A Hallmark Commercial

Hey all - started day with visit to Grandma - she will probably have surgery tomorrow - she was bawling her eyes out - got lots of kisses on the lips. Mark kicked her bedpan across room when he kissed her - that was not the hallmark moment. We also went and visited her after we went to orphanage.

then we went to orphanage. We went into dorm and one of the kids that we knew saw us and went running into a room yelling "NASTYA, NASTYA" We could hear her squealing before we saw her. It was just like those Hallmark Commercials. She came out of the room - let out this HUGE SQUEAL - I don't think she was really sure we'd be back. She jumped into Mark's arms - and would NOT let go. I was standing in corner - so he pointed me out - she jumped into my arms - and kept squealing the whole time. She looks taller!! We hung out for several hours. We showed her video that Carter had made of the house and also of the 3 kids saying HI to her - she LOVED that. Really Loved the pictures of her around the house. She said, "big house"then she after watching a little more she said "I have a big house!" You gotta remember they all live in apartments over here so any house looks HUGE!!!

Later she went through the photo album -and there was a pic of us with the three kids and she said "MY FAMILY!" When we left - she hugged me and whispered, "I want to go to your doma" (that's house in Russian). I told her not today but soon. She then got on her tiptoes and said, "I want to go to your doma TODAY." Court is at 2 PM tomorrow (7 AM in KY). She's ready - and so are we.

Well, back to the apartment. We realized last night that we have a TON of kids movies but not much else. SO we may be watching Cinderella tonight.

We miss our kids. The word from home is "bring her home" and "the cats suck!" Kids - we WILL becoming home with your baby sister - but sorry we can't do much about the CATS - talk to Tubby!!!

Thanks for your notes, emails, . . . it's sad that Downtown Kiev is more familiar to us than downtown Cincinnati!! We're having some internet difficulties so won't be doing individual emails!!
love - Kim and Mark.