Well... the first day of school went well...I didn't have to physically take anyone in, no one followed me out, and no one cried. Yana didn't eat lunch...I guess her "buddy" failed her on that. So when she got home: Momma, I hungry!! Three pork chops, pasta, and veggies later....she was happy...other than the part where I made her drink milk not coke. She tried school lunch today...and referred to it as "foo". Vita tried bbq rib sandwich...and she foo-ed it as well! Maybe carrying lunch is good!
They also went back to school today willingly!! Vita had words with a boy on the bus....I think he won't be mouthing her any more! The district has little experience with ESL...so it's an opportunity for them to learn and me to teach them....hahahaha!!!
The boys are doing great with school and happy to be back in the swing of things...they are in portable classrooms and both of their teachers are pregnant....should make for an interesting year!!
Levi starts school monday...and he's stoked! We went to open house tonite and he cried when we had to leave.
This time of year is draining on me...the paperwork, getting everyone organized, and getting our new schedule figured out. But I love every minute of it from the time I drag myself out of bed to the time I collapse from exhaustion at night......
8/21/08
8/17/08
Time Flies!
The kids are all getting ready to start school this week...and boy am I excited!!!!
The boys are ready...no complaints. Vita....go with the flow. Yana....scared, defiant, but will be fine. I think the girls will be surprised at how many people WANT to help them and will take an interest in them. Just in case...I'll be close by on the first day and our friend Oksana has offered to go with Yana on her second day. Jennifer is also ready to go to school...she is a little anxious, but knows that it will be fine once she starts. Anxiety is a horrible thing and no amount of talking will convince the girls that it really is going to be ok...and they will not die from school!!
It amazes me at how Yana has just made herself at home. I think Vita having been here and being so comfortable has helped. I am pleasantly surprised at how well things are going!!
More later.....after the first day of school!!
The boys are ready...no complaints. Vita....go with the flow. Yana....scared, defiant, but will be fine. I think the girls will be surprised at how many people WANT to help them and will take an interest in them. Just in case...I'll be close by on the first day and our friend Oksana has offered to go with Yana on her second day. Jennifer is also ready to go to school...she is a little anxious, but knows that it will be fine once she starts. Anxiety is a horrible thing and no amount of talking will convince the girls that it really is going to be ok...and they will not die from school!!
It amazes me at how Yana has just made herself at home. I think Vita having been here and being so comfortable has helped. I am pleasantly surprised at how well things are going!!
More later.....after the first day of school!!
8/9/08
Wild first week!!
Well...our welcome home dinner was interupted by me, Jakob, and PopPop going to the urgent care for Jakob to get stitches. I think I took it worse than Jakob...no tears were shed and he complained little about the pain..mostly about having to be still!
The girls have shopped...and shopped....and shopped. Vita and Yana got their cartilage pierced. All girls got their haircut....they asked for a cut they found in a book...but then told her to not cut their bangs or take off any length! The hairdresser did a great job and the girls complaints were shortlived.
Yana has been insistant that she is in the 9th grade....until we went to the high school and she saw how BIG it is. Then she was near tears telling us how she wants to be in 8th grade! We think 8th grade will be best for her...so she figured it out on her own! Vita and Jennifer were put off by the chipping paint on the lockers at the high school....I think they were expecting to see the school from High School Musical and Troy walking down the hall dancing and singing to the music being pumped out thru the stereo system installed in the school! Vita said she wants to go to a different high school. Our response: not an option. This is your high school. We told her that the more people there are, the more friends you will have. They will be fine after a week when the shock wears off. Just visiting the schools helped tremendously.
Monday Jennifer is going to New Jersey to stay with her former host family. She seems super excited and very anxious to be going. She has Ukrainian friends out there who have been adopted and will hopefully have a good time.
Today we are all going to White Water and taking Vita's bffl Jessica. Should be a good time....they girls will need tons of sunscreen on their faces...they got a little pink yesterday!
So long from our busy home!!!!
