Everyone slept till 10am this morning, thank you GOD! Kids weren't used to the house and the garshok location, so woke up at 3am standing at their bedroom door wispering "garshok" in their innocent little voices. Took care of that. Then they slept till 10. Lena woke up and came to bed with us at some point this morning, but she went fast to sleep between us. Dub woke up at 10 screaming because somehow their bedroom door got closed all the way. I found him crying pulling on the closet doors trying to get out.
Dozens of emails have come to us praising the God of the Universe for our safe return. We are overwhelmed by His grace. He brought us home. We're home. Home to...
Our beloved doggie
air conditioning
our bed - did we mention the beds in Almaty were a box spring with a 1" futon on top?
coffee on demand - in Kazakhstan, you get one teeeny weeenie little cup, period.
Diet coke on ice
broadband internet access
normal toilets
washer & dryer
dishwasher
Mary Alice's apple cake
New toys (galore!) for the kids - they LOVE them!!
my wireless network
people speaking English
Our neighbors - and at least 4 new babies since we've been gone!
Home. Folks, never take it for granted. Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home. When we were frantically trying to get Lufthansa tickets, the agent asked "Don't you like Kazakhstan?" I guess I looked at her like she had a zebra for a nose, and said "No, Kazakhstan is fine, but it is not my home." She understood.
God is so good. We are home. We have 2 new kids, who are just as happy as they can be. Thank you God for bringing us home with these 2 little gems.
Later tonite, when I can think better, I'll go through and fill in some of the harrowing details of our trip home. The blog from last night really is just the generalities. OY!
Blessings beyond all comprehension,
Sneezy, Sleepy, Grumpy, and Happy
Thursday, June 30, 2005
"24" - Sandlin Style
My name is Kevin Sandlin, and I am a new parent of two Kazakh children. I have spent 56 days away from my home. My children have been ripped from the only surroundings they've known for 3 1/2 years. We're now free to come home. This is the longest day of my life.
The following events happen between 5AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, June 28, 2005, and Midnight EDT on Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Events occur in real time.
5AM EDT (3PM Kazakh Time): We left the apartment, with all our bags packed, to go to our American Embassy interview and then head straight for the airport to leave for Moscow at 7pm. We had to be there 2 hours early to get through customs, passport control, etc. The embassy interview was simple, painless, and quick, and we were out of there by 430. On to the airport.
7AM EDT (5PM Kazakh time): We arrived at Almaty Int'l Airport in 2 cars, because Sam's car was not big enough to carry all our luggage and the 2 kids. We went though the security scan, showed em our passports, and tickets, and headed to check-in. Marina is still waiting, watching to make sure all was well through check-in. And that was a good thing, because all was not well. We learned very quickly and clearly that we needed a visa just to arrive at the Moscow Airport (Sheremetyevo). Unfortunately, nobody had told us that before. Not the hotel with whom we had a reservation. Not the travel agency who sold us the tickets. Nobody. And, it takes 2 days - at least - to obtain a proper transit visa for Russia. Our flight left at 7pm, and we were without options. While Kevin discussed the matter with Marina, AirAstana, and Airport security, Lena and Dub had repetitive meltdowns in the middle of the airport while Angel struggled to keep her sanity for a few more hours.
8AM EDT (6PM Kazakh time): We arrived at the travel agency to (a) get our money back for the tickets, and (b) ask them why they would sell us such tickets without even the slightest mention of a visa. We had to leave a credit card with Marina, so she could go back the next day during normal business hours and get our card credited. They never did give an answer on the visa thing. I decided that they owed us at the very least the use of their phone to call Delta long distance. They obliged. I spent 75 minutes on the phone with Delta (long distance, agency's dime) trying to find seats on a flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta, then Frankfurt to anywhere in the U.S. Meanwhile, Lena and Dub had a cracker for dinner, wet their pants several times, and got filthy playing all over the sidewalk in front of the travel agency.
10AM EDT (8PM Kazakh time): We left this travel agency with 2 kids with dirty pull-ups, no explanation of the visa thing, but confirmation that we were on a Delta flight from Frankfurt to JFK in NY. We also learned that we needed to get Lufthansa tickets to Frankfurt after 10pm when the Lufthansa ticket office opened at the airport. No, don't ask why their business hours begin at 10pm. The travel agent assured us that there were "plenty of seats" on this Lufthansa flight.
1030AM EDT (830PM Kazakh time): We arrived back at our apartment (we'd paid through Wednesday) to get the kids something to eat, let them garshok, and gather our thoughts and options now that we were not going to Russia. I took a long hot shower and changed clothes (looking back, it's a real good thing I did that, since I had not bathed that day, and was pretty rank from all the previously mentioned activity).
1230PM EDT (1030PM Kazakh time): We are sitting in the office of the Lufthansa ticketing agent, who tells us with a blank stare that this flight from Almaty to Frankfurt is totally full, and there are 4 people on standby. That said, she recommends we get on the standby list and wait it out. The flight is scheduled to leave Almaty at 320AM local time, 5 hours from now. I remark to Marina that she should never do business with this travel agency again, since they have as of this point totally hosed this customer.
1PM EDT (11PM Kazakh time): We arrive at the Almaty airport, against the pleas of Marina who offered to drive us back into town and take us out to eat, and set up camp for the next 4 hours in the general waiting area of the airport, which is noisy, crowded, cold, and filthy. We told Marina that we were very tired of driving, and wanted to be stationary and prep and plan for the next 72 hours. During these hours before the flight that we might be on, we fed the kids some more, and them let them lie down and sleep on their blankeys on the floor. No fewer than 8 people walked right up to us and demanded that we move the kids to the benches (typical airport bench fare, e.g., not real comfortable to lie down on) because they'd get sick for lying down on a cold surface or would wake up with a back ache. The kids slept hard for 2-3 hours while we waited on pins and needles to find out if we were going to get on this flight. Moscow was out...NYET! We tried to get a meal, but the nearby airport cafe was out of most things, including bottled water. As I reviewed the menu, the waitress hovered over me as if I were a restaurant critic.
5PM EDT (3AM Kazakh time): I'm in the men's room helping Dub garshok - we're almost exclusively on the big potty now, just in case you were curious - and Marina sticks her head in the door, and yells, "Kevin! You must hurry! You have to check in!" So we got on the flight! Poor Dub, to be on the other end of that speed-garshok!
11PM EDT (6AM German time, the following day): We arrive at Frankfurt airport after one of the most miserable, hot, crowded airplane rides ever. Just to mention that it was Lena & Dub's very first airplane ride is the only thing that was good about the flight. That, and the fact that it got us halfway home. Lena and Dub both cried mercilessly at every drop of the hat, such as when we put their seatbelts on, when we told them, "no, you cannot go wander around - in the middle of the night - and bother people", and especially when we said no to their 17th request to garshok within a timeframe of about 30 minutes. When we got off the plane, it was cold and rainy in Germany - we had to get out on the tarmac and run to a bus - and it felt SOOOOO good! We met a bunch of college students who were returning from Kazakhstan after visiting for Campus Crusade for Christ. They were extremely nice, and they all regretted not approaching us earlier in the flight so they could babysit while we slept!
1130PM EDT (630AM German time): At the Delta counter, Angel learns two things. First, we are NOT confirmed from Frankfurt to NY because our tickets from Moscow to Atlanta never got cancelled, and she left her contact lens case and glasses case on the plane from Almaty to Frankfurt. While Angel babysat 2 very upset, tired, irritable kids, Kevin trapsed all over Frankfurt airport trying to (a) find the Delta desk to make an actual confirmed arrangement, and (b) trying to locate a lost & found function to get Angel's contacts back. Well, 1 outta 2 ain't bad, is it? We were confirmed on the 11:55AM flight from Frankfurt to JFK. We confirmed that Angel's contacts might come to us in the mail, but we're not counting on it. The Frankfurt airport is absolutely HUGE, and, perhaps it was the time of day (0630), empty. At times I was wandering down huge halls completely alone, not another soul in sight!
430AM EDT (1130AM German time): Dub and Lena get their first taste of what it's like to fly first class. Ohhhhhh...swweeeettttttt! Looking forward to an 8-hour flight, we provided the kiddos a dose of children's tylenol night time. "May cause drowsiness". Yes, please. They both literally conked out at exactly the same time, as we waited on the tarmac to take off. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed an hour, significantly eating into the actual medication time. Dub slept hard for 90 minutes, and was then wide awake. Lena slept for all but about 2 hours of the flight. All of the flight attendants and many passengers gushed and ooohed and aaahhed over the kids, and all were blown away that this was their maiden voyage home from Kazakhstan to live with us. We need to remember the very special cabin steward, a very nice German man, who adopted us for this flight, babied the kids with everything we could ask for, and generally made us feel right at home. Thank you God for providing such angels in our path.
315PM EDT: William Roscoe Sandlin and Miriam Helena Sandlin touch down on American soil, thus becoming American citizens! Now for the paperwork part. Customs took a total of about 25 minutes, including standing in a short line at JFK. We now have all we need to make Dub & Lena active citizens of their new country, like a Social Security Card, an American Passport, etc. They each actually maintain dual citizenship until they are 18 years of age, much like their father, who held dual citizenship in Zaire.
