We got up at 7:00 am. I guess this is going to be our “natural” wake up time here. The alarm was set for 8:00 am. After breakfast we walked to the internet café to post a new page on the blog. Our driver met us here around 9:00 am with the social worker, Galina, to bring paperwork so we could have the document notarized. She came to the orphanage with us. To make sure all was correct. We only got to visit the children long enough to explain why we had to leave. The notary was only willing to stay open until 1:00 and it is a 2 ½ hour drive to Simferopol. We made it on time but she did not seem willing, she was very busy. George basically pushed his way in (in a very positive sort of way) but we got the documents notarized and off we were again. On the way home we stopped at a Tartar restaurant for some native food, it was very good. A soup that was a broth with carrots, potatoes, parsley and ram. The meat was very tender and tasted like the seasoned broth. We were also served a pastry filled with a mix of meat and onion and maybe potato. This is my favorite food here so far. We did not get back to Kerch until late and before we got to see the children we had to pick up an official from the orphanage department to witness Vitaly’s letter for permission to separate. When we arrived Sasha and her groupa were on their way to dinner so we got quick hugs and walked with them to the dinning hall. Then we were off to find Maxium and Pavel so we all could meet with Vitaly. Maxium had left for dinner and Pavel was not in his room but as we turned around to leave there he was standing and quickly behind him came running up to us was Maxium all out of breath. We all shared hugs and hellos and then we were taken to a private room to talk to Vitaly about what was going to happen and what the thought about the adoption. This was the second time we had this discussion and he was still in agreement. He was asked to write a letter to the court giving permission to divide the children so the younger ones can be adopted. As her wrote the letter he just sat without emotion and looked as if he was just doing a school assignment. This was one of the hardest things for me. I cannot imagine what he must have been feeling, or if he was not feeling anything what he must have been through to get to that point. Pavel and Maxium left to eat their dinner and we stayed and talked for awhile about how we would communicate and when we would see him again. We went to say good bye to the children but it was very late. Sasha was already in bed, Maxium was in the bath house so we waited to see if we could run into him, which we did. We stayed to visit for a little while. He ran off a couple of times to get things from his room to show us. His photo album that we sent he had decorated with pictures he had drew. Dragons and swords and such. He also showed us how to plat thumb war, he wins a lot! While we were visiting Pavel came in for his bath so we got to say good bye to him. We left soon after that. When we were dropped off at the apartment we walked to the market for something for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.

We are supposed to visit children tomorrow from 9:00 am until 1:00 and then we will go shopping. We will return in the early evening and stay until we get kicked out. It is very hard to post right now because there is no internet connection for my laptop. I have to use their computer and it will not let me change my blog. I have to cut and paste everything so I hope I can attach a picture to this posting. We have to pay per minuet used so we will not post as often.

Missing our friends and family and love to all.

3^rd day with the children:

Maxim had called at 4:45 because we told him we would be there to visit at 4:30. He wanted to be sure we were still coming. It was grate to hear that they wanted to see us! George said we were in the car and would be there in 10 mins. He was waiting for us at the gate.

Sunday we got to stay most of the day with the children. We were there from about 10:00 am until 1:00 because they had to leave for lunch. We left to buy a heater for Sasha’s groupa and to eat lunch ourselves. We are starting to be able to see each child’s personality show through. They are starting to relax and be their selves. Maxium is very laid back, loves to get praise and is very in tuned to his sister. He plays with her a lot. He was on the floor putting together legos while the rest of us were playing catch. All of this ball throwing, dropping and laughing and he was just attentive to his project. At one point and time a young boy came in to visit and took Maxim’s toy, he just raised his shoulders and waited. He face was a smile as if to say “it’s ok he will be done soon”. Pavel is eager to learn, he spends time on our visits reading English and trying out new words. He worked with Shawn and George for quite a while discussing and learning about English and the meanings of words. He is also very interested in seeing the sights around here and on the travels to home. He looked at every picture and video we brought in one sitting and wanted more. He was very excited about the pictures of Kiev. He has asked if we are able to get him out of the orphanage for visits and seems upset that it may not be possible. Sasha is full ef energy and is very spirited. She seems to be the child in control among them. Pavle and Maxium play with her and help her get what she wants. When playing if she gets irritated with them she can get pouty or stick her tongue out at them and then runs off laughing like she wants them to chase her. She is very playful and is not very interested in books. I have children’s music in Russian downloaded to my cell phone that she loves listening to.

We got to stay and play until it was time for Sasha to go to bed. We stayed so late the other children were already in bed. Most of the caregivers are happy to have us there and help with the children. We have a few curious children who come to visit and are loving the attention. The caregivers are trying to keep us separated form the groupa because we distract the other children but it is hard. We could come home with at least 50 children and not question it.

oday we are home until George returns from court. He has many errands to run before he can apply for a court date and then will come here after he applies to the court so we can visit the children. We may only get to visit for a very short time tonight. We will probably walk to the Black Sea and see if we can find a place to get some pictures. We will try to get more pictures posted tomorrow.

We all look at pictures on the computer of home and Kiev, Maxim continues to take pictures.

The children love to pose for pictures and are always setting up shots to be taken. They are little directors of the photograph.

Pavel getting ready to leave for dinner. When we asked him if he had an American name he would like to us as a middle name (Ukrainian children have their father’s name as middle and it gets dropped with adoption) he chose Ray because he likes Ray Boom Boom Manceni. He does not seem to want to be called Pavel he would prefer Ray. We explained that Americans often like their middle name better and use it as their first.

Maxim is the main photographer of these pictures. He has taken to it quite well with only a few lessons. He took 271 pictures yesterday, only sharing for a little while with Pavel. He zooms, sets up poses and sets up items to be photographed. He had the most fun trying to get a picture of a ball flying in the air. Now we must have 50 of them!

We will post again as soon as we can. We should have information on our court date tonight and have more of an idea of what will happen when and what date we will be home. Love to all and I miss you very much.