I'm home...

The Russian Countryside on our way to Spassk. Beautiful colors!

Back at work. Trying to get over the jet lag...I don't sleep on planes so the 11.5 hour flight from Tokyo yesterday really wiped me out. I spoke to Gloria on skype last night (actually at 1:30 this morning our time) and she was going to hang out at the hotel and do laundry today (its 5:21 am on Thursday in Vladivostok as I type this) as she only visits the kids every other day. Hey sounds like my night tonight...gonna hang out at home and do laundry too! I made it home with all the gifts and things that we bought for the kids in tact. Having the empty suitcases from the donations we made to the detski dom really paid off. I actually brought home two suitcases and one roller duffel (inside one of the suitcases). All you future adoptive families remember you get 50lbs per suitcase if you can check them through to Vladivostok (via Seoul) but you only get 44 lbs per suitcase coming home. Most airlines allow 2 checked bags per person. If you are going to change to a Russian carrier (Aeroflot from Moscow for example) you only get 44lbs when you move your luggage (and you will have to claim and recheck your luggage in Moscow). This was the biggest benefit of traveling through Seoul...We checked our bags from O'Hare all the way to Vladivostok and did not have to claim them in Seoul to transfer them and from Vladivostok to Seoul on the way home. Ok, I'm rambling...bye for now.

Kenny

Wednesday

Left the hotel at 7AM to go visit the kids. I was disappointed when we got there. "I" was on a field trip and would not return until noon and then would have to have lunch. I knew "K" would still be in school and not return until 12:30 and then she would have to eat lunch. So we left the Detski Dom and went to find the place for the passport photos. In the meantime, the social worker called and asked for a ride just out of town. So we did that and then stopped at a little cafe for lunch. (Yes I am eating real Russian food). After lunch, we went back to the Detski Dom and I got to play with "I" for a while until "K" came. Then we were off to get their passport pictures taken. That was a success. "I" doesn't like cameras anyway so him not smiling was an easy task. "K" doesn't mind the camera but was told not to smile. She may not like the picture later but it works for what we need it for. After the pictures, we had a little while before we had to leave so we stopped at a little park and took pictures of some monuments. Today for the first time, I saw "I" scared of something. In the park, there was a cannon like monument. I tried to put him up there so he could look at it and he wanted nothing to do with it. Held on tightly to my neck and wouldn't let go. So no problem, we took the picture of the three of us near it not on it. We had to have the kids back by 2:00 so it was a short visit day. Hopefully, the next visit Friday will be longer. So until later.................
Paka from Russia

Tuesday

Did not visit the kids today but had great day anyway. I walked to the local grocery store with Glenn and Lisa and picked up some juice and some other little things. Later in the day I went out with The Cole Clan (Neva, her mom, Sergei and Peter) and did some souvenir shopping and just got out of the hotel for awhile. It was a really nice day. Then that evening we had a big group up in the White Rabbit for a celebration. A couple of families are leaving on Wednesday. Lots of pictures were taken and e-mail addresses exchanged.

Sitting here....

In Tokyo trying to kill a 3+ hour layover and thought I would post some pics...not of the kids of course but of our trip to downtown Vlad....On our merry way, from left to right...Anastasia, on Lisa's lap, then Bill, Gloria, Glen and me Michelle was the photographer...

Parting....

Well I'm sitting here at the breakfast table at the Vlad Inn. Mr. Putin is arriving at the Government House across the street later today and access to the hotel is going to be limited to registered guests only. Gloria Departed for Spassk at about 8:10 with Elana and a new Driver (Sergei needed a break from the long drive to Spassk and will be driving our friends the Curran's to a "local" baby home to see their little guy in Artem, he will return to driving Gloria on Wednesday) I leave here at 1:15 for the airport for a 4:10 flight to Seoul and overnight then to Tokyo and direct to Chicago from there. I am already missing the long ride to Spassk but miss Keegan a bunch and can't wait to get home to him and the dogs...We had a great day yesterday visiting some stores in downtown Vlad (had to get winter coats for the kids as we did not have room in the suitcases to pack them from home) and bought some souvenirs/gifts as well as some items for the kids to remind them of their homeland and heritage here. We ate a late lunch at a Russian Cafe in Vlad and had some great food. The Curran's and the Scrudato's accompanied us on our excursion yesterday and we had a great time. Gloria has the pics on her laptop and will have to post them later. After our excursion yesterday we met with Tanya to complete our "Embassy paperwork", applications for passports (Russian) and Visa's (American) for the kids. Gloria will be taking the kids for their passport photos on Wednesday or Friday in Spassk so that will be done also. Well I'm gonna head back to the room to complete my packing...Paka from Russia.

Kenny

Saturday

We got to visit with the kids since Kenny is leaving on Monday for home. We explained to them that we were now their Mama and Papa and that soon we would be going on an airplane to the United States. They both responded with "Da" and seemed excited and happy. We played with the kids for quite a while. "K" worked on puzzles, colored and she even painted a dinosaur. She loves to take video and then watch it. She loves listening to her Papa's i-pod. She enjoys playing with stickers. As a matter of fact, we really haven't found anything so far that she doesn't like. "I" played with the tractor and the bat mobile. He watched some videos about Geo Track (from Fisher Price). He also colored. He didn't feel like painting today so we just let him play with the cars. He also loves to listen to his Papa's i-pod. "I" also likes to tease his Mama when she has the camera. If I am trying to take his picture he will wipe the smile right off of his face and then laugh about it. Although I did get some really cute pictures anyway. "K" on the other hand doesn't mind getting her picture taken and is very free with smiles and showing off her new teeth. The end of the visit was hard because Kenny had to explain that he was leaving to go back home. You could see in both of the kids faces that they didn't want to hear that. We tried to assure them that Mama would be back on Monday to see them again and pretty soon they would be coming back with me forever. So many hugs were passed out before we left today. The ride back to the hotel was uneventful and Kenny took many pictures since this would be his last trip from Spassk in some time. When we got back to the hotel, there was a party going on in the dining room so we had dinner out in the play area which was just fine because we got to see Glenn and Lisa's adorable little girl playing. We also met another adoptee parent, Pam in the White Rabbit with her adorable little girl too. This hotel is a great place to be. We have met so many wonderful people. On Sunday, we are adventuring out with our new friends, the Currans, into town to do a little shopping and experience some Russian food. Can't wait! So until later....Paka from Vlad.

The Judge said "Da"

All of Keegan's birthday wishes came true. He is now a big brother times two! That makes us a very happy family of five!

Thanks for all the prayers and the good vibes!