415PM EDT: We find and go into the Delta Business Elite Lounge at JFK. Ultra sweet. Everything you could want to make a brief stay thoroughly enjoyable. Kevin walks over to gate 12 to find out that our planned flight to Atlanta is not only overbooked, but they hvae 44 people on standby. When Kevin was gone so long, Angel figured we weren't getting on the flight, and we'd have to stay in NY (yeah, like she would argue with that!) or find another flight. But Kevin's patience and God's totally undeserved grace provided. At 645PM - the plane was due to take off at 520PM - Kevin came running into the lounge yelling "let's go! let's go!" We grabbed everything - except Kevin's cell phone, which was charging in the lounge - and ran down the jetway and got on the plane. Angel realized the missing cell phone when she got to her seat (we weren't sitting together; girls in business, boys in steerage), and the gate agent called the lounge. A representative from the lounge came sprinting down the jetway with the phone. Unfortunately, it wasn't our cell phone, but someone else's! The nearest flight attendant managed to get the airplane door open again and tossed the phone out so that whoever just lost their cell phone wouldn't have such a hard time getting it back. Ces't la vie! This flight was also delayed due to harsh weather in NY. As we waited on the tarmac, I decided to pre-empt Dub's garshokiness. He had already made a mess, and these were our final pair of pullups. I got him all cleaned up, and, since he had JUST gone, I figured I was safe. My instincts are not good. We had been back at our seats maybe 5 minutes when Dub totally soaked his pants. I guess I reacted with some degree of disappointment, and that brought Dub to heartbreaking tears. He cried himself to sleep, and slept until just before landing, when we managed to find a change of clothes and a new set of pullups (I think we took Lena's off her and put them on Dub).
10PM EDT: We're in Atlanta! Woo hoo!! We decided, as we did with flying Business Class wherever and whenever we could, that Dub and Lena only get to "come home" once, so we called Carey Limousine and got a fancy shmancy car to bring us home. Mary Alice was waiting with open arms, and as of 215AM, they are still in awe at the pets, THEIR toys, their beds, their room, their bathtub, their new clothes...their new home.
10AMEDT: Everybody slept in this morning, Thursday, June 30. We're home.
God is an awesome God. We will get some much needed rest, and then post some follow up messages to this amazing chapter in our lives, as it draws to a close, and prepares the way for an exciting new chapter!
Thank you for your prayers. They worked. We're home with 2 beautiful children. I am stunned silly, and can hardly believe we're actually home.
Blessings,
Kevin, Angel, William, and Miriam
PS - if it sounds a little like I'm blathering, that's possible. Please have a little grace. We got home 3 hours ago, and I have actually fallen asleep 3 times on my keyboard, but I wanted to make sure everyone was up to date.
The following events happen between 5AM Eastern Daylight Time on Tuesday, June 28, 2005, and Midnight EDT on Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Events occur in real time.
5AM EDT (3PM Kazakh Time): We left the apartment, with all our bags packed, to go to our American Embassy interview and then head straight for the airport to leave for Moscow at 7pm. We had to be there 2 hours early to get through customs, passport control, etc. The embassy interview was simple, painless, and quick, and we were out of there by 430. On to the airport.
7AM EDT (5PM Kazakh time): We arrived at Almaty Int'l Airport in 2 cars, because Sam's car was not big enough to carry all our luggage and the 2 kids. We went though the security scan, showed em our passports, and tickets, and headed to check-in. Marina is still waiting, watching to make sure all was well through check-in. And that was a good thing, because all was not well. We learned very quickly and clearly that we needed a visa just to arrive at the Moscow Airport (Sheremetyevo). Unfortunately, nobody had told us that before. Not the hotel with whom we had a reservation. Not the travel agency who sold us the tickets. Nobody. And, it takes 2 days - at least - to obtain a proper transit visa for Russia. Our flight left at 7pm, and we were without options. While Kevin discussed the matter with Marina, AirAstana, and Airport security, Lena and Dub had repetitive meltdowns in the middle of the airport while Angel struggled to keep her sanity for a few more hours.
8AM EDT (6PM Kazakh time): We arrived at the travel agency to (a) get our money back for the tickets, and (b) ask them why they would sell us such tickets without even the slightest mention of a visa. We had to leave a credit card with Marina, so she could go back the next day during normal business hours and get our card credited. They never did give an answer on the visa thing. I decided that they owed us at the very least the use of their phone to call Delta long distance. They obliged. I spent 75 minutes on the phone with Delta (long distance, agency's dime) trying to find seats on a flight from Frankfurt to Atlanta, then Frankfurt to anywhere in the U.S. Meanwhile, Lena and Dub had a cracker for dinner, wet their pants several times, and got filthy playing all over the sidewalk in front of the travel agency.
10AM EDT (8PM Kazakh time): We left this travel agency with 2 kids with dirty pull-ups, no explanation of the visa thing, but confirmation that we were on a Delta flight from Frankfurt to JFK in NY. We also learned that we needed to get Lufthansa tickets to Frankfurt after 10pm when the Lufthansa ticket office opened at the airport. No, don't ask why their business hours begin at 10pm. The travel agent assured us that there were "plenty of seats" on this Lufthansa flight.
1030AM EDT (830PM Kazakh time): We arrived back at our apartment (we'd paid through Wednesday) to get the kids something to eat, let them garshok, and gather our thoughts and options now that we were not going to Russia. I took a long hot shower and changed clothes (looking back, it's a real good thing I did that, since I had not bathed that day, and was pretty rank from all the previously mentioned activity).
1230PM EDT (1030PM Kazakh time): We are sitting in the office of the Lufthansa ticketing agent, who tells us with a blank stare that this flight from Almaty to Frankfurt is totally full, and there are 4 people on standby. That said, she recommends we get on the standby list and wait it out. The flight is scheduled to leave Almaty at 320AM local time, 5 hours from now. I remark to Marina that she should never do business with this travel agency again, since they have as of this point totally hosed this customer.
1PM EDT (11PM Kazakh time): We arrive at the Almaty airport, against the pleas of Marina who offered to drive us back into town and take us out to eat, and set up camp for the next 4 hours in the general waiting area of the airport, which is noisy, crowded, cold, and filthy. We told Marina that we were very tired of driving, and wanted to be stationary and prep and plan for the next 72 hours. During these hours before the flight that we might be on, we fed the kids some more, and them let them lie down and sleep on their blankeys on the floor. No fewer than 8 people walked right up to us and demanded that we move the kids to the benches (typical airport bench fare, e.g., not real comfortable to lie down on) because they'd get sick for lying down on a cold surface or would wake up with a back ache. The kids slept hard for 2-3 hours while we waited on pins and needles to find out if we were going to get on this flight. Moscow was out...NYET! We tried to get a meal, but the nearby airport cafe was out of most things, including bottled water. As I reviewed the menu, the waitress hovered over me as if I were a restaurant critic.
5PM EDT (3AM Kazakh time): I'm in the men's room helping Dub garshok - we're almost exclusively on the big potty now, just in case you were curious - and Marina sticks her head in the door, and yells, "Kevin! You must hurry! You have to check in!" So we got on the flight! Poor Dub, to be on the other end of that speed-garshok!
11PM EDT (6AM German time, the following day): We arrive at Frankfurt airport after one of the most miserable, hot, crowded airplane rides ever. Just to mention that it was Lena & Dub's very first airplane ride is the only thing that was good about the flight. That, and the fact that it got us halfway home. Lena and Dub both cried mercilessly at every drop of the hat, such as when we put their seatbelts on, when we told them, "no, you cannot go wander around - in the middle of the night - and bother people", and especially when we said no to their 17th request to garshok within a timeframe of about 30 minutes. When we got off the plane, it was cold and rainy in Germany - we had to get out on the tarmac and run to a bus - and it felt SOOOOO good! We met a bunch of college students who were returning from Kazakhstan after visiting for Campus Crusade for Christ. They were extremely nice, and they all regretted not approaching us earlier in the flight so they could babysit while we slept!
1130PM EDT (630AM German time): At the Delta counter, Angel learns two things. First, we are NOT confirmed from Frankfurt to NY because our tickets from Moscow to Atlanta never got cancelled, and she left her contact lens case and glasses case on the plane from Almaty to Frankfurt. While Angel babysat 2 very upset, tired, irritable kids, Kevin trapsed all over Frankfurt airport trying to (a) find the Delta desk to make an actual confirmed arrangement, and (b) trying to locate a lost & found function to get Angel's contacts back. Well, 1 outta 2 ain't bad, is it? We were confirmed on the 11:55AM flight from Frankfurt to JFK. We confirmed that Angel's contacts might come to us in the mail, but we're not counting on it. The Frankfurt airport is absolutely HUGE, and, perhaps it was the time of day (0630), empty. At times I was wandering down huge halls completely alone, not another soul in sight!
430AM EDT (1130AM German time): Dub and Lena get their first taste of what it's like to fly first class. Ohhhhhh...swweeeettttttt! Looking forward to an 8-hour flight, we provided the kiddos a dose of children's tylenol night time. "May cause drowsiness". Yes, please. They both literally conked out at exactly the same time, as we waited on the tarmac to take off. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed an hour, significantly eating into the actual medication time. Dub slept hard for 90 minutes, and was then wide awake. Lena slept for all but about 2 hours of the flight. All of the flight attendants and many passengers gushed and ooohed and aaahhed over the kids, and all were blown away that this was their maiden voyage home from Kazakhstan to live with us. We need to remember the very special cabin steward, a very nice German man, who adopted us for this flight, babied the kids with everything we could ask for, and generally made us feel right at home. Thank you God for providing such angels in our path.
315PM EDT: William Roscoe Sandlin and Miriam Helena Sandlin touch down on American soil, thus becoming American citizens! Now for the paperwork part. Customs took a total of about 25 minutes, including standing in a short line at JFK. We now have all we need to make Dub & Lena active citizens of their new country, like a Social Security Card, an American Passport, etc. They each actually maintain dual citizenship until they are 18 years of age, much like their father, who held dual citizenship in Zaire.
