I am relieved Halloween is over!

Is it just me, or has Halloween gotten completely out of control? When Target has to sell orange and black 50 gallon containers to store the truckloads of decorations people are buying, haven't we gone a little too far? Halloween is a $5 billion dollar holiday! What? I don't get it. I went to the bank today and the manager was Dracula? Huh. It's just ONE day that your kids rummage through your extra closets, come up with a costume of sorts and then bug your neighbors for candy. Now, people are decorating their houses and yards beginning October 1st, complete with sound effects and mechanical creatures in the yard. Come on folks, Halloween doesn't symbolize anything, or at least anything most of us care about. Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of summer and the harvest. It also marked the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. So if any of you are celebrating the end of summer and your harvest, and you feel like the worlds between the living and the dead are blurred tonight, just forgive me now! I can understand decorating for Christmas, because it symbolizes something many of us actually celebrate. Like I said, I just don't get it. I'm putting my soap box away now...

So...Katya wouldn't wear a costume, but she did agree to a little face make-up and a wig, which to us constituted a costume. She practiced on our neighbors first, mixing up the "Trick or Treat" a few times, but she soon mastered the magic words and off they went to conquer the neighborhood! Katie and Katya had fun and it left me at home to give out candy. Whew...I'm glad that's over!

October 31

The photo above is Katya waiting for the tutor to arrive. She was so excited to show her that she had memorized all of her homework AND she could actually identify all of the words! She walked around the house pointing out floor, window, shelf, etc.

Olga tried to explain Halloween to Katya but she cannot understand why kids wear a costume! I took her to a costume store and she wasn't interested in any of them. I told her she had to wear a costume to go Trick-or-Treating and she wasn't happy about that! Katie is coming over tonight to take her around the neighborhood so perhaps Katie will have better luck than I did with convincing her to wear some sort of costume!

Life is Grand!

Things in our household continue to get better and better. Katya hasn't called Russia since September 28th. She hasn't asked to go over to our Russian neighbors house for at least two weeks. She hasn't said "no" or cried in recent memory. She actually hugs us now, instead of standing in a rigid stance with her arms to her side. She is smiling constantly and has random bursts of affection when we least expect it. When I was tucking her into bed tonight, I told her she was "my baby." She said, "No baby Mama, I big!" I told her that Katie and Steven were my babies too. She asked, "three babies", and I said yes. She then said, "Four babies Mama, Sasha in Russia your baby too." (The Sasha she is referring to is a 9-year old boy at Podolsk Orphanage.) I said, "NO Katya, no more babies!" She kept saying, "Please Mama, please, four babies!" Sasha is an adorable boy who is a true orphan and was so sad to see Katya go. What have I started!

Tomorrow the tutor will attempt to explain Halloween to her. I'm sure she'll want to Trick-or-treat. This should be interesting.
It will be more interesting to see what costume she decided to wear....I'll post photos.

Queen of the Remote!

Katya did so well today with Olga the tutor that I allowed her to watch one of her favorite movies tonight, Flicka! She loves anything and everything about horses! Katie keeps teasing me that she's going to come for a visit one day and find a horse grazing in our backyard! I always said that I would NEVER own a cat and within three days of arriving home with Katya we had a cat! (I say whatever works!)

Katya now has a boyfriend named Michael. She came home today with a glossy 5x7 photo of him that she put on the refrigerator! I have no idea how they communicated this fondness for one another but evidently they are a "couple" at school. I'm in so much trouble.....

Silent Auction Season!

I am up to my eyeballs in work for the silent auction which is a week from Saturday. I got a really late start this year with publicity, preparation and recruitment so I am terribly behind. The donations are trickling in, so I am praying for a last minute onslaught of items! I always worry, then at the end I ask myself why I worried so much.

Katya is wondering why there are tables set up in our living room with all kinds of interesting stuff on display! Trying to explain an auction in the 200 or so Russian words I know is difficult. I think I'll have the tutor explain the concept to her! She continues to blossom everyday. She's even learned the joy of hugging! When I hugged and kissed her goodnight this evening she wouldn't let me go! She is becoming more affectionate as the weeks go on. Her vocabulary is expanding quickly thanks to school and her tutor Olga. She hasn't called Russia or had a sad period in weeks! After just seven weeks she is settling in and feeling at home. Thank goodness!

