Thursday

Keegan went to school - not that he wanted to, he wanted to stay home with his brother and sister. Kenny stayed home and I was there too! It was a great day! Kristina got up around 845 and John got up around 940. Kenny thought he was going to sleep all day. We had breakfast and then went to do a little shopping. Went to Sam's to pick up some "kid foods" and then onto Wal-Mart for Halloween costumes! Kristina is going to be Double Trouble (Half devil/half angel) and John is going to be a yellow transformer. Not either of the kids first choice - but what do you expect shopping two days before Halloween. By the end of the shopping trip, Kenny was feeling bad so we went home and he slept until dinner time. I took the kids and we went and picked up the big brother from school. The kids were very excited to see him and when he got into the car, Kristina called him by his name for the first time. Big smile on the big boy again! We got home and Keegan let the kids ride their bikes and play outside in the back yard with just him. Did I ever mention, that Keegan was going to be a great big brother? So dinner time came and Kenny got up and was feeling much better. Dinner for five! It was very nice! After dinner Keegan's best friend Danny came over to meet the kids - he also is very excited about teaching the kids new things. Then our normal routine for the evening - hang out and then bath time. We haven't done story time just yet that is going to be shortly. Right know, Kenny and Kristina are playing with the slot machine and John is sitting in the recliner with Keegan watching a movie and holding his hand. Keegan also got his first little brother kisses although they were on his hand. I told him that's okay - that is the only way I have gotten them too! One more thing about a smiling big brother, the kids have been calling him Keegan since we got home from his school today. When Danny left this evening, I heard him and Keegan talking about how fun it is at our house again! What a wonderful thing to hear from two 15 year old boys! Well, it's story time and then bed time. So until later....................Good Night from the very happy Duda House.

Wednesday

Good-bye Seoul! Hello Tokyo! Good-bye Tokyo! Hello United States of America! Well I don't want to sound like I am bragging, but the kids did a great job on the planes! The first flight to Tokyo was uneventful - got upgraded to business class (more leg room - a little bigger seat). 3.5 hours layover in Tokyo - again no problems. The kids watched a video. Now for the 11.5 hour flight. Well again no complaints with the kids. No upgrade though. Kids slept about 9 hours of the flight. I on the other hand did not sleep very much. I was on the aisle and anytime I attempted to sleep, one of the stewardesses would bang a cart right into my armrest or my seat. So no sleep for the the Mama! We arrived in Chicago on time, went through passport control. Then to customs! Again very quick. Then on to baggage claim. That was really the only hold-up - then someone from the airport comes out and says luggage from Tokyo is on the floor - not on the turn style. So upon hearing that - we got our luggage right away. Then customs - we had to get all the bags x-rayed! It feels like we had our bags x-rayed a dozen times. Oh well! Next step, seeing the family! The best part of the day! The kids were a little shy but warmed up quite quickly. Kristina was very excited to see her big brother in person. John only had eyes for his Papa. The ride home was again uneventful. We got home and the kids met the dogs for the first time. Kristina LOVES the dogs! Everything about them. John likes the dogs - no tears, no fears, just doesn't like them giving him kisses. Then after about an hour of investigating their new room, the house and the back yard, the oldest child asked Mom "what's for dinner?" I looked at him and said "I have been gone a month I have no idea what's for dinner!" Gotta love kids! So we decided to go out for dinner - we went to a local place and on the way into the restaurant, I told the kids "Hold your big brother's hand". They both did it and you should have seen the smile on the biggest kid's face. He was over the moon! After dinner we got home and did our normal bed time routine - bath, story time and bed. Kenny has been a little under the weather so he went right to bed and I laid with the kids for a little while. Everyone was sleeping by 10PM. So until tomorrow...........Good-bye from Elwood, Illinois.

Tuesday

I was sad to say "Good-bye to Vladivostok" and our new friends, but it is time to head home! I was happy to say "Hello to Seoul". The plane ride was great! No problems at all. The kids had a blast. Some how we got moved up to first class, I have no idea why, but it was great! The kids loved looking out the window and before we even left, they loved to look at all the other planes in the airport. They never left their seats. It was great, now let's see if I say that after the 11 1/2 hour flight tomorrow. So 1 flight down and 2 to go until we are home. Here we sit in the hotel room in Seoul, winding down. So until later.........Good-bye from Seoul!

Monday - Meltdown

And is wasn't the kids! I guess I am ready to go home! I really miss my boys! I talked to Kenny and Keegan today and had a meltdown. I can't believe how much one person could miss someone. I knew I missed the kids when we went home after the first trip but that won't happen again! Missing my boys at home really bad! Can't wait for Wednesday to be here!

The kids and I had lunch in the restaurant today - chicken noodle soup and banana splits for dessert. We met a new couple today, Sara and Stephen who have court tomorrow for their little guy Max. We wished them "Good Luck!"

