tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34568578323774335882024-03-05T22:09:13.891-06:00Living in AmericaA little bit about the life of a simple girl living my own American Dream.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-16960296621612839072012-04-04T17:30:00.000-05:002012-04-04T17:30:57.992-05:00Sometimes you just wonder why???I feel like I have been asking that question a lot lately. Not that I am perfect at this, but on most days I'm pretty content with the knowledge that God has a sweet and perfect plan for mine and my husbands life. But then the days creep in where I ask why and I want to know what that plan is. Would I really be more content if I knew plan or would I just have more stress and anxiety. I'm sure it is the latter of the two. But in theory knowing is better, right? <br />
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Well one of my guilty pleasures is recording/ watching 16 and Pregnant and the Teen Mom series. I don't know why but I like watching these girls lives and seeing how they deal with the reality of a baby at a young age when their life is often unstable. Let's not even get into those who abuse and neglect their kids. Let's just talk about those who don't want their babies, who are still 'babies' themselves having babies, who abort they babies. I just ask why so much lately. Why does God give them the wonderful gift of a sweet baby when they don't want it and are too young to even know what to do when I'm here longing for a baby everyday. Literally, my heart aches some days. So why I torture myself with these shows I have no idea? I end up crying by the end anyway. I do try to remember to say a prayer for that mom and/or dad and baby when the show is over though. <br />
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Then there is miscarriages. Now for some reason this is a little easier for me to deal with. I tell myself that it was part of God's plan and that my body, or some one elses body, couldn't be a good home for that baby right now so God takes them early for him to enjoy his beautiful creation. But why are miscarriages everywhere? It is so heartbreaking for all the mommy's to be who long for a baby and are excited for a baby. <br />
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I've been trying to tell myself that I need to get healthy first and take care of my health needs first and then my body will be ready for a baby. But on most days that isn't enough to ease the heartache. Now I'm started grad school this summer and I'm hoping that will help also. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly happy right now. I love my husband and the life we are making together so much. I love my job this year. I love the quality friends have made this year. I love spending time with each of our families and the traveling we can do together. I love being spontaneous with my hubby and getting away for the weekend. I could go on and on. But I'll be incredibly joyful when the Lord deems me worthy to carry one of his perfect creations, when he chooses my hubby and I to raise one of his little humans. So until then I'll be praying to be content in all circumstances, count my blessings everyday and relish in God's beautiful babies all around me. <br />
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On a note of progress, for the first time in 9-10 months, a friend announced they're pregnant and I didn't cry! I'm always genuinely happy for them, but this time I didn't feel bad for myself!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-36469831953149829672012-03-01T17:27:00.000-06:002012-03-01T17:27:15.306-06:00MovingI feel like I have spent the last decade of my life moving. I have really enjoyed each place I've been to, visited and made my home. What's weird is that before I was 17 I never moved. I lived in The Woodlands, Texas and even in the same house from 3-17. Then my whole world changed when my dad got a job transfer to Oklahoma. This was the spring break of my junior year in high school. The 'ironic' thing is that I had already been accepted to OBU only 45 miles from their soon to be new home. As a family we made the tough decision that I would stay behind and finish high school. So here is my first move since being a toddler. That summer my family moves to Edmond, OK and I move in with one of my many Aunts and Uncles, Christi and Jarred. This turned out to be such a fun, memorable and unique senior year of high school. Of course I end up spending a ton of weekends "commuting" to see my parents in OK. <br />
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High School graduation comes in 2003 and I move to spend the summer with my family in Edmond. Only to move that August to start off 4 wonderful years of college at OBU, the only college I applied to. So of course if you have ever lived on campus at a college, its not year around. So I live as a freshman in WMU, move home for the summer. I move in 2004 to a new dorm, Taylor and move home again for the summer. I move into on campus apts in 2005, but of course back home for the summer. 1 year left, 2006, and my treasured roomie and I move off campus. We move out graduation day. <br />
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I spend the summer interning in Edmond and treasuring every moment with my family and friends. Because in August I fly LITERALLY half way around the world to live in Moscow, Russia in 2007. I know it sounds crazy but it was an awesome 2 years of my life. I live in an apt. in Moscow on Sergei Makeava for the first year. Of course I came home for the summer. My second year in Russia of course we moved to a new apt. Let's just say I like moving in American a whole lot better. We finish our time in Moscow and are surprisingly ready to go home in the summer of 2009. <br />
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I move to my parents mid June 2009, get engaged in September and live out my engagement with mi familia in Edmond. The love of my life and I get married July 17, 2010. We get our lovely first little married apt. in Edmond. We live there till Dec of that year. We had the opportunity to move to Oklahoma City, for free, so we do. We live downtown OKC from December to June 2011. We spend about a month out of town and about 6 weeks sporadically at my parents house that summer. <br />
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In August 2011 we pick up and move to Shawnee. Little did we know this would completely change our lives. I got a job teaching Kindergarten. If you know me, you know I had once said I would never do this. Who knew I would completely fall in love with these sweet 5/6 year old babies. After teaching for 4 years and questioning if this was really my calling, I now have a renewed love and passion for teaching. So we moved our bodies and stuff but didn't plan on leaving our church that we dearly loved, HHBC. By Oct we knew God had completely different plans for us, so typical right. We end up visiting and LOVING a church called Frontline here in Shawnee. The people there are a lot of what has changed our lives here. <br />
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Anyways I wrote all this just to give a glimpse as to some of the cool things God has done in my life. I think its kind of fascinate to see all the places he has moved me, people I have met in those places and the plans he has had for my life that I clearly I didn't have. <br />
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And if I counted right, that's 17 moves from 2003 to 2012. I hope to stay in this house at lease a year!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-2007652762466890522012-02-29T17:31:00.000-06:002012-02-29T17:31:13.446-06:00I'm back!!I think I'm finally ready to come back to the world of blogging! I just spent forever trying to clean this mess up. I saw that I haven't posted since Nov. 2010! That's forever ago. So I had to block people who posted weird comments and update everything. If I blocked you, no offence, I just don't know who you are. <br />
