with so many other people around (families, kids, workers, etc), this was our first chance to just be us and enjoy each other's company. We are just completely overwhelmed with how perfect and amazing and smart and funny and willing and cool and independent and loving and interested and and and just the best little guy we could have ever hoped for and more. We thank God for letting Girma find us and come into our lives. I am so thankful to Denise for letting me into her life and be a part of this dream. And a dream it truly has been and is. We are living a dream life and it just keeps getting better. I never would have thought of adopting without Denise. Denise says she couldn't/wouldn't have done it without me (That part I doubt, but appreciate it nonetheless).
Thank you all for your continuing support and love.
Our lives are so much richer with you there.
Can't wait for all of you to meet our precious Girma.
Love you all,
Steve, Denise, Tyler, Taelyn and Girma
:O)