Wednesday, June 27, 2007

June 27th, 2:00 p.m.

Hello everyone.... Brandy and I have started our countdown... Only 3 hours left before we head for the airport.

Couple quick items.... Brandy and Wind want to know if they can get in on the kids basket at the farm. They may need something for awhile while they are getting out of hock.

Lexi's blog is lexisparents.blogspot.com

Glad to hear Greg's promotion is going well. As for the SC crew. I am sure the guys could hit you when they are done in Williamsburg , VA. Just make sure you call and get on the the list.

Sorry Na... If a hot and humid zoo didn't do it, I think you wont make it before me. We are on our final week coundown to Buffalo. We are so excited. We have really learned how to navigate the grocery stores and shopping stores around here. We got this language barrier licked.

Well, Have to go finish packing. Hope everyone is well. Not sure when we will check in again, once we reach Moscow., but we will try to check in soon.

DJ I hear Doodle bugs is going well. Aunt Na says that you are learning how to play dodge ball. Owen, Leia can wait to try out her new swimming suit. Hope the pool is warm.

Love and Miss you all.

Buck, Robin & Leia

Monday, June 25, 2007

June 26th, 11:00 a.m.

Hey DJ..... I hear you scored your first goal. I can't believe we missed it. Way to go buddy. Keep working on those goals, we will be at your first game, as soon as we get home, and we want to see how that goal scoring thing works.

Aunt Michelle.... Feel free to stay and enjoy the accomodations at hotel Cloy. Whatever food is left, eat it up.

Did the DWC crew get the a/c on in the new addition? If not, I am sure they can come down and show you guys how to open the back doors.

Hey Mel, I meant to mention that our famous vacation to Niagara On The Lake came in handy. We are all getting very good at playing Rummy. Not much else to do around here. Tonight they might try teaching Brandy and I how to play Euchre. That should be interesting.

Hi Red... I will let you know as soon as we get home. I can't believe she is really mine either. It is still like I have a new doll. I keep fixing her hair and changing her clothes.

Hi SC crew. Glad to hear from everyone down that way. Will be excited for you to get to meat Leia when you get up here this summer.

Leia is having great nights. She sleeps perfectly (knock on wood). She goes to bed around 8:30 and sleeps till about 7:30. Doesn't seem to be minding her crib our her new surroundings. Grandma Cloy, she really likes her Teddy Graham cookies. That seems to be the only way Buck can make friends. But I think he is wearing on her.

Tomorrow is Brandy and my big day. We get to move on to our last destination, Moscow. Hopefully we will be good with our suitcases and kids, but I don't even think we will care, we will make it through.

Brandy and Wind got Lexi yesterday. Leia and Lexi played on the floor out in the 12th floor lobby last night for quite awhile. Buck and Wind figured out to not only get a WHOLE pizza, but to get it "to go". That was fun. We had salad and pizza in the lobby while the kids were playing.

Well, I guess that is it for now. Should get going and get Leia some lunch. We love and Miss you all.

Owen and DJ... can't wait to get home and see all the new tricks that you guys have learned from all your babysitters. Hope the pool is warm, Leia is excited to try it out.

Love,

Buck, Robin & Leia

June 25th, 4:00 p.m.

Hello all....

Hi Paige, how did you get to sleep over at my house? Someone needed to babysit Aunt Na and Uncle Dan, huh???

Glad to hear everyone is doing well. We are all hanging in there. Very excited to make a move to Moscow and start something new. We all have Adoption Certificates and Birth Certificates. Nina starts passports tomorrow and Brandy and I are out of here on Wednesday, so wish us luck.

Aunt Brandy will be in charge of the blood test for Leia, just in case anyone was wondering.

We changed our plane reservations... So I believe that we are all set. We will be arriving in Buffalo on July 5th at 5:39 p.m., flight 5579. Shouldn't be changing anymore. This gives you an exact date Na, so get doing those jumping jacks.

DJ,.... Hope you have fun at Doodle Bugs... Enjoy yourself. I can't wait to hear all about your first day.

Owen..... Hi buddy. Have you scored on DJ yet with your new hockey stick.

Love and miss you all. More updates to follow soon. I need to let Brandy update her family on our arrival plans also.

Buck, Robin & Leia

Sunday, June 24, 2007

June 24th, 3:45 p.m.

Hello everyone, we have our daughter!!! We got to go to the baby home this a.m. and pick up Leia, how wonderful it is to have her out of there and here with us. She is supposed to be having a nap time already, but she is being so good here at the hotel, we just can't try to make her sleep. Brandy and Wind get to go tomorrow to get Lexi, so we are sharing Leia for tonight. Little do they know, she sleeps in their room tonight.

Everything went well today. Thought the baby home would be a big deal, but we arrived, they brought her to a room, took all her clothes off and handed her over. Took all of 5 minutes, which includes us dressing her and taking a couple pictures and we left. What a great feeling. Leia was great on the car ride, she was looking all over the place.

