They've Been Sprung!

Thanking God for every precious minute of today.  Talk about living life to the fullest.

Today has been exhausting but SO much fun and memorable.  We checked the boys out of Uglegorsk around 11:00 this morning.  It's been a busy day, with a trip to McDonald's, shopping, and moving from one apartment to another, all with two new sons who don't know much about the outside world along for the ride.  The Warners told me to not assume ANYTHING.  These boys' world has been so small that everything is new.  Oh boy were they ever right!  I've had a constant smile on my face, watching them see everything for the first time.  Soon after we all got in the car, Illya/Elijah started sniffling.  Prepared, a pulled a Kleenex out of my purse and handed it to him.  He didn't know what do to with it. He folded it up, looked at me cautiously, and rubbed it against his cheek.  I demonstrated what it was for and he caught on.  (By the way, later on at McDonald's, he had a wet wipe.  He proudly opened it up and wiped his nose with it.  See what I've learned, Mamma?).  They'd never heard of McDonald's, let alone hamburgers and french fries.  Seriously, everything is new.  In fact, just now, I can hear Svyatik/Isaac munching on some almonds, just after I'd helped them brush their teeth (which they didn't know how to do properly).  Having said all that, these are some bright kids.  They will catch up.

Eli has been plastered to my side.  Early in the day he said that he was ready to help with anything, and he has followed through.  He wants to do everything for/with me.  He is also soaking up every smile, every hug, every pat on the shoulder I can give him.  He's so calm and gentle and cooperative.  And eager to learn English--we've already done a couple of learning activities together today.  Isaac is a bit more difficult to wrangle lol.  He is three years younger, granted.  I think he's going to be my daredevil.  He is stronger willed and has a little different agenda, but is still loving on me, calling me Mamma, and seems to be loving every minute.  There is so much that is new and he wants to see/explore it all.

Everyone was right: their appetites are endless.  And they've loved everything I've put in front of them, including the pasta with lots of fresh vegetables and salami that Eli helped me make.  They've had four meals since we picked them up at 11:00.

Okay, the apartment switch.  The old one just wasn't going to work.  We looked at a few today and I fell in love with this one.  It was way more expensive than the old one, but we managed to talk them down quite a bit since we'll be staying here awhile.  It's now only $6/night more than the last one, and it's much bigger, much nicer, and the location is even better (just about 6-7 blocks away, so I still mostly know the area).  And there's heat, dishes, and a pot.

We got the boys some much-needed new shoes.  Wow, the ones they had on did not fit and were falling apart.  Isaac said he was so glad he had the new shoes, because now walking wasn't so uncomfortable.

Victor is going to be busy at court with the Pilets tomorrow (yay for them!) so I'm going to see if Anya wants to hang out with us for a bit.  I have a growing shopping list and I'd feel better with a second set of eyes on the boys for safety's sake.  They don't know to look for cars, or rules of crosswalks, or not to shoplift :) etc.

I wish Curt, and Cassie and Clay for that matter, could have been a part of this special day.  That's okay, we have lots of special days to look forward to.

Oh dear, it's bedtime, I just tucked them in, and I suspect it was the first time they've experienced that ritual.  How heartbreaking and joyous at the same time.  I am a lucky woman.