The Currans and us Dudas walked to the little grocery store this afternoon. It was great to get out and breathe some fresh air. After that, we played on the playground with two more families. One with a 20 month named Max and another family with five year old Emmitt who are waiting for their 10 day wait to be over for their new little guy! Did I ever mention that this is a great place to meet other adoptee families? Well if I haven't, I just did!

After playing on the playground, the kids wanted to take baths and settle in for the night. So they took baths and put on their pj's. We had dinner in our room and then I packed up all of our stuff. So actually we are ready to go for the morning. Our driver will be picking us up at 1145am and we will meet the co-ordinator at the airport with the kids visas and other very important paperwork.

So as much as I want to get home to my boys, I am going to miss this place and the wonderful people I have met along the way. I need to send out a special thank you to the Curran Family, the Cole Family, the Scrudato Family and Pam and Elena Baker for all they did for me. They did not let me hang out in the room by myself after Kenny had to head home. Thank you guys for everything! I really mean it. I can't wait to see pictures of all of the kids. Another special thank you to Bill and Michelle for putting up with me the last week or so. It has been a wonderful ride! Thanks guys! So until later..................(from Seoul) Paka from Russia!

Sunday - Kristina's 8th Birthday

Our trip to the beach - John loves to throw rocks into the water and Kristina loves to look for shells. "I get to blow out the candles?"
What the heck is this thing?

The Birthday Girl!

Project from yesterday:

First of all, it was another beautiful day in Russia! It started out an hour earlier than usual. We had to turn the clocks back an hour. We had a great morning just hanging out. We had a big breakfast and lunch and then headed out to the beach. The Curran's came with us and we had a awesome time. Got to see an old guy in a speedo swimming (What is he nuts?). The kids played in the sand and did not seem to be bothered by the water at all. We watched trains go by and saw lots of birds walking on the beach. We forgot to bring some bread to feed them. After our trip to the beach, we walked back to the hotel and then finished up our projects from yesterday - just needed to glue them together. Around 530, we headed to the White Rabbit for Kristina's party. The Currans were there and at one point I believe all 6 of us had on party hats. We put up decorations and even had noise maker things. Thanks Keegan for picking all the stuff out, it was a big success. The cake came and it was very tasty too! A good time was had by all! All three kids interacted every well and Kristina keep Bill, Michelle and Jackson dancing. (She got a card from her brothers that played the Tinker Bell song.) Every once in awhile she would open it so it sang and then they danced. She thought that was quite fun. I even got to interact with Jackson. Let me tell you, he sure is a cutie! He loves to walk all around and to and from his mama and papa. I actually got to play a little ball with him and he let me join in the walk to me fun. So the party was a success! Tomorrow is our last full day in Vladivostok, we leave on Tuesday afternoon! Hey boys, we are coming home all three of us! YAHOO!!!! I can honestly say that I am going to miss this place, it brought our new family together and will always have a special place in my heart! This also has been a place for us to meet some really great people and for that, I will never forget it or any of them. I am excited to keep in touch with all of them and see pictures of the little ones as they grow! So until later.......Paka from Russia!

Saturday

Saturday was another fun filled day. We (The Currans and The Dudas) walked to the little grocery store to get the last of what we need for the end of the trip. We angered a few Russians in line at the grocery. We had baskets full and all they wanted was to buy a beer for lunch. So all in all it was okay. After getting back to the hotel and putting the groceries away, we went out to the playground to play. We had a blast with the kids playing on all of the playground equipment. The Currans came out there with us until Jack's naptime. The kids even interacted with them for the first time, throwing mini beach balls at them (Not the baby - the adults). We had a very nice time. We went in and hung out in the room for a while and worked on our project for the day. We painted all the parts and tomorrow we will glue them together and I will post pictures tomorrow. Then it was time for dinner. Pasta, sauce, corn and peaches. A hit! Yeah! After cleaning up from dinner, we watched a movie and looked at all the pictures that we have taken since we have been in Russia. Then it was bathtime and a GREAT time was had by all. Then story time and then bed time. Again a big success! So until later........Paka from Russia! (Tomorrow - Sunday is Kristina's 8th Birthday! We are going to the beach and then a party in the White Rabbit!)

Friday

Well another fun filled day in Russia! We went out to the playground and had fun as usual. I will probably lose the mother of the year award - because the playground equipment was still wet from the night rain and our kids dried it off. Well anyway, they had fun. Isn't that what they make washer and dryers for? After the playground, the kids each took a bath and then we did laundry. After that, we did our project for the day. We made visors. The kids love to do projects. We had dinner in the White Rabbit with the Currans. Jackson loves to watch the big kids. Well until later.......Paka from Russia!