Christmas Eve

Dad Richhart stopped by early Christmas Eve and gave the children coins with the faces of past presidents on them and a mini-lesson about each president and the Constitution. (If you know my father in law at all you will know that this is nothing out of the ordinary and was actually a very thoughtful thing for him to do.)

Grandpa Richhart & Us (I'm taking the picture!)

Kousky-this is Grandpa Richharts new dog.

Later we had most of my family over and after eating a ton of yummy food we sacked out on the couch watched a video about the birth of Christ.

Troy, Zach, Rylee, Mom & Dad

James & Dad Richhart

Devree & Kambree

Arron, Austin and Kousky

Then the children opened a few presents...

Zach

Exchanging sibling gifts

Getting new pajamas.

Kids in their new jammies!

Cookies for Santa....

Another tradition we have (of course) is making sugar cookies for Santa. Sugar cookies are a pain and I make them twice a year. Christmas and Valentines. I must admit, I make a mean sugar cookie that involves almond extract and sour cream in both the cookie and the frosting.

We invite all the cousins (well, the cousins that live close-we would love to have ALL the cousins but all of James side of the family live so very far away!) But all my side live, well, in Murray! (Except for my "black sheep" brother that lives far away in Salt Lake!)
Speaking of brothers, I have three, single, handsome brothers. Jeff is 38, Troy is 33 (bonus with Troy-he has the cutest 3 year old little boy named Zach) and Arron is 27. ( Yes, this is a plug for my brothers as I'd really like some sister-in-laws next Christmas! It's a good thing they don't read my blog or I'd be in big trouble!)
Anyway, here's some pics...

My girls baking the cookies the night before!

Group Shot

My children plus Hayden our part time son!

The Jacobsens (minus the Dad) Tyler, Brach, Loyd (our newest addition-K&B are fostering him and he is a cute, funny little boy with high functioning Augsburg's) my sis, Kammy and Sydni!

Syd and Zach in my cupboard that I leave empty just because it's Syd's favorite place to play.

Troy and Zach. (Zach is the funniest kid. I'm going to start a funny things Zach says corner on my blog since my kids don't say funny things anymore. Okay, maybe they do, like I would like my own laptop for Christmas....that's funny!)

My token picture. Ugh!

My Mom and Dad-with his goofy smile. We should stop calling it his goofy smile and just admit it's his smile as it's the one he makes in all photo opts!

Jeff and my mom. (Jeff-never been married 38-great hair-nice guy!)

James only helps eat...not frost!
(We were missing Arron-my youngest brother, Bill-Kammy's hubby, and of course Alexy!)

Introducing Ivan....

Just in case you think I'm so overwhelmed with the holidays that I've forgot my little boy in the Ukraine, please know that is NOT the case! I am just so frustrated in gathering this paper work. I finally got an updated I-171H form TODAY in the mail and an email from James employer that his letter is in the mail TODAY and a call from my doctor's office that my form is ready, signed and notarized but when I was transferred to James' doctors nurse (same clinic as my doc) they don't have his labs back yet! Which baffles me as we went in and had our labs done on the same day at the same time. I was maybe 2 minutes ahead of him as I went first!!!
UGH....
I got an email from Alexy's brother. Now, I'm going to take this at this point as a well meaning brother that only wants the best for Alexey. Here's what he wrote:

