05/28/05 – I had my first airplane ride today – it was awesome! We had a delay in Atlanta, and the flight to Paris was very long – about 25 teenagers were on our plane, and they didn’t sleep.

05/29/05 – Finally made it to Moscow about 2:45 and waited in the Customs line for about 2 hours – not fun at all. Vladimir met us and drove us to the domestic airport in Moscow. First he had to pull off to the side of the road to collect our money (it felt like one of those drug deals that you see on tv). Everything is different in Russia, it looks very poor and not kept up. There are soldiers in military uniforms everywhere – very nervous. Also, there are no toilet seats in Russia – very different. Our flight to Tyumen was at 7:55 PM. I did not like the airport ( Sheremetyevo 1) – no one spoke English, no toliets (just holes in the floor), and cats were walking around in the airport. You could spot the other Americans, because they were looking at the cats with a funny look on their face like we were. That had to be the scariest moment of my life – getting on that plane and in a foreign place. We landed in Tyumen at 1:00 AM, and were greeted by Zena, Natasha, and David – very glad to see them! We picked up our luggage in what looked like an old army barrack with a wood floor – no wonder the Russians wrap their luggage at the airport. We got to the cottage about 1:30 AM and met Ludmilla. Very glad to lay down – even if it was just for 4 hours.



05/30/05 – Today we finally got to meet our future son and daughter! I was so nervous and anxious to start with, then I blew up the converter with my hair dryer. I started feeling sick to my stomach with all the feelings that I was having. Ludmilla fixed ham, toast, cheese, and yogurt for us. Then she found me a hair dryer to use – you couldn’t imagine how happy I was. Now I wouldn’t have to meet my babies with bad hair. Natasha and Zina picked us up at 8:00 and we went to the Ministry of Education’s office to ask for permission to see you. On the way, Zena said that she told Rhyne that we were coming to meet her and she shied away a bit. The Ministry of Education asked us a few questions, then ok’d the visit (I asked her if I could hug her, because I was so excited!). Next, we’re off to the orphanage, and presented our gifts to the Principal. We talked to her awhile, it was time to go get Rhyne from her class – Room #2. We spotted Rhyne as soon as we went through the door, and immediately I grabbed her up. Such a sweet thing, and would wimper and cry if I put her down – my kind of girl – loves her mommy! We took her to the “viewing room”, and won her heart with some banana puff treats. Still overwhelmed, she started feeling hot, so she was taken to the nurse – while we went over her medicals and then the Principal went over her family background. She did inform us that Rhyne would not be eligible for adoption until 08/11/05. Her mom signed a document terminating her rights on 02/11/05, but we have to wait 6 months from this date for a court date. We are praying so hard that nothing happens. Jody said if something did, we would go over and pay her mom off – we are too much in love with these kids for something to happen. Next, it was off to Jake’s class – The Dandelion Room #8. Again, we spotted him as soon as we entered the class. He was standing up in what looked like a big crib. I grabbed him up and off to the viewing room we went. He really enjoyed the blue and orange tissue paper that was in his gift bag. We played with him until about 2:00, then we were driven back to Ludmilla’s for lunch. About 4:00, we went back to the orphanage and got both babies to play with and love on. Jake was fine, he wanted down and to play. Rhyne was cautious at first, then she finally made it out of my lap, and was playing around – still not too close to Jake though. At about 6:00, it was time to leave the orphanage. We stopped and exchanged some money for Rubles at a really nice hotel – The Quality, then went to a department store in town to buy some Russian items to put up.

05/31/05 – We were picked at the cottage today at 9:00. We stopped to pick up the social worker that will be representing us in court – she was to observe us to see how well we mingled with the babies. We had both babies in the room playing, and at the same time, the workers were decorating the room for Wednesday – Children’s Appreciation Day 06/01. Today, I got to feed Jake. He liked his soup, but did not like the turkey and mashed potatoes. I got to watch Rhyne feed herself – all I can say is Amazing! For snack she ate cottage cheese pudding with slices of pears and oranges. She did not spill anything, and if she drop some on her bib, she got it up with her spoon, put in back in the bowl, then continued eating. The
The cutest thing was Rhyne sitting on the potty. As she was sitting on what looked like a “slop jar”, she was scooting with it to the doorway so she could see me (I like to think to make sure I was still there for her).