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When I moved home from Russia I just felt like my life wasn't that exciting so I kinda got away from it. I was in a new place in my life. I was finally back around my family after 2 years away. I was newly engaged. And I wanted to focus on those relationships and not spend a lot of time on the computer. Well now I have been married a year and 9 months (almost) and we are in the swing of things so now I have more time for this. I am personally commiting to not spending time on the computer when my hubby is home. With his hectic/ busy coaching schedule I only get him for a bit of time each day. So I will cherish that time and save my fun social computer stuff for when he is at work. <br />
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I really enjoy reading some of my friends posts that they link to Facebook and keeping up with people that way. It seems a bit more personal than just Facebook. I still don't feel like my life is quite as exciting as it was for my 2 years in Moscow but I shall post anyway! <br />
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I also haven't figured out how to only let people with a password view the blog, but I did figure out how to approve comments first. So hopefully that will help!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-54739044675823790602010-11-24T22:43:00.002-06:002010-11-24T22:47:26.812-06:00Almost a year later...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb144VCLhV0OP01evLW-Xm1XGTTCvXOI9nj_mERFtUM5Wkm5Oc6Gefi58GVH_Dp5KPUcF31y7o5PcFBDTBo1pczFh-ihQUlkJlDBjIy3jiR1QReqlYDmWHClir5fPwQnzh0duwo0SWODPF/s1600/62540_531634329179_79800122_31367623_4563978_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb144VCLhV0OP01evLW-Xm1XGTTCvXOI9nj_mERFtUM5Wkm5Oc6Gefi58GVH_Dp5KPUcF31y7o5PcFBDTBo1pczFh-ihQUlkJlDBjIy3jiR1QReqlYDmWHClir5fPwQnzh0duwo0SWODPF/s400/62540_531634329179_79800122_31367623_4563978_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543344357902151330" /></a><br />I haven't kept up with my blog at all this year! And looking at all those creepy comments on an old post now I'm nervous too. <div><br /></div><div>I'll give it a try anyway though. I have a lot to be thankful for this year. I married the most amazing man God has created 4 months ago. I feel like this was one of the best decisions of my life. I'm so thankful for a loving family who has not only loved me inspite of all my quirks but has also loved my husband like he is one of their own. God is definintely taking care of us as newlyweds and he reminds us that He will supply all of our needs! For example, our move in 2 weeks, completely sent from the Lord and exactly what we need at this time in our life. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you all have a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving this year!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-80849640994751344642010-01-08T03:56:00.000-06:002010-01-08T12:56:52.038-06:00Overdue UpdateI have been such a horrible blogger! I feel a little bad about this but hear me out. Here is my rational. I spent to years in Russia as you know and I was heavily dependent on my computer and technology to keep in touch with people. I was constantly updating <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span> with photos of all the cool stuff I saw. I was on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">skype</span> a few times a day talking with Cliff and my family. So now I live in America again, and those people are near me everyday. So I have been trying to stay off the computer so much and spend time with those I love the most. But I will try my best to get better again.<br /><br />So updates..... Wedding planning is going so great. I have my dress, well I have ordered it and it should be in any day now. I have already picked up my veil, petticoat and jewelry. The church is booked, the reception is booked and the food is booked. We need to get some pics done so we can send out Save the Date's this month. I should have done that during these snow days the last two days.<br /><br />Here is a sneak peak at the dress. I LOVE IT!!!! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424437514596423490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZQ9q9IF0UE7-VESayuLp1UX-BzluHTdc4vwdbniRqG3tlOqssDPHV4nDMeJEbxxLXdN9tOTUuAn0moRlXkOYQVNwDvQZ0uqa0hKcvcqo5e5qbYpzUKCyD4otWny9OZO_ll7SdkgTNKkp/s400/DSC05712.JPG" /><br /><br /><p></p><p>In other things... I absolutely love my job! I have 21 little 3rd graders who steal my heart everyday. I was really dreading going back to work after such a great break. But after about an hour of being there I was glad to be back. I missed spending so much time with Cliff. He was just begging me to get home as soon as possible. He doesn't start back to coaching till Monday so he was a little bored without me. We have just had the best time watching movies, playing tons of games, and playing in the snow. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with this wonderful man!!</p><p>I promise I'll be better about updating now. I had an awesome football weekend in Dallas so I'll post some stuff soon!</p>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-1496463774377426602009-09-11T23:55:00.002-05:002009-09-11T23:59:03.720-05:00Engaged!I have been horrible about updating since I got home and started working. I am not only loving my job but got engaged tonight to the absolute love of my life! I thought I would share a few pics!<br /><div><br /><br /><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440510026759298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSehBrC-GNkIbs6bMeqsG4SC3kK8WrEchzCGEG8-CLIk7-1xLqnPzTd4HjblN4khNSsivQMVBtRFek5sFTLMNkVrtYxaj2rUcid7rQCk-9uA6SWlCjTLwQIWDaFWiCS-xN0jd_ei8pG8D/s400/DSC05649.JPG" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440505193087506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObysi4BUUJ6mfIa4Mc8aldxR7AbPxuGau-2zyajqNkAD01-5cCD-woOhb-NTANwB0yv7S5ifiq7j5gZGeWCaEra04y52JZhhgWEbBl7c2sEKkM3bhMVdBi7GFH0p-pUqerzo1OQJS0j2M/s400/DSC05647.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440490840756482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0BclZ4OVGuCfgzBxENzLVt16ZGGG0PH8VSjP6FP7VLhQNs37g39CogQmomtq9v5D_h8Yb_lAvr9VZj1CM_-8YQmm16ADo4PKOKdSB0lqHkgpCvBLlQ_-u3ZqmbYVB8BnBJdttSc333-hP/s400/DSC05643.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380440482425912594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsud1CB_fCFXAz8W9zw8XUa1oOdYpCS4KuoCxeWI_tTVCDOhdUp6xD8cd6N3uFE2P-vilHf1F1CKGRhX2uSXEY-NQACy0MhRXz98OXHZzh2GY4pCSdgLMKqHcHvKhsGx9TK3kAVZRHhXzd/s400/DSC05632.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-88206803566610171502009-08-05T22:30:00.002-05:002009-08-05T22:34:00.388-05:00HawaiiI know I am a horrible blogger this summer. I promise to update later!<br /><br /><br /><br />Training has been awesome this week. I am a bit overwhelmed and on information overload but it will be great! I can't wait to come back and work.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am coming back because I am heading to Hawaii in a few hours! I'm going to spend a few days with my honey and to bring him home to me! I can't wait.<br /><br /><br /><br />I promise pics later, and more updates!<br /><br /><br /><br />It has really been a fun summer full of blessings!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-42265015893695019472009-07-23T20:00:00.002-05:002009-07-23T20:04:38.727-05:00Job!I got the job! I interviewed this morning and it went awesome! I will be working at Central Elementary School in Putnam City. I start on August 3rd for training. That is till the 5th. Then I will go to Hawaii to see my Honey. We will leave together on the 11th. (He is never to really leave my side ever again!) We will arrive in OKC on the 12th. I will go to work for the year on the 13th!<br /><br />I know only I would plan something like that.<br /><br />But I am totally ecstatic about my new job. Love my new principal and new co-workers already!<br /><br />I cannot wait to see what God has in store for my life this year!