The girls have shopped...and shopped....and shopped. Vita and Yana got their cartilage pierced. All girls got their haircut....they asked for a cut they found in a book...but then told her to not cut their bangs or take off any length! The hairdresser did a great job and the girls complaints were shortlived.
Yana has been insistant that she is in the 9th grade....until we went to the high school and she saw how BIG it is. Then she was near tears telling us how she wants to be in 8th grade! We think 8th grade will be best for her...so she figured it out on her own! Vita and Jennifer were put off by the chipping paint on the lockers at the high school....I think they were expecting to see the school from High School Musical and Troy walking down the hall dancing and singing to the music being pumped out thru the stereo system installed in the school! Vita said she wants to go to a different high school. Our response: not an option. This is your high school. We told her that the more people there are, the more friends you will have. They will be fine after a week when the shock wears off. Just visiting the schools helped tremendously.
Monday Jennifer is going to New Jersey to stay with her former host family. She seems super excited and very anxious to be going. She has Ukrainian friends out there who have been adopted and will hopefully have a good time.
Today we are all going to White Water and taking Vita's bffl Jessica. Should be a good time....they girls will need tons of sunscreen on their faces...they got a little pink yesterday!
So long from our busy home!!!!
8/3/08
They are HOME!!
Everyone is home....safe and sound and tucked in bed.
So a funny story....Lucas Grabeel (Ryan from High School Musical) is from Springfield...and he came in on a flight right after the girls. No one was willing to go talk to him....but I took our 6 yr old over to him. We were going to get a picture....but he thought the crowd of 50+ was for HIM!!! I didn't realize that at first....but he said, "can we do the picture outside after I get my bags? I see there's a crowd gathering"
I wonder if he's still standing outside waiting at the airport....
Good times ahead...hope to keep blogging in all my free time!
So a funny story....Lucas Grabeel (Ryan from High School Musical) is from Springfield...and he came in on a flight right after the girls. No one was willing to go talk to him....but I took our 6 yr old over to him. We were going to get a picture....but he thought the crowd of 50+ was for HIM!!! I didn't realize that at first....but he said, "can we do the picture outside after I get my bags? I see there's a crowd gathering"
I wonder if he's still standing outside waiting at the airport....
Good times ahead...hope to keep blogging in all my free time!
I know they got on a plane in London....
Oddly, I could call any time when David was in Ukraine/London...but now that he's (hopefully) in Chicago....I can't call him!!
This has been such a long roller coaster ride of an ordeal....that it almost seems unreal that it's FINALLY going to be over (the adoption, that is....and life as we knew it!!!)
I think we are ready...or as ready as we can be!!
Will blog once everyone is safe and sound at home!
This has been such a long roller coaster ride of an ordeal....that it almost seems unreal that it's FINALLY going to be over (the adoption, that is....and life as we knew it!!!)
I think we are ready...or as ready as we can be!!
Will blog once everyone is safe and sound at home!
8/1/08
Life is FINALLY Good!!
Plan A: Embassy appointment, p/u visas at 3, leave tomorrow for london, leave london sunday to come home
Plan B: The visas were ready in THIRTY MINUTES!!! Get flights out of Ukraine today for London, get home saturday night.
Plan C: no seats on Saturday to Chicago from London. Stay two nights in London and have some fun!!
Plan D: Girls can't stay in London more than 24 hours without a visa. So slow down and see Plan A.
The things my husband does while I'm asleep!!!
The people at the embassy are superheros in my eyes.
I hope Monique and co. have the same good luck! If you are on British Airways tomorrow....look for a frazzled balding/grayish haired guy with three teenage daughters!!!
Plan B: The visas were ready in THIRTY MINUTES!!! Get flights out of Ukraine today for London, get home saturday night.
Plan C: no seats on Saturday to Chicago from London. Stay two nights in London and have some fun!!
Plan D: Girls can't stay in London more than 24 hours without a visa. So slow down and see Plan A.
The things my husband does while I'm asleep!!!
The people at the embassy are superheros in my eyes.
I hope Monique and co. have the same good luck! If you are on British Airways tomorrow....look for a frazzled balding/grayish haired guy with three teenage daughters!!!
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