Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Original post by aliciahelene

Dec 13, 2004 03:49 PM

HI! I havent posted on here in a long time..we have had an awful lot going on..but we are so excited to share with the world that we are adopting two boys from Ethiopia!!! they are ages 7 and 8, its been a crazy journey and we almost didnt get these boys, someone almost adopted one of them..but its official...THEY ARE OURS!!! I will most likley travel in May to bring them home!!! They are so beautiful and Im so in love with them...it amazes me how much I love them and Ive never even met them in real!
So here is where I need creative ideas...the way they find out they have a family is when the social worker walks in to their orphanage and gives them a package..we are allowed ONE gallon ziploc bag per child...thats it..we can put in it whatever we want, but it HAS to fit in that bag!!! I am making them t shirts with a pic of my husband and myself on it and Im putting their names and 'WE LOVE YOU' on it...Im going to roll it up SMALL to fit in the ziploc..but what else can I include in this..we will put a few more pictures and a letter, but I want to be creative. These boy's parents ahve passed away, one has been there since September and one since last April ..its very sad..I want this to be very very special!! Thank you so much for any suggestions..Im not real creative and I want to finish this up this week...to get to them SOON!~!!

1017Bride Posted: Dec 13, 2004 06:34 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Congratulations! Best of luck to you both with your new family! Maybe a small album or scrapbook about Long Island?

btrflygrl Posted: Dec 13, 2004 06:46 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

how about a disposable camera so they can take pics of YOU!! Do they read? How about a childrens book on adoption or family?

A photo frame that says Mom & Dad on it with a pic of you and Rex.

some candy? kids love candy

matron Posted: Dec 13, 2004 07:03 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

i love the idea of the t-shirts. All of these ideas are wonderful. I'm so excited for teh two of you! Congrats once again!

Moehick Posted: Dec 13, 2004 07:44 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Congratulations!! I love the picture idea of their new home, some pics of NY so they know where they are going.

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 13, 2004 07:51 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

WOW!!! You guys are AWESOME!! What great ideas..Im making the shirts as we speak....I will include pics of the house, cats, I wish i could send a pic of their room, but right now its a very girly guest room!!! hehehe we are seraching for bunk beds and plan to paint etc within the next few months!!! I love all the ideas..I love the bracelet idea!! How cool! ALL of the ideas are excellent and you all ahve given me so much to think about!!! The idae with the photo and the empty chair is awesome too..all the ideas were fantastic..too many great ones..I need to narrow this down! hmmmm..I love the disposaeble camera idea too..but I am told that things get stolen very easily there...so I will bring disposeables for them once I am there..I definatly want pictures of their care givers and friends for their life books that I am making. Thanks so much everyone for your great ideas!!!!! Keep em coming!!! I will most likely be sending their package out late next week!!! YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEE
I do want to spoil them...Im going to have to be careful..I dont want bratty children..I just think they deserve alittle spoiling after what they have been through. One little boy has no family left alive, except his baby brother and his baby brother is dying. It is absolutely heart breaking. I wish time would fly so I can hurry up and bring them home!!!
Thanks again for your wonderful and thoughtful ideas!!!

dm24angel Posted: Dec 13, 2004 07:53 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

First of all CONGRATS!
Do you have any pic's of them to share with us yet??

They are so lucky as are you to have found each other.

Did you find bunk beds yet? I wanted to tell you I saw some nice ones at K-mart the other day, for $169...looked nice quality for that store!

Good luck with the gift ideas...all the good ones seem to be listed.

I REALLY like the Snapfish bragbook idea, so you can write things down...if its small enough, and also a disposable camera for them to take pics there before they leave.

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 13, 2004 09:21 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!! We are actually looking at the bunk beds that have drawers in them, like loft bed style, some have desks built into them. Ive seen them on ebay for around 700 plus shipping..Im hoping to find them cheaper, this adoption is breaking us..we dont mind, but we are on an extremely tight budget!
I just went and bought beads to make them bracelest with their names on it..but of course the thread I bought is too big for the beads..Ive obviously never done this bead making stuff before!
I only have xerox copies of pictures of them for now, should have real pictures very soon. I saw them ina video of children in the orphanage, they are GORGEOUS..the minute I saw them I knew..their smiles and their sweet little voices..I cant explain it..I just couldnt think of anything else once I saw them..and I checked into every country, every agency..
Their names are Biruk and Paulos, ages 7 and 8. They will take our last name, but I think I will keep their birth last name as their middle name. It doesnt seem right to take a name away. Im so excited!!!! Thanks again everyone for all of yoru ideas!!!!!

OSCARtheGROOM Posted: Dec 13, 2004 09:46 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Congrats!!!!

danigirl0 Posted: Dec 13, 2004 09:48 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

wow!!! congrats!!!!!!!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 13, 2004 09:49 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Thank you!!! Oscar the groom..I love your avatar!!! Thats adoreable!!!

OSCARtheGROOM Posted: Dec 13, 2004 09:50 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Posted by aliciahelene

Thank you!!! Oscar the groom..I love your avatar!!! Thats adoreable!!!

Thank you. Thats my son Connor and I.

Bunnymonkey Posted: Dec 13, 2004 10:22 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

That is so beautiful. Congratulations...

skew Posted: Dec 13, 2004 10:30 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

all the ideas are very creative. just wanted to say CONGRATS to you and your husband.

SandraLynn Posted: Dec 14, 2004 09:08 AM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

Congrats! Such wonderful news! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! What a great gift!!!

How about a mini calender and w/ the date you arriving circled, pictures of the 2 of you, pictures of your home, and the statue of liberty?

Keep us posted!

aliciahelene Posted: Dec 14, 2004 01:54 PM

Re: Desparately need your creative ideas...WE ARE ADOPTING!!!!

I love the calendar idea...but right now we dont have a travel date yet....hmm...wonder if I could atleast circle an accurate time frame! Thanks..I love that idea..Thankyou!