Since my last post, I actually realized how much there is to get done before we leave. I thought I had all our paperwork accomplished... well at least everything that needs to be apostilled. However there are a ton of Embassy documents that I had to dig up and copy, plus a few others that I need to get notarized. UGH!!!
On top of that please pray that USCIS does not give us anymore trouble and forwards our new home study onto the US Embassy in Moscow. It needs to be cabled ASAP. I sent in a letter requesting this with a copy of our home study, and they sent one back saying that Chris needed to send the letter. Good grief! So, we FedEx'ed that today, and hopefully they will cable it to Moscow ASAP.
Packing, I haven't even begun yet.... hopefully soon! I'm still finishing up Christmas shopping for family! Crazy huh? I will try to sit down tonight and start my new Trip 2 packing list. It looks like Trip 3 will be the biggest job, I can't even begin to imagine!!
Tonight I spoke to a good friend in China who I haven't spoken to in months. Oh how I miss her so much!! Our conversation was cut short by some pressing needs by my family members... (note sarcasm).... and I hope I can talk to her again soon. I miss her very real conversations!
Back to my photocopier.....
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Procrastination....
We leave in a week for court, and I am having the biggest bout of procrastination! I'm serious, I don't even have a list! I have paperwork to get ready and photos to get developed.... how about a packing list?????
Not sure what my deal is... I need to gete my act together here soon!
Not sure what my deal is... I need to gete my act together here soon!
Third trip booked
Just want to let everyone know that we finally after much stress and saga, booked our second airline flight for over Christmas. Yay! This one is with the boys, so we will be flying out on the 20th and returning back on the 30th. 9 days in country! I hope I can make it..... 8 days was pretty long for us last time! But the good thing is we will by then have our little one with us, and we will also be sightseeing a little bit too (in the freezing cold!)
I have a list that is VERY long! So I need to get to it.... :-)
I have a list that is VERY long! So I need to get to it.... :-)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Travel Dates- Official
Okay folks! We have travel dates! Court is set for December 12th (a Friday). We have booked our tickets for December 10th and fly back on the 14th. It's a quick trip.... and we will fly back again with our children later that month.
We haven't booked an apartment yet, as I am still actually trying to figure out our apartment for our last trip with everyone. We are considering staying downtown, so we are very near the Kremlin and Red Square. It's freezing cold in December, and we thought it would be a good thing to take the kids not only to the historic sites (indoors of course), but to the GUM mall. We could easily spend a day or two there! Only problem is the apartment I want is not available the entire time we will be there. So, we would have to move apartments....soooo not fun!
The other apartments are not exactly my taste and I can't imagine staying for 11 nights. But the thought of maybe staying downtown and then perhaps on New Arabat would be cool, for the kids to see both places. So, I have decisions to make a pretty darn quick too! (I'm not good at those under pressure decisions).
Good news is that the first flight for court is non-stop.... yay! It's fast and quick and we get back in good time. I'll be interested to see what the final trip ends up being..... it's gonna be a wild December, that's for sure! I'm not even decorating!
Anyone want to throw in an opinion or two about apartments and where we should stay? Is it that hard to get someone to drive us to the places of interest and pick us up? That would be cool too.... Give me some food for thought, please! (Oh yes, and I will have a toddler who will require quiet and naps and not too much running around). And who knows if I'll even get any sleep???
We haven't booked an apartment yet, as I am still actually trying to figure out our apartment for our last trip with everyone. We are considering staying downtown, so we are very near the Kremlin and Red Square. It's freezing cold in December, and we thought it would be a good thing to take the kids not only to the historic sites (indoors of course), but to the GUM mall. We could easily spend a day or two there! Only problem is the apartment I want is not available the entire time we will be there. So, we would have to move apartments....soooo not fun!
The other apartments are not exactly my taste and I can't imagine staying for 11 nights. But the thought of maybe staying downtown and then perhaps on New Arabat would be cool, for the kids to see both places. So, I have decisions to make a pretty darn quick too! (I'm not good at those under pressure decisions).
Good news is that the first flight for court is non-stop.... yay! It's fast and quick and we get back in good time. I'll be interested to see what the final trip ends up being..... it's gonna be a wild December, that's for sure! I'm not even decorating!
