What a Difference a Year Makes!!!

The first picture is of Anastasia's birthday in 2005 which we celebrated with her in Ukraine. The next two pictures were taken on her birthday in 2006 in good old USA!!! In 2005 we had half the family in Ukraine and half in USA. This year we had the whole family under the SAME ROOF for the ENTIRE WEEKEND!! We got to watch Carter run Cross Country, had a party for Anastasia and her friends, then had a quiet dinner just us! It was WONDERFUL!

Anastasia continues to amaze us. She is doing great in school and has adjusted REALLY REALLY well socially. She raises her hand to answer questions in class and is always right in the middle of things. The teachers have been great to modify work for her. People who talk to her don't even realize that English is her second language - she just sounds like she has an accent. She has shared more and more about her life in Ukraine. She doesn't talk about it much - but we're glad that she does speak up about it at times. And the more we hear, the more we realize how remarkable her Grandmother is. It was such an unselfish thing for Grandma to let her come to America. Anastasia doesn't call Grandma anymore - she says it's too hard to understand her as she is losing her language. Also, Grandma sometimes gives direction that is opposite of what we tell her! We send emails about 3-4 times a week and send pictures and letters frequently. Problem is in Ukraine - the mail service is not very dependable and not everything gets through.