New Life - Day 5 February 9th

The kids were extra generous today and let us sleep in past 6:00 am and that was a treat indeed. We headed down to breakfast and had quite the party outside the elevator. There was a group of young flight attendants hanging out and when they saw the children then went wild. They kept saying how beautiful they were and jumped right over to us to give hugs and say hello. One guy jumped right up begging to let us give them a bag of gummy worms. The kids loved the positive attention. It was a great ice breaker for what they have coming their way once we get them home to all the loved ones that have been waiting to see them for a year! One of the ladies was from South Africa and she started to tear up when we told them we had just adopted them. She said she wished she could be their baby sitter. She said, "I don't usually like children but their is just something so special about these two. I can just feel their sweet spirits". Then when we came back up from breakfast they went wild again. It was really sweet. One if the men was a Russian-American and while we were at breakfast he told them all how difficult it is for Americans to adopt Russian children and about the new law prohibiting it. Our little ones are already leaving imprints on the hearts of people all over the world, and we haven't even left our hotel yet!

Munchin down on some gold fish crackers!  Wait till she sees the huge box of these babies we have at home!

Jaymi has been toting this hotel copy of the Book of Mormon around everywhere.  She is going to be quite the little missionary!

Gabe straight up told his mom to put Vika's pony tail holder in his hair.  When she tried to fix it he gave her the stomp an finger wave, he didn't want it messed with.

Hey had to go straight to the bathroom to check it out.

After breakfast we quickly had baths and got ready for another media interview. We met with the gentleman from the Associated Press that we spoke with on our second day here after the judge would not turn over our court decrees. It was so nice being able to share our happy ending with him as things were so unsure that first day. Before he left he said he was so glad that he got to report a happy ending because he was very worried for us after our first interview. He has been a reporter here in Russia for years and I'm sure he has had many experiences where things did not workout so favorably.

After naps we had two special visitors. First "Babushka Sally", their Russian grandmother. She is the American lady Becky and I stayed with last week. So not really Russian at all, but she does know a few words and has some serious hookups at Imylova market! She came with a bag of tricks that included Subway sandwiches for us mamas and a McDonalds happy meal for the kids to share. She even chose the healthy sides of carrot sticks and apples, such a responsible lady. Boy did the kids get a kick out of her! I think she just might be in the running for the World's Funnest Babushka! She was tickling, giving pony rides, providing a head of hair for brushing. It was just too fun.

Then our sweet friend Yulia came by, I just can't say enough good about her! She brought Vika the cutest little doll and Gabe a fun airplane toy and sandals from Finland. Vika was so excited when Yulia handed her the doll and helped her get it out of the packaging. I just loved watching her and Vika talk and interact. She was also nice enough to write up a list of Russian words I have been trying to learn and how to say them. We all hope she will be able to travel out west next time she comes to the US so we can take her skiing in Utah and show her where we live.

Sadly Becky has come down with something and was not feeling well. I ordered her right to bed for rest while the kids and I finished out the evening doing a couple tub loads of laundry to get us through the rest of our stay. I felt like pioneer, only thing missing was a wash board. Oh yes and I'm staying in a very comfortable hotel, so maybe not too much like pioneer. We had a blast playing with the bubbles, swirling the water and scrubbing the clothes.

Then the three of us headed out for a walk around the hotel. We checked out the overpriced souvenirs in the gift shop, the beautiful cakes and pastries in the bakery and said privet to anyone that would look at us. Our kids are just soaking up every experience here no matter how small and it just makes us smile. I can't wait to get home and show them the world awaiting them and the loved ones that have all contributed to bring them home!