Anyone want to throw in an opinion or two about apartments and where we should stay? Is it that hard to get someone to drive us to the places of interest and pick us up? That would be cool too.... Give me some food for thought, please! (Oh yes, and I will have a toddler who will require quiet and naps and not too much running around). And who knows if I'll even get any sleep???
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tentative Court Date
Ummmm.... a little freaked out here.... We have a tentative court date already. Dec 8th!! My exact response to that info I won't repeat, it wasn't that bad... but not something I'd put in writing. lol!
I was talking to our agency director about taking three trips instead of two. Two trips would have us in country for 24 days, and that is just too long. So, we could possibly fly back for court (4 days total) and then go back with the boys after the 10 day waiting period. However, that would put us there over Christmas. Christmas in Russia, not exactly my ideal situation....but as long as we are all together... that's all I care about.
So now I am working on updated paperwork, passport apps for the kids, updated homestudy for USCIS, a birthday for DS2, Thanksgiving for a housefull of family, and not to mention Christmas. Lists, lists, lists... I have to start making lists. If I look at everything at once, its overwhelming. So, I'm going to have to work at it in small steps....
So much to do, and sooo little time!
I was talking to our agency director about taking three trips instead of two. Two trips would have us in country for 24 days, and that is just too long. So, we could possibly fly back for court (4 days total) and then go back with the boys after the 10 day waiting period. However, that would put us there over Christmas. Christmas in Russia, not exactly my ideal situation....but as long as we are all together... that's all I care about.
So now I am working on updated paperwork, passport apps for the kids, updated homestudy for USCIS, a birthday for DS2, Thanksgiving for a housefull of family, and not to mention Christmas. Lists, lists, lists... I have to start making lists. If I look at everything at once, its overwhelming. So, I'm going to have to work at it in small steps....
So much to do, and sooo little time!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Home!
Just wanted to post that we are finally home again. It was a long trip back from Russia, but surprisingly easier on our jet lag than the trip over was. Sure we were up for over 24 hours, but we slept soundly for 7 at my sister's, and are headed to bed early tonight as well. The plane ride back was waaaayyy better than the one going over! (I think because it was almost all daylight travel.)
Now we just wait for a court date, so we can head back over and pick our little guy up!
Dobre Noche! (Goodnight)
Now we just wait for a court date, so we can head back over and pick our little guy up!
Dobre Noche! (Goodnight)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Last Day to Visit
This morning we had our last visit at the orphanage with our little one. He was a little tired, and for the first part only wanted to be in my arms. (Hey! No complaining whatsoever by me!) So, we walked around the room and I did my mommy sway, since I seem to have never stopped.
I will be glad to get him home finally, where he can have more one to one interaction! Though I will say at this orphanage the caregiver ratio is pretty good, and the facilities seem very nice. We always met in the music room...which is a large area with mirrors and a little stage. But there are not many toys, so it is a good thing we brought ours with us
We hope to go back for court soon....and to finally be able to bring him home with us. But I'll tell ya, this girl, is ready to get home again. My sister and brother-in-law have been SAINTS~ for taking care of our boys. We are so grateful, and again could not have done this without them!
I'll leave you with some photos. Russian law says that we may not show photos of children's faces on the internet, until after the child has officially been declared ours by a court of law. So, here are some cropped shots for you.....better than nothing right? :-)
I will be glad to get him home finally, where he can have more one to one interaction! Though I will say at this orphanage the caregiver ratio is pretty good, and the facilities seem very nice. We always met in the music room...which is a large area with mirrors and a little stage. But there are not many toys, so it is a good thing we brought ours with us
We hope to go back for court soon....and to finally be able to bring him home with us. But I'll tell ya, this girl, is ready to get home again. My sister and brother-in-law have been SAINTS~ for taking care of our boys. We are so grateful, and again could not have done this without them!
I'll leave you with some photos. Russian law says that we may not show photos of children's faces on the internet, until after the child has officially been declared ours by a court of law. So, here are some cropped shots for you.....better than nothing right? :-)
One of the little ducks we would pretend to feed.
Showing Daddy how to draw. See how this bright child holds a pencil? That took one look at Mama using it, and he copied it right away... smart boy!
Playing the xyllophone.
Another use for xyllophones... racing with Daddy!
Reading one of Mama and Daddy's old favorites! The pictures move!
Paka!! Bye-Bye!
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