A Fast Day

Today went really fast for two reasons. First we didn't have to be up at any certain time so we all slept in until about 10 o'clock. (Ted may have gotten up earlier) Also, because we left Lela's house in the afternoon to go to the Orphanage. Aloyna, Lela's translator, was there and we were able to meet her and have lunch with her this afternoon.(Cole, we weren't able to give her your present because we didn't know we were going to run into her today but she said you were greatly missed among your friends.) She said Cole was the class' entertainer. We were also able to see some of the fourth grade class today while we waited for Natasha to come out. We took some pictures of the orphanage, as well, for you to see. One of the directors came out while we were taking pictures so we stopped and couldn't get as many as we wanted to of all the children but I know we will have other opportunities. I don't think the director minded that we were taking pictures. I think she was just wanting the children who were outside to go in and get a coat on. One of the girls Vica G.(I think) was holding one of the many dogs that hang around the orphanage. I was wishing I could have gotten a picture of her (It was so cute because the dog was almost as big as her!) but this was around the time the director had first come out.
natasha came out and we all piled into Viktor's van and we went to a restaurant and ordered pizza. The pizza is basically the same here but there was no tomato sauce on it. They gave us a really tiny side dish of ketchup if we wanted to put that on the pizza. It was a nice lunch and we were lucky to have gone at the time we did because at the end of the meal all the power in the restaurant went out and we were left sitting in the dark until we left.
We then returned to the Internot to do some crafts with the kids. Ty, your snowflake crafts were a hit! The kids started out making snowflakes and then came up with other wonderful ideas. Trees,flowers, hearts etc. I made a candycane but no one seemed to know what it was! Viktor came to take us back to Lela's at 5 because this is when the children at the Internot go and do their homework. We were able to get some pictures of one of Natasha's teachers. I am so bad with remembering names so I can't say who it was sorry! But I know that Natasha is very close to her. She is so sweet as well. She wanted to have Ariana in the picture and she made Natasha climb up these compartment shelves that are in the playroom to get down this Christmas decoration for Ariana to hold. It was funny.
Amy, we asked Inna about Lena's books. She didn't know which books you meant so if you could get us some names we'll ask her again. It was a fast day but we are hoping to spend more time with Natasha this weekend and maybe do some shopping. Berger's we saw Yuri again on the way out and he waved and said hello and to have a good night. I wish we could have gotten another picture but he was on his way upstairs to do his homework when we saw him. I'm glad we were able to spend more time with the other children they are all really sweet kids and it is SO nice to have Michelle there to help us communicate with them all.