Week 18

Hi Family,

Well, this was a fun week. Perhaps because we had Mary's birthday to plan and look forward to, and weeks with parties are just more fun! 

Mary turned two on Friday, stopped napping, and refuses to sleep in her crib, all in one day! We're trying to get her to at least sleep on a "big girl" matress on the floor, but since she's not contained, she has a hard time falling asleep, and frequently waddles into our bed and spends most of the night in between mom and dad - translation = no one has slept since Thursday night:). We had a party for Mack-a-doodle-pants at an indoor play area we frequent called Leo-Park. We had a couple of nice friends come to help us celebrate, and we really felt fortunate to have made a few nice friends over the last two months - it definitely made Mary's second birthday more fun. Though she received many lovely gifts (people were so generous!) Mary's new Baby Dolls were the hit of the day, and we've already spent many hours since playing "babies!" And, just so everyone knows that the kiddos do keep track of everything ... while I was making cupcakes (without a cupcake tin, mind you) for the party, Anne asked, "are you going to make cupcakes for Ella's birthday?" 

Me: "Probably, if she wants them."

Anne: "You didn't make cupcakes for my birthday." 

Called out, and guilty as charged. I guess I'll need to take Annie-C on a special cupcake date or make a special batch with her to make up the fact that I dropped the cupcake ball on her fourth birthday! 

Ella and Anne sang "I am a Child of God" with the primary in sacrament meeting today. We invited lots of friends, and a few actually came - which was wonderful. Benj gave a great talk on covenants ... the only other speaker went on for 45 minutes (a half hour past regular closing time) on the importance of going to the temple in mortality because it will only be more difficult in the after-life without a body to accept saving ordinances. Though doctrinally correct, it could  have been a nice Sunday to stick to the basics, and it made us reflect on, and miss "Invitation Sunday" in the Crystal Springs ward. But it was great to have a "reason" to invite friends and co-workers to worship with us, and made us excited to create events and reasons to invite again in the future. 

Yesterday our weekend delivery driver stopped working with us mid-day ... which meant Benj spent 6+ hours of Saturday picking up a ton (literally) of dirty laundry from various hotels and hostels. While business is great and we are already at maximum capacity with our second iron (could sure use a third!), I can't help but wonder if - on an hourly basis - we make minimum wage. 

Twice he came home after midnight this week, and he literally gets phone calls throughout the night - some irrelevant, like the one we got at 4 am from a worker leaving her shift, who just thought Benj should know that this other worker was doing a really great job. Thank you - why that valuable information couldn't wait until 9 am, we're still not sure. And though Benj spent an extra hour with eachemployee this week going over basic care/maintenance of the iron .... he still had to "run-in" Saturday morning, and two other times he was at home to fix little problems that came up (that the workers were specifically trained on how to trouble-shoot!). Needless to say, competent help is not easy to find.    

Thursday (rained all day) we went with friends to the Lviv Children's Puppet Theater and watched a cute Ukrainian puppet show about "Dorthea the Duck." It was surprisingly well done, and considering that second row tickets only cost $1.20, I'd say it was about as good a deal for live entertainment as we've seen. Mid-way through the show Anne looks at me and implores, "Why is this in Ukrainian!?" My response, "because we are in Ukraine." Ella announced at dinner tonight that she is done living on different continents, and it's time for us to buy a house with a doorbell. 

Wednesday we had dance class ... and they demoted us to the little kids (3 year old) class ... I guess because we don't speak Ukrainian? Ella and Anne sort of enjoyed it ... though they didn't really dance so much as sit in a circle and do things one at a time. Also Wednesday,  a sister missionary who now serves in Lutsk was here for a doctor appointment, so she and her companion came to visit, which was fun. 

Tuesday the missionaries came over for dinner. I'm thinking I should keep a record of what I serve for which set of missionaries because I tend to forget and repeat meals. And Monday was our usual Ashan (grocery shopping), dance-class routine. So, yeah, all in all, not that different from a normal week ... but I guess the anticipation of a party on Friday and inviting friends to church on Sunday made everything seem more fun than normal. 