415PM EDT: We find and go into the Delta Business Elite Lounge at JFK. Ultra sweet. Everything you could want to make a brief stay thoroughly enjoyable. Kevin walks over to gate 12 to find out that our planned flight to Atlanta is not only overbooked, but they hvae 44 people on standby. When Kevin was gone so long, Angel figured we weren't getting on the flight, and we'd have to stay in NY (yeah, like she would argue with that!) or find another flight. But Kevin's patience and God's totally undeserved grace provided. At 645PM - the plane was due to take off at 520PM - Kevin came running into the lounge yelling "let's go! let's go!" We grabbed everything - except Kevin's cell phone, which was charging in the lounge - and ran down the jetway and got on the plane. Angel realized the missing cell phone when she got to her seat (we weren't sitting together; girls in business, boys in steerage), and the gate agent called the lounge. A representative from the lounge came sprinting down the jetway with the phone. Unfortunately, it wasn't our cell phone, but someone else's! The nearest flight attendant managed to get the airplane door open again and tossed the phone out so that whoever just lost their cell phone wouldn't have such a hard time getting it back. Ces't la vie! This flight was also delayed due to harsh weather in NY. As we waited on the tarmac, I decided to pre-empt Dub's garshokiness. He had already made a mess, and these were our final pair of pullups. I got him all cleaned up, and, since he had JUST gone, I figured I was safe. My instincts are not good. We had been back at our seats maybe 5 minutes when Dub totally soaked his pants. I guess I reacted with some degree of disappointment, and that brought Dub to heartbreaking tears. He cried himself to sleep, and slept until just before landing, when we managed to find a change of clothes and a new set of pullups (I think we took Lena's off her and put them on Dub).
10PM EDT: We're in Atlanta! Woo hoo!! We decided, as we did with flying Business Class wherever and whenever we could, that Dub and Lena only get to "come home" once, so we called Carey Limousine and got a fancy shmancy car to bring us home. Mary Alice was waiting with open arms, and as of 215AM, they are still in awe at the pets, THEIR toys, their beds, their room, their bathtub, their new clothes...their new home.
10AMEDT: Everybody slept in this morning, Thursday, June 30. We're home.
God is an awesome God. We will get some much needed rest, and then post some follow up messages to this amazing chapter in our lives, as it draws to a close, and prepares the way for an exciting new chapter!
Thank you for your prayers. They worked. We're home with 2 beautiful children. I am stunned silly, and can hardly believe we're actually home.
Blessings,
Kevin, Angel, William, and Miriam
PS - if it sounds a little like I'm blathering, that's possible. Please have a little grace. We got home 3 hours ago, and I have actually fallen asleep 3 times on my keyboard, but I wanted to make sure everyone was up to date.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Last night in Almaty
We're booked on Air Astana to Moscow on Tuesday night, hoping to get on the flight from Moscow to Atlanta on Wednesday. We're on the waitlist, but with SkyMiles, you never know. We will go to the ticket counter and beg, plead, or whatever else it takes.
Today we had the requisite medical examination of Dub & Lena, required to get our exit visas. They are both healthy. Dub weighed in at just over 26lbs and Lena 23lbs. They're about the same height, 33". The doctor gave both kids a clean bill of health, with a few recommendations. He said Lena's "outey" belly button should go away. First time I've heard that. He said, after we told him that Dub sings all the time, to make sure that we get him in front of lots of music asap.
After a great nap (all 4 of us), we just played and played and played, then went out with Marina to a local mall where they have another great indoor playground filled with the little plastic balls. We ate at "King Burger", which is actually BurgerKing, not sure why they changed the name like that. Dub devoured half a hamburger and a bunch of fries. Lena wouldn't eat her hamburger, but loves fries. Go figure. Came home, said bye-bye to the Morins, who are here till Friday night, and put the kiddos straight to bed. BIG day tomorrow.
Our embassy interview is at 4pm, after which we go straight to the airport for the 5+ hour flight to Moscow. We arrive in Moscow at 10pm local time, and don't expect to get to our bed until at least midnight, having heard that Moscow customs are wearying to say the least. We'll do our best to keep the kids up until we get to the hotel, so that they will be sure to sleep through the night and be ready for an evern bigger day (God willing) on Wednesday.
So, I don't know if we'll post tomorrow, probably not, since we'll be traveling until very, very late. We're staying in the hotel across the street from Sheremetyevo airport, so we'll hoof it over there first thing and beg to get on the SVO-ATL flight.
Please pray that God would grant us this little piece of totally undeserved grace by putting us on Wednesday's flight to Atlanta. If He chooses not to, so we'll spend Wed-Sat in Moscow and head out on our confirmed flight on Sunday. Thursday through Saturday's flights are overbooked, so those don't look likely. Pray, pray, pray!!!
Blessings,
Sleepy, Weary, Grumpy, and Happy
Today we had the requisite medical examination of Dub & Lena, required to get our exit visas. They are both healthy. Dub weighed in at just over 26lbs and Lena 23lbs. They're about the same height, 33". The doctor gave both kids a clean bill of health, with a few recommendations. He said Lena's "outey" belly button should go away. First time I've heard that. He said, after we told him that Dub sings all the time, to make sure that we get him in front of lots of music asap.
After a great nap (all 4 of us), we just played and played and played, then went out with Marina to a local mall where they have another great indoor playground filled with the little plastic balls. We ate at "King Burger", which is actually BurgerKing, not sure why they changed the name like that. Dub devoured half a hamburger and a bunch of fries. Lena wouldn't eat her hamburger, but loves fries. Go figure. Came home, said bye-bye to the Morins, who are here till Friday night, and put the kiddos straight to bed. BIG day tomorrow.
Our embassy interview is at 4pm, after which we go straight to the airport for the 5+ hour flight to Moscow. We arrive in Moscow at 10pm local time, and don't expect to get to our bed until at least midnight, having heard that Moscow customs are wearying to say the least. We'll do our best to keep the kids up until we get to the hotel, so that they will be sure to sleep through the night and be ready for an evern bigger day (God willing) on Wednesday.
So, I don't know if we'll post tomorrow, probably not, since we'll be traveling until very, very late. We're staying in the hotel across the street from Sheremetyevo airport, so we'll hoof it over there first thing and beg to get on the SVO-ATL flight.
Please pray that God would grant us this little piece of totally undeserved grace by putting us on Wednesday's flight to Atlanta. If He chooses not to, so we'll spend Wed-Sat in Moscow and head out on our confirmed flight on Sunday. Thursday through Saturday's flights are overbooked, so those don't look likely. Pray, pray, pray!!!
Blessings,
Sleepy, Weary, Grumpy, and Happy
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Our Last Sunday in Kazakhstan
Today was our final Sunday in Kazakhstan, God willing. Who knows when we'll actually leave, but worst case has us in Moscow one week from yesterday, and over the Atlantic on Sunday.
Today, we only had a few major meltdowns…before breakfast! Lena had another hard day. I imagine that their not being able to express themselves makes it tough on them to express themselves. Frustration leads to meltdowns, and we had a few today, but ended on a good note.
At least they both melted down at the same time. Saves a lot of time, you see.
We went to the park again this morning, since it was so nice and cool. Still can’t get around the rude pre-teens who run over our kids, though. This time, Angel caught up to one, just as he left Dub on his face. From then on, I followed them around, and got in the faces of these pre-pubescent urchins, and made it clear that they were to act like humans and not animals, at least while we are there. No idea what their parents thought of me yelling “NYET!!” at their kids every 5 minutes. D&L had fun, got dirty, and had a nice long nap to show for it.
This could have been a major catastrophe, but Mama’s mommy touch averted that one. Note Dub’s expression, which occurs just before he explodes. Funny, but it takes 5-10 seconds for this look to fully develop, and then a few seconds after that for the sound to emanate from his lungs. It’s a good warning system.
We think this animal is some sort of deer, but we’re not sure. L&D love them (there are two) and we finally got a chance to get a shot of them riding it. The other one looks as if it is grazing, with its nose close to the ground, so everyone piles up grass pullings from around the area and puts them under its nose, L&D included.
After nap time we went for a good hunting (my kind of shopping) at Tsum (pron: zoom) for all kinds of neat local Kazakh stuff.
Lena melted down for the 17th time on the way home, so only Dub got to spend a few minutes before dinner playing on the playground at the apartment with Chelsea and Alec Morin. So Dub got even dirtier!
This is the view from our bedroom window. Kinda gray today, but cool. We asked Marina where something was located relative to the hotel, and she said, “It’s the gray building.” Oh, that helps.
All in all, a good, full, fun Sunday. Blessings to all. Please pray for our safe and uneventful passage home this week, whenever that might turn out to be.
kevangelenadub
Today, we only had a few major meltdowns…before breakfast! Lena had another hard day. I imagine that their not being able to express themselves makes it tough on them to express themselves. Frustration leads to meltdowns, and we had a few today, but ended on a good note.
At least they both melted down at the same time. Saves a lot of time, you see.
We went to the park again this morning, since it was so nice and cool. Still can’t get around the rude pre-teens who run over our kids, though. This time, Angel caught up to one, just as he left Dub on his face. From then on, I followed them around, and got in the faces of these pre-pubescent urchins, and made it clear that they were to act like humans and not animals, at least while we are there. No idea what their parents thought of me yelling “NYET!!” at their kids every 5 minutes. D&L had fun, got dirty, and had a nice long nap to show for it.
This could have been a major catastrophe, but Mama’s mommy touch averted that one. Note Dub’s expression, which occurs just before he explodes. Funny, but it takes 5-10 seconds for this look to fully develop, and then a few seconds after that for the sound to emanate from his lungs. It’s a good warning system.
