More Pics!

Does it get any cuter than this?

Yep!

Jadon loved Friendly's!

Especially the ice cream.=)

The boys had a playdate this week and had fun on the swing set and..

...the trampoline!

We started swim lessons this week. Roman loves the pool!

Jadon, not so much.;)

Picture Time!

Wow, now I understand why some Moms stop blogging after they bring their child(ren) home. There's no time!=) I promise I will try to post as often as possible though.

The boy's first Easter!

We are still amazed by airplanes.=)

The Easter egg hunt was fun! Roman found eggs for Jadon too.=)

Roman loved dying eggs with Totya and Dodya (Aunt Beth and Uncle Dave).

Update

Okay so we've been home for 11 days and here's an update on how we are doing.
Jadon continues to hate bed/naptime and cries/screams for a while before he falls asleep. We just got him a cool crib night light/music player for his crib today and he loves it but is currently crying because Chris left the room. They continue to sleep through the night though so that's fabulous! Naptime is another story.
The boys LOVE being outside so we spend a lot of time playing in the back yard on the swingset and going for walks around the 'hood. They also love going for rides in the car. It doesn't matter where we go, they love it.
We made our first trip to the mall yesterday. They were awesome. They just stared in wonder at everything. Roman wanted to sit on the Easter Bunny's lap but the line was too long so we went to Build-A-Bear and he made a bunny. We ate at Chick-fil-A, they loved it!
Today we went to Toys-R-Us, can you say sensory overload? Wow, the kids went crazy. They wanted to hold and play with everything. Needless to say, we did some damage.=) We had dinner out for the first time with Granny and Grampy at Friday's. Our kids are such good eaters. Jadon would eat until he threw up if I let him. The kid loves to eat! Roman is our junk food junkie but he likes fruit and veggies too.
Bathtime is always fun for the kids. Jadon is crazy! He deliberately puts his head under the water and flails around. We are starting swim lessons next week, I think he is going to be a fast learner.=)
Roman's personality/qualities: Passive, observant, smart, tester, neat, loving, submissive.
Jadon's personality/qualities: Aggressive, observant, smart, strong-willed, intense, funny, musical.
After church on Sunday we are going to Granny & Grampy's house for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. I'm excited for the kids, I know they are going to have a blast!
We are all adjusting pretty well. Thank you all for your prayers, please don't quit!=)

Birthday Presents!

Tuesday was my birthday. I got the best gifts in the whole world!

We are sleeping!

Another fabulous night of uninterrupted sleep! Our boys slept until 8am this morning! Woo hoo! Naps are still a challenge. Jadon is currently putting up quite a fuss in his crib right now. The boy hates naptime. ;) As long as they keep sleeping through the night, Mommy & Daddy are happy. =)

Hallelujah!

The boys slept through the night until 7:30! When we woke up, I went in to get them and they were awake and not crying but happily sitting in their beds!=) It's a Christmas miracle in March!! Even nap today for Jadon went much better. Thank you all for your prayers, they've been answered!=)
Now for some pictures...


Tickle Time!


Playtime at the Park




Brothers!


We Love Books!


Our first day at the beach! They loved it!!


Beach Boys!



Choo Choo!


Koo Koo! (Russian version of peek-a-boo)

Pictures!!

Here are a few pics during our last few days in Russia. Still haven't downloaded any new ones onto the computer yet. Give me some time, I've got a screaming toddler!=)


Our family photo by the river in Kras.


In front of St. Basil's in Moscow.




Do I look like my avatar?


Granny and Grampy with their grandsons at the airport.

We're Home!

Yes, we got home late Monday night and this is the first time I've had to post (the kids are napping, well one is and the other is screaming). Our welcome at the airport was amazing! Many families and friends from our church as well as our family was there to greet us as we got off the plane. It was so good to see everyone, we were so blessed!
It's good to be home. The kids love their new house and their sabaka (dog), Grommit. They do not like to go to bed though. We are seriously sleep deprived! I never thought our child could scream his head off for 5 hours straight but indeed he can. No matter how many times we go into his room to comfort him, the second we leave he turns into Chucky ( the evil doll from the movie)! I hope and pray he gets through whatever he's going through soon because we all need some sleep! Suggestions are welcome.=)
I hope to post pictures and video soon. Please keep us in your prayers as the boys transition into their new home and family.

