Back in the U.S.A.

We made it back! We actually got back on Wednesday the 4th at around 11:50pm, so it was almost Thursday. Travelling was very long, but went well and we didn't have any problems.

Masha seems to be fitting right in with the family. She is very funny, loving, and active!

I'll write more and post some at home photos within the next few days.

Brent

Captain's Log, Star Date 2008.06.04

We are packing up and getting ready to head to AMERICA!!!!

I am posting our last batch of photos. I was going to post a video of Masha playing with a crab, but the video was too large to post.

We are almost giddy with excitement - just waiting is hard, and we know that we have about 35 hours of traveling ahead of us, but at least we won't be stuck in a hotel any more!

We love you and can't wait to see you all!!!!!

Brent

1 Day Left!

Only 1 day left! Instead of doing one of the many exciting things that we could do, we are counting down the time left until we leave. Ok, I was kidding about the exciting things to do around here…

We got our high-speed back, so I am posting a few more photos. Many families are leaving this week, so it will be getting pretty quiet around here. A new family came in yesterday for their first trip, so they will only be here until Saturday anyway – and they will be extremely busy the whole week.

We have been wrestling and goofing-off at the hotel. Masha is doing great.

Please pray that Masha handles the flights well. She has never flown before, so we just pray that she doesn’t get motion sick.

Yesterday I went to the bank in Ussyrysk to close Masha’s pension account. That went very good, and we are going to open an account for her back home to save for college.

All we can really think about right now is getting home, so I don’t know what else to write about. So, we’ll see you all SOON!

Love ya!

Brent

Interesting Day

So today was an interesting day.

I tried to connect to the internet and it seems that our 10 hour card had stayed connected, even though I turned the computer off. They can’t check things out until tomorrow, so we are stuck with dial-up until we can straighten things out.

It was finally sunny, so we went out for a walk. It was still pretty chilly, about 60. The kids at the beach were bundled up like it was winter. Then, there were adults – or seniors, that were playing volleyball in their Russian speed-o’s. It was not pretty, but was quite interesting to see.

Then, we found out why one of the little babies here had a skin rash. The orphanage doctor kept saying that he was allergic to this, that, and about everything else. However, he actually had scabies. So, now we need to keep an eye on each other to make sure that we didn’t get them as well.

Then, we went to the playground at the hotel. Again, the kids were bundled up like winter, and there was a girl playing tennis in a bikini.

We are still bored out of our skulls. But surviving and counting down they days.

Love you all!

Brent

Wow, another rainy day here in Vladivostok. One of the families that was here for their first visit left yesterday, and another who was on their first visit left today. So, we are down 2 American families.

I walked with Masha and a couple other dads down to the store today – even though it was raining, just so that we could get out of the motel for a little while.

Yesterday, we walked down to the sea again and walked a bit and picked up some seashells. It is nice down there, just not too exciting.

Oh, we also went downtown (me and Bart (from Arkansas)) to get Chinese food. When we got to the restaurant, we found out that the Chinese food here is nothing like at home, and everything on the menu seemed to have eyes! So, we went to the local "burger" place and picked some up. Ugh.

We all wrestled a bit this morning, and that was fun – and killed about 20 minutes.

Monday I have to go back to the town where the orphanage is to take care of some banking stuff. We have to get the “pension” money that was set up for Masha out of the account before we leave. Otherwise we would have to come back here to get the money. It is not a ton, but will be nice to open an account or something for Masha to save for college.

All of us Americans are still meeting in the evening to talk and kill time. I have been putting a movie on for the kids each evening – it keeps them busy, and quiet.

Anyway, I wanted to get a few more photos up on the blog – but didn’t have anything exciting to write about.

We look forward to your comments! They don’t appear right away, I have to “approve” them first, so be patient.

Talk to you all later! Love you!

Brent

Hanging out...

Priviet everyone! (That means hello).

Yesterday we got to go to the orphanage and have a “party” with the kids from Masha’s group. It wasn’t much of a party, we brought 2 cakes and a bunch of grapes and strawberries for the kids. All of the kids were really quiet, there were about 14 of them. But they enjoyed the cake and fruit. Then, we went off to a puppet show that had come to the orphanage to put on a show for the kids. It was fun for the kids, I even understood 3 or 4 words during the hour-long show! I did a quick head-count of the kids too, there were 55 kids who need a mama and papa waiting at the orphanage.

All of the ladies were very nice and gave Masha a hug when it was time to go. Her care-giver gave her some money that was apparently given to the orphanage by a “sponsor” who rewards the kids for good grades. It was nice because in reality, her care-giver could have just pocketed the money and we would have never known. It was about $40US. As we were leaving, Masha said good bye to the director and her secretary, they all shed a few tears.

Once we got back, we just hung out and twiddled our thumbs, and goofed off so that we could pass the time. Oh, and I so kicked Masha’s butt in another pillow fight! I am the champion of the world! (well, room).

Anyway, today (Friday) we don’t have anything to do, so even though the weather is not that great, we are going to walk down to the sea and just bum around for a bit.

Love you all!

Brent & Chris – and Masha!

For Auntie Sam!

This picture is for Auntie Sam!

Brent has done a good job keeping up with the blog so far but I thought I would take a turn! We had a raining day and we spent most of it relaxing, watching T.V., napping, and playing games.

We did have our interview at the Consulate Office today. Our paper work is on it’s way to Moscow.

Brent also got Masha’s plane ticket changed. We could not do that here but we could change the date on Brent’s and mine. We had to email our travel agent to change Masha’s. We will arrive home on June 4^th! A full 10 days early!

Of course at this point we are bored and going crazy! There are now 7 other American couples here and we meet up stairs in a room called “The While Rabbit” and call it “7:00 Sanity check”. Trust me we all need it! Five of us have our kids and the other 3 couples are here for their first visit!

We love talking to the kids each day and seeing them with the computer camera’s Brent has set up. I was worried she would run!

It makes me fell good to know Grandma is still there! I know Logan is bored now that he is out of school and Alex has a few days left! Of course Rae is always busy!

Thank you for all your prayers and please keep them coming!