Big Boy!

Hi Everyone,
Happy July. Hope this is finding you all enjoying the summer....relaxing, calm and peaceful. Ha, is that possible with young children?

We are well into the rainy season here, and we have survived. Thanks to Hagare's five year old son, Kidus. He comes to our house about two times a week and he and Otto are best friends. In fact, the three boys play together very well. Thank goodness Kidus is such a trooper and is willing to go "grub hunting" three times a day, as is Otto's new bug obsession. Yes, I said grubs! If you don't know what one is, you are lucky. They are a delicacy for some, but quite squeamish for this Mama. I pretend to enjoy the hunt, and indeed assist in digging with a shovel, but that does not mean I hold them or inspect them like my two sons! On that note, they are very respectful to their insects and look at them through the magnifying glass, and then peacefully place them back in their habitat.

Otto and his pal Kidus:


Mmmm, grubs:


So, I must add a supplement to a blog a few back. I had mentioned how many houses we had lived in during our first 10 years of marriage. Now, in the second 10 years, we will have already lived in two houses. Yes, that is right. we are moving...but only a kilometer or two away. Not per our choice, but we are okay with it. Our (evil) landlord has decided to sell her home (out from under us), and so the new owner will move into this home, thus displacing us (but we're not holding a grudge). We are almost sure we have a home picked out, but are waiting for the lease to be signed. It's very close and has a very big yard of which all 4 of us are thrilled (and 2 tortoises). Another home video will be coming your way when we have it for sure and have moved in... courtesy of Mr Nate. Any help with moving will be greatly appreciated. Yes, reimbursement for airfare will be complimentary!

Now, you wonder why the blog title is "big boy?" Here's why.....Arlo Cort Oetting is not only potty trained, but he is now in a big boy bed. It's like the brady bunch in the boys room, with the beds side by side, but it's one way for Arlo not to fall out of bed. Tonight is the first night, so I'll keep you posted on his accomplishments. I think Otto, Nate and I were more thrilled than he was!

What's gonna work? Team Work (picking up Arlo's foam mattress)!




Sleep good little buddy:


Yes, I did say 2 tortoises. Since we have been pet sitting, Otto and Arlo have loved caring for Flower Rose. So, we now have our own pet....and his name is Oz (Otto wanted to name him Flower Rose, but we said they may get confused, so he then said he wanted to name him Fatty...we talked him out of that too. At that point Otto said, "I'm just not very good at naming things." He eventually settled on OZ, which a very few of you may recall was the name of one of his goldfish from way back...oh well). Oz is smaller than flower rose, and came from a friend who was leaving Addis. He has enjoyed our new home thus far, and the boys love having him around. I'm telling you...easiest pet around!

Don't think there is anything else to report on, except Nate is busier than ever with work, and the drought relief effort.  I'm so proud of his hard work and all that he's doing! He really is doing an amazing job and I appreciate his commitment to Mercy Corps, Ethiopia, and to us, his family.  I'm sure Nate will edit this part.

Speaking of work, Arlo frequently says he's going on a 'work trip' and grabs a bag and heads towards the door. On this occasion he was going to Jijiga, where Nate had just been:


On a lighter note, we leave Addis for our home leave on August 27th. We will be in 3 cites in 4 weeks, and do hope to see as many of you as possible. Otto and Arlo are as excited as ever and can't wait to get on the "big airplane" to come home.  We are pretty excited to see you all too and can't wait for September 17th, Ash and Bri-Bri...!

Bring on the fresh air, drinking water from the tap (raw hack for Nate), family and friends.
See you soon,
Kelly and the boys

Here are a few more of our favorite photos from the last couple of weeks.

Rockin' out (as a naked mole rat of course):




Relaxing after a hard gig:


Fun at Bora Amusement Park:














One of our friends/guards, Ayele, just had his first child (one of Otto's 6 best friends), Nati. We visited him last weekend:




Fitsum is Ayele's wife and Nati's mom:


Kelly, Nati, Ayele and Fitsum:




Feels like we are back in Portland...:


The neighborhood monkey on our compound wall:


Peace out.