Other than that she is perfect. We just got our crib delivered into our room. Can you imagine how much room we don't have, now that we have added a crib to our furniture collection. Oh well.

I am so glad Brandy is traveling to Moscow with me. We really disrupted the plans with that request, but it all worked out and I don't have to travel alone. Our apartment is right on Arbot Street, so the shopping should be great. Hopefully there wont be time for that, would like to stay busy and get home to all of you.

Well, guess I better go relieve Aunt Brandy from her new babysitting duty. We will write more soon. Glad to hear from you all. Love and Miss,

Hi DJ, Hi Owen. Hope you guys are ready for your new sister. She can't wait to see you!!

Buck, Robin & LEIA!!!!!

Friday, June 22, 2007

June 23rd 7:50 a.m.

Good Morning all,

It is Saturday a.m. here, I think we are finally on the schedule that we should be on. We didn't wake up until 6:30 a.m. today, so we are getting there. That is much better than the usual 2:30 a.m..

We just got to talk to Na, Dan and the boys. Dan says that posession is 9 10th's of the law. No problem Dan..... you get the mortgage too. It wasn't soooo bad before the addition. Na... I think that you are cheating, walking the stairs. I think I am still going to beat you. I might have to try the bribery thing also.

Let's see,, our updates..... Buck just managed to get himself a cup of coffee. Not quite like Tim Hortons, but he is managing. Can't seem to get past the cost of 80 Rubels. I think he is at least cutting back now.

I found out yesterday afternoon that I will have to leave for Moscow on Wednesday for Leia's paperwork. Buck has to stay in Novosibirsk until Thursday to collect her Passport, it wont be ready until then. Brandy has VOLUNTEERED to travel with me.... Isn't she great!. So... on Wednesday, Brandy, Lexi, Leia and myself will head for Moscow. I am sure we will be anxious for Buck and Wind to follow behind.

Current forecast from Viktoria is that we can make our plane reservations out of Moscow on July 5th. We are going to confirm this today.

Hope all is well. We got to speak with the boys for a few minutes this a.m.. Sounds like they are having a great time.. almost too busy to talk. Thank you all again for helping us get through this.

Our plans for today and tomorrow include 2 trips to the baby home, before paperwork starts again on Monday. Seems like we have already been gone forever. Can't wait to get back and see the new zoo. I knew there was reason for the addition. So where does the barn go, papa????? They have horse back riders here, just walking down the street. What a really funny sight. Seems way to city to be on horseback, but it happens. So Leia wont be afraid of a pony, she can't wait.

Well, I guess that is it for now, we going to have our wonderful breakfast. Talk to you all very soon. Na, Cheryl, Grandma P and Grandma C... you guys better practice your short distance racing skills. I hear that Aunt Michelle is in town, just so she can get a jump on the airport gate.

Where is all the rest of you writers... Look forward to hearing from you all. Can't wait to get home soon. Love and miss you lots,

Buck, Robin & Leia

Thursday, June 21, 2007

June 22nd, 6:15 a.m.

Congratulations Michelle..... you finally won one. That sleep thing is highly overrated.

Good Morning all..... As you can see by the times of our postings, our schedules are still not worked out quite right.

Lets see.... Yesterday we got our official Adoption Decree's done. This a.m. we got the Vital Statistics office to get her a birth certificate. Right now the plan is to get the documents Apostilled on Monday and Passports on Tuesday/Wednesday. Current plan is to allow us to leave on Thursday for Moscow. We were all bugging Nina about being out of here on Tuesday, but with the paperwork, she said that doesn't see possible. Also, there are 4 children that she is preparing paperwork, so that is surely slowing us up a bit. No big deal, we are getting by.

We all had a nice supper, drinks and desert last night to celebrate our good news. Buck hasn't had the chance to try a flaming drink just yet, but he did get to use the restroom in the baby home.

The judge was great. It was actually much better than I thought it would be. I had myself all nervous for days, but all went very well in the room. Buck and I had a chance to tell about ourselves and then answer several questions from the judge. Our Baby Home Director was there and spoke to the judge on our behalf and the Social Worker also spoke. There was a Prosecutor in the room, who asked a few questions, but not many. The judge mainly looked down at her paperwork, but we did get a chuckle out of her when Karina (translator in courtroom) read DJ's letter. I think she liked the part about Owen jumping on the bed.

Right now it doesn't sound like we will get the kids until early next week as they need to finish a few documents and prepare the parties. We are working Nina as quickly as possible.

Buck is trying to warm Leia up to him. I think he is using bribery. Seems like he is always calling her with a snack or a toy in his hand. But she is falling for it. I see the care workers trying to get her to say "Ma ma". When I say it to her, she says something that sounds like it back to me, but not sure if it is mama, or something else. We will keep working on her. I am thinking that after a week in Moscow, in an apartment with Brandy, Wind and Alexis, we will all be warmed up.

