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Big ol’ nyet airliner…

Big ol’ nyet airliner…

Ok actually it is a big ol’ jet airliner to Chita, about which we are very psyched. Vim Airlines. And—announcements in English and in russian, which rules. After a lazy day in Moscow, spent reconning the big mall near the hotel (basically a Dallas-grade Galleria type thing), then dozing during War and Olympics coverage, and [...]

Solnishka and starbucks

Solnishka and starbucks

Beautiful day in moscow–bright and sunny, and the 4 of us were raring to go. Our hotel is just next to the moscow river, and the big train station. Strolled around the fountain at svobodnoy evropy plaza, then across the bridge and up the hill towards the masively Stalinist Ministry of Foreign Affairs building….which, [...]

Made it to Moscow

Made it to Moscow

What better way to start off this jouney than for our driver to O’Hare to be from Bulgaria, and a student of Russian?! We practiced our newly learned phrases and even got a taste of the two footed driving we expect in Country (accelerate…brake….accelerate…BRAKE…)
The flight to Moscow was smooth and just over 9 hours [...]

Last minute insanity

Last minute insanity

In less than 20 hours we are supposed to be on a plane winging our way to Moscow for the first leg of trip#1.
Bags are mostly packed, by some miracle we have managed to squish ten outfits purchased as gifts for the baby home, toys for the girls (including stuffed westie puppies to help introduce [...]

Bye bye mini

Bye bye mini

Vroom vroom…. We sold the mini cooper, dropped it off this evening and bid fair well to a super fun ride with the “we got hitched in the tunnel of love in las vegas” bumper sticker still on the back. Think the new owners will keep that?
We’ve decided to give the local car [...]

But first we hide in our basement

But first we hide in our basement

We’ve been working late and getting up early for weeks now. Trying to get ahead on projects so that we can keep from having to do any work while we are in Russia. This past weekend was a particularly rough one involving staying up all night to finish a major web transfer.
So tonight we [...]

And then we fly around the world

And then we fly around the world

It’s Friday night. One week from now we fly to Moscow. Last minute paperwork included a document to prove there is actually a house on the property we own (thank goodness our pal Sung is a licensed realtor!), redoing our police clearance letters to prove we still haven’t been convicted of major [...]

Russia or Bust

Russia or Bust

Howdy everyone…sorry for the long radio silence…we’ve been waiting for some news before posting anything
Our travel invitation just came through so we are set to leave for Moscow on the 8th of August, to do paperwork and such, and then on our way to Chita – Siberia, Russia on the 10th
We’ll get to spend 3 [...]

Hurry up and wait

Just a quick update…. We have officially accepted the referrals for the girls. A flurry of regional documents have been completed and sent in to be added to our Dossier so that we can be eligible for invitation from the Ministry of Education to travel for our 1st trip. This process [...]

Spring has sprung & a big surprise!

Spring has sprung & a big surprise!

Our last post was almost four weeks ago…we told you then that the adoption agency gave us an estimate of 2 to 4 months wait for us to get matched with the two children we have asked for (most likely boys.)
This morning we got a call asking us if we might be interested/willing to consider [...]

mmmm….I think you have my red stapler

mmmm….I think you have my red stapler

58 documents – each and every one of them signed, notarized, and apostilled, were carefully sorted, tagged, stapled with our fab red swingline, (again, if you don’t know what we are talking about we pity your pop culture education and insist that you come over for movie night…) then filed and sent in [...]

Home repairs…probably best done BEFORE the kids arrive

We mentioned in our last post that one of the things we are doing while we wait for all that paper to get stamped and signed and certified and sealed and translated is some minor home projects. Well, we thought they’d be minor projects…
Now that the Wee Kahunas’ bedroom construction is finished we were [...]

Is that an Apostille in your mail box…

Is that an Apostille in your mail box…

Or are you just happy to see us? Our next step in the paper chase is to compile our “Dossier.” (This is the giant packet of documents that Russia requires be completed prior to putting us on the waiting list for children to be referred to us.
Many, many of the documents listed in the [...]

Cribs in our Crib

Cribs in our Crib

You mean we can’t just put a bunch of pillows on the floor and let them fall asleep where ever they want like the puppies do? Well sheesh…I guess we should take Dave W’s advice and get some of them thar cribs and a stuffed bunny or something, since “kid’s like that sort of [...]

Pantry Check – 6/1/10

We're collecting recipes for jar and canning and freezing of fresh produce to help us make it through the next winter. Got a favorite? Send it over and we'll post it along with the ones we try...

Coming up this month will be a set of great craft projects that we've been doing here in wee kahunaville along with some great finds for summer products.

Check back soon!