Here's a great Ukrainian life tid-bit ... Igor (Benj's right-hand-man) went to the electrical department to pay our bill for the apartment for the last 2 month (I guess in Lviv you still have to do these things in person). Anyway, when they gave him the bill they looked at it and said, "This can't be right. The meter must be broken. Don't pay this now, and go check the meter." While we're pretty sure we actually used that much energy (we have air-conditioning, which most apartments don't have, and used it all summer, which most Ukrainians don't), the energy office is convinced that our meter must be broken because NO ONE uses that much energy!:) In full disclosure, the bill comes to about $100 usd per month, so in the States, it's not that crazy. Needless to say, we still haven't paid it - not because we haven't sent Igor back to try and pay it, but because the ladies in the office are absolutely convinced there is NO WAY we could have used that much energy and our meter must be broken. We're still waiting to hear back from our landlord to see if we can keep the apartment at a discounted rate while we're not all here in the winter ... it would certainly make packing a lot easier ... and be nice for Benj to have the same place while he commutes. 

Final story regarding the girls from today. We get home from church, eat, change ... and Ella and Anne go into the living-room. Ella proceeds (independently) to get out the scriptures and transcribes verses into her journal - she's amazing - who taught her this? We ask why she's doing it and she says it seems like a good Sunday activity ... couldn't agree more. At the same time, Anne is dumping puzzle pieces around the room creating a mess. Different strokes, for different folks, that's just how they roll, we guess. And then there is sweet Mary, moodily wandering around with her baby dolls, Can't wait to see what the fourth child brings to the table ... they certainly each have unique personalities.

We love and miss you. Thanks for your love, support, and encouragement.

xo,

Meagan +

Face-painting at Vecelka: 

Take the ramp at your own risk:

Mary Jumps into Two!

Mary Susan bounced into the terrible two's last week. We had a party at Leo-Park, an indoor play area we frequent, and felt very fortunate to be joined by some dear friends we've made here in Lviv over the last couple of months.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party. Fortunately Daddy was able to make it - he's pretty busy these days, but has never yet missed a birthday party (11 between the three girls) and wasn't going to ruin the record so soon. 

We had fun riding cars, opening presents (everyone was so generous, thank you), and celebrating Mary Susan.

 

Of course, not everyone takes the traditional route down the slide ... and that is one of the reasons we love our Annie-bannanie...

Ella officially knows how to use the self-timer function on the camera ...

And we feel very blessed to have three darling little ladies with distinct personalities, who love each other. 

Happy Two Mary Sue!

Children's Puppet Theater

Yes, it's run-down and has lost a bit of the luster it must have had during the glory days some 60-years ago...

But there's still an alluring, captivating, even magic sense about the Lviv Children's Puppet Theater.

Our friend Ira and her daughter Olya accompanied us to a production of "Dorthea the Duck," and it really was entertaining! In true Ukrainian fashion, a hedge-hog saved the day.

Plus, at $1.20 usd a ticket, you really can't complain for live children's entertainment. A great rainy day activity.

Week 17

September 16

Dear Family,

We hope you are happy and well. So many little things happen throughout the course of the week that I intend to include in this weekly update, and when they happen I’m sure I’ll remember them, but then as soon as I sit down to the computer my mind draws a blank. Let’s see … we went to church today. The primary practiced singing in the sacrament room for our musical number next week … and let’s just say, if it’s not a total disaster, Benj and I will be thrilled. Ella is the only one who stands and sings, while the other children (there really aren’t that many to begin with) run around in circles. 

We had the sister missionaries make invitations for the kids to invite people to church to see them sing, which is good for all involved (though unfortunately the invitations have grammatical errors).

Yesterday was sort of a rainy stay at home day – we went to Bubbles to do laundry but it was so busy (each washer had a line-up at least 3-loads deep!) we had to go back later in the night to do our wash. A good sign for business, and we now know not to wait for the weekend to do our wash. The second iron is running and working, also a huge improvement, and not a moment too soon. For dinner we ordered pizza/pasta delivery – it was efficient and delicious and strangely “western” which was a cool experience (plus, no cooking or clean-up, and much less stressful than eating out).

Friday we went to the ballet as a family which was really fun. We had a box, and the lady who takes the tickets (who thinks Benj walks on water) said she’s going to start reserving the larger box for our growing family … so we’re on the “in” at the opera house. Amazingly it cost less for four tickets in a box to the ballet here than it would for us to all go to a movie in the States.

