Alone at last!!

Today, Friday, December 11, 2009, we got our first chance to have the kids by ourselves. It took until about 1 to try to get some papers finished. However a new doc was asked for by inspector #1 ( there are 2 inspectors, so we named them…). She declared we needed to go back to the orphanage (oh, goodie) and get this doc before her docs could be completed. Even then it may not be til Tues before she could get to it.

We traveled to 88 and while Sergey is getting the doc, we are talking to the kids. Ok, we are signing and counting (the kids are learning English and we are learning Russian – I can count to 10!). Then we started colors. The director was in the other room and while the cat’s away the mice will play, hence this pic of the kids in the director’s seat. She did not get upset but I could sense that they would not normally do this. They are feeling some power☺

The director had promised Christina and Kolya that we were taking them to McDonalds. So after receiving permission from Marina to have them until later, we went to the flat. Sergey took the doc to Inspector #1. WE WERE ALONE WITH OUR KIDS.

They explored every inch of the flat. Hence, this pic of Dan and the kids at the top of the stairs that leads to unfinished attic. All lights were turned on and off. Beds were tested, toasters tested, etc. Dan quickly showed them computer, cell phones, camera. Anything that had buttons they explored. Ding, Dong! Michelle, missionary who knows the kids, arrived. Hugs all around. After starting a game with Dad, Michelle and I were talking. All of a sudden the camera went off, Kolya was taking a picture. Now that we could speak to set boundaries, Michelle and I explained that before touching phones, cameras, computer, they must ask, may I? I know this word in Russian so from that point on I could say no, may I? Normally we said yes but the computer and phones became no very soon.

Michelle left and the four of us played memory. They knew how to play and Kolya won, no I did not let him win, he really did!! We had a great time laughing and teasing and we could see what life will be like. A lot of communication hassles and a lot of fun just being together.

Then it was time to go where…….McDonalds! Kolya’s eyes watched everything, especially the bulldozer that was working at night, that we saw on the way to McDs. Did you that bulldozer in Russian is …bulldozer!?!?!

Christina is a hoot! She ordered a salad and cheeseburger happy meal. She ate all the salad even licking the package of dressing. Then started on the fries. After a couple of fries she was full and packed everything, extra napkins, ketchup, everything into the happy meal box. Later on in the car she ate all the fries and then finished her cheeseburger. She also had a banana for later in case she got hungry.

Kolya has a little bit of a cold. At one point during the afternoon he even laid his head down on the couch but soon was up and going. He slowly at his fries one at a time out of the box. His eyes were constantly moving to take in all the people and what they were doing. Then he ate his cheesburger. Again slowly watching everyone.

It was so much fun just watching them, taking in who they are!

It takes about 45 min to an hour to get to the orphanage. About 20-30 minutes on the return trip when traffic was less. At some point on the trip back to the orphanage
Christina asked "Is it true that it takes 3 days to get to America?" She is really thinking about this. She also asked, "Where Sasha (Taunton) is now, is it night or day?"We said day, and that will you will be living there soon. Another quiet moment!

Tomorrow we get the kids around 9:30 and are going to a get together with all the missionaries. We will see how we do. Fortunately most of these people speak Russian and there will be lots of kids. Check in tomorrow for the results!