"My Russia"

Disclosure:  Never in almost 5 years of writing this blog have I missed a month of posting...nonetheless going 2 months without an update!  Life has been busy as usual and I find myself juggling more things than I probably should.  But tonight, I made a commitment to myself that I would finish this blog post that I started over 6 weeks ago.  After it's done, I'll take a nap before waking Kristina up for school!!!

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In February, a meterorite fell to earth and of all places, it fell in a remote area of Russia -- not far from where Kristina was born.  This is the conversation we had the other day at breakfast:

Kristina:  "Mommy?  Did a fireball really fall on my Russia?"

Me:  "Why, yes, hon -- it did."

Kristina: "But I still have people there?  My people?"

Me:  "Yes, Kristina, you do.  But they are ok.  The fireball fell into the water - like a really big lake."

Kristina:  (thinking pensively before replying)  "Oh, no -- what about my ducks?"



This is a photo of the meteorite over Ekaterinburg

Typical Kristina -- always thinking about others and animals.  When a little boy began screaming on the playground right before school started (because a bug had landed on his arm), Kristina ran over to console him even tho' the little boy's mommy was there for him.  Kristina gets right in there, rubbing his back and telling him he's going to be ok.  Even Kristina's teacher pulled me aside to tell me how caring Kristina is and welcomes all classroom guests with a warm greeting while other kids will shy away and/or not say a word.  Yes -- that's our social girl -- and the main reason she still tends to get her share of yellow days due to talking (although since November, Kristina has made a great turnaround and has only had a few yellow days per month!).

And a few weeks ago, Kristina and I went to a birthday party at a rollerskating rink.  It had been decades since I found myself on skates but boy, we had soooo much fun.  When a little girl fell and was crying, who came to the rescue?  Kristina -- who also ended up on the ground -- but we ended the day without any sprains or broken bones and with lots of memories.



Not a very clear picture...but you get the idea -- Kristina zipped around the rink with her skating "walker"!

Kristina makes friends quite quickly (this little girl was not a part of the birthday party!).

Kristina was such a good sport -- getting up as fast as she fell down.

I ask someone to take a photo of us to prove to the world I was on skates....and she cuts our feet out of the picture!

We are still amazed at how big our little girl is getting.  We can have real conversations with her and usually she retains info better than us!  Last month when we celebrated her birthday, you would have thought she had turned 18 and had a driver's license and the right to vote.  Little Miss Independence to the umpteenth degree.  We still reel her in to reality enforcing who's the boss ~ but she still has a way of melting our hearts.  And daddy?  The softy of all softies...

Daddy walking his little girl to school - something we do as a family every Monday!

Later on that day, when running errands, I looked in the back seat and wondered "who is this big girl?"  She's growing up so fast.   :(

6th Birthday Memories

Daddy was the lucky one who got to take Kristina to school on the morning of her 6th birthday back in January.  Kristina first celebrated at school with her class...in the morning with Mrs. Feldman and then again in the afternoon with Mrs. Bae (Kristina has two Kindergarten teachers who are job-sharing).  I sent mini cupcakes to school ~ and for the first time, I didn't bake them...  Yes, I'll go on record here, that I just can't do it all although I sometimes unrealistically try!

Our 6 year old first thing in the morning eating pancakes ~ her favorite!



Checking out the gifts on the coffee table before going to school and, of course, striking a pose.

 After school, we went to Build-A-Bear because Aunt Denise and Uncle Michael sent Kristina an un-filled bear for Christmas.  It was so much fun!  Afterwards, the 3 of us had mini cupcakes and Kristina opened up gifts.

The moment "Minty" starts to come to life.

Giving Minty a heart.

Giving Minty his first shower and grooming session.  Kristina is still sensitive to loud noises...

And, of course, we had to buy Minty a birthday oufit!

At home, we celebrated with cupcakes.

Each year, on either Kristina's cake or cupcakes, we place a small matryoshka to remember the Russian girl who gave birth to Kristina.

As we sing Happy Birthday, Kristina keeps an eye on the "fire" thinking about the wish she's about to make.  And her wish?  "For all the kids in the world to be happy."  Honestly, that's her wish...she doesn't know how to think it quietly in her head.

The "big" birthday gift:  Barbie's Cruise Ship....just to get in the mood before our Russian Adoption Reunion Cruise in July.  (Which, by the way, we have almost 50 families going!!)

A special gift from Roman.  Thank you, Roman!!  Roman lives in New Hampshire and both kiddos were in the same grupa in Russia.  Roman made this heart for Kristina all by himself.  Kristina and Roman will see each other in July for the first time in 4 1/2 years!

