KINDERGARTEN

 I can hardly believe that one of my babies is in kindergarten.  It seems like they just came home a year ago!  This is her special 1st Day of Kindergarten outfit.  Hello Kitty ensemble including a Hello Kitty backpack and lunch bag.  Leeza was very excited and a little nervous.  She loved all the attention.

 This will be the first time they will not be in the same building.  They have been in different classes off and on, but always saw each other multiple times throughout the day.  Sasha's teacher Ms Tracey promised her a piggyback ride if she didn't cry all week.  Sasha is very excited about that.

 I love this picture.  Sisters and best friends forever.

 Here we are outside the school.  Still all smiles.

 And into the big girl school.  Leeza will attend the before and after school program so I drop her off at 7-7:15 and she is in the cafeteria until school starts at 8:20.  They have games and a TV and coloring etc that she can do.

We all walked Leeza into the school, signed her in, put her backpack in the cubby and said goodbye.  She would not give Sasha a hug.  By this time, the smile was going and the nerves were taking over.  Mommy started getting ready to cry, Leeza started getting ready to cry.  Mommy and Sasha left quickly before the tears started.  There may have been a few tears, but I think they were Mommy tears and not Leeza tears.  the first day was only a half day so Leeza spent most of her time in the cafeteria.  She fell asleep in the afternoon watching It's a Bug's life on the TV.  Orientation was the night before so she had met her teacher(and so did Sasha) and put all her supplies away.Her teacher is Mrs Fitzgerald.  She has been teaching about 30 years and seems to be a good match for Leeza.  Her classroom is at the far end of the school next to the library. 

Pony Express Days

 It was Pony Express weekend at Mt Zion today.  We went to the carnival and had a good time.  They had a lot less there this year than last year- no ponies, no face painting and a few less rides.  The girls still had a good time though which is all the counts

 They really like the little alligator roller coaster. We went on this one about 4 times.

They had a seating area near the big slide.  I sat while the girls went on the slide over and over and over again.

Dance Classes

I signed the girls up this morning for dance class- ballet and tap.  Now I am sitting here wondering what kind of idiot signs a 4 aqnd 5 year old up for TAP which means they get TAP shoes.  ARRGGH!  I can see them both driving me crazy with the tap tap tap tapping. We go Monday to pick out their tap shoes.  I ordered their leotards and ballet shoes today.  Between dance classes and school registration fees, there goes any savings from less daycare.

3 Years

3 years ago today, after 5 planes and 40 hours of travel, I met my girls.  Life has never been the same.  It seems like so so long ago that I made that trip, but I will never forget it.

I remember the "airport hotel" that turned out to be a bench in the lobby.  the little old russian lady who gave me coffee made from water in a mason jar.(and me drinking it as I remembered the multiple Do Not drink the water warnings)  Arriving in Shymkent totally exhausted.  Going to the Ministry of Education for my interview that was suppose to last about 45 minutes.  The lady asked me the first question- Why did you come to Kazakhstan?  I was supposed to say Because I would like to adopt a child.  Instead my mind went blank, I looked at the interpreter and said-I don't understand the question.  They looked at each other, I am convinced they decided I was an idiot and said I should come back later.  I never did go back!  Less than 30 minutes later, I was in the babyhouse holding my Leeza and looking (briefly) at my Sasha.

Fish Pond

After we went to the Decatur Celebration, the girls wanted to eat McDonalds.  I did not feel like it so I told them, we would get Mom Chinese buffet takeout and then go to the McDonalds drive through.  We went in and the girls(like they always do) stopped to look at the fish in the small fish pond inside the Chinese restaurant.  I gave them the rules that they were not to touch the fish or the water.  I went to box up the food.  I was partially done, when they came over to see me.  I told them to go back and watch the fish.  As I was finishing up, Leeza came running and told me that Sasha had fallen in the fish pond.  I went to see what happened -expecting to see her shirt a little wet.  When I went around the corner, I saw the very proper Chinese lady that runs the cash register standing there with about 100 napkins in each hand, patting sasha's head. She was soaked from her head to her shoes.

She had about a 3 ft diameter puddle of water around her feet.  The Lady kept apologizing and I thought that was strange since it was my kid that went into their pond.  Every time I looked at Sasha, I started to laugh and she would start to cry and say Why are you laughing at me? 
I tried to figure out how she got so wet.  The pond is less than a foot deep.  Leeza tells me that Sasha was looking at the fish and she bent over and basically summersaulted into the water.  The lady at the restaurant gave both girls suckers to keep them from crying.  Fortunately, I had some towels in the van since we had been swimming Friday.  The only bad part is now I can't show my face in my favorite Chinese restaurant for a long long time.

Decatur Celebration

This mini ferris wheel was the girls favorite ride.  They are a little afraid to go on the big one yet, but they loved this one.

Both girls decided they wanted to do the bunge jump.

Sasha was first and she had a great time.

Then they strapped in Leeza.

Up up went Sasha.

Leeza took off.

And went flying.  She went to almost horzontal with the tops of the poles.

Fly girls fly!

We also stopped by the petting zoo at the Celebration.  The girls love all the snakes and reptiles.  We always have to pet the snakes because we know how much Grandma loves snakes!

Sasha was a little upset that she couldn't pet the BIG python today.  He is about 20+ ft long, but he was in a cage today.  They need about 3 people watching him if they are going to let the kids touch him.  This little Boa had to do for petting.

Visit to Grandma's House

 We went out to Grandma's house for a visit.  The girls had a great time.  Grandma took them to Target to get just one present.  Sasha came back with 2 cars and Leeza got 3 Barbies.

 Leeza really likes barkies and all other dolls.  She wants to have 9 babies when she grows up.  Good thing she also wants to be a Doctor so at least maybe she can afford those 9 kids.  We also went to the Children's museum, but i fogot my camera so no pictures of that.

 Leeza really liked to feed the turtles.  She spent a lot of time in their pen.

 The girls went swimming in the small wading pool that Grandma had.  Then Leeza decided to toss water on Eric or that boy as Leeza called him.  Eventually, Niki got in the act and all 4 got drenched.  Leeza also kissed that boy Eric.  Watch out Niki- she is after your fiance.

 Leeza and Clea just hanging out.  Leeza loves dogs now.  So different from when she first came home.

 Grandma gave the girls their baths each night.  They like the bubbles.

We had a good time visiting Grandma.  The girls also went to the local swiiming pool with Grandma and several other outings.