While they were napping, we met Zena at a theater/café for lunch. Very good – fried chicken and fried potatoes! After lunch, we got to take the babies outside for a walk and to play – first they had to be bundled up like there was snow on the ground. Rhyne absolutely loves outside. Then it got to the hard part – saying goodbye. First, it was Jake. It was time for his dinner, so we took him to his room. The only good thing was, that he loved the worker that took him (the same dark headed lady from his video). Then, we had to take Rhyne. Jody had her in his arms, and she said “Papa” on the way to her room. Talk about two people crying! It was her dinner time too, so she went to her chair and sat down. We were still crying.

06/01/05 – We left for the airport in Tyumen about 5:00. It was cold and damp outside. Thank goodness, Zena told us for $36.00, we could sit in the VIP lounge and be escorted to our plane. That was great for us, remember this is the place where we got off the plane into a tin building! We missed the babies, but were ready to leave Russia. We were met at the Moscow airport by 2 ladies (Vladimir’s wife was one lady) who did not speak good English. We were dropped off at the international airport – and it was a whole lot different than when we arrived at that airport! Next stop Paris.

We had a Russian Volleyball player on our flight – very amusing! He would hop from seat to seat getting extra snacks and just mingling with people. He really had 1 too many drinks! Flirted with all the flight attendants too. We landed at 2:30 and headed to the baggage claim area. As we were picking up our luggage in Paris, this same fellow hopped up on the baggage claim conveyor, squatted down, and rode it around until he spotted a female (who must have been there to pick him up) on the other side of the glass wall. Then he, the female picking him up, and the flight attendant he flirted with all left together!!

Outside the airport, we decided to take the bus to the Arch then take a cab from there to our hotel (less expensive this way). We got to our hotel about 4:00PM. We decided to take a taxi to the Eiffel Tower (to see it lit up at night). It was beautiful, but a long way to the top. The best view is from the second viewing deck. But hey, you’re in Paris – go to the top!! After we came back down, we walked across the park to Le Champs De Mars (street infront of Ecole Militaire -military school) to get the best view of the tower. It was midnight and the lighted Eiffel Tower was the most beautiful object we had ever seen.


We caught a cab back to our hotel and decided to venture out for something to eat. We found a pizza bistro and had the best cheese pizza and 2 cokes anyone could have asked for, sitting outside eating pizza at 1AM - perfect!

06/02/05 – We decided our best bet was to take a bus tour of the city. We saw the most beautiful buildings, Louve, Notre Dame, Opera, and many more that I couldn’t even begin to say, little lone spell. We stopped for lunch at sidewalk café – it was ok. We did a little souvenir shopping and got back on the tour bus. Then Of course when the tour was over, we got on the wrong bus and rode it for about an hour to the end of the line. I felt like we were the Griswalds in England – “hey kids there’s Big Ben, Parliament”!! We were probably just a couple of miles from our hotel when we hopped onto the wrong city bus, but we went back through Paris, then out of Paris to where the locals lived. Being the well traveled jet-setters we are (laughing!!) we didn’t know when the bus got to the end of the line that we had to get off, wait for another bus driver, and get back on, to go all the way to the “other” end of the line – where we were staying. Yes, Big Ben, Parliament all over again – as we went back through Paris!! We stopped in at the McDonalds for an ice cream sundae – a lot more expensive than the $.99 sundae back home. A kid (maybe 15) in front of us bought a happy meal and a beer – had to laugh at that too!

06/03/05 – We woke up feeling horrible with sinus infections. Jody went to buy us a Coke – 5 Euros each!! Oh well. We called a cab to take us to the Arch, where we were to use the other half of our round trip bus ticket to the airport. The cab dropped us off, where I thought we were dropped off before – wrong. Yes, there are 8 roads that dead into the traffic circle around the Arch – and they all look the same. We walked around that whole Arch trying to find “our” bus stop.




There were severl bus stops, but we had to look for the one that went back to the airport. Thank goodness, we were not the only idiots walking around in circles!!! Finally we found it (would have been closer if we would have walked right instead of left as we exited the cab – could only happen to us). We left Paris about noon and arrived in Atlanta about 4:00 (9 hour flight). Never was I so glad to be on US soil.