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-54133305840640325642009-07-20T22:43:00.002-05:002009-07-20T22:46:10.707-05:00interviewI have a job interview! I'm so excited. Apparently I have been getting anxiety attacks the last few weeks due to stress. I get myself a little worked up about not having a job yet since school starts in a few weeks. So I have applied for over 30 more jobs in the last few days. One of the principals called me today for an interview. I'm so excited!<br /><br />I don't know anything about this part of town but its in Putnam City and not too far of a drive from Edmond. I'll let you know how it goes!!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-80895627122570067112009-07-08T16:26:00.005-05:002009-07-08T16:44:36.548-05:00Family Time!I know it has been forever since I have written anything. I have really been enjoying my time in America thus far. I have been spending a lot of time with family. I haven't really seen many friends yet. That will come. I have been relaxing and unpacking! Here are some pics to show what I've been doing.<br /><br />my first time meeting my cousin Jarrah, grandbaby #56, I think<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 396px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205030107621538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf5TbEwMk53blqt3AAJooAi6yHGBBa9YPa5JGV8uSVvTut1Lq3epzhhFLEkC0cmS30DoR6pJfiU6FItd_ZPH4oMWA_JQEudhGA-UI1vJ4ZRIA6gvHvsybkUaxr8OKenrFO1hXa_NZ_vjK/s400/DSC05362.JPG" />Noah and Sara at the dance studio taking Hip Hop<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsI335IxQ7cGbaKMMMUmnX9d_NgN_Bpx_ehOF_AapkfrafMnWHOdlOYO2LPiumU8Ihr7xKpo39ZIQPntfqnhQrAOgqm8f5ZMTJjGkK7LTwEdvrF-9xvZ3cXkJHsXe0tHraTQlvtE31Mt5/s1600-h/DSC05363.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205026132249298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxsI335IxQ7cGbaKMMMUmnX9d_NgN_Bpx_ehOF_AapkfrafMnWHOdlOYO2LPiumU8Ihr7xKpo39ZIQPntfqnhQrAOgqm8f5ZMTJjGkK7LTwEdvrF-9xvZ3cXkJHsXe0tHraTQlvtE31Mt5/s400/DSC05363.JPG" /></a><br />I love these cousins, Noah and Jarrah. </div><div>FYI their momma, my aunt is 20 months older than me!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-jlYIGJZPL7CYG7KA4kb96J3jUboml1Ei8HoiS8k8zQfWg3xvkIa7M74Km2V6PUuIsHCWd_xW9RNY-R8NaAlG_mGjkB2nHV4h_alnMmRl7HtZFNluEhOjcssCjZtjmWG-w2nC_r8EhZo/s1600-h/DSC05364.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205017045948610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-jlYIGJZPL7CYG7KA4kb96J3jUboml1Ei8HoiS8k8zQfWg3xvkIa7M74Km2V6PUuIsHCWd_xW9RNY-R8NaAlG_mGjkB2nHV4h_alnMmRl7HtZFNluEhOjcssCjZtjmWG-w2nC_r8EhZo/s400/DSC05364.JPG" /></a> Happy 4th! My family at the 4th of July parade<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfplaR0xUXLrL-ei57mW1Ruq5KNmYk0Wzn73Wqa57JpGspvjvJ9-v-ukBmEMYvXxTtNnXd_NCwb_B9vdIbanIl_6NrJlv2okdR2ILQsBj9aBnvDH9dPFqQVLWrH0t1t7b6aktgW4ohO_U/s1600-h/DSC05368.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 341px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356205010978487362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfplaR0xUXLrL-ei57mW1Ruq5KNmYk0Wzn73Wqa57JpGspvjvJ9-v-ukBmEMYvXxTtNnXd_NCwb_B9vdIbanIl_6NrJlv2okdR2ILQsBj9aBnvDH9dPFqQVLWrH0t1t7b6aktgW4ohO_U/s400/DSC05368.JPG" /></a> After the parade at the McFarlin's for a pool party. My sis Sara, bro Bub and his lovely girlfriend Lauren.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJVM53txz_K22CqWWRZU8UY3Pz7ATesdi83lqO8V61PgfYSsQicIdhbIadWNwePAz2u4hkvVaMPOS0mDYBiTHLpvvqO-CeKNVF2THL-OJQRpP-uL4QoDEeZun1ia29JnH9p9cDvPK27I1/s1600-h/DSC05441.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204359495059170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmJVM53txz_K22CqWWRZU8UY3Pz7ATesdi83lqO8V61PgfYSsQicIdhbIadWNwePAz2u4hkvVaMPOS0mDYBiTHLpvvqO-CeKNVF2THL-OJQRpP-uL4QoDEeZun1ia29JnH9p9cDvPK27I1/s400/DSC05441.JPG" /></a> Last night we went to see some of our friends in the musical Music Man. It was a great show! Here is my whole family!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9ptjtmLT3ZeYp_YEK6nZexc5BUAyeDyQsy027UTaiSoynwqxbQK7NK_h6nVXJfCvKoGUz6SljqwU2m7-2OTOr9uUS_4gBHip2Eq6D8n1IoZKx2Dr4Blz429-4iw-eAD9kItp6cirnri3/s1600-h/DSC05452.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 322px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204349187034338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE9ptjtmLT3ZeYp_YEK6nZexc5BUAyeDyQsy027UTaiSoynwqxbQK7NK_h6nVXJfCvKoGUz6SljqwU2m7-2OTOr9uUS_4gBHip2Eq6D8n1IoZKx2Dr4Blz429-4iw-eAD9kItp6cirnri3/s400/DSC05452.JPG" /></a> Siblings<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yB9PY6TL-m60ejWMBCZjCQHSTagEYqf6A-soB94tcbGW5Nj4pCq-yIHgBp7YOufsAeKnUxpNCPQ97DIkFBqWGxOflFB9RZG2ZTaHoRV6dJyadA6zhg0k7oNBfp3g4_C46Znjj7143Urk/s1600-h/DSC05453.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 332px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204346978017970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yB9PY6TL-m60ejWMBCZjCQHSTagEYqf6A-soB94tcbGW5Nj4pCq-yIHgBp7YOufsAeKnUxpNCPQ97DIkFBqWGxOflFB9RZG2ZTaHoRV6dJyadA6zhg0k7oNBfp3g4_C46Znjj7143Urk/s400/DSC05453.JPG" /></a> my parentals. I like them<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZeg1sZzZqEMKyHimtw95e4ptprdtAE6Cv7Yfr49Em_L_n7Ax30r8F61PxZ6PmGNHYslEE26J90byCkgn4U3fg-q6G5VY8j-uVqCJfJFz_xm8g-pOZr25MxUtBy1scCx6sSsevMQwvAn/s1600-h/DSC05454.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 381px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204336741990082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsZeg1sZzZqEMKyHimtw95e4ptprdtAE6Cv7Yfr49Em_L_n7Ax30r8F61PxZ6PmGNHYslEE26J90byCkgn4U3fg-q6G5VY8j-uVqCJfJFz_xm8g-pOZr25MxUtBy1scCx6sSsevMQwvAn/s400/DSC05454.JPG" /></a> Bub and Lauren<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lHMKgxR8b4bxz80AOnDaQEW9yDiknmTIiUcsxiCjMgRZltDpSnDTlrmJlf3EFSxPf-ljE9RBWpn8nHmXs-0GwaVJqecouS1mQnra13bET01p0ywyCHsF0bC3OcxwSAiazxkjv6Y55uj6/s1600-h/DSC05455.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356204332016713410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lHMKgxR8b4bxz80AOnDaQEW9yDiknmTIiUcsxiCjMgRZltDpSnDTlrmJlf3EFSxPf-ljE9RBWpn8nHmXs-0GwaVJqecouS1mQnra13bET01p0ywyCHsF0bC3OcxwSAiazxkjv6Y55uj6/s400/DSC05455.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-91347829742178420812009-06-26T01:01:00.003-05:002009-06-26T01:37:40.961-05:00Leaving on a jet plane..............In exactly 24 hours my plane will be taking off at Domodedevo airport in south Moscow. I'm not really sure if I will ever come back here. I have lived here 2 years and visited St. Pete once before that. If I think about it, that is a lot more time than any other countries I have really loved. Though I have never made the kind of lifelong relationships in any other country either. But while I was at tea with the girls last night for the last time we were talking about how it really is such a small world and who know where we could end up and where our paths could cross again.<br /><br />I thought I would attempt to make a list of the things I will not miss and the things I will. Now I'll go ahead and say that some things will overlap for sure. And these will be in no specific order<br /><br />Things I will not miss:<br />1. the harsh way people speak, even when they are not actually angry with you<br />2. getting in trouble for not doing some paperwork correctly that I didn't know existed in the first place.<br />3. feeling like a sardine on the metro and smelling that lovely smell<br />4. having to walk next to and sit next to beggars and long to help them and give them everything I have if it would make their life better<br />5. walking home in the rain/snow with 40 mph wind and a ton of groceries<br />6. having to leave no later than 7.20 am so that I wont miss the 8 am bus and not make it to work<br />7. being so far away from the people I love<br />8. Pough! (its like big balls of flying cotton and its everywhere!)<br />9. Getting really sick and wishing I was in America where I can fully understand the Dr. and what is wrong with me to get proper care<br />10. the constant feeling of being unsafe and having to be extremely aware of my bags and all that is going on around me<br />11. not being able to go out after dark<br />12. kids being raised by nannies and body guards<br />13. my 3 bedroom apartment that cost $3,000 a month<br />14. language barriers and never being able to fully communicate<br />15. 