Gus is almost 4 years old. He was born in Moscow, Russia, but he lives here now.

He likes going on hayrides and drinking hot chocolate.

He has a big brother and sister who both love him and drive him bonkers.

For Halloween, he was a lion. Rawrrr.

Sometimes he gets to take naps in his mom and dad’s bed.

And, he really loves fish.

When he’s tired, he likes “carry”…

or “sit on lap”.

His life is pretty ordinary for a 3 year old boy. It’s hard for me to imagine his life any differently. But, it could have been so different.

From what we’ve been told, his was the last referral of a child under two handed out in Moscow City.

And, it’s hard for me to imagine our lives without him. He adds the spice to our family– he’s the one who keeps us laughing. He reminds us not to take life too seriously.

Two years ago today, Russia banned American adoptions. 5 months after Gus came home, about 6 weeks before his second birthday. Without that last referral, he wouldn’t be home today.

I’m so thankful for him every day. I’m thankful that he’s a part of our lives. I’m thankful that he made it home.

As one friend shared on Facebook, I don’t think that Russian orphans are better off in America. In fact, I generally believe that finding loving families in one’s own birth country is the best. But, I also believe that all children are better off in families. I believe that all children are better off being able to live lives outside of orphanage walls. I believe that all children are better off growing up with parents, family and a community to support them throughout their lives.

For many orphans in Russia, especially those with special needs, they’ve been waiting for two more years since the ban. 730 days. 17,520 hours. In the worst orphanages, that might mean over one million minutes of sitting in a dirty diaper, or with hunger pains, or tied to a crib. In the best, it still means over one million minutes without the love and nourishment that only a family can offer.

For 300 of them, they had loving families in the process to adopt them. 300 little people who should be drinking hot chocolate or opening presents or begging for candy canes they don’t even like. 300 little people, who even in the best orphanages, still don’t get to know what it’s like to have a mom and dad tuck them in each night with a warm blanket and a kiss on the head.

If you want to see more stories of adoption, check out the following event and hashtags on Twitter and Facebook.

Facebook: the event НЕТ Закону Димы Яковлева! and hashtags: #beforeandafteradoption, #законподлецов

Twitter: #beforeandafteradoption, #законподлецов, доипослеусыновления

The day that Big L arrived, we had to go to Kansas City for a doctor’s appointment. Reed and Lena were missing their class parties, so I decided to make it up to them by going to the aquarium.

They’d never been to any aquarium before, so this was pretty exciting.

This is his “over the moon but playing it cool face”.

Quick stop for a picture, at beautifully decorated Crown Center Plaza.

So, into the aquarium. Gus could spend all day in this place, just sitting down in front of the tanks, watching the fish.

Reed was literally running from display to display and meanwhile, I was trying to get Gus to just keep inching along.

The one thing that Reed wanted to see was a starfish. Well, they not only had starfish, but they were in the touch pool, so that was pretty cool.

In the playroom.

So you want my Kansas City aquarium review? Eh, it’s okay. I’ve been to much, much larger and nicer aquariums, such as the Camden Aquarium and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It does not compare. It feels much more commercial (less science-y) and it’s definitely geared towards younger kids. I think my 7yos were about the upper age limit to really enjoy it. Considering I don’t know when we’ll get to Camden or Baltimore, it was fun to go to an aquarium. I think my kids will have fond memories of it, but for me, nothing will compare to the time that my classmate’s younger brother fell into the stingray touch tank in Camden. 🙂

So, after we were done with the aquarium, we went out to play on all of the lovely Christmas toys outside. Crown Center Plaza has some Christmas magic going on. Child-size vehicles to play on, a huge tree, an ice skating rink and blaring Christmas music.

I call this… 2023.

“Okay, everyone look at me!” Too much to see.

I asked them to pose for this photo and it turned silly pretty fast.

And very quickly turned into full blown dancing.

So, even though the aquarium’s not my favorite, Crown Center Plaza is a real blast this time of year. If you wanted to go there and do something besides play outside, I think Kaleidoscope is way more worth your time, particularly because it’s free– they even validate your parking! I went there with a friend a few years ago, and I think we need to plan another trip.

We did have a super fun day and it was nice to spend some time with my kids doing something fun and exciting. Almost anytime I take them somewhere new, Aaron is with us, so it was cool to go with just the four of us for a change.

Lastly, here’s a video of Gus talking about the aquarium…

Today was a good day. I started it off by baking cookies and Big L jumped right in to help, mixing things for me.

Meanwhile, Aaron was picking up the last pieces needed for our early Christmas surprise… the trampoline. We gave the kids the choice to wait until Christmas or have it a bit early, an option which seemed best to me with our slightly warmer temps today and this week off from school.

The kids could barely wait to get on it!

She is so good with him. At bedtime, he insisted that she take him up to bed.

This one loves laying on the trampoline and yelling at everyone around her for jumping.

“I want to sit on lap”.

It was a lot of fun. The boys did NOT understand why they had to come in, even though it was totally dark out and getting rather cold. I know they’re looking forward to more jumping tomorrow!