What a Day!

Warning: this will be a long post. So many good things to share and so many fun pictures! :) 

Our first full day together as a family of six.

Our happy helper drying dishes that Darin is washing so we could have breakfast. 

Breakfast in the kitchen

Darin had to go with Nicolae to get Irina's new birth certificate. I stayed behind with the kids. 

We colored for a long while listening to music on my iPod. 

Then the five of us ventured out and enjoyed a walk and visit to a nearby park.

They had so much fun and were LOUD and WILD. Irina joined right in. Not sure the Ukrainian families enjoyed our racket. However, after sitting in a car yesterday for 11 hours (with breaks for court, lunch and short stop at the orphanage) they needed to let loose. They did fabulous being still yesterday, so I encouraged the crazy outside play today.

 As we were playing, another family heard us speaking English. What a wonderful treat to meet a family from Arizona pursuing the adoption of twin boys in the same region! It was not by chance. I think it was a little gift from God. They were there with their four children. The kids enjoyed each other and I had a lovely conversation with the mom and dad. We're now Facebook friends. :)

We then went back to the apartment for a bathroom break and chance to warm up while we waited for Darin to get back. 

Thanks to a sweet friend, the kids had this fun puppet craft to do. 

When Darin returned we set off to find lunch.

 We ate lunch and then found another playground. Wow!

Then we met lovely Marina! She heard us talking and wanted to practice her English. She was there at the playground with her family. When she learned that we had just adopted Irina she was captivated. She asked Irina some questions and then told us how wonderful it was that we were giving her a family. Irina proudly told her that she had become our daughter yesterday and that she was so happy. It was really such a touching conversation and so encouraging. I wasn't sure how Ukrainians would react to adoption. Maybe they would think the children should stay in their homeland? 

 There happened to be a man giving pony rides. As a gift to us and to say thank you for loving Irina, Marina insisted she pay for Irina and the boys to each have a ride on the pony. She even got teary eyed as we said goodbye and gave Irina a big hug. Can you believe it? They all loved the pony rides!

sorry it's blurry… I was running to get ahead to get the photo.

We made a stop at the market for dinner supplies on our way back and went home for supper. 

Not overly creative, but our bellies were full. Whole wheat mini pasta shells (that I had packed), pasta sauce, cheese, brown bread, fresh carrots, red peppers, kiwis and applesauce (that I had packed). 

Disclaimer: Lest you think our day was only magical, I assure you that the typical sibling quarrels surely took place. And of course, it is an adjustment to teach Irina many things she has never been taught. As well as balance our attention between all four kiddos. They are all hungry for any kind of attention they can get. We have some little clowns in the midst. :) 

I must confess that I was mighty thankful that all four kids were asleep by 7:45 tonight so 

I could have some time free from the begging for my attention. ahhh…

This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!