Good evening Wendy and James.
My name is Ivan Berdo. I am a older brother from Alex.
I knew recently that You want to adopt him ( Alex). I want to know your
family better to agree to adoption.
I know that Alex want this, that is why my decision is very important
and fate for his life.
I think us it is necessary to become acquainted closer, to communicate
and hold connection, because we don't want lose connection with Alex
after adoption.
We are waiting for your answer.
With best regards Ivan.Here is what I wrote back.Dear Ivan,
We are so happy to hear from you! Alexey told us about you and we cannot
wait to meet you.
I'm sure Alexey has told you all about us and how excited we are to have him
come live with us.
We live in Utah with beautiful mountains, snow and fresh air. We also live
close to a river and park.
We would  love for you and Alex to always stay in touch. Could you give us
your address and phone number?
We hope you are well and healthy and we look forward to meeting you. We have
limited information about Alexy's past and would love any information you
could give us.
Our hope is to provide Alexey with a loving family and a permanent place to
call home.
We are working to get all our paper work to Ukraine. We have no idea
when we will actually be able to travel to Ukraine to finalize the
adoption.
Please tell Alex we love him. We are working as fast as possible to get all
our paper work done.
I hope this email translates correctly and does not sound crazy.
Happy Holidays!
James & Wendy Richhart
PS I have included a picture of our family that we took when Alex was with
us. You will see how happy he looks and how well he would fit in with our
family.

Christmas Traditions....

Some Christmas traditions we all enjoy like ordering Chinese take out and eating it while watching "The Christmas Story" or always getting a new pair of pajamas on Christmas Eve but some traditions are torturous more than anything, one of these being new Sunday outfits for the Sunday before Christmas and the annual family photo in front of the tree.

The outfit part was fun when my girls were little and I could adorn them in velvet, frilly dresses with big hair bows and lacy tights. We would all dress in the same coordinating or at the least, complementing colors and the biggest challenge I had was NOT letting them wear their darling outfits until the Sunday before Christmas. But, alas those days are long gone.
First, we're lucky to find Sunday outfits that the girls will actually wear. (I'm talking about my teenagers here. Rylee will still wear most anything but I know my days are numbered there too!) I can't tell you how many times the Christmas Sunday and photo were the only time a particular outfit was ever worn. Austin (who agreed to wear this sweater this Sunday only and left the tag on so I can take it back) will only wear a white shirt and tie and James tends to dress the same so their outfits are about as boring as they come.

But still, tradition is tradition and so today, being the Sunday before Christmas let the brain damage commence!

We couldn't take the picture before church because my oldest three had to leave an hour early for rehearsal for the sacrament meeting program. I was making fudge with my hair up in a clip and not ready when I realized that my golden opportunity for a photo opt was walking out the door. So, as soon as we got home (well, after our nice neighbor jumped Kambree's van that she drove to rehearsal-apparently some light had been left on for four hours) I decreed that no one was to change their clothes or pull their hair into a pony until we took our Christmas picture.
This is our group photo after 5 tries.
(Originally we tried to get the pets to pose but gave up on that after the first few tries.)

(The sign we're holding says "We miss you Alexey"... but even if you read Ukrainian, you can't read it-the font is too small!)

Then we tried for a group photo of just the children.
I will let the pictures speak for themselves....












Finally.....



Then the kids decided to turn the tables and take one of James and me. After just as many tries-which I refuse to share on the world wide web-here's the best we could do....

2nd "Moms" Lunch...

Today we had another "Mom" lunch but we were fortunate to have three "Dads" join us. (Including my James!)

It's always great to get together and share our feelings, concerns and encourage each other. I feel so bad as some of these Moms & Dads have not heard from their children at all. Some cannot even call, as the phone is only accessible a few hours a day and the children are in school at that time. I really shouldn't complain anymore. I've talked to my boy and received a letter and I feel so connected to him. In fact, I'm surprised how defensive I've become. I feel like a Mama Bear when it comes to Lex (just like I am with my original four!).
I got another email from Ukraine today. The translation is really choppy but in regards to what my Stake can do for the children. Here is their reply.
Good day, dear, and James Venda! Today, handed a letter of Mykolayivni Hope. It requested the transfer - she is very pleased that you are interested in the fate of orphans of school and you care about their fate. Given that school funding reduced because of the crisis in the world, your desire to help is appropriate. Your church can collect any items of clothing for
children aged 8 to 18, as well as stationery items (pens, pencils, notebooks, etc.). Prove their respect to you and thank you in advance for your assistance. Anna.
So I'm interrupting this as Anna talked with the director and they are excited that we're going to bring items for the children and basically anything would be welcome. However, I'm suggesting we limit it to new socks, underwear and undershirts to avoid well meaning folks from bringing me their huge bag of DI clothing. (We do have to consider how we're going to get all this over there!)
No news in the mail today. No updated I-171H or letter from James employer. I had it in my head I would have everything notarized, okay-ed and appostilled by Christmas but our test results for my HIV test and Syphilis won't be back until early next week. So I guess our new target date is New Years.
I should have taken a picture at lunch today so I could blog all of us worried parents! Someone remind me next time. I always carry my camera.
I sent out our Christmas Letter and I think I'll blog it as well.
(If you've already received it-just stop reading now!)