9 months of winter<br /><br />Things I will miss:<br />1. PEOPLE. I was asked at small group this week what I was most thankful for during my time in Russia. It was definitely people and my relationships with them. That has made all the difference in the world and I wouldn't have made it without them.<br />2. Chocolate! It is amazing here<br />3. Blini, it has become a favorite<br />4. traveling to other countries for so cheap<br />5. MES, it was a lot of things for me<br />6. PEOPLE! This really is the most important to me.<br />7. my apartment<br />8. my small group and the fellowship<br />9. tea with the girls every Thursday<br />10. tea with Polina every Tuesday<br />11. being immersed in something so foreign to me.<br />12. walking so much<br /><br /><br />I'm sure there are more but that is all that comes to mind right this moment.<br /><br />There are also a ton of things I am really looking forward to in the U.S.<br /><br />1. PEOPLE. of course, my family, Cliff and friends. I have really really missed them<br />2. Mexican food<br />3. Italian food<br />4. Sonic Diet Dr. Pepper!<br />5. Diet Dr. Pepper! it deserved 1 1/2 spots<br />6. Chickfila<br />7. driving to the store and then putting all my bags in the car!<br />8. no language barriers<br />9. PEOPLE, did I say that I missed them<br />10. My CHURCH, I have really missed that too<br />11. my next journey. I'm not sure what it is yet but God knows.<br />12. mom's cooking<br />13. dad's grilling<br />14. buster, the little fat dog<br />15. not working this summer but instead, laying by the pool, scrap booking and playing a ton of Rock Band!<br />16. getting to meet all the new babies in my life that have been born while I have been away!<br />17. PEOPLE, I'm not sure if you get it yet<br />18. putting the suitcases away and filling an actual closet and dresser!<br />19. T.V., I know so trivial, but it will be nice to have tons of channels of nonsense all in English<br />20. air conditioning when it is really hot, thought this will be quite an adjustment<br /><br />Well that is a ton of stuff already so I should probably stop now.<br /><br />I (and Sara) will be arriving into Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport on Saturday, June 27th at 2:05 pm!<br /><br />SO I BETTER GET TO PACKING!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-28375908293306971682009-06-25T07:49:00.005-05:002009-06-25T09:43:31.212-05:00BalletsWe have had the wonderful opportunity to go to 3 ballets the last 2 and a half weeks. When we were in St. Petersburg we went to Mariinsky Theater and saw Don Quiote. It was truly amazing! I have never seen such great technique and people flying through the air. Then in Moscow we saw Giselle at the Bolshoi Theater. It was also good but a bit of a sad story. My friend Tania went with us to that show and then she ended up getting us free tickets to another show. So the next day we went to a smaller theater and saw Cinderella. It was great too.<br /><br />Sara, me, Laura and Allyson on our way to see Cinderella. We came out all wearing blue. Sorry the pic is a little blurry.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHmGWSk4Hj4Kh2rQJi27XqDvhYk5IIZfkz8Ib_gyyfQqKF8ilqRTqu48YuRbflgwDbyp-JrGVhNLsI0qi5nC1m2uuIsQLxLTq-42qaucghmZJIXy0thASL16aXrpxYSVWJXYSqmkuZrD/s1600-h/DSC05323.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351271119204337586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHmGWSk4Hj4Kh2rQJi27XqDvhYk5IIZfkz8Ib_gyyfQqKF8ilqRTqu48YuRbflgwDbyp-JrGVhNLsI0qi5nC1m2uuIsQLxLTq-42qaucghmZJIXy0thASL16aXrpxYSVWJXYSqmkuZrD/s400/DSC05323.JPG" /></a> Sara and I in front of the theater<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROqwc5dXVX0w0jIHW6vuT49K25nMeLCHC1RbuvzMstjVpSrLC9wmOWm31aCyXTRi_-YImyW4gYV5tK6kbbEYGmdw-KrUxOWoCADrnrtcAvWmaSy1K65RBtBJO_36KSOItX59yoKF7iXMZ/s1600-h/DSC05324.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351271117815496690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROqwc5dXVX0w0jIHW6vuT49K25nMeLCHC1RbuvzMstjVpSrLC9wmOWm31aCyXTRi_-YImyW4gYV5tK6kbbEYGmdw-KrUxOWoCADrnrtcAvWmaSy1K65RBtBJO_36KSOItX59yoKF7iXMZ/s400/DSC05324.JPG" /></a> This was a cool statue sort of thing in the entry way of the theater.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QJc8HBv6r2CGvGycPSbXLs-bT6FRHMkKEqd5lBN2cWJ_ZSTj1Bl4VRDffcR0GDuU3AYjKb4W37iyLHs_fxYpXA9plK8bsblbmNJK6lpXs6pgViykarb8cBK9rNITdlZ3L5P-TP-9A4-X/s1600-h/DSC05325.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351271108879032994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QJc8HBv6r2CGvGycPSbXLs-bT6FRHMkKEqd5lBN2cWJ_ZSTj1Bl4VRDffcR0GDuU3AYjKb4W37iyLHs_fxYpXA9plK8bsblbmNJK6lpXs6pgViykarb8cBK9rNITdlZ3L5P-TP-9A4-X/s400/DSC05325.JPG" /></a> me and Tania, again blurry for some reason<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76JCrK0Qgd8-jwPOYHSAOP1cOXqu0Nhj47Hjqmqd3iGR0m0EbXoHNFWZD34Qz-Z5Owf9XoVESYkdj6eF0BLC_gy9tpYqZyIutMEh42HJvAbuTbTcQS3ezsLHMl2lCM2_Sq82HZaVtKQzf/s1600-h/DSC05327.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351271104234686754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg76JCrK0Qgd8-jwPOYHSAOP1cOXqu0Nhj47Hjqmqd3iGR0m0EbXoHNFWZD34Qz-Z5Owf9XoVESYkdj6eF0BLC_gy9tpYqZyIutMEh42HJvAbuTbTcQS3ezsLHMl2lCM2_Sq82HZaVtKQzf/s400/DSC05327.JPG" /></a> Sara and I about to go in<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMbL1C5MiKzZIulaUXeGx_1A5r33PjhMUVyz7MKyAaIBCClk_BlLMLITys7JwBc_j5yxOkhxn1Hw3tgvtvTgVxCGpKNrGHrmHoZyyEYntBO1RgOO1muMRZ-wRkaH_jOVbfsMxDnfgtH5J/s1600-h/DSC05328.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351271096226678514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMbL1C5MiKzZIulaUXeGx_1A5r33PjhMUVyz7MKyAaIBCClk_BlLMLITys7JwBc_j5yxOkhxn1Hw3tgvtvTgVxCGpKNrGHrmHoZyyEYntBO1RgOO1muMRZ-wRkaH_jOVbfsMxDnfgtH5J/s400/DSC05328.JPG" /></a> Here is Tania and I in front of the Bolshoi theater<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyitgZUXA8IXZJzuvj8URYcvTkDTvBCiPN8SAKZMQbuGFdtHLrXNhcuviTzcU_NRtLZs1n7kvTY3A4EqSR7oGWMYhEamIO8WYgsDx5RgOwdsX48_2PXOR6xQxU-4NHihDAc2UXSjesP8hF/s1600-h/DSC05307.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351263324875615426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyitgZUXA8IXZJzuvj8URYcvTkDTvBCiPN8SAKZMQbuGFdtHLrXNhcuviTzcU_NRtLZs1n7kvTY3A4EqSR7oGWMYhEamIO8WYgsDx5RgOwdsX48_2PXOR6xQxU-4NHihDAc2UXSjesP8hF/s400/DSC05307.JPG" /></a> a little closer<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r_5CxQd5ts02nxK6xpqI9wvD4ZHUNLETM87NsBKb2UyLIKWOb44Y7pHy6oDaPyE5Snuw44H6NlinpaK5gQx0TOwxhhgBvR7G3Rj7ZDicEGYvKRt5fRlYDfVk4ICkZvnBCVWivvDjAcH-/s1600-h/DSC05308.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351263318676657378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3r_5CxQd5ts02nxK6xpqI9wvD4ZHUNLETM87NsBKb2UyLIKWOb44Y7pHy6oDaPyE5Snuw44H6NlinpaK5gQx0TOwxhhgBvR7G3Rj7ZDicEGYvKRt5fRlYDfVk4ICkZvnBCVWivvDjAcH-/s400/DSC05308.JPG" /></a><br />Sara and I infront of the Bolshoi<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCPu_z0V-HcjkhU_HPW4XbGcwx63gUH-Rx_zFnaQkcNPMPXTfIS-BYymc41hAWKBMHK37t8hD8Scrm4RIpgu2YebtIZLNyiPv-UkxqFXOgDBmHxVchmj1K2VrvnvvPHl_y6OWxoKf3ulV/s1600-h/DSC05309.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351263314015347986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZCPu_z0V-HcjkhU_HPW4XbGcwx63gUH-Rx_zFnaQkcNPMPXTfIS-BYymc41hAWKBMHK37t8hD8Scrm4RIpgu2YebtIZLNyiPv-UkxqFXOgDBmHxVchmj1K2VrvnvvPHl_y6OWxoKf3ulV/s400/DSC05309.JPG" /></a> a pic of the inside of the Bolshoi<br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351263305397844306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4iBgWA_Jz5J5F3sg9E2tj7XrASaf40UJO5LMlHcBbg61K5N5if-5bA4P1SobFH5VEtiBux_g0p6gF7Olo8bcrntiA0Mb6XVkJuT5by-k-bbG7wkaz3dobWDC6YnfiAcjCz5j0q-fuJ-7/s400/DSC05318.JPG" /> The outside of the Mariisnksy theater in St. Petersburg<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD7O7IV-93v20hOPe5qaOYE72svNtdWM74I6B5VH3NJL5O24lRT6oZd6E5u24bLfeq5lUBl9eQjIXkxklH0p2lFM1xLEGrt_8RKbl2hHeoF551yDFc0JIwuxxQJSaWV8WfnLkrU2Kf4yM/s1600-h/DSC05116.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351248464105157986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiD7O7IV-93v20hOPe5qaOYE72svNtdWM74I6B5VH3NJL5O24lRT6oZd6E5u24bLfeq5lUBl9eQjIXkxklH0p2lFM1xLEGrt_8RKbl2hHeoF551yDFc0JIwuxxQJSaWV8WfnLkrU2Kf4yM/s400/DSC05116.JPG" /></a> Sara and I about to go in and see Don Quiote<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhsfQ7hJRnp2ZHEZRr4gPSygZcJ1rLuDWyu6zVdbIb61dVQ0KTzC7zzi2gvlJrA5041S-IaEpW7Lz2UMzw4wFu0KeM4aY3NEbwJYfvrrd01lbNnnabkoqBM308zcPdLbv-29qV1rEs-lo/s1600-h/DSC05122.