We think this animal is some sort of deer, but we’re not sure. L&D love them (there are two) and we finally got a chance to get a shot of them riding it. The other one looks as if it is grazing, with its nose close to the ground, so everyone piles up grass pullings from around the area and puts them under its nose, L&D included.
After nap time we went for a good hunting (my kind of shopping) at Tsum (pron: zoom) for all kinds of neat local Kazakh stuff.
Lena melted down for the 17th time on the way home, so only Dub got to spend a few minutes before dinner playing on the playground at the apartment with Chelsea and Alec Morin. So Dub got even dirtier!
This is the view from our bedroom window. Kinda gray today, but cool. We asked Marina where something was located relative to the hotel, and she said, “It’s the gray building.” Oh, that helps.
All in all, a good, full, fun Sunday. Blessings to all. Please pray for our safe and uneventful passage home this week, whenever that might turn out to be.
kevangelenadub
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Cool days, mountains, parks, and weddings
What a fun, full day we had today!
Lena and Dub, ready and waiting to head out to the mountains.
But first, have to relate the adventures of the previous night. Dub sat up singing to himself from 830 until 11, when he finally drifted off to sleep. Four different rocking sessions made no impact at all, but at least he went to bed willingly and without tears. Somewhere around 3AM, Lena fell out of bed. Kevin found her not beside the bed, but right in the middle of the floor. Guess she knows how to fall properly, and rolled to avoid solid impact. Right. Looks like we'll need to get some bed rails from Wal-Mart when we get home. Both Monkeys woke up at 6am, and hopped in bed with Mama and Papa. Although we didn't like being jolted awake at 6am, it is so encouraging to see these two gaining so much confidence in their place in our lives that they get up on their own, garshok, and then hop in bed with us.
Speaking of garshok, we had a breakthrough of sorts today. Dub, for the first time, decided he wanted to use the big potty. He's seen his sister do this since we busted them out of Umit. He was scared of sitting backwards on the potty for a while, but just today overcame that fear without warning. We like this development, although he looks very funny sitting backwards on the toilet with his little legs splayed all about, and it works.
So this morning, we went with the Morin family and Kate (local interpreter) up to the mountains. It's somewhat cool here anyway because of the recent rainstorms, but on the mountain top, it was probably no more than 60 degrees. Boy did that feel good. No weddings parties on the top of the mountain today. In fact, it was just about deserted. Kate explained that it was so because of the very rainy weather the past few days.
The view from the top of the avalanche dam, above the Olympic skating rink, below the ski resort, called Chimbulak.
This is the opposite side of the dam from the skating rink. In the summer, people go down and spell out their names and messages with rocks.
Then we went to the Ramstor mall, which is very much like any of our smaller U.S. shopping malls, except that it has a large grocery store inside. We looked for a khaki skirt for Lena (no luck), got some necessary groceries, and then ate at the sort of equivalent of KFC. Lena is the first child I've ever seen who wouldn't even look at chicken fingers, much less chow on them. So she went without lunch. Didn't want anything to eat at all. Dub made up for it, as usual. They played for a long time in the typical fast food kids playground (the same kind that require lots of Purel in the US), and then we headed home and tried for naptime. You'd have thought they'd have been exhausted, but Dub slept maybe 30 minutes, and Lena only an hour and a half or so.
Dub's first ride on a good ole mall amusement ride. This one being Mighty Mouse.
Lena's first ride on the same Mighty Mouse.
So, our goal for the afternoon was to get them some serious exercise. That took us back to the local park, Panfilov Park, which, by the way, is very beautiful, for the playground and to visit the Soviet Great Patriotic War (WWII) memorials and see all the local wedding parties there. Success! Although we still are not able to find a time at the playground when pre-teens are not pounding all over the contraption knocking down our (and others') toddlers. Kevin has to act as something of a body guard, lest the Monkeys end up under the sand with half a slide on their heads. We walked the entire park, got lots of pictures, chased pigeons, chased brides and grooms, and just made it home in time for dinner and bath time.
We've mentioned the Kazakh weddings, and we'd love to incorporate this tradition into Dub and Lena's weddings. In the Kazakh tradition the bride and groom get married (usually a civil ceremony unless they are very religious) then they and the ever-increasingly-intoxicated wedding party of family and friends visit 15 different locations around the city paying homage to their lost relatives and their country. One location is on top of the mountain, and the rest are scattered through the city. They leave a bouquet of flowers at each location. In the park, one of the 15 stops is a huge WWII memorial with the eternal flame for the Soviet soldiers who fought in the War. The memorial is simply stunning. The wedding parties decorate their cars with streamers and they drive around the city honking and everyone waves. Then, whoever is left standing (it's OK to drink in public here) finishes the evening with a typical reception.
Decorated wedding party car.
You can see how many brides have visited the eternal flame and left flowers just today!
Here is one wedding party after they paid their tribute at the eternal, flame.
Here is the main face of the Soviet Great Patriotic War (WWII) memorial. As with the millions of roses, a picture cannot do it justice. It's stunning. At the bottom, you can see a newlywed couple getting their picture taken here.
Below are three of the minor memorial statues, just as stunning, but not as big, as the main one.
Another view of the gorgeous Russian Orthodox Church at Panfilov Park, across the street from our apartment. Outside the church in an open courtyard there are battery operated Jeeps that kids ride on and have photos made, and the area attracts a lot of pigeons.
A very fun day was had by all. Each Monkey had one meltdown, but recovered quickly.
At most, one week till we're home. Thank you for your prayers and continued encouraging emails and blog comments.
Blessings,
KA+dl
Lena and Dub, ready and waiting to head out to the mountains.
But first, have to relate the adventures of the previous night. Dub sat up singing to himself from 830 until 11, when he finally drifted off to sleep. Four different rocking sessions made no impact at all, but at least he went to bed willingly and without tears. Somewhere around 3AM, Lena fell out of bed. Kevin found her not beside the bed, but right in the middle of the floor. Guess she knows how to fall properly, and rolled to avoid solid impact. Right. Looks like we'll need to get some bed rails from Wal-Mart when we get home. Both Monkeys woke up at 6am, and hopped in bed with Mama and Papa. Although we didn't like being jolted awake at 6am, it is so encouraging to see these two gaining so much confidence in their place in our lives that they get up on their own, garshok, and then hop in bed with us.
Speaking of garshok, we had a breakthrough of sorts today. Dub, for the first time, decided he wanted to use the big potty. He's seen his sister do this since we busted them out of Umit. He was scared of sitting backwards on the potty for a while, but just today overcame that fear without warning. We like this development, although he looks very funny sitting backwards on the toilet with his little legs splayed all about, and it works.
So this morning, we went with the Morin family and Kate (local interpreter) up to the mountains. It's somewhat cool here anyway because of the recent rainstorms, but on the mountain top, it was probably no more than 60 degrees. Boy did that feel good. No weddings parties on the top of the mountain today. In fact, it was just about deserted. Kate explained that it was so because of the very rainy weather the past few days.
The view from the top of the avalanche dam, above the Olympic skating rink, below the ski resort, called Chimbulak.
This is the opposite side of the dam from the skating rink. In the summer, people go down and spell out their names and messages with rocks.
Then we went to the Ramstor mall, which is very much like any of our smaller U.S. shopping malls, except that it has a large grocery store inside. We looked for a khaki skirt for Lena (no luck), got some necessary groceries, and then ate at the sort of equivalent of KFC. Lena is the first child I've ever seen who wouldn't even look at chicken fingers, much less chow on them. So she went without lunch. Didn't want anything to eat at all. Dub made up for it, as usual. They played for a long time in the typical fast food kids playground (the same kind that require lots of Purel in the US), and then we headed home and tried for naptime. You'd have thought they'd have been exhausted, but Dub slept maybe 30 minutes, and Lena only an hour and a half or so.
Dub's first ride on a good ole mall amusement ride. This one being Mighty Mouse.
Lena's first ride on the same Mighty Mouse.
So, our goal for the afternoon was to get them some serious exercise. That took us back to the local park, Panfilov Park, which, by the way, is very beautiful, for the playground and to visit the Soviet Great Patriotic War (WWII) memorials and see all the local wedding parties there. Success! Although we still are not able to find a time at the playground when pre-teens are not pounding all over the contraption knocking down our (and others') toddlers. Kevin has to act as something of a body guard, lest the Monkeys end up under the sand with half a slide on their heads. We walked the entire park, got lots of pictures, chased pigeons, chased brides and grooms, and just made it home in time for dinner and bath time.
We've mentioned the Kazakh weddings, and we'd love to incorporate this tradition into Dub and Lena's weddings. In the Kazakh tradition the bride and groom get married (usually a civil ceremony unless they are very religious) then they and the ever-increasingly-intoxicated wedding party of family and friends visit 15 different locations around the city paying homage to their lost relatives and their country. One location is on top of the mountain, and the rest are scattered through the city. They leave a bouquet of flowers at each location. In the park, one of the 15 stops is a huge WWII memorial with the eternal flame for the Soviet soldiers who fought in the War. The memorial is simply stunning. The wedding parties decorate their cars with streamers and they drive around the city honking and everyone waves. Then, whoever is left standing (it's OK to drink in public here) finishes the evening with a typical reception.
Decorated wedding party car.
You can see how many brides have visited the eternal flame and left flowers just today!
Here is one wedding party after they paid their tribute at the eternal, flame.
Here is the main face of the Soviet Great Patriotic War (WWII) memorial. As with the millions of roses, a picture cannot do it justice. It's stunning. At the bottom, you can see a newlywed couple getting their picture taken here.
