I put up the tree the weekend after Thanksgiving, since it's important here to get into the mood and to keep spirits up, since we have no sunshine. We have a fake tree, which makes sense due to our lifestyle. Also, Orthodox Christmas, which they celebrate here, takes place on January 7, so they don't start selling real trees until far too late in the season for our tastes. So here's one quick photo of the girls (who are watching Toy Story 3 on the TV, hence the total concentration on the face of the younger one) in front of the tree. We didn't get out all of our decorations, since the 1 year old is still a bit destructive, and even the older girl likes to take decorations off of the top of the tree, and so it's just easier to only put out the hardy items. Maybe next year we'll be able to go all out... maybe I'll have more energy since it will be summer in December?
And two photos, rather grainy, sorry, of our trip to the Otchiy Dim orphanage. Each year the Embassy gathers up gifts for the 50+ kids that are there, and plans a Christmas celebration, so that at least they'll have one new item. 
We have been doing lunches once a month for the kids in the transition center, there are about 15. They stay there for about 9 months before moving in with the foster families. These are not necessarily orphans, they are kids in difficult family situations who are in jeopardy of being homeless or abandonded. The center used to take kids right off the street, but now they try to get to them before that. So the boy below is one of the 4-5 seven year old boys at the Transition Center. They are so full of mischief, but absolutely adorable! (Our friend's father was in town, and he had a direct line to Santa Claus, and even told him to wear the right boots for the job...)
And two photos, rather grainy, sorry, of our trip to the Otchiy Dim orphanage. Each year the Embassy gathers up gifts for the 50+ kids that are there, and plans a Christmas celebration, so that at least they'll have one new item. We have been doing lunches once a month for the kids in the transition center, there are about 15. They stay there for about 9 months before moving in with the foster families. These are not necessarily orphans, they are kids in difficult family situations who are in jeopardy of being homeless or abandonded. The center used to take kids right off the street, but now they try to get to them before that. So the boy below is one of the 4-5 seven year old boys at the Transition Center. They are so full of mischief, but absolutely adorable! (Our friend's father was in town, and he had a direct line to Santa Claus, and even told him to wear the right boots for the job...)
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