HOME SWEET HOME!!!!

We have been home from Russia for two and a half weeks. I couldn’t update the blog due to technical difficulties. If you’re reading this, they should be finally solved!
How could I complain about anything? We are so blessed! However, the ups and downs continued. The morning we left Moscow was not graceful! Although we got to the airport 2 hours and 15 minutes early, it was almost not enough time for the Russian woman working for Aeroflot to sell me an infant/lap ticket. I needed this ticket for the Moscow to Amsterdam flight. After she finally hand wrote it, charged me and told me it probably wouldn’t work, I had to beg and plead for the customs agent to hurry and for the lolly-gaggers to get out of my way while I ran pulling my carry-on with one hand and pushing the stroller with the other. The Russian’s gasping in disbelief at my child without shoes or sock on. My friend Ken saved the day; he watched for me and had them hold the plane. I never before got on a plane that was backing out as I was walking to my seat. I was sweating and crying all at once. I just didn’t want to stay in Russia one more day!!!!!!!!
She was barefoot because she was sitting in the stroller so long she kept taking her shoes and socks off and throwing them, after a few times she didn’t get them back.
Amsterdam to Moscow was a nice fight, once I regained my composer. I had five hours in Amsterdam. The first couple hours we spent with Ken and Alexey, until their flight was called and we said good bye .I hope we get to see them, as well as Cathy again someday! They made my trip 100x’s better! God was obviously involved in all of our dates falling together. I can’t even picture what it would have been like for me without those two.
We were kind of hungry; I spent $14 US on a diet coke, a yogurt drink for Naomi and one granola bar, for us to split, ouch!
The 9 hour flight from Amsterdam to Minneapolis was unbelievable. The other passengers and flight attendants were so nice. Naomi slept so much, it was great!
It was hard to contain myself as I waited in the line to come through US customs. It went really smoothly, the luggage I checked in Moscow didn’t show up; guess I should have expected that. Everything seemed to take forever! I finally went through the doors and there they were! Craig and Scotty, Louie and my niece Ellie were holding a welcome home sign, and my sister in law Laura and Ned, my nephew who is six months younger than Naomi were waiting with flowers. Louie and Scotty looked so big to me! Scotty said,”are you crying? Why are you crying?” I gave them both big hugs and kisses, I tried to lift Scotty and I couldn’t believe how heavy he was. Craig had taken Naomi out of the stroller and was holding her, she looked very happy to see Dada again. The custom agent said when she goes through the doors she becomes a US citizen! What an exciting moment, after all went through, then we walked through the doors and rejoined the family, and she officially started her life as an American. Wow, you really can’t beat that.
Then, we went out to eat at Chipotle. After my famine in Moscow, it was my choice! Who cares if I had been up for over 24 hours?
Scotty brought Naomi for show n’ tell at his Montessori school, he is a proud big brother. Louie and Naomi are very natural together. Scotty and Naomi are very natural bath tub partners! This is what I see when I look back in my minivan now, there is a little space next to Louie back there, but let’s not talk about that!
The congregation at our church is so supportive, we were really excited to bring her to church for the first time. How does Craig multi-task like that? Good thing he has he-man arms! My parents provided the alter flowers and Naomi’s honor that day. Everyone was so pleased to finally meet her.
I’m getting use to the life of never being able to get a good picture of all three of them at one time; getting the dog to look too is hopeless.
Naomi is really going with the flow, it’s quite amazing.