Back from Sunny Florida

We had a great weekend celebrating the wedding of our friend Chick. The wedding was gorgeous and we are so thankful we could be part of their very happy occasion!

Katya had a great weekend as well, hanging out with my friends being waited on and catered to the entire time! She had a manicure and pedicure, and now I'm afraid she won't want to do her nails anymore! I can just hear it now..."Mama, I need to go to the nail salon, my nails are looking a little shabby!" She is such a girly girl; I now hide my make-up in my closet or she will put it on and not want to wash it off. I think 12 is a tad too young to wear eyeliner, mascara and lipstick! She wants to wear "dangly" earrings and anything that sparkles. Her leopard print shoes are wearing out and she is heartbroken. The thought of wearing plain shoes is just too much to bear! When I took her to the store to buy tennis shoes, she wouldn't even look at the New Balance or Adidas shoes. She selected a sleek pair of Guess black tennis shoes with gold laces! Of course they were the most expensive shoes in the store, but I knew if I insisted on the more athletic looking shoes she wouldn't wear them. I've learned the hard way on that front, if she doesn't absolutely love the item, she won't wear it once we bring it home. If I try to talk her into a particular item, forget it! She'll reluctantly agree to it in the store, then not wear it after purchase.
Patience, patience, patience...

A wedding in Florida

Fred and I are in Florida today at a wedding of our dear friend Chick Hollis, now Chick Russell! Actually she is Maryellen but we've always known her as Chick! It was a beautiful wedding and Chick was radiant.

Katya is home this weekend with two of my friends, being spoiled rotten I'm sure! I can't wait to hear about their adventures when I get home tomorrow! I'm sure she is having a wonderful time.

Auction to Benefit Russian Orphans

Katya has the best sister and brother ever!

Last Saturday Katie and Steven took Katya to Kings Dominion in Richmond. She had a WONDERFUL time riding the roller coasters and spending the day with her siblings! She ate unlimited quantities of french fries and ice cream so she was especially happy! She is fearless, and rode all the roller coasters except for the Hypersonic XLC, the only compressed-air launch coaster in the United States. It apparently goes 0 to 60 in a few seconds and I think it just looked too scary! Fred and I took advantage of our "day off" and drove down to Norfolk to visit our friends the Stampers and Herberts. We had a great time catching up on their lives and Fred enjoyed a game of golf with Wayne. We even played Beer Pong! Yes, even old people play Beer Pong! Fred was awesome! Living in a fraternity house for three years and having plenty of practice helps a lot!! Maybe it's like riding a bicycle, you never forget! It was great fun and we enjoyed our time with our friends very much.

My fashionista daughter!

Katya has a very keen sense of fashion! Where she learned this fashion sense I have no idea! She often points me back upstairs in the morning after getting dressed to "try again." She is very European in her belief that your clothes must be tight! She was in fits of laughter the other day when I put on my pajamas. She even thinks my pajamas should fit tightly and be beautiful. Granted my pajamas are big and ripped, but I love them. She stepped into my pajamas to illustrate just how large they are, and made the rip even larger! (I blurred it out). I don't think I will ever measure up to her idea of how I should dress, but at least she makes me pay a little more attention!

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Below is the latest report posted on their blog of my cousin's son's battle with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT). It is such a miracle that I had to share it with you. We have all been praying for Ryan since February and truly believe in the power of prayer and in miracles! What a happy day!



CLEAR!!!!! The preliminary report came in all clear. Ryan's scan is being reviewed all over the world right now but the first report from Australia says "all clear". Dr. Buck has seen the scan and says he doesn't see any sign of disease. The seeding that remained when we began stem cell ( seeding - cancer deep in his pelvis that looked like sugar sprinkled down in there - too small to remove when he had is tumor removal operation and that we had to rely on chemo, stem cell and radiation to remove) is gone as well as the mass on his colon and his liver is completely healed. Reports will still be coming in but Dr. Buck was very excited. There is apparently one doctor in particular he wants his opinion on the scan. Ryan is suppose to start radiation early next week (he will call with a time) and he will have radiation for 4 weeks only and general radiation not any extra on sites that we thought cancer would still be in.
We are beyond happy! We have all been in tears of joy. We want to thank everyone who prayed for Ryan thru this awful ordeal.. Even though it is not over just yet he would not be here without your help and prayers!!! We are still trying to soak in the news so as I get more information we will let you know. Praise God and bless you all!
Melinda, Jeff, Tyler and Ryan

Back in the Saddle Again

Our weekend in North Carolina was wonderful! Our hosts, my Aunt Sheila (shown in photo) and Uncle Dick rolled out the red carpet and treated us like royalty. My Uncle Mike and Aunt Judy also wined and dined us in their beautiful home. It is so nice to have TWO sets of relatives in one town! Now it's time for my parents to move to Pinehurst/Southern Pines, then the Davis clan would all be together! Hint, hint!

