Official

Yesterday, we received Sasha and Masha's official certificates of US citizinship. Congratulations to our 2 little Kaz/Americans!

crazy times

Sasha and Masha have been home nearly a month now. They seem to be adjusting well. At least I hope so. Language is still our biggest barrier. I feel aweful when one of them spends several minutes telling me something and I can only listen and show interest. sometimes, I think they are trying to tell me something that happened or is going on and I say "show me" or I hear a familier word/s. Then I can figure it out. It must be more frustrating for them when we don't understand them.
We have been to a Ukranian families home twice now and to Ukranian sunday school twice. Nina, our main contact in that family and a translator for our hospital tells me their language is very mature and proper and that they speak very beautifully. Oh, I wish I knew what they are saying. They love the Ukranian sunday school (we go on Friday night). This past friday they got very excited when we walked up to the church. They speak only Russian/Ukrainian so of course Dave and I are out of place again. However, all of the Ukrainian people we have met, especially Nina's family are so kind and warm towards us. I have learned to make Borscht which both kids love, especially Sasha. My next cooking lesson with Nina will be Cabbage rolls- yum yum!
This week we are very busy getting ready for Kaitlins wedding on Saturday. We have so much to do around here and my ability to get anything done is very limited- sigh! I am trying to keep my anxiety under control but it is very hard. I have been on an emotional roller coaster these last few weeks and this week will be challenging. Kaitlin has been wonderful. She has been here with me a lot and gone with me when I venture into town. I do not do that alone! It is very overwhelming to the children to take them places. Meltdowns and sulking/pouting is common. They want everything in sight. I constantly hear "mama, mama, mama" with pointing and "oh". It is just to much for them. The funniest was Sasha getting very upset when we wouldn't buy him a yellow bottle of mustard- he doesn't even like mustard! I think it was the color that attracted him. The worst was a full blown double meltdown at Kohls when we tried to get him shoes for church/wedding. Unfortunately, he saw the spiderman shoes (mind you he already has a pair of spiderman shoes) and that was the end. Masha saw the prone kicking and pounding and decided she should do the same. We took the kids to the car and Dave finished the shopping alone. Oh well, an involuntary way to save I suppose. We have learned the best bathroom stops are certain fast food places. The ones where there are no candy bar racks, toys, or bright colors evident between the door and restroom. lol
Everyday, I think they are learning and understanding better. Even the sulking/ pouting sessions don't last as long. It will still be awhile before I take them anywhere alone.
I am hoping to get the softwear/cables needed to download a vidio of Masha dancing to a cd of her favorite music from the orphanage. She just loves to dance!

dogs, icecream, and playgrounds

Today has been a more difficult day. Both kids are fine with the older dogs: Murray and Mcgee but are afraid of Hank our 1 year old Shitzu and Annie our 2 1/2 year old golden doodle. Granted they are younger and more excitable and rambunctous.

Sasha has taken to kicking. When I try to explain to him that he can't kick (especially the dogs) he gets mad, pouts, stomps and will go to his room and lock the door. I now have all the bedroom doors locked so he can't get in and lock himself in. I know the language barrier is frustrating for both of them. It is for me and I am a grown-up who understands that this is part of the process and it will pass.

I finally decided to keep Hank and Annie in the barn for the remainder of the day and when I went into the barn I heard this little tiny mewing sound from under Dave's Kubota. I thought that maybe Bella (our smallest cat) was trapped under it somehow. But after calling and coaxing- to my huge surprise a very tiny grey and white kitten came out from under. Well, as you can imagine mama mode kicked in and now Kosh-ke (russian for cat) has a bed and food and drink in the barn. What cracked me up is how Dave spent at least 1/2 hour out there with him last night. When I asked him why he was out there so long he said Kosh-ke was very lonely and needed attention. Awe...

After dinner (which for the kids was buttered noodles, carrot sticks, cherry tomatos, and homemade applesauce) we went into town for ice-cream. Not knowing what flavor they would like we started with vanilla. We will have to try others as language develops and likes and dislikes become known. Woodland sweets also has a big safe fenced in playscape. With the exception of one big sulking session (because S had to wait for miss M to finish her ice cream) the night ended up well.

No idea how I got the butterfly image there and can't figure out how to rotate an image from my card to blogger. So apologies on having to bend 90 degrees to the left and enjoy the butterfly (from Meijer gardens back in April).

Exhausted but happy

We are all adjusting bit by bit.

Masha came home with a raging cold- which Dave, myself and Kaitlin all have now. She really doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She is pretty good at blowing her nose but I have to get the tissue there before the yellow globs go everywhere. We have ventured out a few times to quieter less busy places. Except once. Dave and I had to get Sasha a new pair of tennis shoes. Our guessing at his shoe size before he came home was a good size or two off. Walmart is not the place to bring children who have had minimal contact with the outside world, especially the world of american retail. We will rethink those trips for awhile.

Masha and Sasha don't mind the car at all. They have figured out how to get us to stop if they want to get out. A request for "pee-sat" or "ka-cut" with the appropriate pained look on the face will get us to a restroom quickly.

Sunday we traveled downstate for my dads birthday. They have both charmed the rest of the family and Masha especially loves her 20 year old cousin Erik.

We have been to the beach twice. Both Sasha and Masha enjoy the beach and the water

but Masha only likes it if there are no waves. Otherwise papa has to carry her. Friday we went for a walk accross the street on the conservancy land and hiked the short distance to Elk lake. Both kids loved picking and eating the wild raspberries and Blackberries along the way (what would the mamas at the orphanage have to say about that- I shudder to think). When we arrived at the super tiny beach Masha suddenly started pulling off her clothes. Sasha looked at us with a look that said "well, is it ok?" and we looked at each other and gestured yeah, go ahead! So for about 1/2 hour both kids jumped and splashed about in Elk Lake completely naked. It was so darn cute I could hardly stand it. Of course we didn't have any towels with us at all - we thought we would just show them the lake and then walk back- oh silly parents!!!!