Paca Paca Russia!

We leave tomorrow morning for the good ol' U S of A! I LOVE my country and we cannot wait to get back!!
Please pray for safe and smooth travels tomorrow. Pray that the kiddos get some sleep on our long flight home and that we make our connecting flight, we have a 2 hour laps between flights but we have to go through customs and that could take some time.
Thank you all for your love, prayers and support. We're on our way home!!

Trip 2 Video

Another video for our family and friends. This video is from our first 2 and half weeks in Russia. Enjoy.



Watch here

Gotcha' Day video

For our friends and family. Enjoy!



Watch here

Big News!

We're coming home early! I hope that doesn't mess up the plans of our friends and family that are going to meet us at the airport but you all know how much we want to come home. We'd love for you all to still come if you can.
We went to the Embassy today to get the boys' visas and paperwork but we did not have time to have them registered at the Consulate since Monday is a holiday here. We won't have the paperwork ready in time before we leave so we will send in the paperwork once we get home.
Anyway, the earliest we can leave here with available flights is Monday morning so that's when we're leaving. We will arrive at the same time we were going to arrive on Tuesday. We are very happy to be able to come home early!!!

We made it to Moscow.

Thanks for your prayers for safe travels. Jadon did however scream his head off for most of the flight. I got about a 15 minute break though (see photo). It was a long, tiresome day for all of us. We ended up going to bed at 7pm but we woke up at 4am. I hate the time changes, it messes us all up!
It's nap time so that's why I have a moment to myself and can post. We had a delicious lunch of what looked like meat loaf patties, potatoes and apple blintzes. The blintzes (crepes) were yummy! The kids were so tired and they've fallen asleep almost immediately.
I can't believe we have to spend 5 more days here! We just want to get home!! Tomorrow is our embassy trip where I believe we will get visas for the boys and have them registered and such. At least we'll get out for a while. I think we'll try to go to Red Square with the boys tomorrow if we can get a ride. I'd love to have pictures of the boys in front of St. Basil's.
It is so incredibly expensive to stay here. Our credit card is just about maxed out on hotel charges alone! We'll be lucky to leave here with 5 bucks in our pocket!
Anyway, the kids are doing remarkably well for all of the changes they are going through. They are amazing! (Note to Lyette R. and Cheryl: Need help and advice for our strong-willed child. Can we jump in on some classes when we get back? ;) )
Thank you for all of your encouraging comments, they really bless us! Keep those prayers coming!!

We're outta here!!!

I know it's been a while since I've posted last but I've got my hands full with two crazy little boys! Aren't they cute? I'm at the business center right now so I can't post more pictures but once we get to Moscow (tomorrow) it'll be a lot easier for me to keep you all updated, I think.=)
Emotions are running wild for me. I don't think I can even articulate them at this point except to say how overwhelmed I am. Instant motherhood is way harder than I could have ever imagined but how can one really prepare for it? I'd appreciate your prayers for patience and understanding, wisdom and endurance. I know when we get home with our boys, it'll be easier. Parenting in a small hotel room is no easy task for anyone, right?
Thank you all for your prayers, we feel them and see them answered in amazing ways. We can't wait to share with all of you how many of them have been answered. We have been blessed beyond measure.
We leave Kras in the early morning tomorrow for Moscow where we will stay for 6 more nights completing paperwork and getting passports and visas for the boys. Please pray for this flight with our boys. I'm a little worried about how they will react to flying. Jadon I'm sure will scream his head off for most of the flight. Please pray me wrong!!!=)
We love you all and we cannot wait to get home!

Some pic's for you all.....