Our week

Hard to believe it’s been a week already since I posted anything here. We do not have access to the internet (or a working phone) at the apartment where we are now staying. But whenever we are at David’s parents’ place, we can get on-line. It’s just that when we are there, I feel like I should be socializing (and keeping an eye on the kids!) instead of on the computer. Yet, I’ll do my best to keep our blog updated. Here are just some tid-bits from our past week...

Last Monday we were able to get a little Christmas tree, of which the girls are thoroughly enjoying. It is quite simple really, with just a few lights and the salt dough ornaments that we made, but the girls think it’s great. I’m thankful for the durability of the ornaments, as the girls enjoy taking them off and rearranging them on the tree throughout the day. :D

We had a special time Tuesday evening with a group of friends that regularly meet specifically to think about us. It was such an encouraging time for us.

Thursday morning I had another prenatal (the doctor wanted to see me again before she has several weeks off for the holidays). The baby and I are both doing well, for which we are very grateful.

Friday evening we had a nice time with a young couple that we are glad we could get to know better. The young lady is German and her husband is American and they are expecting their first baby in January. So, as you can imagine, we had lots to talk about!

Yesterday afternoon, all four (or rather five) of us went to a nearby city in order to do some last minute Christmas shopping and to look at the Christmas lights. We had a really enjoyable time together as a family, despite the fact that that we were bumping into people everywhere! I guess everyone had the same idea that we did! :D

All day yesterday, our thoughts kept returning to Ulan-Ude, where two very special friends of ours were getting married! We so badly had hoped that we could attend their wedding. (They actually had asked David if he would marry them, but since our whole visa/baby situation was still ‘up in the air’ at that point, he sadly rejected the invitation.) Many congratulations to you both, Sergei & Tanya! We love you!!!

Speaking of congratulations, my little brother proposed to his sweetheart this past week, and she accepted! We are so excited for them both! Congratulations Jeff & Carrie! :D

The girls seem to have pretty much adjusted to their home here. Although, we think Nina may still be confused at times. She insists on calling David’s youngest brother, “Hudson”, which is the name of one of our co-workers’ kids! :D (Yes Emma, Josiah, and Hudson, the girls talk about you all the time, think about you before bed time, and really miss you guys!)

We are still having some problems with Aria and her new-found freedom of being able to open doors. The other day while I was at the doctor’s, David and the girls were at Oma and Opa’s for a little while. When it was time to go, David got the girls all dressed to go outside, and then turned his back on them for just a minute to talk to his dad and brother in the next room. Before he realized it, the front door was opened, and BOTH girls were gone! He found them both running down the street into the center of the city! Terrible. Even though Aria gets disciplined for this, it seems like it hasn’t ‘sunk in’ quite yet. We definitely can not keep our eyes off of her for a minute… rather, second!

And here is just a photo of papa and his girls reading their bedtime story. :D (Glenn & Jean, thanks for the Christmas bears... the girls are really enjoying them!)