We should be able to make our flight plans from Novosibirsk to Moscow later today, so we will let you all know what they are.

Hi DJ & Owen. Hope you are practicing your hockey. Dad is getting very excited to get home to you guys and play. Is the pool getting any warmer? Maybe I should be asking Grandpa and Gretta that question.

Going for now, will write more later. Love and miss you all. See you soon.

Buck, Robin & Leia

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

June 21st, 1:00 p.m.

We are GOING home!!! Mel, Allen, Aunt Carol and Don, looks like you guys are off the hook. Court went well today. We got our adoption approved and our 10 days waived. Nina estimates we will be leaving Novosibirsk on Thursday June 28th and off to Moscow. Currently looks like we will be returning home on Friday July 6th.

Happy Birthday to Great Grandma Peete - She gets to share her special day with Leia!!

All three families were able to get their 10 days waived, so we will all be leaving together. What a relief. Buck, Brandy, Wind , the kids and I will all be sharing an apartment in Moscow.. We are so excited

Looks like we will get to pick Leia up on either Saturday or Monday and keep her with us from then on. Depending on paperwork. We are working on it.

DJ and Owen - We are going to be bringing your baby sister home very soon. Hope you are ready for her!!

We love and miss you all very much. Can't wait to see everyone. We will continue to keep our schedule posted.

Buck, Robin & Leia

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

June 20th, 7:00 a.m.

Good morning all,

Mom C - Your posting made it just fine, looks like you figured out what to do. Buck said the plane ride was GREAT, you can take that anyway you want. He is not so sure about renting a car just yet. If we are here for an extended stay, he may start to think about it. There is grass and trees, much to my surprise. Cars are surely much cleaner this time around.

Mom P - Hi boys..... DJ what awards did you get? Aunt Michelle and Grandma Cloy said you got your gifts. Have you been playing hockey? How does that mask and goalie stick work? Dad says he can't wait to get home and play hockey with you. He isn't sure if he will be able to get one past you with your new mask and stick, so keep practicing. Hi Owie..... Did you like your stick and pucks? Dad said you can be on his team, trying to score on Miller, I mean DJ.

Not too much new to here since we wrote last, we pretty much just went to bed. Still trying to get on the right schedule. We were up at 4:30 a.m. this morning, not too much to do here at that hour.

To all of our DWC fans, we are having an issue trying to access our emails, so haven't gotten any of them yet. Pam, could you please try to get ahold of Scott Addeo or Dave Meller and ask them how to log on remotely. I just want to ensure we are doing it properly. Just confirm that it is "remote.dwcmechanical.com/exchange", then I should log with my user name and password. It lets me get this far, but just wont let me see the mails. Can you please comment in the blog if you find out anything different. We will keep trying from here. If there are any emergencies, that can be written here, please make some short notes in here and we will answer back this way for the moment. Hope all is going well back there. Thank you all again for holding down the fort, we are sure it is hectic, especially with the temperatures that we are hearing from back there.

Well, I guess that is it for now. We are going for breakfast and then spend the afternoon with our court translator, "rehearsing" for court tomorrow. Talk to you all very soon.

Love and miss you all. Thanks for keeping in touch and for the "back home updates". We love you DJ and Owen. Can't wait to see you guys!!!

Buck and Robin (Mom & Dad)

June 19th, 10:00 pm.

Hello everyone, hope I can get this to all of you. We are having some computer issues, they all seem to be in the Russian language. Since I can't understand Russian, we are having problems posting, but we are getting there.

We just returned from dinner with the Mroz family and the Berg family. We all got to go to our baby home today and play. The Berg family is getting two small boys from our same baby home, so they were there playing also.

Buck got to meet Anna for the first time today. He really likes her. She even let him hold her for a bit, but then wanted to come back to me.

Tomorrow we get two visits to the baby home and court practice with our translator. Keep your fingers crossed, we will be posting the court outcome as soon as we find out on Thursday.

DJ - Way to go, I heard you won your soccer game. Did you score a goal??? Papa, aren't those hot dogs delicious?? How was your awards ceremony? Did you get any awards? When you have a chance, go see Grandma Cloy, Dad and I left her a small present for you and Owen. Let us know how you liked it.

Owen - Hi buddy, hope you being a good listener with your ears on.

Dad and I love and miss you guys a whole bunch.

Weather here is very nice and sunny. Cars are much cleaner this time around. There is some grass and trees, can't wait for you all to see the pictures. Nina is great, as always.

Well , I guess that is all for now. We miss you all. Thanks for the comments for those of you who have been checking. Keep them coming, it is always nice to hear from home.

Bye for now!!!

June 19th, 10:00 pm.

Monday, June 18, 2007

June 19th, 6:40 a.m.