(Maybe) Our Last Post!!

Dear Friends and Family,


Today is our last day to worry about an appeal, so knock on wood. Yesterday was very nice, as the boys had their going away party. The director arranged a special party so that the two grupas could be together. We assembled in the cafeteria, and provided oranges, cookies, candy and juice for all of the children (about 30 between the two grupas). The director herself led the party, asking children to come up front and recite Christmas verses. After that, she asked for volunteers from Lawrence's classmates to offer Lawrence well wishes. Children said things like "to your good health" and "listen to your Mama." Lawrence himself finished the process by reciting a poem, and inviting the children to eat their treats.

Afterward, we had our translator translate the poems, two of which appear below. (I think there was something lost in the translation).

We are with our friend Katya who has a big cat
Make from the cat fur a snowman
In white fur coat with coals instead of eyes,
Smiling like he’s alive
The snowman looks at us
We give him the sweeper to sweep
So he can take away the snow
And he can go along the street like a sweeping man snowman

(This one kind of creeps me out...I wonder if it's meant to scare children into good behavior)

Snowman, snowman, you’re used to the cold from your childhood
You put the pan very quickly on your head
Your eyes are coal
And here in your mouth is a carrot, your pride and beauty
Snowman, snowman, you’re used to the cold from your childhood

(HUH?!?!?!)

While Lawrence was standing during this whole process, William was sitting and crying! The caregivers couldn't persuade him to join his brother. Apparently, he's not quite up to speed on what is happening to him, but he does understand these parties, and that children disappear after them, and that this one is for him! Whereas Lawrence has had a pretty good understanding and has been asking questions and getting excited, it just suddenoccurredred to William what's about to happen! He was pretty scared, and couldn't be comforted (except by cookies). Our translator later asked him why he was scared, and he replied that he was worried that because he is so small, Mama and Papa will love his brother more. He's been resisting everything, including trying on the new clothes we've bought him. The eight hour flight from Amsterdam to Detroit is going to be a barrel of fun!

We tried some more interesting food. Two nights ago we had dinner with our translator and driver. I had recently heard of "salo," a national favorite, and wanted to order a small plate, simply to take a picture of it, and then to let the two natives eat it, because they claimed they were big fans. However, when it arrived, they successfully persuaded Kelly and me to try it. It was OK, but was hard to enjoy with the knowledge of what it was. Kelly, however, actually managed to eat a second piece.

We finally got some snow, and it looks like we'll have a better chance for a white Christmas than the folks back home. It's getting colder by the day, but it still feels like winter back home, so it hasn't been any problem whatsoever.

If we make it to the end of the day, then we finalize the paperwork on Monday, and the boys will be our sons legally. The last bit of work is in Kiev, at the embassy where we will obtain permission to have them enter the US. This might very well be our last post, so we want to thank everyone who has been writing to us and working hard back home in preparation for our return.

TOP 10 THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO THE FIRST WEEK WE GET BACK

10. Turn an empty room into the boys' bedroom
9. (Bill) Reacquaint himself with his couch
8. Wear some cotton! (we're wearing synthetics for quick drying after washing)
7. (Kelly) Hug our washing machine, and swear to never leave it again
6. (Bill) Start teaching Lawrence calculus (physics can wait; don't want to overload him...)
5. Shop for boy stuff (if the grandmothers haven't taken care of everything already)
4. Spend half a day going through our mail
3. Hide all the breakable stuff from William
2. Introduce the boys to Jasper and Bosco
1. Watch some football!


Peace and Love,

Bill and Kelly






PS: Oh...what is salo, exactly? Raw bacon.