Wow! 2008 has been an eventful year at the Richhart home. If you noticed we have an extra child in our family picture this year. The handsome young man, in the blue stripped shirt is our soon to be son.

Here’s a quick synopsis of what else has happened in 2008:

James got a great job working in the natural gas fields in Wyoming. No, we are not moving. He commutes. For two weeks straight he works out of town and then he’s home solid for two weeks. We look at it as partial retirement as he only works six months out of the year. He still loves to ride is bike, hike & box with Austin. He also just got his first patent approved and plans on manufacturing “The Glummy” soon.

For more information you can check out his website at www.glummybag.com

Wendy is still selling real estate and substitute teaching on the side. She and Kambree performed in "Footloose" this past summer and her 3 second commercial for "X" Insurance is currently playing on TV (don't blink or you'll miss her-she's the woman that falls down, an unless you know it's her-you wouldn't notice!) She absolutely loves her new kitchen, is learning the skills of part time-single parenting and is becoming proficient in international adoption requirements and the many hoops involved in getting one little boy over here legally. (She has many illegal ideas but is opting to try legal means first!)

Kambree is on Murray High’s Dance Company this year and taking FOUR college courses at school. She has found the joy and freedom of dating & driving . She is a huge help with shuttling her brother and sisters around. She is very proud to announce that she can text without looking at her phone. (Impressive right?) She is working as a receptionist for Cookie Cutters Hair Salon and has started applying for scholarships and stressing out about where to go to college in fall of 2010!

Austin is towering above all of us but James at five foot ten. Next year he’ll probably surpass James too. He is playing recreational basketball, in 9th grade concert choir and serving in the teachers quorum as 2nd councilor. He is looking forward to having another guy around-especially when Dad’s gone.

Devree is excelling in 7th Grade. (One of her teachers told her-two weeks before the end of term-that if she didn’t do any more work for the rest of the term she’d still get an A!) She is in the school musical “Suessical” and still performing with Guyz and Dollz Performing Group. She is also playing basketball makes a mean chocolate chip cookie, and loves being in Young Women’s.

Олексій десять років, і в даний час живе в притулку в Dniprodzerzhynsk.He любить банани, відбувається купівля, Nerf рінуться пістолети, пульт дистанційного керування автомобілями, і нічого в електронній формі. Він навчився їздити на велосипеді, коли він був тут, і він може харчуватися більш ніж Джеймс може в один присісти. Його мета в цьому році полягає в тому, щоб мати сім'ю і навчитися говорити Англійська!

Translation: Alexey (We think he’ll go by Alex when we adopt him-as Austin is sure he’ll get grief from having a girl sounding name!) is ten years old, and currently lives in an Ukrainian orphanage in Dniprodzerzhynsk. (Don’t worry, we can’t say it either!) He loves bananas, going grocery shopping, Nerf dart guns, remote control cars and anything electronic He learned how to ride a bike when he was here and he can eat more than James can at one sitting. His goal this year is to belong to our family and learn how to speak English!

Rylee is in third grade. She dances with Murray Community and Guyz and Dollz and she is the MOST excited to have another brother. She just doesn’t understand why Santa can’t bring Alexey home for Christmas. “He can just stop at the Ukraine and put him in his sleigh!” She played soccer this year, took swimming lessons, went to drama camp and got baptized!