Below are three of the minor memorial statues, just as stunning, but not as big, as the main one.
Another view of the gorgeous Russian Orthodox Church at Panfilov Park, across the street from our apartment. Outside the church in an open courtyard there are battery operated Jeeps that kids ride on and have photos made, and the area attracts a lot of pigeons.
A very fun day was had by all. Each Monkey had one meltdown, but recovered quickly.
At most, one week till we're home. Thank you for your prayers and continued encouraging emails and blog comments.
Blessings,
KA+dl
Friday, June 24, 2005
Earthquake?
We were enjoying one of the Monkeys' favorite activities, watching machinas and buses out the bedroom window, when Angel came in and asked why were were jumping up and down. I said I wasn't. A few minutes later, Anne Morin called and asked if we felt the earthquake. What earthquake? Marina called a little later to say she saw it on the local news. It was a 3 or 4 point earthquake on the kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border. I've been googling "earthquake+kazakhstan" ever since. Nothing. Oh well.
That was the highlight of our day. It is cool and rainy here, which makes good sprints down to the playground until it rains again, but other than that, not much to do. Of course, as I type this, Lena and Dub are perfecting their rendition of the "Oookah-Bookah!" dance. Lena's got the arms working, but Dub sticks with the basic hands-on-knees-funny-walk.
Yesterday, Dub had a hard day. Today was Lena's turn. They were both congested and a little feverish last night, so we gave them some medicine (yes, with sleep aid) and they were toast at 845 and slept all night. First time for us. Somehow Lena maneuvered her way to the bottom of her bed, and then did a header into the space between the bed and the wall. This is the same space Dub got stuck in the first night, but he didn't go head first. So Mama hears the screams, and runs in to see 2 feet and a little white butt wiggling uncontrollably over the side of the bed. The rest of the day saw many frustrating moments for poor Lena. There were many tissues used on the little girl today, bless her heart.
The odd thing about Lena is that, when she gets a little discipline (and I DO mean a little, like being told "no" to something), she pouts first. When she doesn't get her way, she starts screaming with tears. Then she sits down, legs straight out, arms by her side, head hung over her chest, and sobs. The more she sobs, the lower her head goes, and the more, uh, "stuff" comes out of her face. Next thing you know, her head is literally resting on her legs, her shirt and pants are soaked from tears and other facially-emanated fluids, and she's still sobbing over being told "no" to something usually very simple. I guess it's the little things.
We talked a long time tonite about which of these kinds of battles to fight, and agreed that "no" means "no", but to temper that with overwhelming love at the same time. What that translates into is letting her have her little (or big!) sobbing times, but then hugging her and reassuring her for as long as it takes to get Lena to come back and "Susie" to leave.
"Susie" is the Ballenger little girls' alter ego, who only does bad things. "Jamie" is the boys' bad side. So, we love Lena, but sometimes, like today, Susie comes around a LOT! We still love her, even when she's having a hard day. We love her even more when she's crying, because that's when we all need the most love, right? Right.
We're headed to the mountains tomorrow with the Morin family (Happy belated birthday, Anne!), and have begun a serious countdown of single digits until we go home. Not sure if we'll be able to get on a flight out of Moscow earlier than July 3rd, but our friend at Delta is working on that for us.
Blessings,
5@ndl1n4
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Hard Day's Night
Up most of the night with Dub. Wouldn't go to sleep. Finally went down for the count around 11 after mama and papa and mama and papa rocking him over and over. Then he fell out of bed at 3AM. Woke up crying at 5AM. L&D woke up for good at 730. Mama is still very sick, so Daddy did the morning routine. Dub was HORRIBLE! Would not be quiet so mama could sleep. Would not obey anything whatsoever. Cried at least 5 times for no real reason BEFORE breakfast. At breakfast he dropped most of his eggs on the floor.
Went to playground again this morning. Hot. Both L&D were very upset when we left. Papa went to market and laundry while mama got kids started on lunch. Lena eats so slow, and they were so exhausted that Dub literally fell asleep on the table after he ate. Nap time started out really easy today. Whew.
Lena successfully negotiated the suspension bridge, despite any number of very rude and inconsiderate Kazakh youths there. They'd run over a 3-year-old without a second thought. In fact, they have, do, and did, both yesterday and today.
He just sat there waiting to be excused, and fell fast alseep.
Even Lena thought this was nuts, as she chewed her food 432 more times.
Unfortunately, naptime ended with 2 little versions of Stalin's revenge. Mama got that call, since Papa was napping because he didn't sleep last night. Oy. Didn't do much this afternoon but play with the kiddos.
Things we've recently learned about L&D:
- Lena takes more time than a finicky cat to eat every meal. She eventually eats, but it takes forever.
- We didn't see tears from Dub for 5 weeks at Umit, and that only after a nasty fall on the pavement. Now he cries at the drop of a hat.
- L&D are learning to share, but it's slow and painful.
- Dub is fat. Ain't no way he's the 22 pounds they said he was before we arrived. He's a load.
- Lena is very talented. Things like throwing and catching a ball just come naturally.
All this is in the constant light of knowing that they have been uprooted from a very mechanical lifestyle at Umit, and are seeing brand new things every single day. So, we're giving a little grace as we get to know them - the REAL them, as they let their proverbial hair down.
Went to playground again this morning. Hot. Both L&D were very upset when we left. Papa went to market and laundry while mama got kids started on lunch. Lena eats so slow, and they were so exhausted that Dub literally fell asleep on the table after he ate. Nap time started out really easy today. Whew.
Lena successfully negotiated the suspension bridge, despite any number of very rude and inconsiderate Kazakh youths there. They'd run over a 3-year-old without a second thought. In fact, they have, do, and did, both yesterday and today.
He just sat there waiting to be excused, and fell fast alseep.
Even Lena thought this was nuts, as she chewed her food 432 more times.
Unfortunately, naptime ended with 2 little versions of Stalin's revenge. Mama got that call, since Papa was napping because he didn't sleep last night. Oy. Didn't do much this afternoon but play with the kiddos.
Things we've recently learned about L&D:
- Lena takes more time than a finicky cat to eat every meal. She eventually eats, but it takes forever.
- We didn't see tears from Dub for 5 weeks at Umit, and that only after a nasty fall on the pavement. Now he cries at the drop of a hat.
- L&D are learning to share, but it's slow and painful.
- Dub is fat. Ain't no way he's the 22 pounds they said he was before we arrived. He's a load.
- Lena is very talented. Things like throwing and catching a ball just come naturally.
All this is in the constant light of knowing that they have been uprooted from a very mechanical lifestyle at Umit, and are seeing brand new things every single day. So, we're giving a little grace as we get to know them - the REAL them, as they let their proverbial hair down.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The Playground
Seeing the wonderful results of getting the Monkeys on a good playground motivated us to take them out this morning AND this afternoon for lots of exercise, despite Kevin and Angel's continued illnesses. Kevin is improving thanks to some good antibiotics, but Angel is now where Kevin was two days ago. We'll get there.
All our paperwork is now complete for the Embassy visit, which is Tuesday at 4pm. After that visit, we are free to go. Just gotta get plane tickets from here to Moscow and Moscow to Atlanta. We are waitlisted on AirAstana's Tuesday night flight to Moscow, and are waiting to see if we can get on any seats on any flight from Moscow to Atlanta. The medical check up will happen Monday morning at 9am. That and the Embassy exit interview are our only remaining obligations. We're just waiting for the Monkeys' passports to go from here to Taraz for exit visas; then Taraz to Astana for exist visas; then Astana to Almaty for exit visas, then to us so we're outta here. Marina is very confident we'll be on track. So much so that she was the one who made the waitlistings for our flight out on Tuesday. Good stuff. In case you can't tell, we're ready to come home.
That's about it for today. Below are the pictures from today's trips to the playground.
Here's the outside of our apartment building. Good ole Soviet styling.
An overview of the playground at the apartment building. FAR better than Umit, but still a little scary in places.
This is one of the scary ones. Anyone know what this is? Looks like some sort of KGB torture device for failed Soviet Olympians.
First, Daddy has to set the example. See kids? It's easy...don't worry...Daddy's a pro!
OK, at this point, my arms are a little tired. It's been 7 weeks since I've worked out in any form or fashion.
Ninety-eight...umph...ninety-nine...
Dub looks about as happy to be in this position as Daddy does! Actually, he hung on for a good 5-6 seconds before abrubtly letting go. Good thing I was anticipating that!
Ditto for Lena, but she screamed and begged to be taken down.
OK, here's a bar a little more their speed. And they knew just what to do!
Run, Forest! Run! Ya know, I can run like the wind blows.
Push me Papa! WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! They both did well for their very first time ever on a swingset.
Nice Soviet swing. This thing go any higher? Boring.
These pretzels are making me thirsty.
Kiddos are down for the count. Nightly routine is forming nicely. Thank you for all the prayers and support. We're closing in on the end of this adventure, and keeping our chins up, staying positive. The samsas here are excellent, and we have DIET COKE! Actually here, they call it Coke Light, but it works. Now, if we only had some crushed ice....
Blessings,
Tarzan, Jane, and the Monkeys
All our paperwork is now complete for the Embassy visit, which is Tuesday at 4pm. After that visit, we are free to go. Just gotta get plane tickets from here to Moscow and Moscow to Atlanta. We are waitlisted on AirAstana's Tuesday night flight to Moscow, and are waiting to see if we can get on any seats on any flight from Moscow to Atlanta. The medical check up will happen Monday morning at 9am. That and the Embassy exit interview are our only remaining obligations. We're just waiting for the Monkeys' passports to go from here to Taraz for exit visas; then Taraz to Astana for exist visas; then Astana to Almaty for exit visas, then to us so we're outta here. Marina is very confident we'll be on track. So much so that she was the one who made the waitlistings for our flight out on Tuesday. Good stuff. In case you can't tell, we're ready to come home.
