Well, we are home from our long journey. Almira is doing well, but I’m sure she is overwhelmed. When we flew in last night we had a big group of friends and family waiting at the airport last night. She had flowers and people had made her signs that said “Welcome Home”. Thanks to everyone who came to meet us. It was very kind and I think she enjoyed it. It was so good to see everyone.I've finally got my pictures downloaded and will add a few to the blog. This is the first picture of Almira and Sarah together. We could not take pictures or video in the airport so I waited until they jumped in the van. Sisters together... finally. The other picture is the girls in the hotel room. We had been shopping that morning and they had picked some nuts at the grocery store. Then we came back to the room and they did each other's hair. Then they were sitting on the couch eating nuts, talking about I don't know what and giggling up a storm.
My parents came over after the airport and had brought food and got to visit with Almira. She is hugging my parents and seems really happy to be home. The English is coming very slowly, but I think she understands a lot of what we’re saying. She liked her room and couldn’t believe she had clothes in her closet.
We just had breakfast and I’m trying to keep the foods similar to what she’s been eating. Of course I didn't make cooked cabbage and all those salads like we had at the hotel. She had fruit and yogurt for breakfast. We will be going on the first grocery shopping trip today. That should be very interesting.
Almira did eat a hamburger in Almaty and really liked it. We met the Colemans for dinner on Wednesday night. They are missionaries in Almaty that are from here, where we live. They have 2 daughters that are 10 and 14, Hannah and Missy. Such sweet children. They took us to this restaurant that was abut 2 blocks from the yellow Russian Orthodox church called the American Bar and Grill. I swear it looked like a Lonestar or something similiar on the inside. Almira and Kcensa, the 12 year old that belongs to Allison, had chicken fingers for the first time. Then Almira tried my hamburger and she loved it. In fact she finished it.
We went back there the next night with some more adoptive parents and got all the kids together. This time Almira ate a hamburger.
When we got off the plane in Memphis we went to eat at this barbecue place. Almira didn’t think too much of barbecue. Almira ordered a hamburger and potato chips. She ate the whole thing.
We were all really tired this morning and slept until close to 10AM. She was in her room reading her book that we had bought her when we were there the first trip. Jon, Sarah and Almira are about to go to the vet and pick up Star our dog. Jon thinks she got bit by a snake or something. He said the side of her face was swollen and she has been at the vet for several days.
I can’t seem to get Almira used to the clothes. She did put on a cute outfit that was a skort and a short sleeved shirt. Then she put on thick socks and her shoes she brought from Petro. I call them the librarian shoes. I think the more she’s here we can keep working with her. People, especially girls dress very casual here. You have to when it is 90 degrees outside.
I've also got to break her of the habit of washing her clothes out in the bath tub. I just happened to see her doing it last night and took her to the front of the house and showed her the washing machine and the dryer. She showed me a scrubbing motion with her clothes and I told her the washing machine does that. I'm not sure it got through.
So far clothes are the only issue we've got right now. I know clothes are so different here from what she is used to. But she will melt, it is probably going to be 90 degrees today.
I had better go now. I have to get a cable for my computer from my mother so I can down load all the pictures I took. I took her camera and it was great. It is so tiny and holds so many more pictures than mine.
It's so good to be home.
Kathy
My parents came over after the airport and had brought food and got to visit with Almira. She is hugging my parents and seems really happy to be home. The English is coming very slowly, but I think she understands a lot of what we’re saying. She liked her room and couldn’t believe she had clothes in her closet.
We just had breakfast and I’m trying to keep the foods similar to what she’s been eating. Of course I didn't make cooked cabbage and all those salads like we had at the hotel. She had fruit and yogurt for breakfast. We will be going on the first grocery shopping trip today. That should be very interesting.
Almira did eat a hamburger in Almaty and really liked it. We met the Colemans for dinner on Wednesday night. They are missionaries in Almaty that are from here, where we live. They have 2 daughters that are 10 and 14, Hannah and Missy. Such sweet children. They took us to this restaurant that was abut 2 blocks from the yellow Russian Orthodox church called the American Bar and Grill. I swear it looked like a Lonestar or something similiar on the inside. Almira and Kcensa, the 12 year old that belongs to Allison, had chicken fingers for the first time. Then Almira tried my hamburger and she loved it. In fact she finished it.
We went back there the next night with some more adoptive parents and got all the kids together. This time Almira ate a hamburger.
When we got off the plane in Memphis we went to eat at this barbecue place. Almira didn’t think too much of barbecue. Almira ordered a hamburger and potato chips. She ate the whole thing.
We were all really tired this morning and slept until close to 10AM. She was in her room reading her book that we had bought her when we were there the first trip. Jon, Sarah and Almira are about to go to the vet and pick up Star our dog. Jon thinks she got bit by a snake or something. He said the side of her face was swollen and she has been at the vet for several days.
I can’t seem to get Almira used to the clothes. She did put on a cute outfit that was a skort and a short sleeved shirt. Then she put on thick socks and her shoes she brought from Petro. I call them the librarian shoes. I think the more she’s here we can keep working with her. People, especially girls dress very casual here. You have to when it is 90 degrees outside.
I've also got to break her of the habit of washing her clothes out in the bath tub. I just happened to see her doing it last night and took her to the front of the house and showed her the washing machine and the dryer. She showed me a scrubbing motion with her clothes and I told her the washing machine does that. I'm not sure it got through.
So far clothes are the only issue we've got right now. I know clothes are so different here from what she is used to. But she will melt, it is probably going to be 90 degrees today.
I had better go now. I have to get a cable for my computer from my mother so I can down load all the pictures I took. I took her camera and it was great. It is so tiny and holds so many more pictures than mine.
It's so good to be home.
Kathy
