Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday!

Wednesday
Another day of hurry up and wait! We still have more documents to sign today for passports. We are to meet Zhenia at 3:30. Anthony and Mark really wanted to experience the out market. It is very much like a flea market or for those of you who know...Trader's Village. It was quite the experience! Rebecca, Artuem, Linda, Me and the girls plus their friends head to the clothes area while Mark and Anthony went to the food area. Tanya hangs a bit with me and finds a guitar shaped purse. She wants it really bad. She asks about it and finds that it is 265 grivna...about $34. Her eyes bugged out when the lady told her then she looked at me with defeat realizing it was too expensive. We continue on and see the same purse in other places. We have caught up with Linda while looking at the purse in another area. Linda haggles with the lady and we get 15 grivna off. Tanya again looks to me as if to say 'it's cheaper and I want it bad'. I smile and give her the grivna to buy it. She is so happy!!

Meanwhile, Anya is looking for flip flops! She finds a pair she likes and again she thinks it to be to much money. We go from area to area finding the same flip flops. Instead of looking to Linda to haggle with them, she does it herself! She went back and forth between two different areas and finally feels good about the price offered! Wow! I couldn't wait to tell Mark! I told her she is a true Kapp now! She knows how to bargin hunt! She laughs and smiles big!

We bought a few more things for the girls and each time they say 'spa-ce-ba balshoy' aka a big thank you! They always say thank you even when we buy them an ice cream! We met up with everyone and ate lunch then all of us went to the food market. It was like the farmer's market for us. Sweet babooshkas were selling homemade meat and vegtable fried pies. All the kids saw this and begged for one. Pies for everyone! Just after lunch! Wow these kids can eat! We bought some yummy peaches, dried fruit and lollipops for all!

We still had a couple of hours before we meet with Zhenia so all the kids, Linda and I went to the Concord Mall and watched the new Harry Potter Movie! It was a nice nap time for me! I couldn't understand anything except that Dombledorf dies! Oh No! Hope I didn't ruin the movie for anyone! LOL!

After the movie we briskly walk about 2 miles to our flat. Irene was there with Mark waiting on me. We had to be at the passport office at 4pm. It was only 3:37 and the passport office is 10 minute drive away. Mark said Zhenia was upset that we were late. ????? We totally make it on time only to wait some more! We sign the birth certificates and wait some more then sign some more documents!

Back at the flat the kids were hungry so it was pizza for all!!! We walk with Rebecca, Artuem, Linda, the girls and their three friends, Mark and I to the pizza place around the corner. I lost count at 7 pizzas. All were stuffed and it was back home for showers and yet another movie.

Thursday
It is Anthony's last day in Poltava! His time with us went so fast! We were to meet Zhenia again today at 4pm. We sat around the apartment and Louda and Anna, friends of Anya's, wanted me to make them over. It was fun! I tried to get Anya to let me make her over. No way she said! Mark left with Linda to go to the train station to get tickets for us to go to Kiev on Saturday. The kids plus Anthony were bored so all nine of us decided to take a walk to the orphanage. About a 1/4 of the way there we stopped for ice cream and soda. I called Zhenia at this point to check the time of our meeting and let him know where we are going. He said to enjoy! We continue our walk and I got to show Anthony the park where I spent the first day with the girls! We were then on the road that leads to the orphanage and Irene and Zhenia drive by in a taxi, waving and smiling. We arrive at the orphanage and look around a bit outside. We go inside and make it into the wash room when the kids say the director is here and wants to say hello. I say hi and introduce Anthony. She looks perplexed and very upset. We leave immediately. When just outside the gate the director pulls up in her car. Anthony and I are about 20 feet ahead of the kids. The director has the driver turn off the car and she chats with the kids and as she drives away I try to wave but she has a very upset look on her face. I am so confused. About 1/2 way back to the flat we get a frantic call from Zhenia telling us to immediately go back to the flat. Director is upset that so many kids are away from camp and with Americans. I feel bad that I have caused such a disturbance but had no clue of any issues with this! Apparently if the other kids are seen with us it would not be good for the director. Her job is still on the line regarding all the American adoptions. It makes no sense to me!

