It's very warm today, so we fully expected the children to be in their underwear and hats. And we were right. When we arrived, we found our boy in his tighties. And he was FILTHY dirty from playing outside!
We've been avoiding the sandbox, but with him already so dirty, we let him play in it as much as he wanted today.
He tried on William's UT hat - pretty cute!
It was a good visit, but honestly, we're all getting a little bored with the same thing every day. Can't wait until we get to exit Graceland's gates as a family of four!
After returning to our apartment, we set out to find at least one of the restaurants that Jonathan told us about.
Here's another restaurant we passed along the way:
And after walking for about an hour, we found one!!
We had a great lunch at Pasta Project. It is a really nice air conditioned restaurant. They have video touch-screens at the table where you order. And they have an English menu!! Bonus - one of the waiters spoke some English as well.
While it's a little more expensive than some of the other places we've been, it was a nice treat.They also have Wi-Fi, but I accidentally left my iPod back at the apartment.
Here are some other pictures from today's outing.
One of the MANY snack kiosks found up & down the roads here. If you'll notice, this one offers an American favorite: hot dogs!
Pharaoh Night Club
A statue of Shevchenko
A cathedral in the distance
We walked around the Central Market for a few minutes. We arrived there just as many vendors were starting to pack up, so we'll try to visit again next weekend a bit earlier in the day.
Finally, Zack just had to get a shot of these guys, sporting what is totally in style for young men in Ukraine. Short pants for men (capri pants?) are all the rage here. Their look consisted of denim capris, flip flops, dark tight-fitted t-shirts, and satchels (man purses). Not a terrible look - but it was funny to see them dressed so similiarly to each other!
Please take a moment to comment and let us know you stopped by. It can get pretty lonely when you're in a place where you don't know anyone & don't speak the language. Your comments are such an encouragement to us - thanks!!
29 comments:
Good morning! I've been lurking for awhile. We are in the process of adopting a little guy from Eastern Europe and set out to find adoption blogs of others doing the same thing. I was surprised and delighted to find so many! Following your journey has been wonderful.
We don't yet have a blog, but we're planning on starting one. We're a family of 8, soon to be 9, in the midwest. We adopted a large sibling group and a teenager from foster care and we're in the process of finalizing an adoption from Haiti. Our Haitian child is home with us, but we are not yet officially his parents.
Your little guys are gorgeous! Best of luck with court and everything that follows!
Brittany
Praying things go well for you at court. It does seem to get a bit boring after awhile. I know the feeling that you are just longing to be done with the process and move on to being a family of 4! You will be home before you know it. Hang in there!
Just got home and checked for e-mails and then the blog. Pics are so cute, love the UT hat of course. We shared in Sunday School this morn and Pam wanted to know if she was going to get to teach "Elvis" in preschool. I said good possibility. Praying the court date goes well and waiting anxiously for you to get home. Love you all four. Pop and Baba
Adopting is such an adventure! I'm sorry that it is getting boring visiting your little guy...not much longer and it will get exciting, huh? Seeing William next to his brother makes him so big. And he seems to be the best big brother! So happy for you guys that everything is chugging along!
We are enjoying the day-to-day posts--thank you!! Everything is pretty quiet in the cult-e-sac without William around! Sam has been busy with baseball camp, Mimi and Mommy trips, and VBS next week....so it's really quiet. We are having the 3-Day garage sale this weekend...and it's going well. Your lawn is being trimmed and mowed as we speak...so no problems here!! So thrilled for y'all!
I'M HERE - I ALWAYS READ WITH DEEP INTEREST WHAT YOU ARE DOING! Can't wait to see 'real' pictures! We leave in 13 DAYS!! Wonder if we will cross paths.. you out as we come in... Everyone's experience seems to be going up and down. Some way up and some way down. It is hard to read the down parts. I want the romance -the easy street - the idyllic adoption! Okay - I'll take a 'normal' one too. Praying that God will continue to comfort and encourage you from all sides!!
We're so excited for you - we're following along and re-living our experience through you. This part is tough - hurry up and wait - but hopefully you'll be well rested for the big rush for documents and trip back to Kyiv after the 10 day wait after court. You all are in our prayers.
William - we are so excited for you - being a big brother is so much fun! You look like you are having fun with your brother and it was so nice of you to share your hat with him! That must have made him feel so special! :o)
I got a kick out of your Groundhog Day post. I think I have the exact post on my blog from when we were there. The days do get O so boring and trying to play with your new child with few new ideas to do. The light is shining at the end of the tunnel though, court just a couple more days away and then your in the home stretch! Though I really think I must send your kids some Razorback gear and get that dumb T off their heads! Ha ha, they are still cute even though you teach them to root for the wrong team. Can't wait till you can post some real pics of Elvis and tell us more about him.
Hang in there and take those naps as once you get home with two kids all that will end!
It's a cross between Groundhog Day and March of the Penguins. It is making me crazy. I can't wait to go home!!!!!!!!
We actually took a break from the orphanage today. Missing our guy...just want to take him home so badly.
I know what you mean about checking for comments. It is so satisfying isn't it. I hope we catch up again in Kyiv. We hope for court on Tuesday and train on Tuesday night, medical and embassy on Wednesday and then home on Friday.
Can't wait to see Elvis' face.
PS...we went to the beach today. There is a sight to see. We didn't bring swimsuits. After having a bunch of kids I'm still thinking I wouldn't have looked THAT bad there. HEEHEEHEE!