We returned to seven Russian guests from the Russian Peace Foundation already settled in our home. Katya was certainly thrilled to have seven people to converse with, and I was thrilled to have seven interpreters! I have been quite busy this week cooking, transporting and entertaining these folks, but the Russians show us such warm hospitality when we visit their country, so it was only right that I return the favor. They go home tomorrow with sunburns and suitcases full of souvenirs, and I will come home from the airport and sleep for a week!

Katya's English is getting better by the day, which makes life and school easier for her. A tutor comes in twice a week for two hours each time so this extra help will speed the process along. We found the world's nicest person to tutor Katya, at the dog park! Olga is from Belarus, where she earned her law degree. She came to America in 2005-2006 and earned her Masters of Law at the University of Florida (GO GATORS!) She moved to Washington, DC with the dream of attending law school at either Georgetown, American, George Washington or George Mason University. Keep your fingers crossed she'll get in one of our local law schools. She's also applied to law school at UF, but she would prefer to live here because she has a family in DC who lets her live there rent free. Olga will not accept money for tutoring because she is 'paying it forward.' A nice person in Belarus taught her English and would not accept money so she says she must do the same for someone else. I have gotten quite creative with slipping gifts into her car, gift cards into her purse and I insist she eat dinner with us on her evenings here. I told Katya she would have to pay it forward when she grows up, and she's promised she will.

Escape to North Carolina

We escaped to North Carolina this weekend to see my Aunt Sheila and Uncle Dick, and my Aunt Judy and Uncle Mike! They live in the beautiful community of Pinehurst, which is golf central! Fred will be enjoying 18 holes tomorrow, and Katya, Katie and I will be staying in our pajamas and watching the first two episodes of this season's Gray's Anatomy, and just "chillin" as they say! It is beautiful here, and we are enjoying the time away and the company of our family! Katya is basking in the attention, and I am enjoying the break.

Life at the Buoni House

Katya received her US Citizenship Papers today! I blurred the numbers because I am posting the certificate on the blog, but you can double click on the image and it will enlarge.

We had a rough day yesterday, as my neighbors can attest! Katya didn't like what we were telling her (to sit at the table and eat) so she tore out of the house to run to a friend's house who speaks Russian. This friend lives about a half mile away. Fred was in hot pursuit and when it was over we brought her back to the house kicking and screaming! Not exactly poster parents for adoption!! It took her awhile to calm down she apologized today. She told a Russian speaking friend that she didn't realize there would be rules in America. I would love to crawl inside her mind and figure out what she thought family life would be like. I bought a book about adopting older children, and compared to the children in the book we have it easy. The frustration of not being able to communicate on top of not really understanding family life equals one confused child! It takes time and patience and we certainly have both so we will just take one day at a time. She is a precious, inquisitive, bright and bubbly child who brings so much joy to our family. We will look back at these struggles one day and laugh I'm sure.

Whirlwind Weekend!

This past weekend was great! My sister Anne and her husband John flew in on Saturday for Katya's baptism on Sunday. It was great to have family here for this special event. Steven and Katie came home on Saturday for the weekend too. Wes, Caroline and Adam drove in from James Madison University to attend the baptism as well. They have been to Podolsk Orphanage multiple times and Katya adores them. It was great to see everyone and I'm so grateful Wes, Caroline, Adam, Vicki, Chris, Ken, Jeff, Lisa, Randy and Judy could be a part of Kaya's baptism. Our friend Randy translated during the service so Katya could answer the questions asked by our pastor. We had a wonderful luncheon after church where many of our friends joined us.

Naturally Katya fell in love with Anne and John, so a trip to California is in our future. I want Katya to meet her cousins and see a different part of America such as Disneyland, Hollywood and the Pacific coast! There are so many trips I want to take, but there is only so much time and money!