Quick Day at Cradle of Childrens Hope

I have a lot to share, but time is tight tonight.  Had a nice quick time at the orphanage today, spending more time with Samuel.  I skyped with Nellie and told her that as we were leaving, Samuel was calling out, Mama, Mama.  He routinely calls me Mama, and sometimes Zach as well, but several times today  I could tell he missed Nellie.  Here are some photos from today.  I'm missing my lost/stolen camera. The sunlight overexposure in these photos is making me kind of crazy. :0  If you see someone on a minibus or around Novoselki showing off their new powershot sx130, please make a citizens arrest on my behalf.   Going from that camera to this is like having a rental reservation for a decked out Expedition, and the car you end up with is a Ford Tempo. 

I told Nina I had to get some photos of her for her Mama.  She was thrilled.  Nina is another sweet kid here at the orphanage.

Anya posing for a photo.  I was doting on Artium at the time. 

Samuel rode this tricycle quite a bit.  Jessie was following along.  Later, Samuel was in the sandbox making sand castles, when I kid you not, Jessie (a dog) comes into the sandbox, where kids are playing, and proceeds to prepare to make a pile.  I literally lifted Jessie out of the sandbox, and told her to get lost.  She found a nice spot close by to do her thang. 

This is Sasha, a perfectly delightful boy, until he tried to get $5.00 from me for taking a photo with Samuel later.  I said, "nice try, buddy".  I think he sort of meant it, sort of didn't.  It's not like there are a lot of opportunities for allowance in Novoselki.  Jeanne told me today a family from MN has interest in adopting him. 
    

Every time I hold the camera up, I would say, "for Mama", and Samuel would say "Cheese".  He is so good in pictures.  He misses his Mama. 

I think the kid in the green shirt is Ruslan.  I didn't know the kid in back of us was even in the photo.  Don't know his name.  If my face or general complexion doesn't look thinner, then blame Zach, because he keeps inventing ways to get me to McDonalds since Nellie and Matthias left.  My belt actually broke yesterday at the orphanage, and Sergei fixed it.  People here walk a lot, so I was hoping to shed a few pounds....MUST NOT EAT AT MACS.....

This is Artium, very cross with Papa, because I wouldn't let him play with the camera.  I'm not letting this one out of my sight.  He doesn't really respond to Samuel yet, so I interchange the name on the blog, as I do when I talk to him.

And one last photo of Nina, with Jeanne Ritzman pictured in the background, and Alena Dillner is partially in the photo.  No pictures of Jessie today at all.