That's about it for today. Below are the pictures from today's trips to the playground.
Here's the outside of our apartment building. Good ole Soviet styling.
An overview of the playground at the apartment building. FAR better than Umit, but still a little scary in places.
This is one of the scary ones. Anyone know what this is? Looks like some sort of KGB torture device for failed Soviet Olympians.
First, Daddy has to set the example. See kids? It's easy...don't worry...Daddy's a pro!
OK, at this point, my arms are a little tired. It's been 7 weeks since I've worked out in any form or fashion.
Ninety-eight...umph...ninety-nine...
Dub looks about as happy to be in this position as Daddy does! Actually, he hung on for a good 5-6 seconds before abrubtly letting go. Good thing I was anticipating that!
Ditto for Lena, but she screamed and begged to be taken down.
OK, here's a bar a little more their speed. And they knew just what to do!
Run, Forest! Run! Ya know, I can run like the wind blows.
Push me Papa! WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! They both did well for their very first time ever on a swingset.
Nice Soviet swing. This thing go any higher? Boring.
These pretzels are making me thirsty.
Kiddos are down for the count. Nightly routine is forming nicely. Thank you for all the prayers and support. We're closing in on the end of this adventure, and keeping our chins up, staying positive. The samsas here are excellent, and we have DIET COKE! Actually here, they call it Coke Light, but it works. Now, if we only had some crushed ice....
Blessings,
Tarzan, Jane, and the Monkeys
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Ookah-Bookah!
We saw the entire spectrum of behavior today. Kids slept a full 10 hours last night and Dub only woke up once. Must’ve been the really good drugs. ;-) We gave them a hit of Children’s Tylenol nighttime to help with the coughing, fever and crud. And it’s an added bonus that it has a sleep additive. A few seconds of pushing he back and forth (as opposed to picking him up and rocking) lulled Dub back from his mystery terror. Dub actually woke up this morning happy for a change. Lena always does. We had a fun morning, playing monkey games and tried to eat last night’s leftovers for lunch (still didn’t go over well) then it was nap time. Ugh. Neither kid likes the idea of naptime and puts up the usual fuss. But today was beyond the pale. We did the usual routine and both started screaming and yelling “garshok” (which, for the thousandth time, means “potty”) even though they both had gone just after lunch. So we got them back up, let them garshok, dried the tears and tried again. A little whining and they eventually fell asleep. Dub slept about ½ hour and started his usual whimpering. He was so exhausted and kept drifting off and rubbing his eyes. I push-rocked him back to sleep and just when I thought he was out, he started screaming. For an hour and a half (of a 2 hour nap) I alternated rocking him to sleep and then he’s start screaming the moment I put him down. We contemplated what to do: do we let him scream himself to sleep and wake up Lena or run to him and pick him up (don’t want to start THAT!) or go in and pat him to sleep? Kids get so hot when they are screaming, so between the hot child, the hot room, the frustration, the back-breaking continuous rocking we were completely frazzled. By the time we just said “Forget the nap, Dub” Lena woke up and naptime was officially over.
We have found another little activity that the monkeys like. In our bedroom is a large window with a deep window sill that they can sit on, so long as Daddy is there the hold them up, since it’s 4 feet off the floor. Out that window, they have a great view of the main strip through Almaty, and they just love to sit there and spot “machina!” (car), “bus!”, and “tuwuk”. They especially like “yewwow bus!” There’s also a spectacular view of the Tien Shan mountain range, so close it looks like you can reach out and touch them. They are only slightly smaller than the Rockies; however, Parrott Monkeys don’t care much about mountains.
We spent the afternoon with the Morins. We walked down to Plovic Park where we found a great playground. It was a real first for the kids. The playgrounds at Umit are pitiful, consisting of a climbing bar, a slideless slide, and a dirt-box instead of a sand-box. This one had 4 different slides, a suspension-type bridge that really freaked the kids out! A couple of climbing posts and the ground – get this – was covered in SAND, not weeds! No ticks. No bugs. No mosquitoes. Just nice sand. And about 10,000 of your closest Kazakh friends. The other kids wouldn’t have been so bad, but it was the teenagers who pushed Lena out of the way so they could go down the slide that really ticked me off. Guess the mommy gene is starting to kick in. I was on the other side of the playground and couldn’t get to her to tell her off. Not that she would’ve understood. But they had a grand time and didn’t want to leave. We walked from there to the Russian Orthodox Church in the park that survived the 1910 earthquake. Built entirely without nails. We showed the kids where Jesus lives (they wouldn’t yet understand that He really lives in our hearts) and showed them His pictures on the wall. To hear His name mentioned by kids is so precious. Geeeezus! I know He smiles when He hears it! Off to the market then home in time for dinner.
We tried pasta tonight. Trying to experiment and see who likes what. I made rigatoni with tomato sauce and Dub scarfed his down like there was no tomorrow. Lena licked her spoon a few times then pushed her plate away. I’m not going to be one of those moms who make 5 different dinners for each member of the family. But I’m also not going to force the clean plate club. I’ll take the Glen Arden Camp for Girls rule (once they understand English): 4 bites of everything on the plate. It could be a bite the size of a pin-head, but make the effort. But here we are in a strange city, strange new food, so I tried to think what else she might eat. While giving Dub HER plate, too (which he polished off) it occurred to me that maybe she might like plain noodles with butter. Bingo! She cleaned her plate.
Kevin taught the monkeys to do the “Ookah Boookah” dance, where you hold your arms like a gorilla and say “Oookah Bookah.” They thought it was a riot. We finally got a picture of Lena in the act. Then we taught them to say Ooooo Ooooo Eeeee Eeeee like a monkey. They thought that was a riot as well.
So we saw it all: the horrible no good very bad nap time to the Ooo Eee Ookah Boookah dances. Guess it’s just a day in the life with toddlers.
Pray Marlene can get us out on the 29th!
Blessings,
KADL
Monday, June 20, 2005
Falling out of bed...
First Mama then Dub. Dub is a light sleeper and wakes several times a night. He just sits up and whimpers, and then if I pat him on the back, he goes right back to sleep. But I'm afraid he'll wake up Lena. So last night my mommy ears were turned on and when I heard him whimpering, I rolled over to get up and pat him, I fell out of bed. I was sleeping so hard, I couldn't remember where I was, and thought I was still in the hotel in my own twin bed instead of sharing half of a double bed with Kevin. Guess I was too close to the edge. Not that it's really a bed. It's a box spring with a 1" mattress on top. I think a bed of nails would be softer. Then I remember the email pictures that went around showing the mudpits our troops have to sleep in, and I'm very grateful for the 1" mattress.
In Umit, the toddlers sleep in little beds that have tall side rails that keep them from falling out of bed. Here in the apartment, we have twin beds (as we do at home). You can see from the picture, the rooms have these really weird walls that look like a wagon wheel. The third time Dub woke up whimpering, I went in to pat him and couldn't find him! I heard the whimpering and looked closer in the dark and realized he had fallen out of bed and was wedged in the opening created by the wagon wheel effect. I yelled for Kevin because I couldn’t move the bed and he came running in. Lena woke up whimpering. It took about 10 seconds to rock everyone back to sleep.
Today (Monday) we all have the crud. The kids have had it since we got them and their little coughs are so bad a precious friend who is an RN on Mercy Ships suggested we get some amoxicillin since the pharmacies are not restricted like in the US. That was adventure! It took 4 tries to get someone to speak English (there is a US Flag and a Kazakh flag painted on the side of the building, so I assumed SOMEONE spoke English!) I told her I needed amoxicillin for my 3 year olds. She barely understood and tried to tell me about dosages and tablets. When I asked for liquid that really started something. She finally ended up giving me 10ml of something and was told to add it to .5L of water and the dosage was ½ tsp every day. I typed it into a Russian/English website and it came back vitasepen. Sound familiar to anyone? They seemed very nice, but I’m not comfortable giving my kids strange medicine unless I’m sure it’s the right one.
We finally got the TV working here, and D&L watched some Russian cartoons while Papa rotted in bed with this crud. Believe it or not, they were bored with TV, and proceeded to cooperate in burying all their toys between their 2 blankeys. It was like watching a small colony of ants put their respective skills together to land all their worldly possessions on one blanket, then wrap them up in that blanket, and then cover this all up with the other blanket. I sat and watched the whole thing while listening to their toddler conversation in Kazakh. Quite amazing to see them speak to one another in Kazakh (or their version of it) and acknowledge one another’s ideas and implement them.
For no reason we can see, L&D would not eat dinner. Mama made roasted chicken breast with “smashed potatoes" and carrots. She tasted it and it tasted fine to her. They are both a little sick and Lena has a 99 degree temp, so perhaps they’ve lost their appetites. Either that or they don’t like Mama’s cookin! I think Dub was mad about something but we couldn’t figure out what. He just kept mumbling the same thing over but we have no idea what it was!
We’re figuring out the bedtime ritual, but Dub still fights it every step of the way. As soon as he realizes that the lights are out, the toys are put away, and mama and papa are done reading them a soft, quiet story, he starts freaking out. Unfortunately, we have no idea what’s behind this, or if it might be the same thing that wakes him up in the middle of the night screaming (other than falling out of bed, that is). Eventually, he let’s Mama rock him to sleep, and he’s out. We continue to struggle with implementing good habits now versus realizing that these kids have had their world shaken and they need every ounce of love and touch they can get. It’s a tough line to draw, and we’re only learning by trial and prayer.
