Update 05.05

This morning we awoke to a marching band and lots of activity outside our hotel window.  It was very interesting to watch and we were trying to piece together what we were actually watching but nothng seemed to make a lot of sense.  To us it was kind of reminiscent of the cold war era.  Later we asked our facilitator about it and found out that they were practicing for the parade.  On Sunday there is going to be a big parade which will go down the street right in front of our hotel and in the square on the corner.  It will be interesting to watch this parade.  Apparently this week is a significant week in Russian history going back to WWII.  I sure wish I would have paid more attention in histroy class!

Today we were able to go and get Sasha's official adoption certificate and a new birth certificate.  Her birth certificate now shows that we are her parents and that she was born in Krasnodar.  Today I think it's starting to sink in that we are really going to bring her home.  In all honesty I think we were more excited today getting those papers than we were yesterday at court.  There was so much tension and "drama" surrounding our court date that we really guarded ourselves and were expecting the worst.  It takes time to let that all sink in and sort out in our minds.   I thnk in another week when she's with us the reality of everything we definitely hit us like a big truck. 

We also found a local bakery today and got some of the best danishes I think we've ever had.  Not sure if this will end up being a good or bad thing for us!  The other great thing is that I had Russian chocolate for breakfast this morning!!  Not the most nutritonal but I was so happy we got some more that I couldn't wait any longer.  I love the Russian chocolate.  Hopefully we will have some restraint and will bring some back to share with others but I'm making no promises.  Kind of odd since I typically don't even like chocolate.