4th of July

This past Friday, we went to the local fireworks display and I wasn't sure how the three youngest would react - terrified or excited. They loved it! The noise did not bother them at all.

The kids are doing great and settling in to the routine(?). We still have our moments of drama, frustration and some residual institutional behavior. Nothing we did not expect and nothing bad. The important thing is everyone is healthy and everyone appears to be happy! They seem to have gotten used to Papa being gone for work one night per week. This past Wednesday, I made certain to explain to them that I would not be home tonight that I had to work (all in Russian naturally) - and they said they understood. Dawn told me that come bed time, the kids wanted to know when I was going to read to them. She explained that I was working away from home and would return the next afternoon. She said they did not get upset, just appeared a little disappointed. I read Winnie the Pooh stories to the little ones and books from the Narnia collection to Sarah and Polina. The three older kid know what I do for work, but the three younger kids don't quite understand it yet. They know that a couple of days a week, I am working from home on the computer and a couple of days I am not home.

Below is an update by child:

• Jeremy: Took his college entrance exams the weekend after we returned from Russia and did far better than I did some 28 years ago! He is going to retake the exam later in the year to see if he can bump his score up a point or two. He has gotten used to having little brother and sisters coming into his room uninvited. He has taken time with the the two youngest and I am very proud of him.
  
• Christina: Still busy with her horses, writing, drawing and photography. The photo at the top of the blog is one she took this past Friday. She is amazing with her graphics capability. She has taken the three younger children with her to the pasture and let them ride Kando. This week she took Kando jumping in the pasture.
• Sarah: Sarah has the Alabama State 4-H competition this week she is participating in (photography, art and modeling). She is growing out her hair so it can be cut and used for wigs for kids with cancer. I am very proud of her! She and Polina have become pretty close sisters and play together most of the time.
• Polina: She is learning a lot of English and will speak it around us, but not in public. In fact, non of the kids will speak English in public. Like all my children, she is a sweetheart. She is learning about living in a family and having a mom and dad. She will step in at times and tell the little ones something if she sees Dawn and I struggling with the Russian. I would love to see her gain 5 pounds! She eats pretty good, she is just a little picky about what she will eat.
• Dima: He is an eating machine! If it resembles food, he will eat it! He is all muscle with not a lick of fat and is incredibly strong for his age. He will follow me wherever I go like a puppy dog. He is a very good boy, but can be mishevious. We are learning things about his personality that give little hints to his past. The grin he has on his face when he accomplishes something or completes a difficult task/assignment is amazing!
• Nastya: Miss Priss is almost as mischeveous as her brother. She is strong willed like her momma and pappa. She loves to be held and loves her babby dolls. She and Dima play together a lot and are typical brother and sister. One will do something and the other will get mad - and haul off and punch the other one.

Note to other families: You can't bring a 'sick' child into the US. I promise they don't have kooties...