Thursday a friend, Ira (she’s UA, her husband is from Nebraska - and has been here for 6 years working for Global Farming Solutions, a Swedish based farming group) came over and taught us how to make “Okroshka” – a cold summer soup with dill, potatoes, hard boiled eggs, ham, cucumbers, sour cream, and carbonated whey as the liquid base … it was surprisingly delicious, and it’s always fun to cook something new. I also got my hair cut … 17+ weeks in Ukraine, and my split ends were showing the wear and tear of the journey.

Wednesday we all went to the water park together in the morning – which was of course a blast. Later the girls attended their first dance class. They were cute, and aside from the teacher being a little over-zealous about making them stretch (which they both complained hurt), I think everyone had a good time. We’re going to try it again this week. We also went to the Rainbow play room with Ira (farming husband) and Nadya (solar panel husband) and their kids. We’re inviting both of their families to church this Sunday to see the girls sing … and it would be great if they came with us.

Tuesday we played at the park and then the sister missionaries came over for dinner and to plan the primary singing in sacrament meeting. Monday was our regular grocery/ mall day, and the elder’s came over for dinner and family home evening. That’s sort of the nuts and bolts of our week – nothing too monumental.

A German group offered to buy Bubbles (concept, brand, machines, location) and while we’re not yet ready to sell, it was encouraging to see that we’re on the radar for foreign purchase (which is the end goal). So that is good news … and as I mentioned earlier, the store is busy! Both with individual clients (mostly wealthy locals who drop off their wash) and contract work. Still a few more contracts we’re trying to get before we head back to the States in 4 weeks – and we’re still trying to open up various drop-off/pick-up laundry locations around town. When we think about where we were a year ago with Bubbles and where we are now, we are grateful and amazed at the progress (and hold-ups) we’ve had.

Anne continues to astound us with her imagination, and the passion with which she shares her stories. Yesterday we took a family walk (when the rain stopped) to a bakery for treats, and on the way she stopped and wouldn’t go another step because she needed water. Without any warning the following monologue ensued: “I’m so thirsty! I’m going to die! Do you want me to die? Is that what you all want? If I don’t get some water right now I’m going to go up and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus! Do you want me to leave Earth? To not be a part of this family? Is that what you want? I’m so thirsty! I need water!” 

Fortunately there are little product kiosks at every corner and we were able to quench her thirst in a timely manner. Then this morning, during breakfast she announced that she couldn't go with us to church, she just couldn't!  “Because if I leave there is no one here to take care of my friends and my animals. And Larky (the shark she got for her birthday) will cry! Is that what you want? For Larky and my friends and my animals to cry? And this whole house will be flooded with their tears if I leave! Is that what you want, Daddy? Is it? Our whole house to be flooded? Okay, then, fine, I’ll go to church, but our whole house will be flooded!” Fortunately we came home to a flood-free zone, so Larky and the others managed okay during our absence.

Ella is independent and a great help. More than once this week, she put Anne down for a nap (tells her a story, and tucks her in) while I put Mary down. She can make anything out of yarn, a table and chair for Ashley (her doll) to eat at, complete with fork, knife, and spoon, books, blankets, watches, and anything else she can think of. She’s remarkably good at entertaining herself, continues to ask lots and lots of questions on every topic imaginable, and generally has a logical retort for any and all of Anne’s out-burst. For example, yesterday after Anne said she was dying of thirst, Ella explained to her that you have to go at least three days without water, and she drank out of her sippy-cup just moments before we left the apartment, so she couldn’t possibly be dying just then… and then Ella probably gave a little huff and eye-roll.

Mary has happy moments, which are really happy, each day. She still seems frustrated that we don’t understand her grunts and jiberish as we should … so she often just repeats (ever louder) the same few words she knows communicates meaning … egg, Egg, EGG! Or park, Park, PARK! She loves to kiss the new baby (my belly), sing songs to the baby, and give her hugs. She also loves her own little baby dolls and Minnie Mouse – she does a great job holding them, rocking them, changing their diapers, and singing them songs … getting ready to embrace her new “big sister” roll. Mary loves to sing and dance and never misses an opportunity to do either – fortunately at the ballet we had a box so she had a plenty of space to conduct the orchestra herself, and “feel” the music without disturbing anyone.

We love and miss you, thank you for your love, support, prayers, emails and encouragement, and look forward to seeing you soon!

Love,

Meagan+

Dance Class

Getting their Ukrainian groove on - Ella and Anne's first dance class