Please pray that we will all get rid of this crud, so we won’t be shut-ins the whole time we are in Almaty. We all walked to the market (3 blocks) today, and we were all toast by the time we got back. Lena and Dub just shut down and would not walk, so Mama and Papa had to carry one of them each, along with an armload of groceries. OY!
And we continue to thank you for and covet more of these wonderful emails and blog comments. We’ve been away a long time, and it’s still a thrill to see a new name at the end of an email! Keep ‘em comin!
Blessings,
Kevin, Angel, Dub & Lena
PS - unfortunately, the few pics we took on the train didn't really turn out, probably because we were so exhausted, rather than from the movement of the train. Here's one that gives you the general idea.
In Umit, the toddlers sleep in little beds that have tall side rails that keep them from falling out of bed. Here in the apartment, we have twin beds (as we do at home). You can see from the picture, the rooms have these really weird walls that look like a wagon wheel. The third time Dub woke up whimpering, I went in to pat him and couldn't find him! I heard the whimpering and looked closer in the dark and realized he had fallen out of bed and was wedged in the opening created by the wagon wheel effect. I yelled for Kevin because I couldn’t move the bed and he came running in. Lena woke up whimpering. It took about 10 seconds to rock everyone back to sleep.
Today (Monday) we all have the crud. The kids have had it since we got them and their little coughs are so bad a precious friend who is an RN on Mercy Ships suggested we get some amoxicillin since the pharmacies are not restricted like in the US. That was adventure! It took 4 tries to get someone to speak English (there is a US Flag and a Kazakh flag painted on the side of the building, so I assumed SOMEONE spoke English!) I told her I needed amoxicillin for my 3 year olds. She barely understood and tried to tell me about dosages and tablets. When I asked for liquid that really started something. She finally ended up giving me 10ml of something and was told to add it to .5L of water and the dosage was ½ tsp every day. I typed it into a Russian/English website and it came back vitasepen. Sound familiar to anyone? They seemed very nice, but I’m not comfortable giving my kids strange medicine unless I’m sure it’s the right one.
We finally got the TV working here, and D&L watched some Russian cartoons while Papa rotted in bed with this crud. Believe it or not, they were bored with TV, and proceeded to cooperate in burying all their toys between their 2 blankeys. It was like watching a small colony of ants put their respective skills together to land all their worldly possessions on one blanket, then wrap them up in that blanket, and then cover this all up with the other blanket. I sat and watched the whole thing while listening to their toddler conversation in Kazakh. Quite amazing to see them speak to one another in Kazakh (or their version of it) and acknowledge one another’s ideas and implement them.
For no reason we can see, L&D would not eat dinner. Mama made roasted chicken breast with “smashed potatoes" and carrots. She tasted it and it tasted fine to her. They are both a little sick and Lena has a 99 degree temp, so perhaps they’ve lost their appetites. Either that or they don’t like Mama’s cookin! I think Dub was mad about something but we couldn’t figure out what. He just kept mumbling the same thing over but we have no idea what it was!
We’re figuring out the bedtime ritual, but Dub still fights it every step of the way. As soon as he realizes that the lights are out, the toys are put away, and mama and papa are done reading them a soft, quiet story, he starts freaking out. Unfortunately, we have no idea what’s behind this, or if it might be the same thing that wakes him up in the middle of the night screaming (other than falling out of bed, that is). Eventually, he let’s Mama rock him to sleep, and he’s out. We continue to struggle with implementing good habits now versus realizing that these kids have had their world shaken and they need every ounce of love and touch they can get. It’s a tough line to draw, and we’re only learning by trial and prayer.
Please pray that we will all get rid of this crud, so we won’t be shut-ins the whole time we are in Almaty. We all walked to the market (3 blocks) today, and we were all toast by the time we got back. Lena and Dub just shut down and would not walk, so Mama and Papa had to carry one of them each, along with an armload of groceries. OY!
And we continue to thank you for and covet more of these wonderful emails and blog comments. We’ve been away a long time, and it’s still a thrill to see a new name at the end of an email! Keep ‘em comin!
Blessings,
Kevin, Angel, Dub & Lena
PS - unfortunately, the few pics we took on the train didn't really turn out, probably because we were so exhausted, rather than from the movement of the train. Here's one that gives you the general idea.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Parrott Monkeys
ALMATY, KZ - June 18, 2005 - Special Bulletin - A new, heretofore undiscovered breed of primate has surfaced in a most unlikely location. Kazakhstan, not normally known for its primate population, now boasts a small population of the breed most commonly known as "Parrott Monkeys" (Latin: spasticus repetis). There are two overwhelmingly common characteristics of this rare breed. First, they repeat virtually everything that is said in their presence, no matter the language in which the words are spoken. These words are then permanently memorized in the primate's brains for later use in childlike babbling, simple songs, and dreadfully tired screams before sleep. Second, these animals never, ever stop moving, even during their slumber period. It's constant motion 24/7.
End press release.
Now, Almaty. We're here. That's about as excited as I can get. Saturday was long. Sittig here trying to remember what we did, and drawing a blank. Bazaar (WITH monkeys), haircut for Kevin, said bye to Hotel staff, finished Season 3 of "24" (OUCH!). Saying goodbye to Mit and Vera was tough. They have played such a major role in this most amazing adventure of our lives and our kids' lives. There is no way to show them the gratitude that will forever be carried with all four of us.
We thought it best to get the monkeys to bed at the regular time, then get them up to go to the train. Bad idea. We got on the train at 130am, and the kids absolutely freaked out. Dub, as it turns out, is very scared of the dark. Without some light on, he screamed uncontrollably at the top of his lungs. Lena was just wide awake. We tried both of them on the top bunk. Didn't work. They kept peering over the side to see mama and papa, and that could have easily meant a header over the side. We tried lots of blankets on the floor, and mama and papa in the bunks. Didn't work. They were so excited about being able to see and touch everything that they just sat up and babbled (see above press release). We ended up with Kevin and Lena in the top bunk and Angel and Dub (screaming) in the bottom. Sleep is estimated at 2-3 hours, but no confirmation of that. oy. Note to self: EvERYTHING is brand new for Monkeys, so they will get excited anytime they are somewhere new, especially when we want them to calm down and sleep!
Now in Almaty, we're staying in an old Soviet apartment. From the outside, and in the stairwell, it's hideous. Most Americans wouldn't go within 2 miles of this building. Inside, it's quite nice, in a 1972 disco-deco sort of way. But, it is much larger than the Gazovic room, has a second bedroom for the Monkeys, a full kitchen, and, best of all, it has great A/C. Yes, we're spoiled. The apartment is right downtown, walking distance to lots of great stuff, as we just found out. All the exotic foods we tried in Taraz are available in one place just 2 blocks away. Once we have our wits about us again (ever??) we'll head out and get some good local grub. It's raining here, which is a welcome site, sound, smell, and coolant. It's about 10 degrees cooler here than in Taraz, so it's not that big a deal.
We also got some good news: we CAN leave on the 29th. We've emailed the greatest agent ever at Delta (Thank you Marlene!!) to see if we can get the SVO-ATL flight on Wed or Thurs. We'll see. Not getting our hopes up, and we're fine if we have to stay till Sunday.
Coupla notes on L&D: they are really bonding to one another. As I write, Angel is cooking dinner, and the two monkeys are in their room babbling, playing, and otherwise having a great time together. It is a wonderful thing to see. Dub has not stopped babbling (again, see press release above). They are starting to include "mama" and "papa" in their Kazakh sentences, e.g., "Mama, minee!" Which means, "mama, look!" And, of course and as mentioned also above, if we say ANYTHING in their presence, we get their version of it shortly therafter.
I guess all this is to say that our kids are quite normal as toddlers, and that in itself is one great gift from God.
Sorry no pictures. Can't find the flash card reader. We do have some great pics from the final day in Taraz, and I'll try to post those tomorrow. We're starting to see a daily schedule through all the fog. Perhaps we can maintain that for 2 weeks, because it's really going to go down the drain after crossing the Atlantic.
Thanks again to you all for the uplifting comments and emails. And, as a side note, it is not necessary to sign up for a blogger account to leave us a post. Just choose "Other" from the 3 choices on the comments page, and that will let you type in your name, or any other alias you'd like us to figure out (Thank you, Snow White...I almost deleted that one as spam!).
Blessings upon blessings,
Kevin, Angel, Lena and Dub
End press release.
Now, Almaty. We're here. That's about as excited as I can get. Saturday was long. Sittig here trying to remember what we did, and drawing a blank. Bazaar (WITH monkeys), haircut for Kevin, said bye to Hotel staff, finished Season 3 of "24" (OUCH!). Saying goodbye to Mit and Vera was tough. They have played such a major role in this most amazing adventure of our lives and our kids' lives. There is no way to show them the gratitude that will forever be carried with all four of us.
We thought it best to get the monkeys to bed at the regular time, then get them up to go to the train. Bad idea. We got on the train at 130am, and the kids absolutely freaked out. Dub, as it turns out, is very scared of the dark. Without some light on, he screamed uncontrollably at the top of his lungs. Lena was just wide awake. We tried both of them on the top bunk. Didn't work. They kept peering over the side to see mama and papa, and that could have easily meant a header over the side. We tried lots of blankets on the floor, and mama and papa in the bunks. Didn't work. They were so excited about being able to see and touch everything that they just sat up and babbled (see above press release). We ended up with Kevin and Lena in the top bunk and Angel and Dub (screaming) in the bottom. Sleep is estimated at 2-3 hours, but no confirmation of that. oy. Note to self: EvERYTHING is brand new for Monkeys, so they will get excited anytime they are somewhere new, especially when we want them to calm down and sleep!
