Last January, 2009, JD and I attended the annual "Russian Christmas Dinner" with the group at a local Russian/Ukranian restaurant. Yep, we were empty handed unlike the other parents who had kids joyfully running around and playing. We enjoyed talking to the parents about their adventures of travelling to Russia, the Ukraine or Kazakhstan. We remember the food tasting delicious, too.
Last Sunday, January 24th, it was our first opportunity to attend one of the group's gatherings with Kristina. We celebrated the Russian Christmas (a tad late due to the group's schedule conflicts) with dinner at the same restaurant as last year, "Odessa Mama."
At first, Kristina clung to my leg as everyone was saying "hi" ~ but this lasted only 10 minutes. When she saw the other kids (ages 3-8, or so) running around, she jumped in and felt at home. It really was a wonderful day with lots of great food, great stories/adventures, and a little girl who didn't understand the heritage ties she has with the others....but someday she will.
Here are a few pictures of our belated Russian Christmas Celebration...
Kristina really enjoyed the Borscht Soup! Looks like I have to start adding it to my Betty Crocker repitoire!
Kristina quickly became friends with Jordan and Emily.
Jordan and Emily watch Kristina open up the gift she picked as part of the kids' book exchange.
Just a handful of the kids ~ from Russia and Kazakhstan (Lucca, Daniel, Kristina, Dustin, and Kaitlyn).
Kristina and her buddy, Daniel -- who could easily pass for brother and sister with their white blonde hair!
Watch out for Kristina on the next season of "Dancing with the Stars!"
8 comments:
What a cutie! She has gotten so big. The party looks like it was a lot of fun. I love when we can get Colby together with his Russian buddies. What a great opportunity.
Melissa
Oh my goodness! That little Daniel is totally Kristina's brother. They look exactly alike. :) How wonderful that you guys got to go to this. I wish we had stuff like that around here. SO cool! :)
Hey, great to read your story about this...we did exactly the same thing with our local FRUA chapter. Went to the annual Grandfather Frost celebration last year with our 15 Y/O Bio son and returned this year with our to adopted kids. Great Fun!
Wow that sounds like lots of fun. mattie and I attend Chinese New Year parties and Chinese play group so it is great for him to get together with kids that were in our travel group. I hope I can find a Russian group like that for Jake.
Kristina is cuttier then ever. I wish we lived closer so we could have a play date.
Beth and Mattie
what fun!! it is SO GREAT that people do this! we look forward to doing same! our FRUA Father Frost was smack thru LM's nap time this year, but next year we are going!! Kristina continues to amaze me with how cute she is, and she and Daniel really do look so much alike!! thanks for sharing your day!
Hi Laura,
Love your post and thanks for sharing your cute pictures. I did send one to Natasha at AO...she thinks Daniel and Kristina are darling together too. Emily and Jordan loved that Kristina wanted to sit with them and that she wanted to play with them! I'm so glad we could spend that special day together....it was as nice as we imagined it would be with Kristina HOME to enjoy it too!!!! xoxo Love, Donna
Hi Laura;
I just read your post on my blog (BTW thanks for stopping by)and wanted to thank you for your bday wishes.
The picture from kemerovo I got from a website that was posted in the kemerovo adoption yahoo group.
Not sure if it is available for Ekat, but this is the link just in case: http://camera.kemernet.ru/cgi-bin/view/view.pl?1-25-1-8
Kristina is growing so much and looks so beautiful. Amazing what love can do, right?
God bless!
I thought I recognized your daughter's face on Vicki's FB :o) Kaitlyn was in my son's preschool class for over 2 yrs. Hope to join your get-togethers one day with my little russian miss!
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