Lots of paperwork!

Let's go ahead and clear this up, since he has gone back to the Ukraine, our little guy's real name is Volodymyr. This is the Ukrainian equivalent to Vladimir. The short version is Vova. BTW- this is the English spelling of his name, my keyboard cannot type in cyrilic. I am no literary genius. I'm an engineer, so usually my writing is short and filled with facts, i.e. dry. So I thought I would try something which will help me to be a tad more creative and open in these updates. I'm going to write letters to Vova, maybe when he is finally here and has learned enough English, he can read these. So here we go...
Vova,

It has been almost three months since you returned to the Ukraine. I miss you so much. Adam is telling all sorts of strangers that he is getting another brother. He is excited to have you come back home. Please do not worry, we are working through the paperwork to come and get you. There's a bunch of it and from a lot of different places. Including St. Lucia where Mommy and I got married (more on this in a separate blog), some from Virginia, North Carolina, & Massachusetts (don't worry, you'll know where these places are soon enough, we like to travel around the US). Right now, we plan to have our documents submitted to the Ukraine by mid-December.  The first part of the paper trail is called a home study. This basically means a person comes to meet with your Mommy and I to ask us a lot of questions about who we are, what we do, and how we were raised. They also get a bunch of information about our finances.

While this has been going on, we have also started work on finishing the attic into another bedroom.  First, we need to add a window. Second, we will need some minor electrical & air conditioning work completed. Once these are finished we are going to have the entire attic area insulated. Next, we begin the manual labor portion of the process, sheetrock, paint, and trim. We plan to have this all completed by year's end. Tyler, Alex, & Adam all started school. I heard you started school too. I want you to work hard and listen to what your teachers say. I have been taking night classes to help me prepare for my engineering exam. The test takes 8 hours! I'm really nervous, but I know if keep doing my homework, I'll be ok.  Mommy Lisa is continuing to excel at her new job. Alex & Adam are taking swimming lessons.

On a sad note, we had to put down Dudley. He was 15 years old and was really struggling these last couple of weeks. Dudley came from Boston with Lisa when she moved to Richmomd. I met her and brought along my dog, Brodie. Dudley came with us to the new house on the east side of Richmond. He moved with us to the townhouse in Raleigh. He moved one last time with us to our current home. Early on, Dudley would sleep with Tyler and all we had to say was "Go sleep with Tyler", and off he went to sleep in Tyler's room. Dudley and I did not always get along, but he did provide comfort and watch over the house. He loved to go swimming and chase any kind of ball. He loved chewing on leather gloves and getting into the trash when we left it accessible. He will be missed.

Well that will about do it for now.  I'll write again and include a bunch of pictures from what your brothers have been up to.

Love ya bunches,
Daddy