Sunshine and Happiness - Moscow Trip 2, Day 7

What a gorgeous day outside! This is the first nice day we've seen since we've been here.

The day started with us checking out of our hotel and then heading to the orphanage. Traffic was a bit lighter than normal (shocker!) so we got there a bit before 10 which was great! Once there, we realized his group was already outside. We spotted the Peanut right away - he's the only little guy on the carousel type thing with dark hair. We got permission to head outside and so we did!

The backyard at the orphanage is huge! They have every piece of gym equipment you could imagine - slides, play houses, things to climb... you name it. Granted it's quite old but it works! There are tons of trees and little benches to sit on. It really is much better than anything I ever expected. It's obvious that the kids love to go out there. In the front yard they even have a greenhouse!

So, Keith went to go meet the caregiver to get the little guy. He saw us coming, put his head down and had a huge frown on his face. He slowly (and I mean s-l-o-w-l-y) started walking towards us. The caregiver helped him pick "flowers" (think branches off a tree) for me and he relutctantly headed our way. I wanted Keith to get him this time. I've been the one to comfort him and I thought it was important for Keith to show he could do the same. Well, as Keith crouched down the Peanut's face crumpled and he started bawling. Keith scooped him up and tried to calm him down. Honestly, I think it took about 3 minutes before the Peanut was pretending to be upset but was really just doing it for attention. Tickling gets him every time.

We started the day on the slide. It was still damp outside so the dirt was getting caked in his shoes. Keith took his feet while he was on the top of the slide and tapped them to knock some of it off. Well, let me tell you! This became a ritual. The Peanut would get to the top of the slide and kick his feet while yelling "Hiiiii-ya!" (karate-ish noise) and then it turned into "YA!". Over and over and over again. He thought he was the funniest thing in the whole entire world (and so did we!). He slide down over and over and over again. If his hands touched the dirt he would clap them together and if his hands didn't touch the dirt he would stick them in it and clap them off. :-)

He did face plant a few times and was eating dirt, but isn't that what boys do?? After the slide, we went on the little carousel kind of thing and each time he went past Keith, Keith would tickle him. That really got him started! Keith tossed him in the air, Keith and Alex swung him by the arms and legs - good old boy bonding. We, of course, had snacks and water which he loved and kept going after. He did the bubbles for a little bit but I think the wand is too small for his mouth so he wasn't very successful.

The poor little guy was in layers and layers of clothes. It was about 70 degrees out. Oh - we got to see quite the few temper tantrums too! He discovered my umbrella and we showed him how to push the button and it would open. He did it over and over and over again which was okay until he started throwing it and jumping on it. We told him "nyet" 95 times and his response was.... "da". Ahhhh... already a little wise guy. So, I took it away and he proceeded to throw himself face down on the ground and roll all in the dirt. It was quite comical. He didn't cry - he would just roll on his back, close his eyes and put on his mad face. I think we saw that about 4 times.

We think he's already figuring out our soft spot - his giggle. He seems to realize that if he gets in trouble and then gives us a belly laugh afterwards all is forgiven and right now that is the case. :-) Our translator told us we're much too easy on him. We know we are but we have caregivers watching us and it's not really our place to discipline him right now because it will all be undone once we give him back to them.

The day ended in tears. It was time for him to go back to the caregiver and his group. I gave him a hug and took his hand. He put his head down and that little frown came across his face and he slowly walked with me over. I went to pass his hand to the caregiver and he pulled it away and said "nyet!" and then said "I want to go with my mommy" (in Russian of course). Ummmm... hellllooooo!!! That's ME!! She explained to him that mama and papa had to leave but we would come back. She tried to guide him inside and he started crying. We went back to gather our stuff and when we came back inside he was still on the stairs crying and asking for mommy. They had to send another caregiver down to get him and bring him up for lunch.

Okay, people... he preferred ME to LUNCH. This is a BIG DEAL!!!! We said bye again and left. His poor caregivers were given an overstimulated child who probably had a pound of dirt in his pants from going down the slide and rolling in it. We felt bad that he was so sad, but glad at the same time - it means he's starting to understand who we are. Of course, the catch 22 is that we aren't going to visit tomorrow so we'll probably have one mad little dude on Thursday!

Well, tonight I'm making the family go to Red Square to take some pictures. Alex and Mandy are fast asleep but it's just too pretty of a day to not take advantage of the weather!

Paka!

Becky