The Ukrainian holiday similar to our Labor Day is celebrated this Monday and Tuesday. So, once again, all businesses and government buildings will be closed. Luckily, it won't delay us anymore than we already are because we are in our mandatory 10 day waiting period after the court date and Monday and Tuesday will still count towards our 10 day wait. We will be able to pick Andrew up from the orphanage on Friday (May 5th). We are so excited to have him with us and bring him home. Heather and Brandon say they have waited long enough!!! Andrew's caregivers at the orphanage have been preparing him by telling him he is going home to America with Mama and Papa but of course he has no concept of time to know when. As we were leaving him yesterday after our visit, he was pointing towards the doors and saying something very passionately in Russian. He was ready to leave with us then. It is so heartbreaking when we have to leave him after our fun visits. We will say to him "Mama, Papa bishlee" (time for Mama, Papa to go). He brings his little hands up to his face to cover his eyes and his smile turns into a big sad frown. As the tears start to fall he manages to give us hugs and kisses goodbye as his caregivers tell him that we will be back. On a brighter note, we had such fun with him yesterday (Friday). Since he has down pat recongnizing the names and pictures of our family members, we are trying to teach him some English. We would point to an object and say the English word for it. He would say "Nyet" (no) and then say the word in Russian to correct us as if we have it all wrong. :) He'll get the hang of it. He is such a smart boy. Once we pull him out of the orphanage and he's not around Russian all of the time, he'll pick English up in a jiffy (at least that is what we have been told). After very short "English lessons" (due to the little guy's very short attention span) Eric chased Andrew around a little play hut. Andrew was giggling so hard that he literally fell backwards and bumped his head on a table on the way down. As a nervous mommy rushed over to help, Andrew didn't miss a beat in his giggling as I helped him up. He is such a happy boy.