Tuesday, December 19, 2006
We had a productive weekend and I feel better about our Christmas preparations. I finished wrapping things early Sunday morning before church.
Alesia had a tutoring session Saturday morning, then we went out to lunch. There is a place called Smoky Bones near Perimeter Mall, and they have delicious barbeque. We may pick some up for Christmas Eve.
We came back and while Mother napped Alesia and I saw a cute movie called The Holiday. It’s about two women, in England and America, who swap houses over Christmas, and meet new guys. It was pretty funny, and reasonably intelligent.
After church Sunday, while Mother napped, we went to Target and got Alesia a new bike. She has a 10 speed my brother got her, but she couldn’t manage it and had stopped riding. Her first bike is too small now. So Target had a good deal on a basic bike and I let her pick it out and ride it around the store. I told her it was part of her Christmas, but she’d have surprises to open up Christmas morning anyway. She was excited about the bike. We will keep the 10 speed as a “spare” so when the kids have friends over it will come in handy.
Some new friends came over Sunday night, Paul and Kathy, with their newly adopted 15 year old daughter Alyona. Cute girl, rather shy. She is having a hard time adjusting. Alesia spent some time talking to her in her room and made Alyona feel welcome. I talked to Paul and Kathy and tried to reassure them about Alyona, and offered what advice I could. I am no expert except in a “been there, done that” sense.
Lesleigh came over last night. We had a jolly time visiting with her. Mom commented Les and I act like sisters. I suppose we do, but that's nice. Les said I should write a book about raising older adopted kids! Food for thought. Might write a pamphlet, but there isn't enough for a book. My book about Alesia's first years home will provide some answers, I hope...
I had an e-mail from Olga with some more art work from Zoya, her daughter who illustrated Jack's New Family. She is an amazingly talented artist. She's got some things on exhibit at a museum in Oregon where Olga lives.
I had a great e-mail from my friend Apryl [with the Antares Foundation]. Since she was just in Petro in June, and has a son adopted from Igor's orphanage, she is a wonderful source of information. She said, for instance, the hotel only charged her $71/day and that was with breakfast and dinner included. She also said there was a discount for folks who stayed more than 10 days, and I will have to do that.
She said this about the adoption of her son:
The clothes my son wore at the orphanage--underwear, socks, and all--belonged to the orphanage. We had to provide everything for him. It seems to be tradition at the RBS that they have a going away program for the adopted child. It was sooooo sweet! His friends gave him pictures and cards they had made...He was also given a few Russian coloring books... and a piece of embroidery work made by some of the students."