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351248457684374578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhsfQ7hJRnp2ZHEZRr4gPSygZcJ1rLuDWyu6zVdbIb61dVQ0KTzC7zzi2gvlJrA5041S-IaEpW7Lz2UMzw4wFu0KeM4aY3NEbwJYfvrrd01lbNnnabkoqBM308zcPdLbv-29qV1rEs-lo/s400/DSC05122.JPG" /></a>Some costumes at the Mariinsky. Swan Lake, Juliet, and Giselle<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWju9Ku-Tm9Tlx4WIXHWVo0AwRgjGN6wRJ9q1fi7rFJ66kAmpkCmLLtrlf9n5Xo2uYkz9Neqdps_UNk50S6r9XFOhaafAyWgvlfS4lP-bBZYTQnjlYLyFV4Wm3KHY3yWpMm9PAH1xDlTK/s1600-h/DSC05126.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351248451254620050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWju9Ku-Tm9Tlx4WIXHWVo0AwRgjGN6wRJ9q1fi7rFJ66kAmpkCmLLtrlf9n5Xo2uYkz9Neqdps_UNk50S6r9XFOhaafAyWgvlfS4lP-bBZYTQnjlYLyFV4Wm3KHY3yWpMm9PAH1xDlTK/s400/DSC05126.JPG" /></a> This is where the Tsars used to sit when they would come to the theater<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmstDeSwG0h-vOdDToeR7Ku6dag_vIDjWWBGdvhXuUT9MB16UZq80Gl26wIXAxgIkapJDb9VS4-4FrnKlJ5M6CdAv1qsSoHWq94WXlhSnifyFiby-4P5sgMMuITZABIegfqvAGlmWZrNY/s1600-h/DSC05127.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351248446976573794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmstDeSwG0h-vOdDToeR7Ku6dag_vIDjWWBGdvhXuUT9MB16UZq80Gl26wIXAxgIkapJDb9VS4-4FrnKlJ5M6CdAv1qsSoHWq94WXlhSnifyFiby-4P5sgMMuITZABIegfqvAGlmWZrNY/s400/DSC05127.JPG" /></a> more of the Mariinsky theater, this is where they currently send their best ballerinas<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdU4R-IMcMSyfyFlvyvcVGJ-DsZ8UESQnNIeVTwbmriChq3EF-bcteBqHn2d8no3yiduhTzbN9CcjX-M4CGRuaus9tte8Q5G52Lfb68ipKbQy00wkq4Yon95G4EDbg82VCm2G1YXMJxl-/s1600-h/DSC05131.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351248438141095586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdU4R-IMcMSyfyFlvyvcVGJ-DsZ8UESQnNIeVTwbmriChq3EF-bcteBqHn2d8no3yiduhTzbN9CcjX-M4CGRuaus9tte8Q5G52Lfb68ipKbQy00wkq4Yon95G4EDbg82VCm2G1YXMJxl-/s400/DSC05131.JPG" /></a> It was such a fun cultural experience of me and Sara. And great entertainment!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-6226165693093623152009-06-23T14:58:00.003-05:002009-06-23T15:21:36.086-05:00Victory ParkSaturday night Sara and I also went to Victory Park. This is a WWII memorial park. The metro station is also called Victory Park. It is a beautiful park and so huge. It is so big in fact that you actually forget you are in a city of 16 million because you can't hear any cars or anything. There is so much forest around and trails to walk down. They have several memorials, one to the different cities in the USSR that sent troops to WWII, one for the holocaust and one for the 4 branches of armed forces. They also have an area around a pond full of old tanks and sub stuff. It is pretty neat. Just to walk to the tanks and back took almost an hour! We didn't even go down trails or anything.<br /><br />Here are some pics from that night. (I took these between 9.30 and 10.30 PM)<br /><br />Sara at the front of the park. They have Moscow written in flowers and to the left (not pictured) is a working clock made of flowers.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350617733439878114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifMI_-Q4eWq-sE4c5358kEJ8K6hlATPIgt7ofuAILzatn322rke_ANQDRS3ve5q-JMXEQpww0YSmUFvfnkSvd9azafkABLpJaobhqpMJjgPRMiFNXnOu0YfEng7abH_pkei1WEcFEfswnb/s400/DSC05281.JPG" />They have really cool fountains here down the long cobblestone pathway leading up the the cities memorial.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBeEVaUaszWqUtm5TP4e7AARKyCplVQ0rfh2Fd45IoQdNahZl9RT2T-FRslprAYrHKPu-2isQ8i37WE_ae4iXhpMc5EYLpvaJiVTkfg4Yhc5szI3YNIWc8ZsPHZ1PB8AxJGh6uiCK0YCq/s1600-h/DSC05282.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350617726478841362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBeEVaUaszWqUtm5TP4e7AARKyCplVQ0rfh2Fd45IoQdNahZl9RT2T-FRslprAYrHKPu-2isQ8i37WE_ae4iXhpMc5EYLpvaJiVTkfg4Yhc5szI3YNIWc8ZsPHZ1PB8AxJGh6uiCK0YCq/s400/DSC05282.JPG" /></a> This big tower thing (actually a triangle) is dedicated to the cities. all up it is carved the names of the different cities with different military type pictures. At the top are 3 angels, 1 is holding a big gold halo/wreath, the other 2 are blowing into gold trumpets. At the bottom is a warrior on a horse. He has cut up a dragon into many parts. (I'm going with symbolism here.)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS5A_TAb6iF39Lis7IH4eEt9Tm1YgX3QJZ5wxOTNJcaAWaDwsFB6DzRZes0HTvpGf0rwDFk0nOxSWJXYRl6lE3qDW3AVcrBUsSsbxBKC5e6wll3J_3ToqzND795CSjZKdXfYShbL4dinT/s1600-h/DSC05283.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350617721191449698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS5A_TAb6iF39Lis7IH4eEt9Tm1YgX3QJZ5wxOTNJcaAWaDwsFB6DzRZes0HTvpGf0rwDFk0nOxSWJXYRl6lE3qDW3AVcrBUsSsbxBKC5e6wll3J_3ToqzND795CSjZKdXfYShbL4dinT/s400/DSC05283.JPG" /></a> The big white building is a museum.<br /><br />Here is the statue devoted to the 4 branches of military.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLYo2oKnaD1g0GWKOI1TdN3t8IqvhX_-gRkZsW7z591FZblU_V0xNzAyxU0ZJLoqevlK-Ssj1NNQpjJX-YJfwO6mS_QD_ZozT34-rx0ZqIGIKOUTJnC-QJMKoPbb3cZTBOQkB9m3sXAlW/s1600-h/DSC05286.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350617714746467138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxLYo2oKnaD1g0GWKOI1TdN3t8IqvhX_-gRkZsW7z591FZblU_V0xNzAyxU0ZJLoqevlK-Ssj1NNQpjJX-YJfwO6mS_QD_ZozT34-rx0ZqIGIKOUTJnC-QJMKoPbb3cZTBOQkB9m3sXAlW/s400/DSC05286.JPG" /></a><br />another memorial in the park<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojtY0dZ9DnLNGr5q5Atg66OXXxmx3UzF3vzaP025Ew_0oVz9a63TBhPsC1mqAZudgHPeo5DHdXvU4GPelnwLXLy-BFhwxDzxLA6HDbHxofIFaTH4vlAyTAiwrWcQptaUgXDAjZzBiHNEn/s1600-h/DSC05288.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350617711020105938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojtY0dZ9DnLNGr5q5Atg66OXXxmx3UzF3vzaP025Ew_0oVz9a63TBhPsC1mqAZudgHPeo5DHdXvU4GPelnwLXLy-BFhwxDzxLA6HDbHxofIFaTH4vlAyTAiwrWcQptaUgXDAjZzBiHNEn/s400/DSC05288.JPG" /></a><br />Sara with the tanks<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgOArKS93FHpMDp0ywN4wkyxvia8bZBJuwmsLjKo6KqKbeiosOTIxq9UeBsBW4ZIhuvVC4LWYSS2pkS6yL18xhq3sQlaQaZNhtSu3HOZ3oKg909G8wYDqRD-OTSu6m11RORD3Ahh65DhW/s1600-h/DSC05289.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350616304548227314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglgOArKS93FHpMDp0ywN4wkyxvia8bZBJuwmsLjKo6KqKbeiosOTIxq9UeBsBW4ZIhuvVC4LWYSS2pkS6yL18xhq3sQlaQaZNhtSu3HOZ3oKg909G8wYDqRD-OTSu6m11RORD3Ahh65DhW/s400/DSC05289.JPG" /></a><br />more tanks<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BTedL465zqG-q29NqWthrTkkLXZAQ2y2gqe45ibG68xteNFPlhH10T6OmhCXZNvfwVgn3KQsvJhe_KZhu8Lf1k5k5QlhS59NsL63k5gpyjl1I3hQMNvwZPxR8aqoYVFwybjGitseaL60/s1600-h/DSC05292.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350616302610089570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BTedL465zqG-q29NqWthrTkkLXZAQ2y2gqe45ibG68xteNFPlhH10T6OmhCXZNvfwVgn3KQsvJhe_KZhu8Lf1k5k5QlhS59NsL63k5gpyjl1I3hQMNvwZPxR8aqoYVFwybjGitseaL60/s400/DSC05292.JPG" /></a> more tanks<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElZJXsrSB5E0lDUkaSeG9svLurKokkdTpTK1rDp_GLn4ozuyrZYsNVIgPfd73mFfwIAsWEh9FBPHnsfkIXXaZU9Qft7RJMW2cbUMSHnBu1qhe1vNyZYSY2hzhejzxXmNJqyv1CWAZd9R/s1600-h/DSC05293.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350616291494682018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElZJXsrSB5E0lDUkaSeG9svLurKokkdTpTK1rDp_GLn4ozuyrZYsNVIgPfd73mFfwIAsWEh9FBPHnsfkIXXaZU9Qft7RJMW2cbUMSHnBu1qhe1vNyZYSY2hzhejzxXmNJqyv1CWAZd9R/s400/DSC05293.JPG" /></a> at the fountains<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJiia2G7lqqyrL14V70nUTchAAZVMSYyGPz8n2uGozlVow5WTmgo62Ttuopas79VSVf9DoQt7jRh4l1UAzlZmwab0CpeiZ3ZxkHRrFcYRPBI7hJ466lsOaUA67FLLuzd1ivX8EMreJs_L/s1600-h/DSC05296.