Saturday
Last Saturday we went to our friend’s daughter’s one year birthday party. It was really nice and warm and sunny that afternoon. The area where they had the party was at a pond with this trail all the way around and scattered around the pound were these little pavilions. There was even a playground on one side. It was a nice setting, but wasn’t completely relaxing with the kids walking back and forth right beside the pond, that only had maybe a foot high wooden posts around it. Micah did a great job being the grill master for the party. They had lots of different meat that we kept eating as they were coming off the grill. Steak, hot dogs, sausages, chicken, trout and some vegetables too. And they also served fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, very traditional.
The birthday girl
Ruvim, Anya and Nastya
On the way home, there is this huge apple in the entrance to the park area. Little Miss Moody was showing some attitude in the next picture for not getting her way for wanting to sit on the apple for the picture.
Violet and Aunt Trycia
Aunt Trycia helped remedy the attitude
A fairy tale looking Kindergarten nearby the park
In front of the kindergarten
Afterwards we dropped off Aunt Trycia at her hotel, and it started to rain lightly. We rode the metro then we made a pit stop at the nearby little grocery store to our house on the walk home to get the essentials. It was nice to come in from the rain for a bit before walking the rest of the way. We were about 4th or 5th in line since there was only one register open and the girls started fussing over something. The other lady working in the store asked what was wrong, and I just said it was nothing. But she saw I was pregnant and told us to come over to another register where she would check us out. Other people in the long line decided to follow us, but the lady says to them, What, are you pregnant too? We were amused at her blunt rudeness for the other people, but thankful for letting us check out and go. And it was just kind of accepted by the other people as they muttered some stuff under their breath and went back to the line they were standing in.
Many guests
Last week, Micah’s aunt and cousin were here in Russia to see the sights and visit with us while we are here in Moscow. Here is a link to her blog. They were in St. Petersburg very briefly, as in two days, then took the train to Moscow. Micah met up with them and got them settled into their hotel. We were planning on having them stay with us, even though our apartment is quite small, it’s just more convenient and cheaper, but we had other unexpected guests…lice.
I’m not totally sure where they came from, but it. was. not. fun. Violet, Keira and I had them. A hormonal pregnant woman + lice (3 weeks before due date). Not a good combination. And add to that mix, the fact that our hot water would be shut off for the next 10 days for yearly maintenance. I knew it was coming, but it seems like everything was happening all at once! Yes, there were tears!! Thankfully, they don’t last too long.
Back to family… Micah took them all around, trying to see as much as possible in the short time they were here. One evening, I met up with them on Old Arbat Street and we ate at a Georgian restaurant. It was very yummy!
Micah’s Aunt Trycia and cousin Ryan
Back at their hotel, the girls had fun playing with Aunt Trycia’s jewelry
They were so thoughtful in bringing us some requested coffee and vitamins. They also brought some really cute outfits for the girls and for little baby brother too. Also, Aunt Trycia’s other son’s girlfriend handmade the girls lots and lots of hair bows. I think there is one for every occasion and holiday. We are set! I’m sure you’ll see them in future pictures. A big thank you to her for those!
Cool view of the Moscow International Business Center on our walk home that evening
Ryan left to do some more traveling and head back to California on Saturday, while Aunt Trycia came with us to a birthday party of our friend’s daughter. On Monday, she left on a tour of the Golden Ring, a few historic cities outside Moscow. More pictures to come.
Six Sandowiches 