First week home

Wow... We have already been home for a full week!  That flew by!  I can't even remember where I left off and I am feeling too lazy to look at my last post, so I will just recap our flight home...

We arrived at the Latvia airport Friday morning and got in line for our airline to check in.  We couldn't auto check in because we have paperwork that needed to be shown for the girls.  So we waited a good 1/2 hour in line only to get up to the front and be told that we were in the wrong line.  Apparently we were in line for a charter flight or something, so the lady pointed us to an even longer line right next to where we were.  Grrr....  So, we went and stood in that line for another 1/2 hour - 45 minutes.  Everything went fine from there, they checked us in, took our bags and we found our way to the gate.  We still had a little bit of time, so I went and found some coffee  (I hadn't had any yet because we had run out at the apartment!).  We boarded the plane and found our seats.  Jon and Mila were sitting in the row right behind Vika and I.  This was only a 2 hour flight (if that).  Everything went pretty smooth... Mila did start crying for some reason at one point, but Jon was able to calm her down.  I pulled out Angry Birds the last 1/2 hour of the flight for Vika and I to play, again thanking God for technology!

Once in the Amsterdam airport we had about 4 hours to kill before our flight to Atlanta.  We ate lunch and then found the free playground and let the girls run around and play (secretly hoping they would tire themselves out before the 10 hour flight!).  When it was time, we found our gate and were the second ones in line to board the plane (score!)... only to have the girls passports be rejected by the scanner as they were boarding us.  We were told to move to the counter so they could be checked.  I have no idea what was wrong with them (since they worked fine on the first flight!), but the KLM staff said that all the information was wrong and needed to be re entered.  This took sooooo long... they ended up having to hold the flight for us!  When we finally boarded the flight attendants were already moving people around and giving our seats away... ummm... I don't think so!  Everyone had to move back (we did get some dirty looks, but at that point I just felt like giving dirty looks right back!).  Settled into our seats, we were ready to go home!

The first part of the flight went fine, the girls colored and watched tv.  After dinner they watched more tv and started falling asleep.  The last 4 hours were pretty miserable.  They took turns waking up and crying.  I would just try to calm them and get them back to sleep.  I didn't sleep the whole flight! I was extremely happy when we landed!

So, now we have been home a week.  The girls are doing great... they are picking up English at lightning speed, it amazes me everyday!  I have started to teach them songs and the alphabet.  I have taken them out on a few errand runs and they seem to enjoy that.  They ask almost everyday when dance school is starting!  There are still power struggles, and they are still figuring out their place here, but I am encouraged at the progress I am seeing in areas!

We also have been talking a lot about family.  What a family is, and who is in our family.  They name everyone in our family, including Solomon, our dog! A few days ago after we named everyone Vika looked at me and said, "no family is no good."  I couldn't have said it better myself sweet one!  I am so thankful that God chose us to be a family to these little girls.