The final day...

We are two for one more day, and then we are 4 forever. Tonight we will pack up and be ready to change rooms to a suite tomorrow. We leave early to get the girls, around 6:30am, and have lots to do in the am. We then return to Krasnoyarsk and sign some papers and return to the hotel. The passports for the girls should be ready next week sometime, hopefully before we leave on Wed. Then we will have a birthday party for Dasha with our adoption friends, the Dunns, in Moscow before they leave for home on Thurs. We will get the physicals for the girls on Wed. afternoon, and start the visa application on Thurs. It will be ready for pickup on Fri, and home on Sat. Wow, we are starting the final stretch.

Our time here has gone very fast, thanks in large part to our many new American friends. Now we are the only adoption family in the hotel that we know of, but we have so much to do it doesn't really matter. We had a nice dinner last night, and will have our final dinner as a couple tonight before life changes for the better.

We went to the outdoor mall again today, and stumbled upon a really cool children's store right next door to the mall. It had everything, except backpacks for little girls. We thought Sasha would like a little bag to put things in after she showed us how she like to put things in bags and carry it around during our visits. For those coming to Kras in the future, you have to check out the outdoor mall area. You can find everything, and prices are great. They have a huge indoor section that has all kinds of meat, fruit, veggies, spices, nuts, dried fruit, and even a little pet shop. Just about 6 blocks from the hotel. A nice walk if there is not 6 inches of ice on the sidewalk.

The count down is less than one day now, so we are counting the hours. Really, we are too busy getting things ready, diapers, food, clothes, etc. One last trip to the grocery store this afternoon and I think we are ready. Praying for a smooth transition.

Das Vidanya