Day of Arts and Crafts

Another beautiful blue and cool day was in the forecast. Morning would start out with a morning run for the girls. Sanija had to barrow some of mommy’s sports clothes and Nata wore some of her best running clothes (not really) and the three of them set off for a morning run. 15 minutes later they returned. Yes, not long but at least it was a start. Sanija needs to work on her fitness overall and Nata will need to work on her endurance as the sprints to do everything. During the run we had two minor incidents. Both Sheri fell, twisting her ankle on the cobblestone streets and Sanija banged her knee on another fall. Both girls were/are okay. By the way, Sheri worked out before the girls got up this morning. She made me say that.

Later returning, Sanija once again made breakfast for the girls before working on their travel journals. We were on a bit of a “holding pattern” while we wait for Ilze to give us a call.  The girls completed their journals for our activities yesterday and two things came to light. One, Sanija needs to increase her studies of spelling and Nata, who writes in Latvian, need to be more forthcoming on what she actually writes on the page. When she reads it back to us, there is a lot more she says than what is written on the page. Always a devious smile when she attempts to read It back to us.

To help Sanija with her spelling, as we read her journal we would write done all the words she has misspelled. We then create a word list, which she would review over and over again.

Meanwhile, I helped Nata get ready for the day. It’s always a little bit more fun when getting ready to loud music and a dancing daddy. She may think I'm a bit crazy. Very unlike any males she has every met. To her, I'm "crazy daddy"

Ilze came by to say “hi” and dropped off our Latvian cell phone. She was feeling much better and her voice had returned. Sanija is always so excited to see Ilze and made a special art project for her. Both girls ready care about Ilze and always have hugh smiles when they know she is coming by. Ilze could not stay long but mentioned to the girls that they “may” go ice-skating tomorrow (Sunday). See invited both girls to join her and her kids on a family outing. I’ll keep you posted if they are able to go.

Late afternoon we set out for Double Coffee to get the girls lunch. Double Coffee is somewhat like a Denny’s but without all the item in photos.

We asked the girls if they wanted to go to a movie or take a double deck bus tour but both girls wanted to stay home and do arts and crafts. Earlier this morning I found a great arts and crafts supply store so we set out to check it out. $75 euros later we walked out. I ended up buying a Paint-by-numbers project for the girls. In fact, the girls want to give it to Ilze as a gift.

Arriving at home the girls watched the last episode of the Brady Bunch’s Grand Canyon Adventure before starting their travel journals and eventually working on more projects.

When Ilze came by earlier today she mentioned that both girls seem very close. Even closer than real sisters. Both Sheri and I agreed as we have seen them together for 4 days now and there is a bond between them that is so…..so……so…..I know the perfect word “magical”!

There are so many little things that happen throughout the days that I never mention in these blogs. The humor that these two girls have is hysterical and to be around them is entertaining to say the least. Sanija is picking up on soooo many idioms that Sheri and I use, you can’t help to laugh. Example, yesterday at the restaurant the waiter was taking a while to get to us. Sanija raised her hand as to beckon over the waiter and in a sarcastic voice says. “ Hellll lloooo, we’re waiting”! She must have gotten that one from Sheri. I am never sarcastic!  These little things go on all day long. And Nata! Nata will remember something we did or said earlier in the day when she did something wrong and when we do it (or something close to it), she will immediately respond with the same response and body language we did to her.  You can’t help to start cracking up!

Just a little while ago I had asked Nata a question. The same question I had asked Sanija moments before. When Nata gave me the same answer I told Nata she could answer differently than Sanija. She told, “No, I won’t do that”. Now, I don’t believe this is because she has been trained to answer like this. I truly believe it’s because she loves Sanija soooo much, she will never want to disappoint her in any way. I Sanija were to say it’s pitch black out in the middle of the day, Nata would agree whole-heartedly.

We are working on Nata having her own voice but it will take time. Right now, Sanija is her life preserver in a sea of uncertainty.  Sure, we are her mommy and daddy but Sanija is the person she loves and trusts the most. Which is the way it should be right now.

Each day the closeness gets better and better. Due to her background she continues to be very close to Sheri. With me, it’s is getting better with little baby steps . Don’t get me wrong, we laugh and play together a lot. We talk and have good conversation but it’s the little things like running to mommy in another room to help tie her shoes even though I’m 2 feet away.  Holding mommy’s hand in public or asking for mommy’s permission rather than mine. I’m sure over the next 3 weeks we will be much further alone than we are now. But for now…..I’m content!