Things have been hectic around here! School has been in session for 2 weeks already. Clubs and sports are starting.
And I’ve fallen behind on my blog posts.
And my brother’s not too happy about it . . . he’s the one leaving the anonymous comments
!
So, here’s day 3 of our trip to Sofia’s hometown . . .
The day started with a walk over to the Hermitage, where we couldn’t resist a photo op with a circus bear. Unfortunately for us, the circus is on tour in July and August so we weren’t able to go see it – something the kids had really wanted to do.
The courtyard, on our way through . . . we were headed over to another church.
The souvenir stands across the street from the church. This is the largest group of them I had seen in the city . .. usually there were between 5 and 12, but there must have been at least 50 here.
The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood.
Passing by the Hermitage again on our way back. There were not so many people because it was CLOSED!
A wedding couple was having their photos done in the courtyard – that’s their coach in the background. We saw quite a few wedding photo-ops during our trip,
Afternoon swim back at the hotel. The kids swam everyday.
Making a whirlpool in the hot tub.
Stefan’s mom, Sofia and Joel in the hotel lobby . . . waiting to be picked up by Vlad.
Part of our trip included getting together with Sofia’s great-grandmother, Babushka Tonya. The original plan was to go to her house, but the road was closed so she took the metro and met us on the edge of the city instead (it was a movie theatre, but there was a café we could meet in).
With the doll she got from Babushka.
We were also able to go to the children’s home . . . the social worker who had Sofia’s case was also with us. The home is now closed and undergoing renovation to become a hospital for children with disabilities as well as a kindergarten(?), but someone happened to be there and Tatyana managed to get us permission to go inside.
This was the room where we first met Sofia, and these were the chairs we sat in for our first picture together.
Sofia was really interested in playing outside in the many gardens and playgrounds, as well as acting out many of the moments we have on dvd from our first visits with her.
We got back to the hotel quite late, and since we hadn’t eaten dinner, we ate at the hotel restaurant . . . most had Caesar salad, but Mattias chose this potato salad with Ox tongue. He is an adventurous eater!
Joel, getting ready for bed. He bought this hat as well as the one Mattias is wearing in the photo below.
Our room was very room-y! To the right, there is one more folding cot!
It was a long day, but a good one!
That’s all for now!
Barb
9 friends had something to say . . .:
Love the picture of Sofia with Babushka. That`s a smile of a pretty girl. Babushka should have this picture as a remembrance.
Nice HAT Joel!
Have a Happy Day!!
Can you make that salad?
Mattias Have a Happy Day!!
Ok...I was moved from smiles to tears and then giggles with this post. The pictures of Sofia with Babushka and at the Children's Home were very moving and really touched me. This may sound silly but I am so proud of you for doing this trip and taking Sofia...I am sure it meant a lot to her. And the pictures of your boys being silly helped to pull me out of my tears...they were wonderful. It looks like a great trip! Hugs from Kansas!
Kristine
I am new to your blog through Russian Blogs Galore and am waiting for our court date to be set in St. Petersburg (they say Sept. 20th but nothing official until next week). Our little girl is in Baby home #16. We first met her June 1st and it seems that when we left everyone went on vacation. Can you tell if any officials are working? We miss her so much! Thanks for sharing. What a blessing for your daughter (and the whole family) to be able to return and experience her history.
Tack för berättelsen om er resa och för bilderna! Den gamla damen ser yngre ut än jag trodde att hon skulle göra...Hälsn A-L
How great that you met with Sofia's Babushka, and were able to go to the Baby Home! That is a trip we hope to make someday with Angelina.
Seeing glimpses of the hotel - the Petro Palace - in your photos was a treat. It is where we spent our first weeks as a new family! In fact, all of your photos of St. Pete brought back special memories for us. My hubby and I really enjoyed this post . . . thank you! :)
How great that you were able to do this trip with Sofia! I would love to do the same with Katya some day.
How'd she do? Just reading about this day made me feel tense on her behalf.
And I notice Sofia is the only one dogless in the header...
The yellow building to the right of the stables (the round building with the kiosks outside it) was our apartment building! You spent the day in our old backyard.
How special that Sofia got to meet up with her Babushka and got to see the children's home! Did she have any memories of her own from her time there, or are most of them from the DVD now? And, how about the language? Was she able to communicate with Babushka?
I, too, had for some reason pictured Babushka to be older...it's so lovely that you are able to keep contact; it must mean the world to her! (and Sofia, of course :D)
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