About 2:00 we loaded up all our stuff and headed over to the orphanage where we saw Misha and Anna briefly and gave them gifts. Misha enjoyed his "build-a-car-out-of-81-pieces" gift, though there really wasn't time to do more than open it. Anna loved her bubbles. The wand was actually a duck whose beak you dipped in the solution and you blew on the straw at the other end. This gave you not only the desired bubbles, but caused the wings on the duck to spin. I don't know that Anna had ever played with bubbles before.
We were soon led upstairs to the multi-purpose room where we were seated as guests of honor. A brief welcome was given by one of the girls and then Anna and 5 other children came skipping out holding stuffed animals. They performed a darling dance using the animals as props. The girls all had matching dresses with big bows in their hair. The boys wore satin type bloomers and t-shirts. Anna was very sure of herself and seemed to have lots of fun. She was SO cute!
The next performance was a boy who came out and sang a solo for us. He did a wonderful job, even though I didn't have a clue what it was about.
The 3rd performance started out with a few girls in leotards and little skirts performing a simple dance. Soon other girls joined in from the side. I was really enjoying them when suddenly two boys came running out to the floor doing a flip! Of course, one of the boys was Misha. I think I let out a yelp of surprise! They did some more acrobatics and some dance with the girls. They did a fabulous job. At the end of the dance, each of the other dancers spoke a few words of congratulations and best wishes to Misha. I felt like the proud Mama watching her kids perform.
Lastly, Natalia, the assistant director of the orphanage, spoke. She congratulated us, and wished Anna and Misha a happy life with their new family. She said that they were very lucky to have us. By this time my heart was ready to burst and tears were close to the surface again (and again I had no tissues)! Then the celebration was over. All the children left to enjoy the treats and Misha and Anna walked us out.
Saying Good-bye was bittersweet. Today we had been declared their parents. They were officially our kids, but we couldn't take them with us. :0( Our coordinator later told us that Misha had said he was sad and had asked when we would return. I was pretty sad myself.
We then drove 2 hours to the airport to fly back to Kiev. Then it was back to the Kiev apartment. By the time we got there, I was ready for bed! Emotions are very exhausting.
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