Tanya get down from there!

For those of you who may have been following this blog for a while you will remember the fears and panics of December, the Triumphs and near Tragedy of January (1 February Post), and the Chaos and Confusion of February (Operation Squirrel). You will be able to see just how far we have come since we first met these little Cossacks (a term of endearment, I assure you)..

As I sat in the E.R. Last night, I was going over it in my mind all the progress. Friday we had our first ever parent teacher meetings, three of them. All the teachers where very happy with the kids behavior in class and their progress academically:

Ms Kane, Tanya's Kindergarten teacher. Is very happy with her socialization and determination to complete assignments. She let us know that her school assigned speech therapist is practicing with a translator so they can give Tanya a detailed assessment of her speech issues.

Christina's Ms Gu, her second grade teacher, has done wonders giving her confidence at trying assignments and has turned her into a little art factory. We are fast running out of flat surfaces to take her output. She has made great improvements at becoming more of a child and less of a prisoner sworn to escape.

Ms Ratchford, Sasha's third grade teacher, told us about his buddy/competitor from class, who is also in an ESL track. They are always trying to out do each other and both have taken to the classroom computers very well. Of course its hard to get them off of them.

So the week of school, dance class and soccer practice culminated in the Friday, school holiday/parent teach conferences. We, of course can do nothing simply:Heidi and I jump on our trusty Vespas and go to work and appointments in the morning.

Masha keeps the kids engaged around the house.

Noon the parents disengage, slip into telephone booths and head to school for our first ever Parent/Teacher meetings with our capes flapping behind us.

Masha jumps in the trusty Mazda 5 to take the three little Cossacks in tow to the National Zoo for the afternoon.

The simple plan was to meet at the world famous Ben's Chili Bowl for dinner.Heidi and Masha would take the kids to the Movie on the grass our church was sponsoring at Lincoln Park. I would just scoot over to Georgetown University to attend Sagar's graduation reception (a grad student friend from India).

Well, best laid plans of mice and men... So Tanya manages to fall playing at the Zoo. Masha, the calm adult in the family, stabilizes the situation and calls me about the ouch'ie. We decide to keep to the script and meet for dinner.

Over french fries and chocolate shakes, we determine the little hard head did do a number on her arm and even after a half hour of icing it, is still swollen. The reset plan sent Masha and Tanya in the Van and myself, scooting, to the E.R. At George Washington University hospital (a familiar place thanks to the pioneering work done by Masha, on her adventures).

Our Friends, the now engaged Clinton B. and Jennifer (look at that ring!) B. Swooped down to rescue the marooned Heidi, Sasha and Christina on the corner of 12th and U street NE, we had left them at. Mama provided a motorcade feel on the trip back to the house before showtime.

All was well, the break was a clean one of the radius, just below the wrist.The movie was Madagascar II, enjoyed by all. The Hospital adventure ended early enough to make the Volcano scene and closing credits.

Flexible Papa, at your service