2/24/2009

Happy Mardi Gras !
I grew up in New Orleans and lived in Mobile, AL for a long time - two locations that really celebrate Mardi Gras.
Sasha found his daughters' sled and took it to the orphanage for E. & D. D. had a great time with Papa pulling the sled all over the orphanage grounds. I forgot to mention that on Monday, the caregivers said we could come upstairs and see the children's living quarters. Wow! It was very nice. E.'s group has a large room that is kind of like a huge den. There is a large entertainment wall unit with bookcases on each side and a big t.v. in the middle. There are fun, huge stuffed animals in lots of places. There is cute children's furniture (bookcases, storage blocks, cabinets and toy chests). There are lots of tiny chairs and a round table for sitting down while doing craft projects or writing/coloring. E. showed me their "washroom" with 4 little sinks, 4 low toilets and short lockers with toothbrushes on the top shelf, soap and towel hanging up beneath. Very neat and tidy. Their bedroom is dormitory style with 10 or 12 little beds, all neatly made up and lots of cabinets/storage closets/bookshelves along the wall. The dressing area for outside play also has little short lockers, with each child's name, hats/gloves on the top shelf, a few sweaters and a few pairs of socks, pants for cold weather play and then coats & mufflers hanging on the open door of the locker. Very organized. Boots are lined up along the wall close to the radiator pipes so they are warm and also so they dry out. Dressing appropriately for cold weather is very important - the children go out for 30 - 45 min. at least twice a day even if it's snowing. The playground has lots of cute equipment and 4 little "house-rooms" with open air windows so the children can play outside - but still be sheltered from the weather. Today when we arrived, E. took me upstairs again to show me her bedroom area "all dressed up" All the beds were
made up with pink satin comforter covers and pink satin pillow shams to match...the caregivers know by now, that I take photos of EVERYTHING and they had dressed up the bedroom area just for our photos, although Monday's impromtu visit looked just as nice to me! More snow play and pulling D. around on the sled a.m. and p.m. just about the same, except the children cling to us more , fuss a little bit, pout a little, and don't want to go back to their group.

2/23/2009 MONDAY

After breakfast, Chris & Sasha (our host) took Y back to school. There were hugs & kisses and some tears. While they were gone, I walked up to the neighborhood market and bought a special cake for Sasha...in Ukraine it was "Man's Day" a holiday/celebration for all the men in Ukraine.They are supposed to receive little appreciation tokens from family & friends in remembrance of all the men that have been in military service (I think). Anyway, after lunch Chris & I had a good visit with E.& D. Still lots of snow!

2/22/2009 SUNDAY

We got up early and dressed for church. Y. looked nice in the new clothes we had bought him. After church, and lunch, Y asked when we were going to see E. & D. We had another good visit...
and more snowball fights, etc. We have to keep reminding Y that he cannot give his sister & brother candy and chocolate. (he loves to give them things) It really upsets their stomach since they don't usually have such things at the orphanage. Y likes his new hand-held computer game, and loves the big Bose earphones. He climbed in bed between us with his game and earphones and finally fell asleep.

2/21/2009 SATURDAY

As soon as we got up Saturday, Y asked when we could go see his brother & sister. We had a good visit and the children played well together. Lots of snow ! In the afternoon, we (Y , Mama & Papa) walked up to the neighborhood store and just walked around to be together. Later that afternoon, we had another visit w/ E. & D. Lots of snow, snowball fights and falling in the snow. etc. Fun but COLD! Another great dinner and off to bed.