A nice busy day (for a change)

We met with Silas today. He was very uncertain of us in the beginning, but became more comfortable as the hour went on. He liked rolling a big ball back and forth and especially enjoyed it when I would roll the big ball to him and it would bounce off his stomach. He liked the Baby Einstein DVD and would tolerate us holding him for short amounts of time. I am hopeful for things to improve with each visit.

After our visit, Sveta dropped us off at Elder and Sister Foutz's apartment. Fadel (a guy from Africa who speaks French/Russian/English - in that order) and his girlfriend, Ming (a girl from China who speaks Mandarin/Russian and zero English) came over for lunch, too. Fadel joined the church last October and is eager to share the gospel with Ming. When he heard that Tyler speaks Mandarin (he served a mission in Taiwan) he wanted for us to all get together. The Foutz's made a homemade chicken and vegetable soup, homemade bread, and homemade snickerdoodles. Afterwards we just chatted for a while and got to know Fadel and Ming. It was wonderful and we had a good time. Ming said she is coming to church on Sunday with Fadel and was thrilled that we could get together again then. :) 

After they left, we spent time with the Foutz's and were able to skype with Anna on the iPad. Andre drove us home and I baked a cheese souffle. It was a bit tricky to do as the oven has no gauge other than a knob that you can turn for a temperature - I just guessed where it should be and then adjusted it. There is another knob that you turn to turn on the oven light, and then three other settings - maybe broil is one of them? Not sure because it doesn't specify anywhere! Augh! I picked one that I hoped was right and noticed that when the oven is on that the light is also on - which is unlike our oven back in the US. Thankfully - the cheese souffle turned out wonderfully! It was nice to have something warm and comforting when it is -20 outside. We ate that plus some Choffy for dinner - Yum!

This afternoon I was outside our apartment building and an older Russian woman approached me and starting speaking in Russian. I replied (in Russian) that I do not speak Russian. She said "All right," (in English) and then "I love you!" (also in English). It was pretty funny and she was happy to learn that she said them both "ochen khorosho!" (very well)

Elder and Sister Foutz, Fadel, Ming, and me. The cheese souffle. Tyler skyping with Anna on the iPad.

Tonight we went to GAME NIGHT at the church building. Tyler & I played ping pong, foozball, and a game called Evolution that I never seemed to get the hang of...something where you pat your legs twice and then clap twice and then make a sign of a cat/worm/animal, etc, of someone else and then you  move around the room if you mess up - which I did every time it was my turn. I got to see Daria - whom I met during our trip here last year, and make new friends at GAME NIGHT. Everyone here in the church is so welcoming - I love it. In fact, we are going to Natasha's house for dinner on Sunday. She just had her second baby boy 2 weeks ago and we are going to bring dinner to her house and spend time with her little family. I am looking forward to it. Tyler is amused by how all the power outlets show the wattage on them - when they are all the same wattage here in Russia. 

Macaroni and Cheese

Yesterday was really fun. Tyler, Sarah, & Keith went with Sveta to a mall and found a water hose for Keith. You see, we brought his water hose with us and somehow left it on the plane when we arrived in Moscow. Bummer. And of course he’s been an emotional wreck without it. I am certain that no one has asked an adoption facilitator to help the family buy a YELLOW water hose for their child. At the mall, you could just buy the amount of the hose that you needed, which was nice so then we didn’t have to buy a whole water hose. PLUS they had several colors. Keith’s favorite color is yellow, so Tyler bought him the yellow hose. And Keith was happy…until he became greedy…and started asking for an orange one and a red one and a blue one…silly boy. We just bought the yellow one.

Tyler brought me home a box of kitkats. I’m heaven with these things. Yum. In Ukraine, they only had coca cola and Pepsi, no dr pepper. So I wasn’t expecting to find it here…until I did find 2 lonely cans of dr pepper at the grocery store. I knew that they were lonely so I purchased them. Sveta confided in me that dr pepper is her favorite soda, so I gave her one of them. The dr pepper is better here than in the states. You see, they use REAL sugar in the soda. Oh yeah. It’s super good. I hope to find more lonely cans of it very soon.

Keith has been asking for macaroni & cheese since we got here. Yesterday, I made him some. I cooked some curly noodles and then made a homemade white sauce with butter, flour, salt, & cream. I was having a hard time whisking it with only a spoon, until I discovered the potato masher which worked really well. I grated some Russian cheese and some cheddar cheese. The macaroni & cheese was delectable.

I had just finished making it when Sarah, Keith, & Tyler came home. I asked where Sveta was – because I was pretty sure she wanted to try the pasta – and they said she had just left. I called her on her cell phone and she came back. She ended up staying the whole day with us, which was fun. She LOVED the macaroni & cheese. After we ate, we played QUIRKLE together, then we played spades. It was so fun to play games and we got to know Sveta better. She’s 28, single, takes care of her mom and grandmother. Her dad left when she was young. She has two degrees. She likes to laugh. She has wanted to attend an opera, except none of her friends would go with her. Sarah & I are taking her to a Russian opera tonight. I am really looking forward to it!

For dinner, we decided to try out a cafeteria in the mall. We got there around 6:30pm, so there weren’t as many choices, but we made due. Anna got the asian chicken and rice and I spent the meal wishing I had chosen what she got. In Ukraine they boil peeled potatoes and put salt, dill, and butter on them. They are delicious! So, when I saw similar looking potatoes at the cafeteria, I got one plate for Keith and one for me. Yeah. They weren’t the same. It was some bitter type of parsley and way too salty. Bleah. The pork chops I bought were really thin and dry and the edges were tough. Perhaps I should stick with cooking at home? Ha ha. Everyone else (except for Anna & I) found foods that they loved. Anna ate her chicken and rice and disliked everything else she tried. She so picky. I wonder where she gets it from…?

We came home and the kids watched Spongebob Squarepants while we finished up our game of spades. Then the kids went to bed, Sveta went home, and Tyler, Sarah, & I watched HOUSE. Love that show. Today will be a fun day, as I am making a big Italian meal and have invited the LDS missionaries over to eat with us. I invited Sveta, and she actually wants to watch and learn from me while I make the meal, so she’s coming over early to do so. Then later tonight, Sarah, Sveta, & I are going to the Russian opera! Looking forward to it. Everything is still going so well. No complaints. J

We spoke with Sveta to get a better idea of the timeline after the 1^st trip to Russia. Basically, after we finish up our agenda during our first trip, we’ll go back and begin compiling documents for the dossier. Once we send it to Sveta, she will translate it and give it to the judge, who will give her a court date. The judge takes 90 days of vacation per year: in May and August. There’s a slight chance that we can get a court date in July. If not, it will be September. I was really hoping to get back in June, but that doesn’t seem possible with all the hoops that will need to be jumped through. I know that once I meet my children, I won’t want to wait so long, but what can I do? We will hurry to get our dossier put together asap. Perhaps we can come in July. That’s the goal for now. As you know, I am highly optimistic! I tried to post some pictures, but they're not uploading. Will try again tomorrow.