Yiah Goes Hunting!

So, how well does a 16-month old tolerate a 9 hour car ride to South Dakota? Well, when it is to go pheasant hunting, really well! Besides throwing up and opening a rotten packaged meal in the first hour, everything else went suprisingly good. When it comes to traveling, this kid is the champ! And his reward was his first true hunting experience. All though he didn't actually make it into the field, he did get to touch some birds and make his first trip to Cabela's. The first picture was actually taken upon arrival, after the 9 hour car ride. Look and that little trooper!

On one of his favorites... tractor!!!

Last Days of Summer

Due to some unseasonably warm weather here, we got little Y outside yesterday for a day of summer fun. Since we (I) have been so bad at posting lately, we thought some pics of our big guy might be appreciated by some.

Now "US Official"

The last piece of the adoption journey seems to be in place, and our Father has made it so beautiful. Edidia Aaron Schwartz has been in our care for over 180 days now, which means that under U.S. law, we could finally complete the re-adoption process. While he has been ours by Ethiopian standards since December, and ours in our hearts for much longer, he is now "officially" ours according the great U.S. of A. And he is now "officially" Yedidiya Lee Schwartz.


We spent Friday morning at the Scott County Courthouse and appeared before a judge to get the approval and paperwork necassary. We were asked many questions, including: "Do you understand, if the court grants you this request, the relationship formed is one of Father/Mother and Son, and is no different than that of a biological child?" I wanted to answer, 'it already is' but I did my assigned duty and simply said yes. But it makes us feel good to know that the United States now sees it as we always have.