WE ARE HERE !!!!!

We arrived in Moscow on Sunday Dec 12 at around noon.  The representative that was supposed to meet us there in order to get us to the connection to Ekaterinburg was no where to be found.  Our flight landed at 12:30pm and by the time we received our luggage, it was 2:10pm.  This is the usual Russian efficiency that we see with the court system, but now the airport too?! Maybe our liason left?  Well, although we were not happy about it, we figured many have travelled this road before us and we didn't think we would have a hard time getting to to domestic connection. Having to go to customs, immigration and then get your bags and walk them to the other side of the airport, go back upstairs and check through security again to get to our Ekat flight......Oh, yeah, this all makes sense now. No wonder the courts are just as redundant !

We did not like Aeroflot at all.  Lufthansa was much better and much more comfortable.  To begin, everyone that worked on the airline seemed bothered that they had to take care of us and it was more their duty to laugh and joke with each other instead.   Ok., I get it, us Americans do that too sometimes.
The seats were about as comfortable as a rock in a park and the HEAT !!! Oh God, need I tell you that we have never been on any airplane without individual air controls over heard.  Well, guess what....none !!!
We were dying ! They must have had the heat on 78 degrees, no air, no room - chatty cathy sitting behind us the entire flight and the bang the knee seat recliner in front of us !!
 We were never happier to get on any plane.  Honestly, I am flying out of PHL next time and I don't care about any layover or price.  I cannot endure 9 more hours of that !  It is bad enough we have to do it on the way home !  UGH !!

The connection from Moscow to Ekaterimburg was without incident and much more comfortable.  The terminal attendants were about as enthusiastic as a guy about to get a prostrate exam and they let everyone know they could not be bothered with anything more than adjusting their scarves or jackets to look perfect while standing there doing nothing.  Wow, more high heeled inefficiency...go figure.  A few Russians even had some harsh words with Ms. Pok Mark Meanie when she snapped at them nastily after they asked if this was the right terminal for Ekaterinburg.  While I did not understand Russian, I understood that the over heard display had the wrong flight information on it, so you can't help but wonder---where the passengers just supposed to read your mind Primadonna?  Boy we were glad to get outta there, loaded onto a bus and then carted up 5 flights of stairs to a waiting airplane.  I don't think anyone here ever heard of ADA compliant.

Anyway, we got here without indicent and Lydia and Yuri were faithfully waiting for us at the Ekat airport.
No problems with all our extra baggage of donations either, one plus !
We checked into our Business Room at the Park Inn, which cost a little more, but well worth it ! We have a little more room and a couch which is more comfort for 2 weeks. We were in our temporary home for the next 15 days.

Monday morning Lydia picked us up at 10a and off we went.  The boys were now in Room # 4, they upgraded to the bigger class !  When we got there we put on our usual booties (which we now had to buy ourselves at the pharmacy along with some diapers) and went up to their room.
When we went in they were all sitting in chairs wathcing a cartoon.  Pasha(Jack) sitting in the reclinder type chair (that's my boy) and when they told him Mama and Papa were there he turned and studied me up and down. You could see he was trying to remember and thinking "why are you interrupting my cartoon ?"
Sasha (Noah) was getting changed and they later brought him into the playroom.

What followed was a memory that I will never forget. The first of many to come. We had the GREATEST time. We laughed and played like there was no tomorrow. They grew up so much ! Not as much in weight in height but more in intelligence, play, understanding and cognitive growth.
Noah made a huge jump.  He never focused much before, but he was certainly following direction and engaging in interactive play fantastically and Jack was a riot !!  The way he would chase the ball and laugh and throw it back.  He is called the Professor by the staff because he is so serious, but boy, when you get him going--you laugh just listening to that belly laugh he has.  Apparently Jack is adored by alot of the caretakers as their favorite one....of course - he loves to sit, play and he listens.  Who wouldn't love that !   Noah is just differnt, he has his own drummer and he likes to not listen.  They won't be the first boys to be that different !

When the caretakers came in at noon and told the boys it was time for lunch, you have never seen a kid get up and run as fast as Jack did.  he loves his food, God Bless him.  My little pudge pudge ! Grandma is gonna have a great time feeding you, I'm gonna have to control you both.
Noah could care less, he was playing.

We went back to the hotel and tried to catch an hour of a nap. We were jet lag dragging.  Lydia picked us up at 4pm and we went through the same routine, but this time feeling again like pros.  We went into the room and when we called their names they both came running to us with open arms !  OMG, what a rush.
There could not have been a better, happier moment in my life than to experience that.  They rushed us and they wanted to be with Mama and Papa. 

We commenced playing some more. This time I took out the trampoline and mat in the playroom, and brought out some more books.  Jack is the organizer. He pulls toys out, lays them out, gives them to you and carefuly puts them all back. Noah takes all the neatly stacked toys that Jack put away and bull dozes right thru them again and throws them all over the floor.  Oh well, at least one of them is a neat freak !
Jack lifts the little red chairs that we all have seen and love from that Ekat Playroom and lines them up neatly as if there is a show about to commence.  Noah laughs and laughs and loves the ipod music, that is always a hit.

Do they remember us from March 2010?  We don't think so but they might, who knows and frankly it doesn't matter. We had the best first day of many firsts to come ! They are our boys and no matter what lies ahead, we will be there and do it together. I know development is always huge, and language and getting them to understand; but you know - this will happen in due time.  I don't want to make the next 12 months so much of a chore that I forget to just enjoy them and have fun.  I think sometimes through this process, everything becomes so clinical, financial and official - but right now, we are at the play stage and honestly I just want to stay there !

Will keep you all posted on the next 2 weeks !! We are here until Dec 27 and there will be Christmas celebrations and a Birthday party on the 26th as well !