Getting to know Katia

So far, she's been pretty quiet, but we have learned a few things about our new family member. I want to ask her what happened to her birth family, but my mom says we should wait until she tells us. I think the adoption people told my mom, but she wants Katia to tell us all herself when she is comfortable with us. I can wait. Anyway, here are a few things we've learned about her so far:

Birthday: May 28th
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Food: Frozen yogurt (She tried it yesterday, and she ate so much she puked.)
Favorite Subject: History
Favorite Book: Anna Karenina (She says it was her mother's favorite book.)
Favorite Movie: Ice Princess (She saw it for the first time last night!)
Favorite Sport: Figure skating (She can do double jumps!)
Favorite Animal: Puppies

Katia is teaching me Russian. Before we went to sleep last night, she whispered, "Ya lyublyu tebya", which means "I love you", to me. I think we are going to become friends. She's supposed to be sharing a room with Mei, but when I woke up this morning, she was in my bed. Mei refuses to sleep over in my room because I snore, but Katia didn't seem to mind. I snapped a few pictures of her today, when we were playing outside.

Our new sister is here!!!

My parents went to Russia to get her, and they just got back late last night. We were already sleeping when they got back, and she is still sleeping this morning, so I haven't gotten to meet her yet. But, my mom took a picture of her on the way home. Her name is Ekaterina, and she is 10 years old. Mom says she prefers to be called Katia. I think it's a pretty name, but Mei keeps calling her Katie instead. I hope she doesn't mind. Katia is pronounced KAT-ya and Ekaterina is pronounced with a Y at the beginning: YEH-kah-tye-ree-nah. I can't wait to meet her, but my mom says we should let her sleep because the trip from Russia was really long. Mom says she knows English pretty well, but that we should be understanding if she gets confused. That one was kind of a no brainer. We had to teach Ana English because she didn't know any at all when she came to live with us, so of course we will help our new sister! And, now, for the moment everyone is waiting for, a picture!

While my parents went to Russia to get my sister, I went to the beach with a friend. My other siblings had to stay with my grandparents though. Here are some beach pictures!

Me:

With my friend, Dante

Hanging on some cool rocks:

The water was really warm!

Making footprints

Pretty flowers

Hanging by the pool

More flowers

In a tree

On the plane

We're getting a new sibling!

Hi, everyone! Guess what! My mom has decided to adopt a new sibling for us! We don't know much about her yet, but mom says she's my age and that she's a girl from Russia. I am so excited! I love my siblings so much, so I can't wait to add another one! Justin isn't very happy though. He says we don't need any more little girls in the house. Us girls are excited though! She's probably going to share a room with Mei since I snore and Ana is younger.