Now in Almaty, we're staying in an old Soviet apartment. From the outside, and in the stairwell, it's hideous. Most Americans wouldn't go within 2 miles of this building. Inside, it's quite nice, in a 1972 disco-deco sort of way. But, it is much larger than the Gazovic room, has a second bedroom for the Monkeys, a full kitchen, and, best of all, it has great A/C. Yes, we're spoiled. The apartment is right downtown, walking distance to lots of great stuff, as we just found out. All the exotic foods we tried in Taraz are available in one place just 2 blocks away. Once we have our wits about us again (ever??) we'll head out and get some good local grub. It's raining here, which is a welcome site, sound, smell, and coolant. It's about 10 degrees cooler here than in Taraz, so it's not that big a deal.
We also got some good news: we CAN leave on the 29th. We've emailed the greatest agent ever at Delta (Thank you Marlene!!) to see if we can get the SVO-ATL flight on Wed or Thurs. We'll see. Not getting our hopes up, and we're fine if we have to stay till Sunday.
Coupla notes on L&D: they are really bonding to one another. As I write, Angel is cooking dinner, and the two monkeys are in their room babbling, playing, and otherwise having a great time together. It is a wonderful thing to see. Dub has not stopped babbling (again, see press release above). They are starting to include "mama" and "papa" in their Kazakh sentences, e.g., "Mama, minee!" Which means, "mama, look!" And, of course and as mentioned also above, if we say ANYTHING in their presence, we get their version of it shortly therafter.
I guess all this is to say that our kids are quite normal as toddlers, and that in itself is one great gift from God.
Sorry no pictures. Can't find the flash card reader. We do have some great pics from the final day in Taraz, and I'll try to post those tomorrow. We're starting to see a daily schedule through all the fog. Perhaps we can maintain that for 2 weeks, because it's really going to go down the drain after crossing the Atlantic.
Thanks again to you all for the uplifting comments and emails. And, as a side note, it is not necessary to sign up for a blogger account to leave us a post. Just choose "Other" from the 3 choices on the comments page, and that will let you type in your name, or any other alias you'd like us to figure out (Thank you, Snow White...I almost deleted that one as spam!).
Blessings upon blessings,
Kevin, Angel, Lena and Dub
Friday, June 17, 2005
The Good Kids
No matter what it takes to get them to sleep, they wake up at exactly the same time everyday: 7AM. Mommy and Daddy are NOT used to that after 6 weeks of sleeping till 9 and napping from 12-4. Do we have to grow up now? :-)
Friday's breakfast was very fun, with Katiana, one of the Hotel Gazovic's waitresses, taking a very fond liking to Dub, and he to her. She fed him, cleaned him up, and just loved all over him all during breakfast. Lena, for reasons we don't understand, is all of a sudden very shy in public. Who knows. Dub will run to anyone who opens their arms for him, but Lena pouts and won't go to anyone.
After breakfast we decided we'd get some exercise by walking the whole park behind the hotel. Dub and Lena both feigned the need to garshok. Neither went. Lena then decided that she just didn't want to participate at all unless someone carried her. There were pouts, tears, screaming, sitting and refusing to move, and then nothing. We darted from shade tree to shade tree trying to keep cool-ish for about an hour. We were going to give them their first experience hopping around in the water fountains with the other kids, but the thought of lunch and nap time made us postpone that for Saturday.
I'm FREE! I'm FREE!
Our first PB&J! Yummy!
Today we tried a new method of getting them down for naps. We got them all cleaned up from lunch, then rocked them just a little to slow them down. Then we put them in their cribs with a board book and Pooh blankey, and we went into the bathroom, closed the door and read our books until they went to sleep. Took about a half hour and a couple of "JATT!" (that's Kazakh for "lie down") admonitions from Papa. They - then Papa - slept until 330. We packed up most of our belongings until 6pm, when we met Vera, Mit, and the Littlejohns to go have dinner at a traditional Kazakh Yurta.
The view from the floor to the top of the Yurta.
The Yurta waitress, in traditional Kazakh garb.
The food was great, and Dub & Lena were very well behaved. We sat on the floor at low tables, and ate Samsa, Plof, and, much to our chagrin, did shots of Vodka. It's offensive to Russians to say "no" to a drink of Vodka, so we capitulated. The heat of the Yurta (it was 630pm on a 97 degree day and the Yurta is just a really nice TeePee with no A/C) combined with the filling food and the Vodka was sufficient to knock us all down. We let D&L try "Cumus", fermented Mare's milk, which we tried a few weeks ago. It's too much flavor for us bland Americans, and Dub & Lena didn't much like it either. They did eat everything we ate, though.
They love their backpacks. They fill them up and wear them first thing in the morning.
Deciding to make the most of our time in Taraz, we went out to the Taraz square at 9pm to see the lights, people, performers, and to get a picture of D&L with the Rooster. It's "The Year of the Rooster" in China, and the Kazakhs acknowledge that, too. Lots of fun.
It's the year of the Rooster.
This is one of several performing groups we saw on the square Friday night.
A very quick hot bath, 2 books, and the kids took maybe 15 minutes - and NO screaming or crying - to get to sleep. Woo hoo! We even got in one episode of "24"! We're almost done with Season 3!
7am came very early today (now Saturday). Going to be a long day, since we have to catch the Spanish Train to Almaty at midnight tonite. Not sure how we'll do that with D&L, but we're thinking we'll keep them up until we get on the train, then let them crash with the rhythmic rocking on the tracks.
Something new about Dub: in 5 weeks of bonding, he really never said much, other than to parrott what we said to him (Love you, see you, garshok, mama, papa, etc.). On Thursday, he started babbling incoherently, and he hasn't stopped since. Just saying stuff as he thinks it, we guess. When I read to him last night, he babbled something that sounded like the words to the book. As I write, he's just wandering around the hotel room talking. No idea what he's saying. I guess we'll see something new every day as we get to know them more and more and more.
Tomorrow, we'll post from an apartment in Almaty, time TBD.
Blessings,
Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, and Dopey
Friday's breakfast was very fun, with Katiana, one of the Hotel Gazovic's waitresses, taking a very fond liking to Dub, and he to her. She fed him, cleaned him up, and just loved all over him all during breakfast. Lena, for reasons we don't understand, is all of a sudden very shy in public. Who knows. Dub will run to anyone who opens their arms for him, but Lena pouts and won't go to anyone.
After breakfast we decided we'd get some exercise by walking the whole park behind the hotel. Dub and Lena both feigned the need to garshok. Neither went. Lena then decided that she just didn't want to participate at all unless someone carried her. There were pouts, tears, screaming, sitting and refusing to move, and then nothing. We darted from shade tree to shade tree trying to keep cool-ish for about an hour. We were going to give them their first experience hopping around in the water fountains with the other kids, but the thought of lunch and nap time made us postpone that for Saturday.
I'm FREE! I'm FREE!
Our first PB&J! Yummy!
Today we tried a new method of getting them down for naps. We got them all cleaned up from lunch, then rocked them just a little to slow them down. Then we put them in their cribs with a board book and Pooh blankey, and we went into the bathroom, closed the door and read our books until they went to sleep. Took about a half hour and a couple of "JATT!" (that's Kazakh for "lie down") admonitions from Papa. They - then Papa - slept until 330. We packed up most of our belongings until 6pm, when we met Vera, Mit, and the Littlejohns to go have dinner at a traditional Kazakh Yurta.
The view from the floor to the top of the Yurta.
The Yurta waitress, in traditional Kazakh garb.
The food was great, and Dub & Lena were very well behaved. We sat on the floor at low tables, and ate Samsa, Plof, and, much to our chagrin, did shots of Vodka. It's offensive to Russians to say "no" to a drink of Vodka, so we capitulated. The heat of the Yurta (it was 630pm on a 97 degree day and the Yurta is just a really nice TeePee with no A/C) combined with the filling food and the Vodka was sufficient to knock us all down. We let D&L try "Cumus", fermented Mare's milk, which we tried a few weeks ago. It's too much flavor for us bland Americans, and Dub & Lena didn't much like it either. They did eat everything we ate, though.
They love their backpacks. They fill them up and wear them first thing in the morning.
Deciding to make the most of our time in Taraz, we went out to the Taraz square at 9pm to see the lights, people, performers, and to get a picture of D&L with the Rooster. It's "The Year of the Rooster" in China, and the Kazakhs acknowledge that, too. Lots of fun.
It's the year of the Rooster.
This is one of several performing groups we saw on the square Friday night.
A very quick hot bath, 2 books, and the kids took maybe 15 minutes - and NO screaming or crying - to get to sleep. Woo hoo! We even got in one episode of "24"! We're almost done with Season 3!
7am came very early today (now Saturday). Going to be a long day, since we have to catch the Spanish Train to Almaty at midnight tonite. Not sure how we'll do that with D&L, but we're thinking we'll keep them up until we get on the train, then let them crash with the rhythmic rocking on the tracks.
Something new about Dub: in 5 weeks of bonding, he really never said much, other than to parrott what we said to him (Love you, see you, garshok, mama, papa, etc.). On Thursday, he started babbling incoherently, and he hasn't stopped since. Just saying stuff as he thinks it, we guess. When I read to him last night, he babbled something that sounded like the words to the book. As I write, he's just wandering around the hotel room talking. No idea what he's saying. I guess we'll see something new every day as we get to know them more and more and more.
Tomorrow, we'll post from an apartment in Almaty, time TBD.
Blessings,
Sleepy, Sneezy, Grumpy, and Dopey
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