Greetings from Pam

Hi All,
First of all, thank you Diana Bruns and Lisa Bowser for checking in to the school situation for Riley. I really appreciate it and it's one less thing that I will be worrying about! Sounds like it shouldn't be a problem to get him in to a school that will help him learn English. Diana, I will call the contact you gave me as soon as we get home. I know Jake is already five but I think it will be best if he goes to pre-school and waits for kindergarten until next year. Riley is going in to second grade here and I suppose should be in third grade since he is nine. But he is small and I think he will be fine in second grade.

We started out the week with so much energy when we visited the boys twice a day, but we are wearing out quickly! Especially since we both have colds and stuffy noses and not feeling up to par right now. So we have gone from kicking balls and tag to sitting and coloring. I guess we had better get used to less sleep and trying to keep up with two bundles of energy!

On the plus side, there is a huge market here called "Target" (Not like our Target's in the US) but I was able to find plastic plates, cups, and silverware at the market. So being the wasteful Americans that we are, I bought a bunch of them so I don't have to boil water and try to do dishes all the time. And the store has a "deli" counter that you can buy salads, side dishes, and meats that are already cooked. That has made meal time immensely easier for me. We bought a hot pot to boil water but the apartment is old time Russian wiring and we blow the fuse everytime I try to use it! I am washing our clothes in the bath tub. I guess that beats pounding them with rocks down by the river!

I am going crazy with only Ray to talk to. My friends, you know how I like to talk! I am understanding more of what the boys are saying every day. But mostly I only have Ray to talk to and half the time he answers in Russian. Look out when I get home, I am going to talk your ears off!

So looking forward to getting the boys home and starting our new life as a family! They are great kids and we are so happy to have found them. Just hope their old mama can keep up with them. Once again, I think God knew what he was doing when he gave me older children instead of a little baby! Talk to you soon. Pam