Happy Birthday & Home Sweet Home

Papa made a welcome home sign for us when we came home.
Katya & Jaclyn are blowing out the candles of the carrot cake that Mima & Papa made for us for last night, but we used it for tonight, as I was a little overwhelmed when we finally got home.

The girls got their ears pierced Friday as Jaclyn has been waiting and waiting for Natasha Joy, and Sophia (Pasha) to come. They were all a little afraid and very excited now to have it done. We were invited to a friends home for breakfast and to look at her daughters harp. It makes the most beautiful sound. Sophia played the bandura in Ukraine, and this is much different, and she was disappointed, but liked the sound. The teacher is right near our home. I hope she will want to do it. Natasha seemed quite interested. Natasha starts violin on Tuesday.

This is Andri on the 2nd airplane home from NY playing with the camera. He looks so sweet. He is kind a "comedy" boy when it comes to photos. I see I need to fix the calendar on my camera. Just trust the blog until I get that fixed.

TODAY (Saturday), I am still a little on Ukraine time so I woke up at 4:30am. I am blogging to the sound of birds chirping, and a not much traffic in the way way distance.

We arrived safely at 10:30 Thur. We sat 2, 2, and Katya 1 on the smaller flight. Katya was able to sit by a young man who only spoke Ukrainian. It was all so smooth. THANK-YOU for your prayers.

We had a really nice (crazy) Happy Birthday part for Jaclyn & Katya, and they received a lot of clothes and nice things from Chris' Sister's family, and parents. The kids said they were SUPER with thumbs up!

We are getting slow at getting "communication", e-mails, etc. Ran out of calling card minutes, etc.

Yesterday morning I had 4 little ones with me walking the dog, in a light rain with umbrellas. Andri, Sophia, Natasha & Jonathan. Today they are all sleeping well still at 5:10.

We need to do shopping, and I think I'll wait for Chris to help with that, as it's so hard for me to do alone. I want to give them some things, and make sure they have enough of even the bare essentials, but they see all this cool stuff and want it, so we need to go together.

Not too many problems, but I'll fill you in anyway. Andri didn't get enough sleep in the last couple days, and lost his flashlight. Jonathan had 2. Andri tried to say he took his, but but they were both Jon's. He wouldn't put his jammies on..etc. Chris found the flashlight...gave it to Andri..we spoke firmly, yet kindly to him, to say "Excuse me Mama, Excuse me Jonathan", his whole demeanor changed when he figured out Jonathan didn't take his, but then we wouldn't let me take him to the toilet before be. He went right to sleep, today will be a new day and all will be fine for the start. Also, if something bad happens, he wants to blame one of our children right away. Natasha knocked some clothes off the shelf at the store, and Andri quickly said it was Jaclyn. Natasha quickly said it was not Jaclyn. Andri just needs reassurance that if mistakes happen we still love everyone the same.

Natasha gets bent out of shape if I buy one thing for someone (like a bra), and not for her, as she does not need one. Then she hangs at the back and walks slowly. I do plan to take them shopping for some essentials one on one. But Natasha has a lot of beautiful things that fit, so it's best if we all go separately, so it's not a competition of who gets what.

Katya has been catching up on rest, and helping me organize some shelves. She's really good at it. The house was pretty dirty when I got home, so it has been nice to clean it up. We found some songs on their Hill Song CD that we sing at church as well, so that has been really fun!

Sophia likes to help Jaclyn look beautiful, play with Jonathan, check on me. She has not cried about anything since we first came to Ukraine, so in some ways, I'm a little worried about her, and when it does come out how it will be. She shares a room with Natasha Joy, and is not excited about it, but I think it will all work out. She asks me a lot of intimate questions about Papa & I.

We went swimming with the kids Thurs night after returning to home. They are all such wonderful kids, and really wanted to "show us" all their tricks in the water. The younger 2 do not have a concept of safety and one hung on me to tightly, and one almost choked Papa, so we spoke to them and after that it was much better.

Today we have a picnic & another birthday party. Tomorrow Church and a picnic afterward.

We'll try to catch up on E-mails soon. Thank-you for your prayers! Alesia & Chris