We meet with Zhenia, sign more papers then back to the flat. We send all the friends off to the camp via taxi and just our family goes to Khazachok Restaurant for a last meal with Anthony. The girls are funny and silly on our walk to the restaurant. At the restaurant, we were trying to remember the word for potatoe pancakes. The girls were trying to trick us into saying it the wrong way. The waiter was laughing at us! It was a nice dinner.

We walk back to the flat, get Anthony's things and meet with two taxi's and Linda to head to the train station. The girls want only Anthony to ride with them in one cab. They love him so much. I love that! We say our good byes.

Friday,
The girls begged to go back to camp the day before so we have decided to let them go on the train and they have agreed to be back at 4pm. The get up early and rush out the door but come back about 30 minutes later. They have missed the train. Luckily Linda was just about to leave to take Artuem to the camp so they got a ride with her. Mark and I packed and cleaned. 4:15 rolls around and no girls. Linda has arranged for paint ball for all the kids. We call the girls and cannot reach them. I have Sue's daughter call friends and they are still out at the camp. Zhenia was counting on them being back as well so he could get a photo of them for their documents. I called Zhenia to tell them there is no train to bring them back until 8pm. He agrees to go and get them by taxi. When the arrive Anya is very upset. She wanted to stay longer with her friends. We go with taxi driver and Zhenia to go eat and the mood lightened up after that. We get home and pack up the rest of our things and it is off to bed.

Saturday
6am we all get up and get ready to leave for Kiev. The landlord arrives at 6:30 to finalize our bill and collect the key. 7am taxi arrives and we are off to the train station. The girl's brother is meeting us there to say good bye. When we arrive he is there with an older woman and another man. It's their grandmother and their mother's brother. Wow! I was not expecting to meet them. I had asked Anya several times if she wanted us to meet them or her mother and she said no. She told Linda about her mother and did not want us to meet her. The grandmother is so sweet. She brought us apples for the trip. She cries as she hugs me and kisses me several times on the cheek. She is happy for the girls but sooo sad that they are leaving. I give her our address and promise to keep in touch. She talks to us a bit about their mom and apologizes for not being able to care for them. She tells us that the girls were very excited after they returned home at Christmas. They showed her all the pictures. She tells us she knows we are good people and will take good care of them. She hugs me and holds my hand the entire time while waiting on the train. It was a very difficult thing to endure. Part of me felt horrible for taking the girls from her. It was obvious she loves them very much but has no means to care for them.

The train arrives and it is time to board. All three families and allllll the endless luggage was quite an ordeal to load. All of our taxi drivers stayed with us to see us off. We had become good friends with them. They were all kind to help the guys load the luggage. One last hug to the grandmother then their brother hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheek and said good luck in english. I was fighting back the intense lump in my throat at this point. We get all the luggage setteled in the train compartments and Mark and I sit alone. He held me while I let it out and cried!!! Linda came into our compartment and just sat with me and hugged me too! I told her I did not want the girls so see me so upset. About that time Tanya came around the corner and Linda got her and took her to another compartment. I finally dried my eyes, put on some make up and a happy face!

Several times Anya has said she wants to just stay in Poltava. Not meaning she doesn't want to be adopted. She is having a real hard time leaving her friends. Anger and defiance is how they both handle tough emotions. We arrive in Kiev and it is a huge hassle with many stairs to get to the taxi with all the dang luggage!! All the families are trying to get the kids to participate in helping and well....just isn't happening. We finally load the van and get to our flat. It's a very large flat. Older one, as most affordable ones are in Kiev. We are just across the street from McDonald's on Independence Square. The girls are very mopy, sad and tired. We get settled then meet the others for lunch and a walk in Kiev. We come across a haunted house and all the kids, Linda and Mark go in. Mommas stay outside and wait. They all come out and said it was very scary and then were laughing at Mark because he screamed so much. Pretty funny! We go back to the flat after a couple of hours of site seeing and all of us take a much needed nap. We get up late eat a bit and watch some tv, shower, then it was back to bed.

Sunday we plan to go to church with Katia and Dara!