Remember the contest?

What seems like ages ago, I wrote about a contest. Remember? We found out today that we won!

Our librarians were a little upset that the big contest day was cancelled. Instead of inviting us to an event at the central library, they gathered all the library directors at a meeting and announced the results without us. I didn't mind, though; this was easier. Our own librarians just called us to our neighbourhood library and gave us our certificate and prize. And there was a funny story: someone in charge of libraries or culture or something for the city said that she already knew about our family, because a taxi driver who lives near us had told her about us when he was driving her somewhere. That would be our "Uncle Borya."


Oh, and we had the fun of a snowy walk to the library! Maybe winter has returned? At least the mud is covered now.

Quotes...

...from my sweet helper on the way to the orphanage this morning:
"Why aren't there marshrutki in America?"

(She asked me how old she was when she started school.) Then, in a loud voice from in front of me in the bus a little later, "I am counting up which grade I am in."

"Sometimes at night I dream about things I want. For example..." (I was expecting to hear about a puppy, or a smart phone like her friend got.) "...last night I dreamed I saw Jaan running, and his hair was short. I was so happy!"

What a week!

Monday: We had the annual cookie decorating day at the orphanage, and it was wonderful! I'll write about it separately soon. I did post these photos right afterwards.

Tuesday: It was supposed to be time for easing back into school after the weekend and Cookie Day, but right at the beginning of our school day Bogdan fell and hurt his hand. In the afternoon he did go to his usual art classes, but then Will took him to a doctor. The doctor said that he needed x-rays, so....

Wednesday: In the morning Will took Bogdan to the hospital while I did school with the others. X-rays were supposed to be by appointment only, and they didn't have any free spots until the weekend. However, they said we could come back after 2:00 and wait to see if we could get in. So, Will and Bogdan came home, and then I went back with Bogdan after lunch, and we waited and waited and waited and waited. We did finally get in, and we found out that his hand isn't broken. Hurrah!

Today: This morning I was supposed to meet up with someone quickly to pass on things for Kakhovka (adult "orphanage"). Bogdan and I went to run that errand, so that he wouldn't distract the others from school. We met up with our friend just fine, but we got thoroughly wet and muddy in a rain/snow/sleet mix. Then we missed our bus back by just one minute, so we decided that we needed coffee and cocoa from MacDonald's. Of course, we ran into friends there and had fun talking to them. We made it home just in time for dry clothes, lunch, and then running back out the door to go back to the first doctor and on to art....

Now I have what seems like my first quiet moments all week.

Here are a few photos:

Our street before the rain; now there's more mud.

Jaan got a new little rat.
(His beloved Arya died recently.)

Funny. No photos of faces from this week? I guess not, other than what we got on Monday, and I'll share what I can from those later....