Fun Filled Weekend-WHEW!

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st

We thought since they went to bed late they would sleep in for a bit but they were up at 7:00 and so were we! Andre and Rada were not very hungry Saturday but more than made up for it Sunday morning. We had 12 eggs, sausage type meat and chai along with plenty of bread! A big favorite here!

We went to the Aqua Park around 3:00 and not to soon as far as the kids were concerned. ample space to dress. The Aqua Park apparently used to be a hotel. It is about three stories tall and all the rooms face the enclosed pool. There are two big slide tubes and two kiddie pools as well as a large main pool. The only negative is the water is green. We were not real sure about the sanitary situation but all the grounds were very clean and they were constantly mopping up around. Maybe they use different chemicals. Garrett made the executive decision that I should video and take pictures and he would swim with the kids. They gave the kids inner tubes, who am I kidding, we paid for them but it was the only way they would let them swim in the big pool which is good because they do not have a lot of experience in swimming. We all had a great time, especially the kids. I took lots of pictures and video. Sasha was the best swimmer of the group but basically only dog paddles. The others really do not know how to swim without a floatation device. After swimming and sliding we went back to the room to dry off in the sauna in our room. It worked great, they were all dry in no time. Sasha wasted no time in asking when could we come back to the Aqua Park, Monday or Tuesday. We got back to the apartment just in time for dinner. The rest of the evening we spent in the apartment watching a movie and diffusing arguments. It was a challenge having the sibling group here for the weekend. Sasha & Stella did not seem to understand that Andre and Rada were our guests, to them they were just family so they did not deserve special treatment.

Sunday we spent the morning here in the apartment and then took our first adventure on the Kaz bus system, unchaperoned, without Nastya. We went to the park and all made it in one piece. We picked up a pair of Sunglasses for Andre and Rada. They had a good time trying on the glasses and making their final selections. Sasha had the great idea that Andre should take his sunglasses and let him pick out a new pair because he saw some he liked better. Andre said no. In Sasha’s defense he picked out a great pair a few days ago and his sister accidentally broke them. When we went back to replace them they did not have another like them.

The kids enjoyed riding the swing rides, the roller coaster, jumping on the moon walk and eating ice cream. We took lots of pictures and video of Andre to help him in finding a family in the U.S. The park was probably the high light of our weekend. The kids asked if they could get together again. Of course we will but not for the 8 days they are proposing! School is out Wednesday for the kids so it will be easy to plan more get togethers. I think we will go there next and hang out. We might try to go Wed. so they can say bye to their schoolmates.

After the park we met Nastya for her to escort us to the restaurant, Aladins. It is very kid friendly and they have cokes, hot dog, pizza, hamburgers which could actually be chicken, fish or beef. They call them all hamburgers. Once Nastya had us settled she headed out and left us to work out the ordering. Rada and Andre come in very handy for that. Rada speaks better English than Andre but they both are impressive. At 7 our driver Sergey came to pick us up and Stella and I decided to be dropped at the apartment and let Garrett and Sasha take everyone to the orphanage.

Andre really warmed up to having his picture taken. It took us a while to explain to him that it is good to smile and all pictures do not need to be serious. Once he got it he came out of his shyness and wanted me to take pictures. He sometimes called me Kelley and sometimes Momma. He wanted to have a picture and then wanted to see it right away and would nod in agreement. I told him we would make him some pictures too. This is good for him to have some family pictures too since other kids from Kidsave have photos. We just know there is a great family out there for Andrey! (Correct spelling)

Stella and I hung out at the apartment and checked email and talked to Mimi for a few minutes. The boys showed up around 9 and we were passed out by 10:30. What a time we had. All in all it went well this weekend. I must say having two kids seems so much easier! Praise God for His goodness.