Ukraine Adoption

hi laura and John: ITS ALMOST MONDAY AND SOME MORE GOOD NEWS TO COME. I ENJOY READING ALL THE COMMENTS FROM YOUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE SO HUMOROUS AND THEY ARE SO ANXIOUS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE LITTLE GIRL..ALSO HOW YOU AND JOHN ARE DOING. THE NAME SOUNDS LIKE A CELEBRITY. IT MATCHES HER PERSONALITY.
YOU STILL HAVE TODAY TO REST
lOVE YOU *****MOM

Beautiful name, guys. Love that you're using her given name as part of it. Very pretty, feminine and perky at the same time, just like her!
Two is a perfect age: she can relate to you now, but early memories will fade and largely be replaced by her future, and she will easily learn English. Meant to be!
Love, Aunt Ellen

I'll have to admit, I have been reading this blog now for over a week an its quite impressive the out pouring of emotions from friends and family. It even got to me the "ice man" to write something. I would have written sooner, but this sally chic is hogging the airwaves. Just so none of you think I'm turning into a girlie man, I'm off to play hockey tonight. Hope you guys take it easy. see you soon!-john

Hey Johnny,
I wondered what your excuse was! See I was kind enough to give you a little airspace and can you be nice? No!! So it's back to me now. What were we saying about me? Oh yeah...Tara Vika!!! I love it!!! Rhymes with MARIKA (my daughter, for my readers). Marika and Tara Vika!!! Mom, you gotta write one of your rhyming EPIC poems and send it to Johnny!!
I was thinking about you guys (J&L, not Johnny) this weekend while I was relaxing in my warm bedroom (with extra space heater--about 80 degrees in there) and Valhrona chocolate nearby, DVD of Napoleon Dynamite on the tube & a cuppa hot chocolate (can't have too much choc.)It's going to be so good to get home with little Tara. (I hope! I hope all goes as planned!) She's going to love her room & Austin is a real trooper hanging in there so long...
Re: Tara's outfit--woah! I guess they never translated "A Christmas Story" into Russian.
Talk about SAUSAGE!!!HI AUNT JEAN. KAREN, TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK FOR AUNT JEAN.

PS: he's a dark horse, but DAVE is the funniest!

Tsk, tsk -- scolding Sally! Mom Jeanne, keep the caps on. That's how I know it's you! You SHOULD use caps because none of this would be happening without YOU! (And Sassy Sally, you wouldn't here without ME).
MOM ELLY

Well, my husband's (another DAVE!! lol) favorite picture is the one in profile of Tara and Laura looking at each other. I have to admit it's a prizewinner! I've been calling the little girl Twila and I guess I wasn't too far off! :o) We were also so tickled by the one of John all crouched down playing with Tara--she looks so miniature in comparison!! Hee hee! Also Dave H. likes John in the furry White hat.

As bad as the weather is and depressing and bleak in Kiev believe me we can all assure you that you ain't missin' much, weather-wise, here in your old home state, LOL! (Right everyone?) We two played gin rummy yesterday, and I tromped on him. Get a deck of cards, maybe...hours of fun! Playing RISK sounds great if you can get it in English.

It sounds like now the exhaustion from the previous months is starting to set in (you are only human) and it will take some weeks to work those kinks back out of yourself, BUT! Spring is coming & by summer the 4 of you will be back into routine, rested, and having fun in the sun again! Right now it's some cabin fever & culture shock combined w/ long-term fatigue PLUS a vicious climate. Hey anyone would be feeling a little nuts by now!!

Loved hearing from the ICE MAN! Yeah! =) I agree Dave is the Dark Horse to win the funny competition! The only certainty is that it will be on the Wiz side of the family, LOL!! xoxoxox

P.S. It's a warmer, fuzzier Valentine's for us all, because of y'all. <3 <3 (those are hearts).

Sally wrote: "Tara's outfit...Talk about SAUSAGE" I get it now! That's hilarious!!

Hey Laura…Sorry to hear that you’re going a bit “stir crazy”. I was trying to make a list of suggestions for passing the time, but all I kept coming back to was an appreciation for why Vodka is so popular over there. Passing time by passing out…

OK Sally, we all really enjoy your comments…but sometimes … “TMI”. If you’re sitting there with a “Vote for Pedro” shirt on, munching on tater tots and drawing “ligers”, I’m starting to get concerned! Yeah, I know your reply -- “I’ll do whatever I want to…goshhhhh”.
(…for you Napolean Dynamite fans).

Lar,
You're onto me. I'm Napoleon, except reincarnated as a middle-aged lady. BTW: You can get your own "Vote for Pedro" shirt on Amazon! sal

Yes I agree I like the name, too. It rhymes with Sally's daughter Eureka. I mean Topeka. Yes nice to hear from the Ice Man seeing as it was just his birthday Aquarius. Sal's will be here before you know it. Hey Laura, too sad to think but I wish Dad was here to see this little one. He'd spoil her rotten. Mom is on her own for the spoiling job. Why is Dave the hilarious one. One "MacGyver" comment and he's the hilarious one? Come on!

LAURA AND JOHN
WAITING ON MONDAY FOR NEWS BUT TUES IS ANOTHER DAY. HAD AUSTIN ALL DAY, WE WENT TO BASICS AND HE WAS MY BODY GUARD. HE LOOKED LIKE ONE OF THE BOYS WORKING THEIR, SO TALL.
SALLY I AM GLAD YOU GAVE JOHNNY SOME AIRSPACE, HE WAS DUE FOR HIS MESSAGE.
ELLY MOM, HE LIKED YOUR SCOLDING.
TIME FOR BED; BE UP AT 6AM TO CHECK ALL COMMENTS. ITS VERY AMUSING. LAURA ITS ALL LIKE A COMEDY SHOW. ----HOPE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT TARA VIKA ON TUES.(PRECIOUS CHILD)
LOVE YOU ALL; *****MOM*****
LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU

Whoa..I didnt know grown-ups like Napoleon too!! Ahhh, thats awesome!!
"I like your sleeves, their nice and big!"
"Thanks, I made them myself."

"Geeze, I think you ripped my mole off!"
"Really? Let me see"
"Ahh, is it bleeding?"
"Just a little bit"

Stop me before I go crazy!

P.S- I love her name! Its the cutest!!

yes, Caroline. Some of us never quite grow up. Now go make yourself a flippin' quesadiLLa!!!

Karen wrote: "Yes nice to hear from the Ice Man seeing as it was just his birthday Aquarius." I LOVE her punctuation!! LOL. But yes indeed happy birthday Aquarius! :o)

All of you suffering from any form of MI or Russian weather doldrums, "Just picture yourself floating in a frothy sea...surrounded by millions of tiny little sea horses...and now very slowly, bring your fist up under your chin." And your photos will turn out very glamorous indeed! =)