Day Nine or...

Let's Play Ball!

On the way back from the Shelter this morning, we stopped at a sporting goods store. We bought a basketball and ping pong paddless and balls. We let Katya pick out the ball, and she picked out a blue one.

We have some clothes that our travel partners gave us, so Katya changed into some shorts and sports shoes, and we went downstairs to play basketball. We also played a little soccer, and Katya is very good!

Then it was back upstairs for a snack. The Rotmans, who adopted last year in Petropavlovsk, loaned us some movies dubbed in Russian, so Katya started watching Monsters Inc., and really seemed to enjoy it.

All too soon, it was time to return to the Shelter. I gave Katya a big hug and then it was on to grocery shopping at the Iceburg.

Katya won't be spending the night with us until after we have officially adopted her and we come back to get her. We want to give her more time to get to know us and feel comfortable spending that much time alone with us.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, we hope to take Katya out sightseeing and to do more shoppong.

Marina visited the Baby House and spoke to Cameron's doctor, Dr. Ludmilla. She can't wait to see Cameron, so we hope to visit early next week.

We found out a little about Katya's schedule. She gets up at 7:00 a.m. during the school year, and at 8:00 a.m. during holiday. They get three, three week long vacations during the year. She goes to bed at 9:00 p.m. She attends regular school, and there are 23 students in her class. In the afternoons they often watch TV. Her favorite show is a Russian soap opera about a babysitter!

Marina has rented an apartment in town. It makes it easier for her. She has spent so much time living in the hotel, that she got very tired of it. This way she has more room, and her own kitchen to cook in.

Tomorrow we are scheduled to go to another children's cafe.