Home Sweet Home

We want to thank everyone who took time to come to the airport and welcome us back to Phoenix. It was a big moment for our new family, and we are grateful that you were there to share it with us. We are so happy that many of you got the chance to meet Andrew and Bethany already.

Got the kids into the car seats without the expected fuss. Sorry, but we did not belt them in properly. It was too dark, we were too tired and we had not practiced enough. The manual has since been studied, so we are OK for the next ride.

Made it in the door around the midnight hour. First Gayle went in to be welcomed by Angie, then they came outside to meet the kids, while Uncle Stephen and Grandma Eleanor caught up with us. Next, I went in to greet and comfort Lily and Sarah. Aunt Laura arrived and everyone came in with lots of reassuring pets for the pets.

Andrew took it all in stride, but Bethany got very excited. It was clear that she knew she was home, because of the wonderful job that Gayle did on the kid's photo albums – that Bethany had looked through, over and over and over, while in Russia and on the trip home.

She was thrilled to see the dog "saBAKa" and the cats "KOSHkee".

More on the trip and our stay in Moscow later, but it is remarkable to think of all the new experiences the kids troupered through in the last few days.

Their whole world was just a few rooms and maybe an outdoor play area. From the moment we had them in our arms, they experienced so many firsts: their new American names and language, they traveled in cars, stayed in a hotel, rode on a train, moved into an apartment at 5:30 am, visited an embassy, toured Red Square and the Moscow Zoo, ate in two restaurants, rode on the subway, escalators, elevators and two planes; went through three airports. We joked when we arrived in Phoenix that they must think that this is their new life...traveling from one site to another. They didn't know this is a trip. To them trains, planes and cars were just their new normal day's routine.

They had seen so few people in their lives before we came, now crowds and crowds of people.

They had nothing of their own. They shared clothes, toys and caregivers. Now they have a new permanent family and possessions. That part's a little sad; especially when we see Bethany instantly become very possessive of things.

The kids are still on Moscow time. They slept today, Sunday, from about Noon to about 10pm...a normal long Moscow night's sleep. Andrew is now taking a nap and Bethany is playing with mommy now at 4:00 am Phoenix time. We are doing OK, due to the several tag-team naps that we have taken. Hopefully, we will quickly transition them to Phoenix time and overcome any jet lag and cold symptoms, all around.

Today we may visit the supermarket, swing on the swings and go for a ride in the stroller.