Special Visitors for Katie

Ewa, Ania, and Katie at the zoo

Katie has been especially lucky the past 2 weeks. In addition to having her Ania twice a week, she also got to spend time with Ania's sister and niece who are visiting from Poland. They all had a wonderful time together. I did whatever I could to make Ewa and Agata feel at home and invited them to take Katie where ever they wanted to in the city. Remaining Katie-centric, they went to the Central Park zoo and made other trips to Central Park and Riverside Park. Here are some great pictures that Ania took of their adventures.

Katie and Ania and Aga at the zoo

I bought a Polish phrase book, but little of it came in handy. I offered them a drink in Polish and it turned out that I offered them alcohol at 10 am! And to a minor no less! Ania, of course, translated, and Ewa and I spoke a little bit of Russian to each other (neither of us remember much). I think a highlight for them was a trip to PS 9. My mom has been teaching at the same school on the Upper West Side for 21-years. Ewa is a kindergarten teacher (as was Ania in Poland) and she just completed her master's. She was curious to see an American kindergarten but Ania told her there was no way they were going to let her in off the street. I asked my mom who asked the principal who thought it was a wonderful idea and that they should come before the end of the school day so that they could see the kids in action. My mom loves this sort of cultural exchange and she really enjoyed showing off her school to the foreign visitors. So everyone enjoyed it and it just cemented in my mom's mind how special Ania is and how lucky we are to have her in our lives.
In the Hippo sandbox with Aga and Ania.

Katie absolutely loved being with Ewa and Agata. She called them "My Ewa" and "My Aga" b/c as you know, "MY" is a term of affection in Katie's world. She was sad to see Ania leave on Thursdays and this hasn't happened before. Katie is always happy to see her come and just gives her a hug and kiss when she leaves. When I mentioned that Ania's coming over and Ania loves her, Katie said "And my Ewa too. My Ewa loves me." Aga is 15 and very tall and striking. She's an only child and she told her mom that she'd like a little sister just like Katie.