Our Silk Road Journey: Christmas afternoon with the Mason Clan

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas afternoon with the Mason Clan

Christmas wouldn't be complete without our annual visit with the Mason Clan. This year it was on Christmas afternoon. Lukas was very excited to show Skylar his new guitar and play music with him again just like over summer vacation.

Giving McKenzie a little tummy rub during a break from gift opening...

Skylar received an Irish drum and he and Lukas got right to making "beautiful" music together.

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First Year Home Milestones and other Firsts

Nov 9, 2011 First Report Card
Aug 30, 2011 First Day of Kindergarten
Aug 29, 2011 First Gymnastics class
Aug 27, 2011 First Hurricane-Irene
Aug 23, 2011 First earthquake
Jun 3-5, 2011 First Kazapalooza
Mar 23, 2011 Registered for Kindergarten
Mar 19, 2011 First time playing T ball
Feb 28, 2011 First Speech Therapy Class
Feb 25, 2011 Ear Tubes and Adenoidectomy
Jan 18, 2011 FIrst Martial Arts Class
Aug 13, 2010 First time fishing
July 20, 2010 1st Anniversary of life outside of Umit
July 4, 2010 First 4th of July as an American Citizen
Jun 28, 2010 First Hearing Test
May 30, 2010 First Boat Trip
May 21, 2010 First Sleepover
May 20, 2010 First Post Placement Report submitted
May 8, 2010 attempts to write his name
May 7, 2010 First trip to eye doctor
Apr 29, 2010 First Post Placement Report
Apr 18, 2010 First Circus
Apr 10, 2010 First Official Easter Egg Hunt
Apr 4, 2010 Taste first Peep marshmallow treat
Mar 4, 2010 Able to ride Big Bike
Mar 3, 2010 First Swimming Lesson
Feb 9, 2010 Sings Sponge Bob Theme along with TV
Feb 2-3, 2010 First trip to Disney
Jan 30, 2010 First Family Vacation
Jan 16, 2010 First Friends Birthday Party
Jan 5, 2010 Follow-up with IA Clinic
Jan 1, 2010 First Self Hair Cut
Dec 16, 2009 First visit to Santa
Dec 12, 2009 First Birthday in US
Dec 10, 2009 First Sick Day
Nov 28, 2009 First ride on Two wheeler with training wheels
Nov 19, 2009 County Diagnostic Appt
Oct 12, 2009 Picking Pumpkins
Oct 11, 2009 Baptism at Christ Lutheran Church
Oct 8, 2009 Absessed molar removed
Oct 5, 2009 First dentist visit
Oct 3, 2009 First trip to the ocean and first wedding
Sept 8, 2009 Visit to JHU International Adoption Clinic
Sept 7, 2009 Riding Trike by himself
Sept 6, 2009 First Baby sitter
Sept 5, 2009 Visit Maryland State Fair
August 31, 2009 First day of pre-school
August 15, 2009 First Steamed Crabs
August 14, 2009 Jumped off diving board
August 13, 2009 First time swimming in pool
August 11, 2009 Howard County Fair
August 10, 2009 First set of vaccines
August 9, 2009 First time in Church
August 4, 2009 First Doctor's Visit