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350616289602139506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJiia2G7lqqyrL14V70nUTchAAZVMSYyGPz8n2uGozlVow5WTmgo62Ttuopas79VSVf9DoQt7jRh4l1UAzlZmwab0CpeiZ3ZxkHRrFcYRPBI7hJ466lsOaUA67FLLuzd1ivX8EMreJs_L/s400/DSC05296.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyw0ZRRSMvEhOLM0fhymrUjYfx2aSoi6yeioQA0jtzMkD8wdRtrpyVm5a3tMs0NHMlU746BgQvFcxBGMvsecftwDMqAGBxcR96owxYgVTpW0mkweLdXfOiDcV8rgFUyQdhPyXZ7q8vFep/s1600-h/DSC05298.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350616285025557234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXyw0ZRRSMvEhOLM0fhymrUjYfx2aSoi6yeioQA0jtzMkD8wdRtrpyVm5a3tMs0NHMlU746BgQvFcxBGMvsecftwDMqAGBxcR96owxYgVTpW0mkweLdXfOiDcV8rgFUyQdhPyXZ7q8vFep/s400/DSC05298.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-15428098875688578162009-06-23T03:14:00.003-05:002009-06-23T03:28:34.679-05:00Last DinnerSaturday we went out to dinner with Polina for the last time. She is leaving to teach at an English camp for 2 weeks so I won't see her again before we leave. So this post is for Polina, Mya Krasavitsa, my dearest, beautiful one. I couldn't have made it in this country without her. God put her in my life for a reason and she was my lifesaver and dear friend these 2 years. I will miss her more than I thought I could. But looking up, she is planning to come to America for the first time! I cannot wait!<br /><br />Sara and me having my favorite American food in Moscow, Starlight Diner, for the last time<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350435397434324738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZeRQEh6r_5jAgZo9ClKsOmZIV21NelgU3MFXzAsHJjnPDSSdeqqoJIpyJF-UKv3k5s0bx9MFbruleduNZdkDrNkISGXSDes8JngB4Okz4W1Fze_3yn2Pcn4b9zPb2zuN22F48W4otaP2/s400/DSC05272.JPG" /><br /> Sara and Polina one last time<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWvboOG2bmHmNEp7B0cnLTpiOSfHDG_0g6o3qE7G8qr0XUu4KPMeXu3a9o5f0OUKc9AF3oWyI_DNszmDLMb2tGoXjOvQOUZWXMWKxt0T4c-WY8-a6s-VAJ6UE3ilti0XjBu7Yj3zezls4/s1600-h/DSC05273.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350434656590917762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWvboOG2bmHmNEp7B0cnLTpiOSfHDG_0g6o3qE7G8qr0XUu4KPMeXu3a9o5f0OUKc9AF3oWyI_DNszmDLMb2tGoXjOvQOUZWXMWKxt0T4c-WY8-a6s-VAJ6UE3ilti0XjBu7Yj3zezls4/s400/DSC05273.JPG" /></a> I like my Polina!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7UcF2yOj4KJzmsQPRc0R-PPdwQ_4x1b9SMOa6ghiQCRrOyTidkGPYmUNdxTs8-DzWwxNN3ujdsH9mDwU6bCfUlbaJUPEUN4k3uUE3LHdYienQNEb2meGv9SivPvf8jR7FtHGRFJWQuGe/s1600-h/DSC05274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350434648348807986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7UcF2yOj4KJzmsQPRc0R-PPdwQ_4x1b9SMOa6ghiQCRrOyTidkGPYmUNdxTs8-DzWwxNN3ujdsH9mDwU6bCfUlbaJUPEUN4k3uUE3LHdYienQNEb2meGv9SivPvf8jR7FtHGRFJWQuGe/s400/DSC05274.JPG" /></a> It had been raining a lot!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl4fjh5mmBD_sEmUtWldiePI-yJ38RcSDCpVkMbNYdQSf_vPzjazw6V0WpoVNfXfhclCbe8yigOShy7Dw4cYGYSEZ8_0WGbiv096AE9CF3Lm3utYIj1nMaMiOaJwW6JaOWzJv1c7aMpa7/s1600-h/DSC05275.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350434640958549826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGl4fjh5mmBD_sEmUtWldiePI-yJ38RcSDCpVkMbNYdQSf_vPzjazw6V0WpoVNfXfhclCbe8yigOShy7Dw4cYGYSEZ8_0WGbiv096AE9CF3Lm3utYIj1nMaMiOaJwW6JaOWzJv1c7aMpa7/s400/DSC05275.JPG" /></a>Mya Krasavitsa!! I will miss her dearly!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8rsKGREtGn8iDOLd6dFzy2lihGf_1rgEcWwJ4LyMvzjcNS_9YUW4MWXpRUr47-B7x4gjvI25R_k9snIb9-vEQCupsAcvF2ixoZg5arr5LBVAWWcZ5uOrDhQzhvTZtExk8pC-b-PHuBa-/s1600-h/DSC05276.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350434635500460674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8rsKGREtGn8iDOLd6dFzy2lihGf_1rgEcWwJ4LyMvzjcNS_9YUW4MWXpRUr47-B7x4gjvI25R_k9snIb9-vEQCupsAcvF2ixoZg5arr5LBVAWWcZ5uOrDhQzhvTZtExk8pC-b-PHuBa-/s400/DSC05276.JPG" /></a> Trying to give Polinichka a goodbye<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaFASK0Z4-wxYbsZjaMY-xRa3n8qQo2vhuGqhfzoQZRblRGzqfr1QAWPcxAx_utIYJwEgVgtfNIcQ-4mbaXJOiT4zaMfW1sEyf41q0k8N6MaJR6o5AMy2KxlwN2J8O5ThkaOJN_p3AMZx/s1600-h/DSC05279.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350434627506323282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaFASK0Z4-wxYbsZjaMY-xRa3n8qQo2vhuGqhfzoQZRblRGzqfr1QAWPcxAx_utIYJwEgVgtfNIcQ-4mbaXJOiT4zaMfW1sEyf41q0k8N6MaJR6o5AMy2KxlwN2J8O5ThkaOJN_p3AMZx/s400/DSC05279.JPG" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-23942335759000245472009-06-19T07:15:00.006-05:002009-06-19T08:04:43.143-05:00VDNH ParkYesterday Sara and I went to VDNH park. Apparently this is an abbreviation for some really long Russian words meaning the place of friendship. It is pronounced Videenhah park. I had never been but heard it was great. They have the biggest Ferris wheel in Russia there. It turned out to be kind of like a small fair. There were games to play, small roller coasters and other small rides, kiddy rides and cafes. You could also rent roller blades, bikes and these kind of go-cart looking things with pedals.<br /><br />Then when you walk to the back of the park there are all theses super cool buildings and this gold fountain. I had to call Polina ask her what this was all about. She says that it is called the place of friendship. And each building represents a friendship between Russia and that country (during the Soviet days). Now each of these is a kind of market. We walked in and nothing was too exciting. But the park was full of families, which was nice to see.<br /><br />Here are some pics of our day at the park.<br /><br /><br />What you see when you walk into the park<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349021304485680850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q4LEPuH6SSs5PnnBBsIZ3Y-H1ScGMOSOHfvTJ9jLLNrUfzmFw9r90ed-Dsat5NMVpyYN8mMGGyBleWSo-xT0Vdv0Rytbh9GZRuip5WlPrpOJagVp5cTYeyX-q1R3Kx79WhWcURm5OAIs/s400/DSC05248.JPG" /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349021301684214034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO15b_Blo1gMylT2E_62mPuJqiEEkWh9e4f_J2zy76FYEuZtvBiP1oylKXxUo5nR5eBddQ4C_6y_aXYOtf-z6Uz8hcHv_4NmVOA1LryXKt-QAb9jJmgdFeG8dPD3uRtR99zTCYJr-BtRvk/s400/DSC05249.JPG" /><br />Sara on the Ferris Wheel.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OQ0PTKfY9QHXQxrezzRyCyoILaBenn9Z5DZZI1N03zYQnrVMeP1j2PfO3vmBjdok2I1lDwUdI57SAc2PD3zIm-7Ve67eaHXgVdsBsPYxzKGs9BDqVYygFUGJQlT4HcouXcy2zIhP1cnR/s1600-h/DSC05253.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349021291129442690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OQ0PTKfY9QHXQxrezzRyCyoILaBenn9Z5DZZI1N03zYQnrVMeP1j2PfO3vmBjdok2I1lDwUdI57SAc2PD3zIm-7Ve67eaHXgVdsBsPYxzKGs9BDqVYygFUGJQlT4HcouXcy2zIhP1cnR/s400/DSC05253.JPG" /></a> It was huge. I am guessing the 850 Moscow on the front is that they built in when Moscow was 850 years ago. And now Moscow just had it's 861st birthday last Sept. 1st.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hcinCXKYpbv5roA5MA76-ihM35LpzU7LdSQltJTJRLVpFR0QjIvagF-Z8VCtmXkJKwqHEgCi1Ghv5A6zGmhh5oY6BFQNDTEKRjBP48bkiWaAFW7-E7uMuXbLdVLSasm54BX5xP2Q96_a/s1600-h/DSC05254.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349020338359059314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hcinCXKYpbv5roA5MA76-ihM35LpzU7LdSQltJTJRLVpFR0QjIvagF-Z8VCtmXkJKwqHEgCi1Ghv5A6zGmhh5oY6BFQNDTEKRjBP48bkiWaAFW7-E7uMuXbLdVLSasm54BX5xP2Q96_a/s400/DSC05254.JPG" /></a> The worst roller coaster in the world! It was so jerky we were in so much pain when we left.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBNYBYISDkBi9Wpo-Yx9q6ZWjqhDGyY7K8OMmntnxeZBvrz4fHDvAgq2U9jKbnlKtXQVkT9cD6sgWbXau2Jqma1MU4U6g2DrzqwXfyudpxynno7f0qAAHB432N4CDWz-WJvPFLzlm7CdL/s1600-h/DSC05255.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349020333802168994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBNYBYISDkBi9Wpo-Yx9q6ZWjqhDGyY7K8OMmntnxeZBvrz4fHDvAgq2U9jKbnlKtXQVkT9cD6sgWbXau2Jqma1MU4U6g2DrzqwXfyudpxynno7f0qAAHB432N4CDWz-WJvPFLzlm7CdL/s400/DSC05255.JPG" /></a> This spinny ride was really fun though.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XGLXHl4Y7z3muM6b8_cyhQsKjkpMfXxzCCrSouJKMsKrGvSovInX6IeFG9BLnvsm5PCe6PuOsXroMIH6JEHozSOOYVWXNiJuyEyUk_wiQT2lRiqa3MF_rf8B9cu0yw_w4yq-4n5v3y1R/s1600-h/DSC05256.