Speaking of Saturday...

Well, we were so excited to have Alex for the weekend. We had invited the Straders over for the day so we cleaned the apartment and had plans to make dinner and play games and watch movies all day. Constantine, our driver arrived at nine (but wasn’t suppose to be there until ten) but since this is his house, he just made himself at home while we finished cleaning. I had plans for James to go get Alex with Constantine and I would stay here and get ready.
What’s that saying about the best laid plans? Well, despite the fact that we signed some document stating we would be responsible for Alex’s life while in our care and this document required our passport numbers, the director told the translator this morning that we could not take Alex to the apartment. (What the heck??) She evidently had called someone that told her that this is a big no-no. So, we could pick him up, take him anywhere but our apartment, bring him back tonight and pick him up again tomorrow and take him again anywhere-except our apartment.
I was so ticked!! I had my heart set on spending time OUTSIDE of the school with a clean boy in new clothes, in an apartment where I can cook food but what made me the angriest was that Alex was so excited (We didn’t even tell him it was happening until we had it secured in writing!) and I just knew he would be so disappointed.
So, now I hurried and got ready. We had to stop at the store as we were out of snacks and by the time we got to the school the situation had already been explained to Lex. He frowned as he came up the car, shaking his head and saying “no da doma”. I frowned too and showed him how sad I was and said "no da doma". He had packed his toothbrush in his coat pocket and was so looking forward to coming with us. (Remember yesterday, the try to pick Mama up-I'm so happy-hug?)
So I was in a pretty pissy mood for the first half hour. The idea of spending the day at the school was so unappealing. In fact Lex seemed more okay with the situation then I did. I complained for a bit and then we started playing Skip-Bo with the Straders and that helped pull me out of my funk. (Luckily, no one of any importance could hear my complaining and if they could-it wouldn't matter because they can't understand me!)
At one point today Alex kidded with us telling us-in Russian mind you-“I don’t know Russian- I only know Americanisky!” Which is his made up word for English-I guess. It was very funny.
The weather was much milder today and it was actually pleasant to be outside. Julia and Alex took the bikes out and I’m happy to say that all though they defiantly dominated the bike time, they did share and give turns to the other children. The kids here flock to you like you’re a celebrity. They talk like you can understand them and the just repeat over and over what they’re trying to tell you. Despite how many times they repeat things, I still don’t get it. They were jumping rope but they were using some kind of weed/reed. I tried to jump but was too tall for such a short weed-they thought that was funny. Jump ropes would be a great thing to bring for these children.

We were told it was Lena's birthday so Lezlie and I sang Happy Birthday to her. The kids thought that was funny too. Later, I had brought out the picture directory of last falls hosting program and every child had to see all the pictures. And they LOVE to take pictures with your digital camera and then crowding around to see it on the little screen.

(Note: Some of the children are wearing bright green or pink medicine on their faces-I'm not sure what it is and why some is green and some pink-I can see a little sore but the bright colors make it look 10 times worse than what's there. I don't know what's up with this?)

And as promised...a picture of sweet Sveta!



James was wearing his sunglasses and many of the children had to try them on.

We sent Julia and Alex to eat lunch with the other kids at 2:00 and thought we’d walk somewhere and grab a bite to eat but were told there is no where within walking distance, so we were locked in the school where we ate bread with roasted garlic & red pepper cream cheese. (I had bought this, this morning hoping I could find lunch meat and make sandwiches-now that we were stuck at the school-but after stopping at two different stores that either didn’t have a meat slicing machine or it was broken, I gave up.) Straders had cake & chocolate and we had three different kinds of chips. So we had a very junky lunch.
Alex and Julia ate in about 5 minutes flat. And came and buzzed the buzzer and tapped on the windows but we couldn’t let them in until the lady that sits in the lobby came back from lunch. She wasn’t gone long.
We played more cards and then decided to go on a walk outside the school.
Lezlie and I were hoping we’d find a store or an establishment with a normal toilet as the school only has the hole in the floor kind. I was trying to tell Alex and Julia we wanted a toilet we could sit on and they thought it was hilarious. For the most part I think they just think I’m funny. Unless I’m asking Alex to study English, then I’m not funny and he’s not enthused.
We found all kinds of stores and even a café-we think. We’re going to try that out another day. Lex asked for some dried fish, I figured at least it wasn’t candy, he wanted James and I to try them and they were disgusting, even James thought so. I don’t even know if Grandpa Richhart could eat these. Lex ate the whole bag.
Alex is showing some of his stubbornness, when things don’t go just his way he whines and say’s “no” like when I suggest we work on his English. He’s always telling me he doesn’t understand (which is the one phrase I DO understand in Russian.) what I’m saying when I suggest we study English.
We had a little talk through the translator as I’d asked him repeatedly to stop kicking the soccer ball while Lezlie was on the phone. I explained in a nice way that it’s rude to make so much noise while someone is on the phone and that I know he’s a good boy but to please try and act like one. For the most part he is a good boy. We did learn the word “crap” today as in "that toy is a piece of crap." For the most part he doesn’t ask for a lot and when he does ask for something like candy, he makes sure he buys us some too.
Despite his moodiness today we got awesome tight cheek to cheek hugs. I think it's just as hard for him to be out of his routine and to try to stay entertained with us. Right now he just wants to have fun, fun, fun and he'll think about English later? I don't know, I know the more we learn the easier transition he'll have. He sure is cute-even if he does sulk sometimes.
I told him we’d pick him up tomorrow at 7:30 to make the trek to Dnipropertosk. I told him to be clean (his hands are filthy from putting the bike chain back on about five times and there is no soap or hot water in the bathroom here) but it was translated back to me “I don’t have any clean clothes”. I told him I’d bring him clean clothes. Yep, still in the Winnie The Pooh sweatshirt today. I think this is day #3.
We’re home now. We stopped at the store to buy a few groceries. Constantine is a big help. He doesn’t speak English but he understands us somewhat. He’s very protective of us and he’ll be our driver tomorrow. We’re hoping he’ll come to church with us.
Money is easy to spend here as it feels like Monopoly money and you have so much of it because it takes eight of their dollars to equal one of ours. Transportation cost the most and that’s probably because we have inside people carting us around in their personal cars. Groceries are incredibly cheap and today we bought things just to be brave and try them. The chicken we had tonight had a green wasabi looking marinade and we made fried potatoes but they were nothing like the potatoes we had at that “dead animal” restaurant and all the sweets (or sweeties as our cute Hanna called them) are so tempting that we find ourselves trying different kinds every time we go in a store.
Alex has his heart set on Snezhana teaching me how to make Borscht. So I’m bringing my apron (Yes, I packed an apron!) and I hope I can master the technique. Every time we mention visiting Ivan, Alex says “Snezhanna-Mama-Borscht” and gives me a thumbs up.
Here’s a cute thing I forgot to blog. On Friday Julia and Alex were talking with Olec comparing the sizes of the families they were being adopted in to. Julia holds up her fingers indicating there will be eight, Alex that there will be seven. Then he says something and Olec laughs. I asked what did he say and he translates, Alex say’s “Yes, but we have a grandma and grandpa too!”