An unexpected day of fun!

 We figure the boys must have needed to redeem themselves after they saw the girls tree!

Better, but it doesn't quite outdo the young ladies efforts...

Svetta called today and told us to be ready by 2:30--we didn't completely understand what she had prepared for us, but we were ready.  Igor, our taxi driver took us to the orphanage, went past his apartment to get his son, and then we were all headed for  a St. Nicolai celebration at a public building a couple of miles from the orphanage.


 
As we entered the grounds, the first thing we saw was a stretch Mercedes SUV limo surrounded by potentially hundreds of St. Nicolai.

I probably need to do some research to see how and why this day, and this celebration brought hundreds of people out on the icy roads...

There was a PA truck (that could have been used to shout Communist propaganda back in the day) playing music and reading a script--some of which I recognized from the orphanage play.  But unfortunately, the crowd was too large and we couldn't see the dancing and festivities on center stage.

  

As we scanned the crowd, it seemed the kids enjoyed just being there, but this guys face pretty much tells the story for the adults!

When the large gathering was over, Dema wanted to go to McDonald's.  We treated the driver and the 2 boys to burgers, fries, pies, and beverage for less than $20 American...the .99 value menu was only 6 Grivna (about .84 cents). 

 We thought our trip was over, but the driver pulled into a shopping complex and showed us a 6 on his cell phone and said no orphanage, then he said, "play one time".  We had no idea what was inside, or what he meant, but we entered a mall and went to the second floor where we entered an area similar to Slinky Action Zone back home.  Dema absolutely loved it there--especially playing with the little kids.  It turned out Igor was telling us we didn't need to be back to the orphanage until six o'clock.

This is Igor, our taxi driver.  It seems that there are 2 main drivers for the Kriviy Rog area, Igor and Andre.  Igor is our favorite, while Andre is Russ and Lori's favorite.  They are both great guys and they can be trusted!  Just get in the car and they will take you where you need to go!  Initially, it is a bit unnerving, not being able to read anything, and not knowing where you are headed, but these guys have definitely earned our trust.

When we received our adoption training, we were told that an orphan child's visible age would be 1/3 that of their chronological age, but they quickly make up lost time with the proper care and stimulation...Dema may be 9, but we really are experiencing many moments with a 6 year old. 

 No, this isn't a random picture of some kid at the mall!  Look beyond the child to the woman's shoes...There is a solid sheet of ice over all of the roads, sidewalks, and parking lots, and this is what many of the ladies are wearing.  I am wearing a good pair of hunting boots with an aggressive tread and I slip and slide around like a clown on ice--I don't know how or why they do it!

This is Lena, she will be going home to America within the next two weeks!  It took a couple of days, but she is really coming out of her shell--if you tease her, she'll give it right back--twice whatever she gets!  We really have a lot of fun with her in the room!

Of course--we couldn't go a day without Skype!

Momma just had enough of Dema running around smiling and having a good time--she put him in has place!

Dan never showed up today, but his sister Nastya must have snuck out to come and see us!  For the past few days, we have been thinking that Dan and Nastya were the only two, but there are two more...another brother and another sister, ages range from 9-13.  We haven't met them all yet, but we have heard from good authority that they are all just like Dan and Nastya!


 

This was tough one!  Nastya had just explained to Dema that he wouldn't be going to America with us yet, he immediately went to the other side if the room by himself to sob.  I went over and he looked at me and asked, "Dema, Papa, still America?"  

Thank goodness for his older niece!  She spent enough time and explained clearly enough what the process is so that he understood and seemed content (not necessarily happy) with her explanation.


More pictures of the day coming soon on our Facebook page!