A few days later, the celebration continued at Chuck-E-Cheese.  Since we didn't do a party with friends last year, I couldn't resist Kristina's request to see the big Mouse.  It was a loud, fun day where the kids could run and play and I could sit and talk with friends.  And the bonus?  I didn't have to clean up the house after a party.  Boy, I got off easy this year...

The Birthday Girl arriving at Chuck E Cheese!

The party setting...before the craziness!

Let the party begin...with Pizza!

My biggest surprise of the day...that Kristina actually got into the Ticket Blaster...and stayed!

It's not Ariel nor Rapunzel....it's Chuck himself!!!

Kristina never passes up an opportunity to be up on stage.

Singing Happy Birthday!

Kristina really had a great time playing with Gaby and Valerie.

Kristina and Kira spent alot of time on the RollerCoaster simulator.

Uncle Marc had a blast, too!

Aunt Laura gave Kristina one of the biggest hugs of the day.

Kristina with my Goddaughters, Riley (L) and Tricia (R).

I'm not sure who was having more fun...Jon or Kristina!

Us.  :)

All the girls!  In the back: Gaby, Andrea and Kira.  In the front:  Valerie, Riley, Tricia, Kristina and Jasmine.

Chuck and the Birthday Girl.

Four hours after the party officially ended, Jasmine and Kristina finally headed towards the door!  (But seriously, where else can parents sit and talk while their kids run around and have a great time...knowing there is a security system at the door so no child can leave without their parent?  It was a GREAT night out for us!)

Multi Cultural Day at School

This past Thursday was a day to celebrate the many heritages shared among the students at Kristina's school.  I was so lucky to be able to get the day off from work at the last minute so that I could share in some of the celebrations.

The assignment for all the kids was to wear clothing and bring in artifacts and/or food that is part of their culture.  Unfortunately, when we were in Russia, we were down to our last rubles after spending 5 weeks there that we didn't purchase any type of Russian dresses for Kristina -- something I regret until this day.  (What were we thinking...credit cards are accepted internationally!!!)  But on Wednesday, I made a dash to a local Russian Market (my first time to this one) and found a variety of delicious candy I knew the kids would love.

I put together a tray of building blocks in cyrillic, one of Kristina's matryoshka dolls, her Russian Flag we bought from a street vendor in Ekaterinburg and the candy.  Wha-la!  Russia was represented and Kristina was so proud!

On our way to school wearing her Russian/American t-shirt.

Setting up her display in the school auditorium before the 8 o'clock bell rings.

All set up - the only Russian display we could find!

Heard from the teacher that the candy was a big hit!  Whew...sometimes Russian chocolate can be a hit or miss....

The look I got as I was dropping her off at her classroom.  Sigh.

"One more, mommy!!!"  So I complied...and then sent her to the carpet so she doesn't get a yellow card!

In a class, I can always find Kristina with no problem.

During the parade, I get the wave!  I'm so glad she's still at the age where she loves to see me show up in front of all her friends.  :)

Must get the "high-5's" when parading around all the other classmates.
 

The look I get when maybe I take one too many pictures....

Of approximately 90 Kindergarteners, 19 dressed with something related to their culture.

Kristina strikes a pose for the school camera.  Oye.

Kristina with her afternoon teacher, Mrs. Bae.

Not a bad photo considering it was taken by a 6 year old!  These are the only "matching" shirts we have coupled with our matching Russian neckaces.
 

This necklace has a map of where Kristina was born!  Gotta love etsy.com!!!

And since I've titled this post "My Russia", I'll add one more tidbit of information about our little angel.  She loves to watch videos.  I think we've seen every Princess and Barbie movie made available to the public.  However, for the last few weeks, two other videos have become the daily ritual:

And yes....both are set in Russia!

In closing for this evening...my two cents on the Russian Ban.

I've been asked by many people what's my take on the Russian Ban that took affect January 1st.  I really don't want to go into it much here as this blog is about Kristina ~ but ~ she is from Russia and forever, we will have a tie to Russia no matter what. 

I am heartbroken.  We are heartbroken.  Unless our winning lotto ticket came in, we didn't have plans to adopt again -- whether it was from Russia, the USA or anywhere else.  But for government officials to literally banish children to a life in an orphanage and then to the streets without a plan already in place is criminal, in my opinion.

We are forever grateful to the Russian people who helped us during our 5-week stay, took care of Kristina for the first several years of her life, and especially those who facilitated the adoption process abroad.  These are the people of Russia who do not agree with the few who have all the power.

We hold the children in our prayers every night - especially Kristina's friend, Vasily.  I literally began bawling a few months ago when I looked on the Russian Database of Children without Parental Care.  I could no longer find Vasily --- had he been adopted?  My heart leapt....and then I was crushed.  He was there ~ but his picture had been updated and he was much older looking.  He is beautiful.  He's now 7.   

God Bless you, Vasily, and all the children in, as Kristina calls it, "My Russia."