January

January was a very busy month for Alexis and her family. We started the year meeting her Dedushka (Grandfather) for the first time and the month went on from there. Here are some great highlights from this month:

• Ben really enjoys playing with his sister. One night he barricaded her in his usual play areas just so he could play with her. Alexis of course loves every bit of her big brothers attention and put up with it for a while.

• There is nothing like wreastling with Dad. Ben typically starts the "battles" and Alexis never has any hesitation of joining in too. She certainly has no fear in getting in the act with these rowdy guys!

• Ben truly does love his sister and often gives her hugs and kisses. He loves to hold her....even though since she's become mobile she'd rather be on the move when she is awake. Every now and then the two will sit together and cuddle up. Its wonderful watching their relationship form.

• We also hit up the Natural History museum as a family for the first time as a family. Its been years since I last visited, but it was really cool looking at all of the animals. Ben was quite unsure of the dinosaur exhibit. He made his Dad hold him for a while. He wasn't sure if the dinosaurs were going to come to life or not. We of course made sure he wasn't scared, but both of us were trying to hide our smiles because it was just so darn cute! Alexis on the other hand was a bit young to enjoy everything as she slept most of the time. It was still a pleasure taking her and we will certainly repeat our trip some time in the future.
  

• Ben also loves a new song called New Low by Middle Class Rut. He picked up the tune right away one day while riding in his Dad's car. Whenever he can, he'll turn it on the PS3 and start jamming to it. Alexis has even started dancing every time she hears the song start shaking her little butt up and down and clapping her little hands. Its quite the scene in the house! Two dancing babies.

• As said...several times. Ben loves dressing up like Peter Pan. We found a pair of green wings at a dollar store one day. Ben thought it was a terrific idea to put them on Alexis. Alexis didn't care either way but thankfully humored him by wearing these wings so she could play the part of Tinkerbell. One evening Ben wanted to play Peter Pan/Tinkerbell but Alexis was sleeping in my lap, so she was unavailable to play her part. I was also obviously unavailble as I was holding his sister. The only person left was his Dad. Ben went up to him and this is how the conversation went:

Ben: Daddy will you wear these wings? You can be Tinkerbell.
Dad: I will do a lot of things, but I draw the line at being a fairy.

At this time I was trying SOOOOO hard not to laugh

Ben: But I have these wings for you to wear.
Dad: Go find Lucas. Look your Mom is even laughing at me.

At this point I was trying so hard not to laugh but I was just busting out laughing. Ben's
Dad will do a lot of things for his kids. He'll be silly, drop anything at the last minute, etc.,
but a man has to take a stand sometimes. His Dad will not be a fairy.

• As said, Ben does love his sister. He has gotten more annoyed that she has started to get into his stuff, but he loves that she can play more with him. On one particular morning, Ben was having a snack and Alexis decided she would like some too. Of course I could of gotten her own and fed it to her, but why break up the cuteness? You know you really love someone when you share your yogurt with them. I love that Ben is such a great brother to his little sister. As a younger sibling, he has no idea how great it is having a older sibling be kind and take the time with you. I always loved having those moments with my own sister.

Dedushka Visit

On January 1st, we met Dedushka (Grandfather in Russian) and his wonderful wife Ira for the first time. It was the first time Ben's Dad saw is Dad for the first time in twenty years. It was the first time my children and I ever met him. It was the first time my husband would ever met his wife of twenty years. There was a lot of firsts.

We met him on New Years at the train station. How Russian is that? New Years for Russians is thought to be what ever you do that day is what you will do for your entire year. My husband was nervous. I was nervous. Our kids...oblivious to what was about to happen. He asked me if he thinks he will be able to recognize his Father. I assured him he would. A few moments later his Dad emerged from the gate and even if I never saw a photo of the man in my life, I would have known he was my husband's Dad. J and his Dad are spitting images of each other.

The baffling and AMAZING thing that I witnessed on the first night was how alike J and his Dad are. I can first hand say a lot of who you are in mannerisms, etc., is just in your genes. J and his Dad did so many things alike; they drank the same way, ate food the same way, gestured the day way, their lips curled up slightly when they were amused the same way. It was bizarre! I kept watching them like a tennis match at dinner as they sat across from each other watching this phenomenon. Even their freaking ear lobes looked identical. EAR LOBES. I guess I had a first hand glimpse of what my husband will look twenty years from now.

We did the usual touristy things while he was here. We took him to D.C. Took him to American stores. His Dad thought the Capital and the White House were the same building but wondered why it would sometimes have a dome. He also was baffled at self check out lines at the stores and wondered if people just steal items claiming they had bought it. He also wanted a true American meal, which we gave him. We also explained that America is a melting pot so you can have anything. We even took him to a Capitals game which was eye opening for him. Imagine how awesomely loud the Verizon Center is. Do you know Russians watch hockey like they are going to the theater? HA!

My kids really started to like their Grandfather and Ira. The baby loves everyone she sees for the most part, which I think touched them that she was so sweet with them. Zaichik bonded with his Grandfather quickly by playing a chase game with him. Both Zaichik and his Grandfather were smiling ear to ear chasing each other around. Zaichik still ask about his Grandfather and while it warms my heart to hear he really did enjoy meeting and visiting with him, we also don't know when we will see him again.

When they left after five short days, I teared up. I mourned for them in some ways because it was nice having them around. You can have family be so crappy to you but truly they were great. They loved us and we loved them. My kids got along well with them and you could see the love between them and their Grandfather and his wife. They were both gracious, patient and even though the language barrier was there with the four year old, they listened. They laughed when my little guy laughed. They hugged and kissed them hello and goodbye. They were present in my kids little worlds and having had Grandparents that really didn't do that, you can appreciate it.

I'm not sure when we will see them again. I hope soon. Maybe a year or so from now. They suggested a warm location. I agree. Who doesn't want to get out of the cold winter days? I just am happy that I got to witness a beautiful reunion. As I told them before they left (of course translated) that I humbled and overjoyed that my husband got to see his Dad again and that my children got to know their Grandparents. I pray that we have many more visits and a lot more conversations.