We're Baaaack!

Hello!! Long time, no post, huh?! Well, we spent some time in Oklahoma, and

just arrived in Nizhnevartovsk one week ago today. The flights went pretty well---the kids were great, and cooperated wonderfully!! Thanks for your prayers :)

When we arrived, it was snowing and there was maybe 1/2" of snow on the ground. However, it melted, and we haven't seen any snow since. The locals are saying that it is an unusually warm autumn, and that that means a severe winter---like -50 degrees celcius! I hope not!!!! I am hoping that a warm autumn means a "warm" winter. The temperature has been in the 20's to upper 30's, but this week it is expected to get much colder.

Emma started back to school on Thursday, after we finally got her to go see the doctor. Apparently she has been traumatized by the many doctors she has had to see, and she literally FREAKS out when she has to go. In this case, we bribed her, and finally got her to go, so that she could get a note saying she was well, and could return to school. That afternoon we baked cookies and took them to her class so she could visit. She was sooo excited and ran right in to play! The only thing negative she had to say was, "It's not fair that I don't get to stay at school a long time today!" But the next day, she was able to stay, and played with her friends. They even went to go see a puppet show!

Anyway....just adjusting to the time difference, and trying to get used to the fact that at 4:30pm it is dark! By 7, we feel like it is probably 10, and we should head to bed! I can't believe that in about 5 weeks it will be dark all day long! I will send pics of that! I love you all and hope to hear from you soon!!! Love, Juli

P.S. thought you might like to see a pic of Inna (our nanny) and Ivan on their wedding day!