Love Is All You Need

Where do I begin? How do I possibly share with you the magic of last night?

Dasha's plane was delayed, so we spent a good two hours waiting at Logan Terminal A baggage claim with the other families. At one point one of the dads turned to me and said -- 'it doesnt get any better than this. We will remember this day for the rest of our lives. We will return to it over and over again. THIS is a special day.' And he is so right. When the automatic door opened and Dasha poured out with seven other children and their chaperones, I was completely caught off guard by two things -- her size...and her beauty. This photo does not nearly do her justice:

She was pouty and scared and absolutely refused to release the hand of the older girl she was with. Oksana, the other girl, gently pried her hand open and placed it in Nastia's hand. That is the moment the romance began. Nastia was smitten, and do I mean smitten. We waited to say our goodbyes to the other families, and have our required family photo taken, and then we were off....

On the ride home, Dasha immediately fell fast asleep in her carseat, but every time her head tipped forward, her hat would fall off and wake her. Nastia asked if she could remove it. 'Nyet,' she answered softly, and held her hat tight to her head, dozing off once more.

Once home, Nastia carried the sleeping Dasha into the house, and into her room where we tried to quietly change her for bed. It was not to be...

.

She opened her eyes, glanced around...and got her second wind...

Two hours of American Girl doll and Barbie Bedlam bedlam ensued!

 (To be continued --I'm exhausted!)