Adoption Milestones and timeline

August 31, 2009 Certificate of Citizenship arrives
August 24, 2009 Social Security Card arrives
July 30, 2009 Arrive home to USA
July 26, 2009 Arrive in Almaty for US processing
July 19, 2009 Return to Kazakhstan to bring Lukas home
July 10, 2009 Appeal Period Over
June 24, 2009 Court decision Yes!
June 22, 2009 Pre Court Hearing
June 17, 2009 Return to Kazakhstan via London
June 10, 2009 Visas for Trip 2 arrive
June 4, 2009 Send Visa applications in for Trip 2
June 2, 2009 Notified of Court date (June 22)
May 14, 2009 Papers registered with Court in Taraz, arrive home from Trip 1
May 12, 2009 Positive Decision with Guardianship Council
May 7, 2009 end of official bonding period
April 24, 2009 Met with doctor and Pyschologist
April 21, 2009 official start of bonding
April 20, 2009 Signed paper stating intent to adopt Anton
April 17, 2009 Visit Umit Baby House and meet new son
April 16, 2009 Arrive in Taraz, Kazakhstan
Mar 26, 2009 Receive 3rd and hopefully last set of FBI clearance letters
Mar 4,2009 Visas arrive for first trip
Feb 24, 2009 Send off Visa Applications
Feb 20, 2009 Receive LOI, expected travel date is April 15th
Jan 21, 2009 LOI is in Astana, expected US arrival is Feb.
Jan 14, 2009 LOI issued from MOE in Taraz
Dec 31, 2008 One last set of fingerprints we hope
Dec 4, 2008 Cleared MFA and MOE, Assigned to Taraz Region
Oct 10, 2008 Dossier cleared Kazak Embassy and is headed to MFA
Sept 11, 2008 YEH! dossier finally submitted to Kazak Embassy in DC
Sept 4, 2008 submit updated Medical reports and FBI fingerprints that expired
Aug 15, 2008 still waiting; submit updated home agency license for dossier
June 9, 2008 still waiting; submit updated Medical reports that expire July 1st
May 2008 dossier completes translation, begin wait for dossier to be submitted to Kazak Embassy in DC
April 9, 2008 dossier packet arrives at Adoption Ark for translation
April 7, 2008 assemble dossier to be mailed
April 4, 2008 apostille from Secretary of State in Annapolis of dossier
April 3, 2008 authentication of notarized dossier documents
March 25, 2008 receive FBI clearance letter
March 21, 2008 (Good Friday) receive USCIS approval of I600A
March 14, 2008 receive completed homestudy
Mar 12, 2008 send off prints for FBI clearance
Feb 7, 2008 FBI fingerprints
February 2008 Anton Maxsimovich Kyrienko arrives at Umit
Jan 2008 USCIS fingerprints
Jan 9,2008 submit USCIS application I600A
Jan 2008 decide on Kazakhstan and sign with Adoption Ark (International agency)
Dec 2007 complete home visit
Sept 2007 complete mandatory adoption training
Sept 2007 sign with DIAKON (homestudy agency)
July 2007 attend adoption info session

Taraz Fun Facts

TARAZ REGION FUN FACTS

Administrative Structure
Area, thousand. sq. km 144.0Number of districts 10Number of cities 4Number of towns 12
Number of aul’s okrugs 83

Other Information:
Oblast formation date 1939
Territorial Characteristics Its territory represents a plain, the oblast's south represents those Kirgizsky, Alatau and Karatau ridges.
Climate sharp continental, especially in its northern part.
Average Temp January -12°C, July +25°C.
National Representation Kazakhs (48.8%), Russians (26.5%)
Mineral Resources phosphorites, copper, gold, coal, barite, limestone, gypsum, revetment stone, gas, ground waters.
Industrial Centers Taraz, Zhanatas, Karatau
Industrial Branches chemical, light, food
Agricultural Branches production of grain, cattle breeding

Kazakhstan Flag and Facts

Country (long form): Republic of Kazakhstan
Capital: Astana
Total Area: 1,049,155.40 sq mi2,717,300.00 sq km(slightly less than four times the size of Texas)
Population: 16,731,303 (July 2001 est.)
Languages: Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 40%, Russian (official, used in everyday business) 66%
Literacy: 98.0% total, 99.0% male, 96% female (1989 est.)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Life Expectancy: 57.87 male, 68.97 female (2001 est.)
Government Type: republic
Currency: 1 Kazakhstani tenge = 100 tiyn
GDP (per capita): $5,000 (2000 est.)
Industry: oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel, nonferrous metal, tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials
Agriculture: grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; wool, livestock
Natural Resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Our Silk Road Journey

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas afternoon with the Mason Clan

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