Love all the pictures and getting to chat with yall each day! Makes me feel like yall aren't so far away. Looks like yall have already started brainwashing the little fella with that hat, but no big surprise here. After all, William has been a Tennessee fan from the beginning, haven't you buddy!? I'm counting the days til yall get home and I can get my hands on my 2 sweet boys and can give them some "sugar". :-)
Love yall,
Mom aka Gram :-))
Those guys look so cute... I can just imagine my husband dressing like that... BWAHAHAHA It would NEVER happen! Ive already told him he has to wear a black winter coat so he wont stand out... he's not very happy.
Are there any fun adventures you can go on in the town? A weekend get away to the black sea? I imagine the same thing day in and day out would get a bit boring. Is William handling it all well? He seems like a real trooper and is always smiling in pictures!
I dont know if I missed it, or if youre still not posting details, but do we know how old Elvis is?
Hoping you find some fun...
I check your blog multiple times a day just to see if you have posted anything new. Elvis is so cute :)
Hey Jenn, Zach and William,
Been reading everyday looking forward to what is next. Praying for you all. I can only imagine how lonely it must get over there. But know we are all watching and praying and loving you over here. Have a great day!!!
I have been reading everything with great interest!! I love the pics especially the clothing. My husband and I will be traveling soon and discussed what would be appropriate clothing. I showed him the picture and told him we must go shopping so he will fit in!!! He quickly to me it was not going to happen. I am so eager to hear what region you are in as well as see your sweet boy's face!! I know you are ready to come home though! I am sure I will be too.
Keep you all in our prayers!
Sheila and Jeff
Hi Jen,
We feel the same way except we can't even break up the day with our usual visit with the kids. Love all the pictures-- what a cool restaurant. Would yo by any chance feel like taking a drive in the morning out here--- and spending the day. I wonder what it would cost-- maybe we could split the cost? Anyway-- big hugs! Tell Zack and William hi!
Gotta love the man-pri pants! I'm thinking my husband could sport that look...
Oh, and DO NOT try the "American" hot dogs of Ukraine. Yuck! A nice host family once made them for us, trying to give us a taste of home. Yeah, not so much!
r 10 year old daughter home for the first trip and boy did we miss her. It was very hard, first time we had been away from her like that. She did join us on our second trip to bring her brother home. Wishing you a speedy rest of the trip. Our son is blonde and blue eyed, 7 yrs. old now, and wears his hair spikey like Williams. Toni from CA
I'm here, and praying for your court appointment! I'm also praying for some tidbits of interest (like the man-pri guys) in each day to keep life fun!
Jenn,
We are blogging friends with the Kayser's. We are in the process of adopting a special needs boy from EE and I am loving seeing what you are cooking up in Ukraine. Do you have any "recipes" for these things (did you write it down) or do you just whip it together with what you have? I'll need some help in this department when we travel - I'm used to the typical meals we eat here and am not good at whipping something up.
Thanks so much!
Privyet Jennifer,Zacj & William:
We are praying for you and enjoying following your blog (thanks to Tonya). Your pictures have been such a blessing to our children and we now realize that William and our Luke were in the same groupa! I hope our families can meet in person one day.
I think you took our papers with you to UA when you adopted William. We were there in December 07. We know where you are, of course. The day we picked up Rebekah and Luke, I was with Reb while she changed into the clothes we brought so we got pictures of her bed. Joe had to sign papers so one of the workers dressed Luke. We never got to see his bed until we were scrolling through your pics of William and there were those little beds. Luke has showed us which one was his (the one at the back next to the window).
If you get a chance, ask L. if you can take a picture of the outside of the internet cafe we used. We wish we had a picture. Of course, the place was more an internet gaming place. Later we were taken to a nicer, more business-like internet place.
Are you staying through the 10 day wait or coming back to the U.S.? Feel free to e-mail us (Tonya can provide the address) if you have time.
K and J, Nashville
Thank you so much for the updates. I check your blog several times a day :) Praying for you all in the coming days!!
Thanks for having such a great blog about your journey. My wife and I are pursuing adoption from Ukraine of a sibling set to add to our 6 boys :) and love getting a heads up on what things are like there. We are praying that your court date go very smoothly and all the remaining paperwork and running around goes smoothly as well.
God bless
So happy things are going well. "Elvis" looks so small next to William. Jessica and I are having fun trying to guess his age. It really makes me want to adopt. I always thought we would, but not sure if that is what God has planned for us. We seem to be going the foreign exchange student route right now. It is so easy to get attached and hard to give them back. I look forward to seeing your posts and pics everyday. We will continue to pray for you guys. Lots of love
So happy for you all! Have been stalking yours and Christines blog daily - just loving reliving our trip to Ukraine thru all your stories! William has grown up so much! I wish you all a beautiful bonding and safe trip home :-) Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us! Monica
Faithful daily lurker here... love all the photos and updaes - you know we check daily!
Oops! Sorry. I stalk Google Reader constantly for updates from you all so I can live vicariously through you...but then I forget to comment!!! :) Sorry about that. I'll try to remember to be better about it. ;)
Sounds like it is going well with Elvis so far. I know you're hitting the boredom brick wall. Doing the same thing day after day after day when visiting the kids gets so old so quickly - especially when you just want to grab your little guy, take him home and start your new life together. We'll be praying for a quick and easy court date...and that you're able to find some new things to do with Elvis to break up the monotony! :)
I have missed a couple of days of your blog because of sickness in our house including me.
I'm enjoying your blog and all the pictures.
Can you tell what region you are in yet? I really want to know.
Your new son is so cute. He fits in perfectly with your family. So glad that God had him in mind for you.
I can't wait until you back to the US. Thanks for sharing with us.
God Bless,
Amy Land
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