Ella and Midnight (Dog & Cat) are still under foot and co-existing in their never ending love/hate relationship.

We look forward to 2009 and bringing Alex home. So many miracles have happened to get us to this point, if you want to catch up and follow our journey, please check out our blog @ www.blessedwitharichhart.blogspot.com

We are so grateful for this season and for the love of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. We love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas!
Love,
James, Wendy, Kambree, Austin, Devree, Rylee and Alex

E-mail from half way around the world!

I got an email from the Ukraine today. I wrote a letter a couple of weeks back to the director as I had not heard from Alexey and wanted to make sure he was okay. I have since then spoke to him and got a letter but here is today's email with my crude translation.

Добрий день, шановні Венді та Джеймс! Пишу Вам від імені директора школи-інтернату № 2 міста Дніпродзержинська. Вона передає Вам свої щирі вітання та побажання здоров’я. Сьогодні отримали Ваші листи для Олексія Бердо. Справи у нього йдуть добре, намагається старанно навчатися, не хворіє. Він написав та відправив Вам вже два листи. Сподіваємося, що вони надійдуть вчасно. Ви маєте можливість зателефонувати йому за номером 80569231450 з понеділка по п’ятницю після 14.00 (згідно часових показників України).Не переживайте щодо перекладу тексту ваших листів – усі вони дуже важливі для Олексія та викликають у нього посмішку. У випадку, якщо Вам необхідно буде передати важливі новини Надії Миколаївні або Олексію, то можете писати на цю адресу.
> З побажанням усього найкращого, юрист школи-інтернату № 2 – Анна.

Good day, dear, and James Venda! I am writing to you on behalf of the school, number 2 City Dnipropetrovsk. It sends you his greetings and sincere wishes of health. Today received your letter to Alex Byrd. Things are good at it, trying to carefully study, not ill. He wrote, and you have already sent two letters. We hope that they will in time. You can call the number 80569231450 from Monday to Friday after 14.00 (under time indicators of Ukraine). Do not worry about the translated text of your messages - they are all very important to Alex and cause him smile. In case you will need to convey important news of Hope Nikolaevna or Alex, you can write to that address.
Wishing you all the best, a lawyer schools, number 2 - Anna.

I'm not sure who Anna is but Hope is the director. I (of course) emailed back. Although this is not how my original email was written here is what I sent after translating back into English. It's a little weird but I think they'll understand it.

Hello! Thank you by e-mail me back. Please excuse me when I sent the letter, I have not heard from Alex for a month. Since then, I received a letter and spoke on the phone. It was wonderful to hear his voice and know that he is well and healthy.
Our church group would like to collect items for children in your school. I told them I would like to ask the director, what's most needed. Please let us know what clothes or school supplies we could gather. We hope to bring them with us when we came to Alex.
Thanks for the good care of our Alex. We look forward to opportunities to visit Ukraine and meeting people.
Hope you have a great day. Let me know that my church groups can do to make changes in the lives of these precious children.
Venda

That name Venda? That's my name in Ukraine. James is James but I'm Venda. Hum....sounds like I'm an old (probably stout) woman that does a lot of laundry. Venda the Washer Woman.

OMGoodness!

