So, everyone is required to get that social worker back over to the house to see how well the babies are doing at 3 months, 6 months and then annually after the babies come home. Ethiopia would like to see photos. Which, for us, means leaving the dishes sudsy in the sink, dressing every child in ridiculous finery, and wrestling everyone into a relaxed, friendly pose. Look how cute my five children look sitting under the trees, “enjoying” the fine day, and oh my! do they just happen to be wearing cute, harmonious outfits!? What sibling bliss! What halcyon frivolity!

Here we see two cutes wearing taffeta party dresses. They must do so in pictures for they haven’t been invited to any formal parties lately and are growing quickly. “We are cute,” they cry, but who will answer. “We will turn one, soon,” they say, but no one sends them an invitation to the ball. “We shall soon wear a size 18 months,” they murmur, but the mailbox stands empty.

Ah yes, the ever popular “casual-at-home” picture, where everyone is carefully dressed in tertiary colors with a neutral complimentary on the special new arrivals. We are the Hoppers, and we are awesome!