Unpacking suitcases and boxes

After FIVE airplanes and two nights in a Ukrainian hotel (which was without water when we arrived.... and we knew we were almost home!) we are finally settling in to a routine.

Brianna on the airplane

The kids have started back to school. We are behind (on "Day 84" for all you A Beka homeschoolers), but not hopelessly behind since we worked hard to get ahead before we left here last October. We will be working into the summer to finish, but.... ahhh, such is the beauty of homeschooling... working at the pace that best fits your family's needs. My only goal when we were working ahead was that we get far enough along as to surpass singing Silent Night and Joy to the World when we returned. The kids were making snowman crafts in school today, but since it is still in the 40's here, we're not too far off.

Nate at McDonald's during a layover in London

Not only am I behind in homeschooling, but I am also embarrasingly behind with my correspondence. If you have written me and you are wondering why I have not responded, please know that my baby's middle-of-the-night feedings and cuddlings just may have something to do with it. This "night owl" has been known to start nodding off - sitting up! - by 9pm these days. But I wouldn't trade this time of my life for anything! I love being a Mommy four times over! And, I love seeing Ukrainians turn their heads - and start counting - when our little crew walks by. And we literally are walking these days since we do not have a car yet. (We sold ours before we left - another story all to itself). Yes, by Ukrainian standards we are quite a large family since most families just have one or two children. Davey, my 8-year-old, says we are the "Duggar" family of Ukraine. {smile}
I have finished unpacking our suitcases (except Micah's... still trying to figure out where to put his things) and am now working on our seven boxes that were shipped here. When we are in America, we ship things to ourselves. We shipped about 15 boxes full of "supplies" that will get us through the next two years or so. Other than school books and ministry items, would you like to know what kinds of things missionaries send themselves - well, other than the obvious Starbucks coffee and Reese's peanut butter cups for sheer survival? I will do a post on that soon, since I imagine curiosity just might be getting the better of you.

Hubby is off to a Men's Conference with the Ukrainians and missionaries. And my eyes are getting heavy... so I am off to bed! (must be some jet lag lingering... or could it be that we are going through time change twice?!)