Saturday at the Orphanage

We spent most of today at the orphanage with Mariia and friends.  The morning hours we played outside in the ball fields.  It rained when we returned late afternoon so we spent the entire time inside Mariia's room with a turn style of kids coming in and out.  Many in her group have become comfortable with us being there and we are starting to know them by name..which is no small chore given the language barrier!

We discovered a few things the kids really like so far:

• Taking pictures with the digital camera...wish we brought a spare!
• Playing cards - UNO is very popular
• Any type of video game - they used up the battery on Kelly's cell phone today trading off playing a few of the games she didn't even know she had.
• Playing soccer...not easy for this American football player who is past out of  shape!
• Arm wrestling Kelly...of course she didn't let anyone beat her!

It was a good day and it seems the reality is setting in with Mariia that she will soon be a part of our family...it is for us as well.

We were thrilled today to find out our friends Steven and Claire were taking our kids at home to the neighborhood pool today.  We have spoken to them twice already today and look forward to speaking to them before we sign off for the night.  The next week is going to be long for all of us I think!

We also spoke to my parents today via Skype  - we caught them before they left to see the Gators play.  Our skype works well from the apartment but not so well from the Orphanage as Noelle and Stephan can attest (we have been cut off from them talking to Kiril two days in a row now...sorry guys it is beyond my technical skills).

I will leave the rest of the story to pictures..

I had to include this from lunch...layered Mocha Latte $.75!  Who needs Starbucks!

The camera died early in the afternoon visit as the kids were taking pictures of anything they could.  We are charging it tonight so we can capture more tomorrow.  The kids have a field trip to see the cat show...no not the musical...a real cat show!  We are going to join them along with Tanya our facilitator.  Kelly and I are both allergic to cats so the afternoon should be interesting!