Day 2 with Stas---pm visit

Our afternoon visit was very short. We came here to do business!!! First work, then play! So this afternoon we had a tiny bit of down time. That was a nice break.

Here is Lizzy and I before heading out and us and Halya. We love Halya! She is a great friend.






Then ALEXANDER brought us in to the social worker, then to the lawyer, then to the orphanage. I don't know if I have told you all about Alexander. Jodi and family used him as their driver and became good friends with him. He came highly recommended from Jodi!! Along came Kristin to Zap, she used him as a driver--at least once to give him a kiss on the cheek and rub it in to Jodi (by the way Alexander is happily married! So is Kristin!) It was all in fun!

I had to meet this Alexander. He is indeed a very nice man who really wants to learn English. He reminisces about his visits from Jodi's family and even has a picture in his car of them (how sweet is that!) Here is a picture of Alexander trying to translate the letter that Jodi sent to him:


We were thinking there isn't really much time to visit the orphanage b/c it would only allow about 10 minutes or so to visit before their dinner time. We knew Lizzy had been waiting for a long time for this moment...we went. It was great!

Here is a picture of Ricky preparing for this trip (with the lawyer):


Ricky was asleep initially when we went in, woke up traumatized, then decided to take him outside. He wasn't quite as sad, though a little confused how this all happened while he was sleeping. He is going to be afraid to fall asleep soon. Dan took him outside so Lizzy could enjoy her first visit with Stas. Yes....he got cheerful and kissed him again when we said "GOODBYE!"








Must call my dear kids and go to bed...I miss you guys a ton!! Can't wait for you to see your very, very squishy brother!!!!!!!!!! Start working out now!!

Thanks Sue, Esther, Molly and Harry for watching them so far!!

Love-Gretchen