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349020329884362706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XGLXHl4Y7z3muM6b8_cyhQsKjkpMfXxzCCrSouJKMsKrGvSovInX6IeFG9BLnvsm5PCe6PuOsXroMIH6JEHozSOOYVWXNiJuyEyUk_wiQT2lRiqa3MF_rf8B9cu0yw_w4yq-4n5v3y1R/s400/DSC05256.JPG" /></a> another cool building<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtzgWzroznRRUS5f-h9R-eGGCx9myutjPWIGfsinK7nqKhStX9VAD_Q0tVmb0IYcsX4os4uF7QVVD4aMoThS793PY8P4Br6jRVxYtUkHLV2Etw3OUg-LuM9eFkENJ4etDL6f4QFs0ikiI/s1600-h/DSC05257.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349020323815040114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtzgWzroznRRUS5f-h9R-eGGCx9myutjPWIGfsinK7nqKhStX9VAD_Q0tVmb0IYcsX4os4uF7QVVD4aMoThS793PY8P4Br6jRVxYtUkHLV2Etw3OUg-LuM9eFkENJ4etDL6f4QFs0ikiI/s400/DSC05257.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC6U1UTfWXszB2bvE3MMREomahbb4NdEFiIzLYAFhZ7VWYkbmY2g-JDITSz1Us7HE9Y9Fts5j0_jBEvRrUxvNyldMKBsAE3XuseSwXmQ83ufBOyZ5Ob-Z-6G3uEunEWTXva6KZLA9YhaE/s1600-h/DSC05258.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349020317187968866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC6U1UTfWXszB2bvE3MMREomahbb4NdEFiIzLYAFhZ7VWYkbmY2g-JDITSz1Us7HE9Y9Fts5j0_jBEvRrUxvNyldMKBsAE3XuseSwXmQ83ufBOyZ5Ob-Z-6G3uEunEWTXva6KZLA9YhaE/s400/DSC05258.JPG" /></a>the beautiful gold fountain<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPyjYvIrp_bQW3He4W3UOwjJQ5vBg4PicZktjIKxkmAfwvSz3k1zhRaa4rGbwobEHN5BulW6HMWAuMZ9jnxdPvfZa2b6IHrC9IlTRaZh4hDBbR7IjQ7Dm2m9uUqboMcJjlJYc0Pof4Y3o/s1600-h/DSC05260.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349016275211812754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPyjYvIrp_bQW3He4W3UOwjJQ5vBg4PicZktjIKxkmAfwvSz3k1zhRaa4rGbwobEHN5BulW6HMWAuMZ9jnxdPvfZa2b6IHrC9IlTRaZh4hDBbR7IjQ7Dm2m9uUqboMcJjlJYc0Pof4Y3o/s400/DSC05260.JPG" /></a> These next pics are all of the different friendship buildings<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlKunkDlp-G-S39pTUTK3tbcVJPg_-WNSxQz0FGCXOLAdSGqI8hgkpAOb9xFrc-j6A6jl-G5xBSxyjN4lxcf8Nqoa7m6zaeNpY9W3o5mBhrU8Cb-ZUwNQb3kM1VEsZjJJvRCenMY-9QzX/s1600-h/DSC05261.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349016273007509154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlKunkDlp-G-S39pTUTK3tbcVJPg_-WNSxQz0FGCXOLAdSGqI8hgkpAOb9xFrc-j6A6jl-G5xBSxyjN4lxcf8Nqoa7m6zaeNpY9W3o5mBhrU8Cb-ZUwNQb3kM1VEsZjJJvRCenMY-9QzX/s400/DSC05261.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQoqqyhmXbxmFjofwAsEhMT9Mfj_LLJE0SPRkYgePfN0N3bb0gQkEopnYeB8KbJjn2HBCMqq1k8vTKLFs2wtSWfZEtuOfpNZ5uWMNSLRD_GjEgHBLx7ImXEwa-oavyKkcJXbvuSg8SKk-/s1600-h/DSC05262.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349016267889522322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGQoqqyhmXbxmFjofwAsEhMT9Mfj_LLJE0SPRkYgePfN0N3bb0gQkEopnYeB8KbJjn2HBCMqq1k8vTKLFs2wtSWfZEtuOfpNZ5uWMNSLRD_GjEgHBLx7ImXEwa-oavyKkcJXbvuSg8SKk-/s400/DSC05262.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtpLvxB6qL9ZRNjxw5sBmkwy_mdxi2K6q5IMiEvTXJfaUeTY70fKa4tB1xcM9pbk8UTCsueZJB9T_0k4L-T9PnnfRs1AGOp0qOq7TV5DW0htl0o6Z1nU5w8hR8RRcFTk2zC7oA5vKGrVb/s1600-h/DSC05263.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349016258029304834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtpLvxB6qL9ZRNjxw5sBmkwy_mdxi2K6q5IMiEvTXJfaUeTY70fKa4tB1xcM9pbk8UTCsueZJB9T_0k4L-T9PnnfRs1AGOp0qOq7TV5DW0htl0o6Z1nU5w8hR8RRcFTk2zC7oA5vKGrVb/s400/DSC05263.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlmGtcXReQ6-FDgmgY_I_y9NCn-YQWwX0BCm-TvI6qWU2rqXmRQ_7fUr4hRk_ZtNElXHT1863sbjqW8TCCE1TrFxyvp6Z5kwoakZYr5edqJ57mA553nGDxJwkl9c2dDMSMd7AE8JKi6VI/s1600-h/DSC05265.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349016256661891122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlmGtcXReQ6-FDgmgY_I_y9NCn-YQWwX0BCm-TvI6qWU2rqXmRQ_7fUr4hRk_ZtNElXHT1863sbjqW8TCCE1TrFxyvp6Z5kwoakZYr5edqJ57mA553nGDxJwkl9c2dDMSMd7AE8JKi6VI/s400/DSC05265.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bdWNKC1XoEJFc0ITdAkeMWZgPkigYbpKWyyUhPCAOIADlEcUh5IWg4adhmn8jlwr3i9t6LEbzKv51eXfK1TQ9SxrV5SR-Jp_JyDebcDrRGdjb86dqRc1K0QajLn4bO95tDacHv7PWbtj/s1600-h/DSC05266.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349014376963790402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-bdWNKC1XoEJFc0ITdAkeMWZgPkigYbpKWyyUhPCAOIADlEcUh5IWg4adhmn8jlwr3i9t6LEbzKv51eXfK1TQ9SxrV5SR-Jp_JyDebcDrRGdjb86dqRc1K0QajLn4bO95tDacHv7PWbtj/s400/DSC05266.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzr7EiMVwMk9rEw7AX_RcleHWAzuwBmhIl2kQTk4QcCE4YnXyy-gTkfJREl0te26sO8ns8TwgWc8zW25eUXDSycBacPa5kYL_Uh2nE5B2NhxOb-QkRosbIRHeVMxUe7LA5zSeSCmi5PN0/s1600-h/DSC05267.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349014370371043858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzr7EiMVwMk9rEw7AX_RcleHWAzuwBmhIl2kQTk4QcCE4YnXyy-gTkfJREl0te26sO8ns8TwgWc8zW25eUXDSycBacPa5kYL_Uh2nE5B2NhxOb-QkRosbIRHeVMxUe7LA5zSeSCmi5PN0/s400/DSC05267.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCLBJTbumYp2mRn3ty2QxfBKp8rqzqIgE6WTMLEVajtAJSY0iLD1lawe7fxLBiXd8E0YBwjrARPtktLEbqzy65qnWumWxwnhmwxC0bfKgr1KhbV5kYr4llQP-x8x8a-wThJ2IXzUVLhYT/s1600-h/DSC05268.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349014365348948546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCLBJTbumYp2mRn3ty2QxfBKp8rqzqIgE6WTMLEVajtAJSY0iLD1lawe7fxLBiXd8E0YBwjrARPtktLEbqzy65qnWumWxwnhmwxC0bfKgr1KhbV5kYr4llQP-x8x8a-wThJ2IXzUVLhYT/s400/DSC05268.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplAZWMF8HUirpBMqZB7deBEL8aH5OvGg9B7rWFMUwzPdLHvI0HWbdDumY_XM9k_1EJFvuBZyWVyzyr8e95alcK-_jsSLcikGI2LqX8wi37RirJ-ID2v4fLHxIxoCrzEjB6t0Q7QbeEi6N/s1600-h/DSC05270.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349014360496858562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplAZWMF8HUirpBMqZB7deBEL8aH5OvGg9B7rWFMUwzPdLHvI0HWbdDumY_XM9k_1EJFvuBZyWVyzyr8e95alcK-_jsSLcikGI2LqX8wi37RirJ-ID2v4fLHxIxoCrzEjB6t0Q7QbeEi6N/s400/DSC05270.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1xliuAFZsoSvH6JmdEaDFEf3zP277CStgE-Y85qPv8fHWrx89Ot_IIxe4FKG5eGOwGx1ZOFVC2-pXc36cUJblsnzj3_pOJ2xHeh8H3bqnnFEKOiswQ8z0b0207p7aNeAqgRqRnCm6Z6p/s1600-h/DSC05271.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349014352506563682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1xliuAFZsoSvH6JmdEaDFEf3zP277CStgE-Y85qPv8fHWrx89Ot_IIxe4FKG5eGOwGx1ZOFVC2-pXc36cUJblsnzj3_pOJ2xHeh8H3bqnnFEKOiswQ8z0b0207p7aNeAqgRqRnCm6Z6p/s400/DSC05271.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-51320754946610510072009-06-18T09:12:00.006-05:002009-06-18T09:40:30.109-05:00RED SQUAREWe had a wonderful day at Red Square with the Pence family on Tuesday. Kathryn's mom and 2 sisters are visiting at the same time my sis is here. We were able to squeeze a day in together at Red Square and the Kremlin. It was so much fun getting to show our families stuff that we have been doing the last 2 years. Here are some highlights.<br /><br />Breakfast at Pushkin Cafe<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348676088219799218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlVyIGMBzd5rOhk4zt5TNqSvIsrvoUCI5lcUvYMqkvPHdfLN7YF9oMvtuF-4tlAeV5RRFFESo5IkTkrQu6KCldnR6SvFX4KXyd6zDw0H31mWZHoqu7FOyh4eJQtwzTQ9rh0AThFmGWg_B/s400/DSC05191.JPG" />The Pence family joined us, Allyson, Laura, Kathryn and mom Joann<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4HYhPDXVFl6m-FKqnQxTtyMKu3fB46qxMSD0dhU8G6uveyuTqAhclKHD50AM9boc2UIxbH-trf_CnAY_02vRelBONp9PIrDPVplYgkhsaql_jAa3HHb8Z1-b95IdhNzyV-SEYXkhRK2W/s1600-h/DSC05192.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348676061759172178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4HYhPDXVFl6m-FKqnQxTtyMKu3fB46qxMSD0dhU8G6uveyuTqAhclKHD50AM9boc2UIxbH-trf_CnAY_02vRelBONp9PIrDPVplYgkhsaql_jAa3HHb8Z1-b95IdhNzyV-SEYXkhRK2W/s400/DSC05192.JPG" /></a> traditional pose in the center of Moscow<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7VwS-m_be4EXGflgd-nv9iMGMFBGlgiZW597Cfa5WPjLM6Po5weF2loW7qy5-4fdYw5aaMHySlgrR7vl2Dpx7tkKufKU0kIggkNWFQrHnvBxIqcNWzDOm0er59zReA46f2_gjM8YKLUh/s1600-h/DSC05201.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348676058558539074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl7VwS-m_be4EXGflgd-nv9iMGMFBGlgiZW597Cfa5WPjLM6Po5weF2loW7qy5-4fdYw5aaMHySlgrR7vl2Dpx7tkKufKU0kIggkNWFQrHnvBxIqcNWzDOm0er59zReA46f2_gjM8YKLUh/s400/DSC05201.JPG" /></a><br />GUM<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdUjlrwedYSDp91u2ahLet_iGHGQS88m3eUgaKhkjB1sXRCdchCAUgHeSVp2P5RPi2nh0Fz8P9BsOp6ypU1Qd2Np9VLM4q527ytt8EqvgH3xnX1OaD4qIPGm8yrP8HLfBAQxdO4uDqVSm/s1600-h/DSC05206.