It's true, I actually have papers ready to be appostilled.
(But I wont' be making any trips to the capital until ALL my papers are ready and I get Elliana's final okay!)
But I have:
#1 Home Study (Ready for Apostille)
#4 No Criminal Records (Ready for Apostille)
#5 Marriage certificate (Need notarized + Appostille)
#7 Letter of Obligation (Need notarized + Appostille)
#8 Petition for Adoption (Need notarized + Appostille)
#9 Power of Attorney (5) (Need notarized+ Appostille)
#10 Proof of residence (Ownership letter signed and notarized by assessors office and certified copy of warranty deed from recorders office, ready for Appostille)** See Below for More Info
#11 Copies of Passports (need notarized)
#12 Post-Placement Agreement (need notarized)
I am still waiting for:
#2 I-171H Form with the correct wording on the front page (need notarizing + Appostille)
#3 Letters From Our Employers (Should be in mail today or tomorrow and notarized. Ready for Appostille Mine in Utah, James in Louisiana!)
#6 Medical Statement Forms (Mine is filled out and I go in for blood work on Thursday. I'm hoping to have James' doctor up to speed by then and we'll go on a romantic date to get our labs done together! Need notarizing + Appostille)
You may wonder why I'm posting such a boring blog. BECAUSE when I was looking at blogs from other families that have adopted I couldn't find anyone that really explained what the paper process was like. (In fact, most families started blogging when the left for the Ukraine-which I am so glad they did-but it left the "How did you get to this point?" a mystery.) Sure they said the paper work was a pain, took forever and what a huge ordeal it was but in my little Wendy mind I thought, "Oh, how hard can it be?" Hello!? It is crazy!! So, if my O.C.D. postings can help just ONE parent maneuver through the hoops of this circus then these boring posts about paper work will not be for naught.
Some sweet, well meaning soul mentioned I should write a manual when this is all said and done. I'm afraid this blog is as close as I'll come to writing a manual. (Besides, it sounds like requirements change all the time and it's not cut and dry for everyone-like not everyone has an out of state employer or is self employed) And I am learning that I certainly don't know everything there is to know about this, many thanks to Lori, Jen & Carlin for not only helping me but for their moral support. It always nice to feel like you have friends in the trenches. :) And of course to Elliana (our adoption coordinator) who is pelted with my continual emails on a daily bases as I sort out this process. Thanks!
**I hope someday to own my home but right now we have a mortgage. So, if that is your situation as well, and you live in Salt Lake County you will need to go to the County Assessors office (2001 South State North Building #2300) and get a "proof of home ownership" letter. They can then walk you over to the notary across the hall and get it notarized. (You may want to call and make sure the notary is in before you go in #468-3050) Then you head down stairs to the recorders office (I think #1600) and get a certified copy of you warranty deed. Cost $7.

Kambree

This is just a picture post about Kambree.
My first born and beautiful daughter.
(She's going to be embarrassed when she sees this.
But she doesn't check my blog very often!)

"Mom, look at who sent me a text!!"

With her some of her guy friends.

With her Grandpa!

Her young woman's leader nick named her "Snaps" because she jumps into pictures with her big grin. I just love her smile. She also makes great faces.....

See? I told you she's beautiful!

Stake Service Project

My Stake Relief Society President approached me today at church. Apparently she wants to do a service project as a Stake and has been impressed to do something for Ukrainian Orphans. (Keep in mind there are probably 20 adopted children from Ukraine in our Stake at this point.) I happen to know our Stake Relief Society president fairly well and she asked me what I thought they could do? I told her when I talk with Alexey on the 24th I'll talk to the director of his orphanage and see what is needed.
There are only two families from our Stake that I'm aware of (the Benson's and ourselves) and we are adopting from the same orphanage. The Stake is hoping we can take over whatever it is that they are in need of . (I'm hoping it's light weight and easy to pack-like socks or scarves and mittens!) I figured, I would have taken an empty suitcase over (with another suitcase inside of it) to pack Lex and now, I can fill it up with much needed items and then bring it home with Lex's stuff. Amazing isn't it? We'll see what Naydia has to say on the 24th.
(Don't think it hasn't escaped me that there is a required "donation" to the orphanage as part of the adoption. I don't know if this will satisfy this requirement but it certainly can't hurt! And more importantly than that, it will be awesome to be part of something so much bigger than myself!)

Six Days-Four Dance Recitals!

Guyz N-Dollz
Monday December 8th

Murray High Dance Company
December 11th & 12th

(I stole in to drop off flowers and caught them huddling up before the performance.)

)

Murray Community Dance
December 13th