We're Home!

Can you believe the day has finally come when we can say our family is all together and home? I hardly can.

Our trip to Sofia was wonderful. We arrived Monday, our kids came to us on Tuesday, and we got to spend the rest of the week with them in Sofia. On Wednesday, we had our embassy interview, which was not nearly as scary as I'd imagined. On Friday, their passports, visas, vaccination records, and the original copy of the official adoption decree were delivered to us. In between all that, we went to parks, ate out, ate in, played Sorry, laughed at TikTok videos, and talked to them about life in America. Saturday, we got them up insanely early and spent the next 28 hours in taxis, planes, trains, airports, more planes, and immigration lines. It was a rough day to say the least, but when we pulled up to the house at last, they all smiled, and that's all I could ever hope for.



We've now been home three full days and are setting up routines while doing lots of English practice and playing games, crafting, and enjoying movies and books together. Emi's a little English sponge and has the cutest "Ahaaa!" when something sinks in. Talia is shy about speaking English, but she's started translating most of what Tim says in English into Bulgarian, and I love it. What a great start. Nick is picking things up too. He does well in the more formal activities like an app-based English quiz, but when it comes to conversing, he'd rather just use the translation app. Nice try, bucko! Yesterday we practiced using other resources like miming, drawing a picture, or looking a word up in the dictionary, and I think it's starting to click!

I'm really sad that they are moving here during covid and the worst fire season this area has ever seen. Not only can we not take them to playgrounds or let them start normal school and make friends, but we can't even take them on dog walks or into our own backyard for any length of time. But, these things will pass. And honestly, they don't seem to mind. They haven't even asked about anything beyond our walls yet. Well, except for Halloween. They're excited about that—we did explain that they might not get to trick or treat this year, and they said that's okay as long as they can wear costumes anyway. Yes, of course you can!

Today we took them to Target to spend the clothes/toy money that friends and family have sent. Then we got a little fashion show:



And here are some of my fave photos from Sofia:




At some point in the near future, we will begin the doctor and dentist appointments and school enrollment proceedings, etc., but for now, we are enjoying bonding time. :)

Thank you for being part of this journey with us. We love you!

Ali and Tim