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348676054140387746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdUjlrwedYSDp91u2ahLet_iGHGQS88m3eUgaKhkjB1sXRCdchCAUgHeSVp2P5RPi2nh0Fz8P9BsOp6ypU1Qd2Np9VLM4q527ytt8EqvgH3xnX1OaD4qIPGm8yrP8HLfBAQxdO4uDqVSm/s400/DSC05206.JPG" /></a>Me and Kat in Red Square<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiL7P_ONNM4Vze8KRjYdnldz8kiUXnP8AOc_rN5DawovdVpwrHGGggL6vJLxyt7fYLqQppGEdIEwfwIDMY4bjV1Ts-QSFly8B14pYjBBHl9ROGztvmXqAr_6V-Ojzo-CvF7ulGtXEi9Jx/s1600-h/DSC05211.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348676051954376386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIiL7P_ONNM4Vze8KRjYdnldz8kiUXnP8AOc_rN5DawovdVpwrHGGggL6vJLxyt7fYLqQppGEdIEwfwIDMY4bjV1Ts-QSFly8B14pYjBBHl9ROGztvmXqAr_6V-Ojzo-CvF7ulGtXEi9Jx/s400/DSC05211.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeUetnRVmPA1qNOWJhV93l0M8jWA88ZllJREdgiWzJglee_ydiNHRYGL5GwsH9Pja3v7OJjK9xZcRuuY6K0Kyzb60PUJQhFejxDrUEKW27YceyuhGFF0LaRoSNuVyfR5bOmswztqZAdf8/s1600-h/DSC05208.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348674674231561282" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfeUetnRVmPA1qNOWJhV93l0M8jWA88ZllJREdgiWzJglee_ydiNHRYGL5GwsH9Pja3v7OJjK9xZcRuuY6K0Kyzb60PUJQhFejxDrUEKW27YceyuhGFF0LaRoSNuVyfR5bOmswztqZAdf8/s400/DSC05208.JPG" /></a>Sara inside GUM<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxA9UKzdeDs0Un6fFJzrKTO2WudPshRB6IS0Vi7FaH46X3xtA-A0OTapVG7bVDWCAgWeVU1HGtQJYc3X_Pt_oKB9o8g7_eDxWH43lvvDK8VXUwqgzQunaobHzCc1-WhjzDgsup-YdNDl7/s1600-h/DSC05216.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348674667983796610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxA9UKzdeDs0Un6fFJzrKTO2WudPshRB6IS0Vi7FaH46X3xtA-A0OTapVG7bVDWCAgWeVU1HGtQJYc3X_Pt_oKB9o8g7_eDxWH43lvvDK8VXUwqgzQunaobHzCc1-WhjzDgsup-YdNDl7/s400/DSC05216.JPG" /></a> the stairs inside St. Basil's<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajjGrXFanrTXEJPpS4Ut3xLmRNEXMmodNT8EycPFbj5JOTtLNJD1KS_UZelLufMPUTaB-o9mSaR6j2JWYPymJz5xt1SbFz3uAJWWUiS5OYFL3_uzeJj1NKiwFKK7VuZ6IYbMO3ovTXIL3/s1600-h/DSC05223.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348674657176961394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajjGrXFanrTXEJPpS4Ut3xLmRNEXMmodNT8EycPFbj5JOTtLNJD1KS_UZelLufMPUTaB-o9mSaR6j2JWYPymJz5xt1SbFz3uAJWWUiS5OYFL3_uzeJj1NKiwFKK7VuZ6IYbMO3ovTXIL3/s400/DSC05223.JPG" /></a> inside St. Basil's<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIYIVTvB7c79wDUKQghfWLxks9qaEijmTM-VLEsmE0O8ubuOAf4ZgLmz9rVxlL6wBZrJ1Iod31zvlRyDcu4ShBTFItqsuqZig7-kkWqOAhaIzqLX_e78QmxW-I7TQm0367p4WhysUOqGl/s1600-h/DSC05221.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348674652348453986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIYIVTvB7c79wDUKQghfWLxks9qaEijmTM-VLEsmE0O8ubuOAf4ZgLmz9rVxlL6wBZrJ1Iod31zvlRyDcu4ShBTFItqsuqZig7-kkWqOAhaIzqLX_e78QmxW-I7TQm0367p4WhysUOqGl/s400/DSC05221.JPG" /></a> I liked the walls<br /><div><br />Sara posing as a statue<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcdGkHrmVSWv2FE-mIQNCjsJxhIlpAvfBZTkZnWsRGCBw4djuJwJYmbY-sZY4CRrc9EpONiJu2hUuziwDVGAtEDdRexNIoEaz3SHyEYawJWa7hxQ2lqr-hRQjlFh5-ywBqQ0IPdDt0-Aj/s1600-h/DSC05233.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348672718067939586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcdGkHrmVSWv2FE-mIQNCjsJxhIlpAvfBZTkZnWsRGCBw4djuJwJYmbY-sZY4CRrc9EpONiJu2hUuziwDVGAtEDdRexNIoEaz3SHyEYawJWa7hxQ2lqr-hRQjlFh5-ywBqQ0IPdDt0-Aj/s400/DSC05233.JPG" /></a><br />outside the Kremlin walls<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rMd5CLlnzgHTbVX7wkJkOgnL7muusCAcJo35CgOw2RoQQE3NYhG18jM5ZbRE3xqbhTsW962n64SWSTcNWY9PowToFT-l8bSOe1otZkGqOli3gE3IoRcEz_SxDLvXYtF65t46-EHjcgzl/s1600-h/DSC05236.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348672714878847970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9rMd5CLlnzgHTbVX7wkJkOgnL7muusCAcJo35CgOw2RoQQE3NYhG18jM5ZbRE3xqbhTsW962n64SWSTcNWY9PowToFT-l8bSOe1otZkGqOli3gE3IoRcEz_SxDLvXYtF65t46-EHjcgzl/s400/DSC05236.JPG" /></a> a church inside the Kremlin<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGY1C3G0Y8tfn6MJTGtqwlsIerju2W5fBiOmzfzOWYIukb_dsDWkcKw6NniZqyFwR5n92eocmfy1KV6WYWhWFuluc7H7BcYtjDqsB4-CPHJfH8QV7RmDTvyk6XQSx_TuO7k0FooEA5s0f/s1600-h/DSC05239.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348672709928452674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGY1C3G0Y8tfn6MJTGtqwlsIerju2W5fBiOmzfzOWYIukb_dsDWkcKw6NniZqyFwR5n92eocmfy1KV6WYWhWFuluc7H7BcYtjDqsB4-CPHJfH8QV7RmDTvyk6XQSx_TuO7k0FooEA5s0f/s400/DSC05239.JPG" /></a> The Tsar's cannon<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ClC05R-FOSwjUCfZj1SBfdgQL4uIzYUZBWjhVjMn6zjvSVPKCjHbDqUv2tStngovqsAD2fpn8XlafH5ksEKD8yoRxgRTzyGXktKHZ3W44CUTif0CFS4iEX8_9tMnCUlmx5Uxwwb_sPNW/s1600-h/DSC05241.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348672698745864978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ClC05R-FOSwjUCfZj1SBfdgQL4uIzYUZBWjhVjMn6zjvSVPKCjHbDqUv2tStngovqsAD2fpn8XlafH5ksEKD8yoRxgRTzyGXktKHZ3W44CUTif0CFS4iEX8_9tMnCUlmx5Uxwwb_sPNW/s400/DSC05241.JPG" /></a>inside the Kremlin<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6Q0ujbXmtWh1ZQr3hn-nXBf8Fu9PUIOvUTIiSGcIpVXx7oGDLn9pyw0XdCttKo_XgSjyIETVz5ma2O9dqfUniKTmPcEP9yNts4fOIbYful8bOllRJHlHu1wvRQ_SgWSw2dadvVJbeaSv/s1600-h/DSC05243.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348672694939538674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih6Q0ujbXmtWh1ZQr3hn-nXBf8Fu9PUIOvUTIiSGcIpVXx7oGDLn9pyw0XdCttKo_XgSjyIETVz5ma2O9dqfUniKTmPcEP9yNts4fOIbYful8bOllRJHlHu1wvRQ_SgWSw2dadvVJbeaSv/s400/DSC05243.JPG" /></a><br /><div>It was such a beautiful and fun day!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-76515088324497880952009-06-17T04:59:00.003-05:002009-06-17T05:14:39.827-05:00Last teaching dayI have to play catch up again. Since Sara has come we have just been soooo busy that I haven't had time to sleep much less blog. So today I am getting caught up.<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div>My last teaching day, last Thursday, was a bitter sweet one. I actually should call it my last work day, I didn't teach. I spent the day saying bye to people and taking care of some business that I am still trying to work out before I leave. My teacher friends had some very sweet and encouraging words to say. I got a few gifts too. My supervisor, Larissa gave me a beautiful ceramic tea pot with sugar and cream holder/ pourer. They are gorgeous. And my friend Tania gave me a hand made cloth/ ceramic doll and framed flowers. It was all so sweet. I was sad to say by to these people. But at the same time, excited to see what the future holds!</div><div> </div><div>Me and Lydia</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348236136247904482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KYQcFKsCVFV9cVaf0S4Yck33V14c9e8Odr3ONFkErSIP4xwH_BBp61IvfJOq-Nt6KMIbEiOWEpRSKhfvxMiqDEVjpnl-uEYoHvra2I1_Npsjmyba_f6nZP7znWDUwf4JQvMqCm8nQOKb/s400/DSC04938.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>The English Teachers for PYP: Natalia, me, Kristina, and Dasha</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 244px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348236155056918530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWtzTG5xOVITt7iTDn2OVyCtnsLnwmZ1ZOAG6gQnxJ97PUlHDbeaVEKAF0ToqFPo_Yx0IVVhmOOh2xcsD3vj0X2IBS6VW66ysUJrrf56e9YuOvivMf5ndVo0rkTYv5rHnxnSTFiVJLQiC/s400/DSC04935.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Me and my dearest Tania</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348236151767289794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZoxTWvOkOu8NEng1lgcoTTnEBB3a57d9LOa-ejy4c1KGkHyiux-NUbmdDF0vO5wFw9yd58aFMsH6wXxrjxp-CiZaOJvrvuQ_JVIx2ElAWqjiTI0BPRC5jm0_6frNcL94h8t_bK4_K9Nye/s400/DSC04936.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Me, Tania and Sara</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348236140537412674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrzLntRWjOBP_gVWOPRQf_YtTMmHQy_Qte75dmQnBIYVMy6-vvP5Z5xvdyRTUzJ0_jU0iRvABnZUOqSWMuElurLwaHWr5roVhaklTDycVIeuGHOav2rNMA1K9Ze74T-qYxYsh_YicgpBH/s400/DSC04937.JPG" /></div><div>Dinner with all the American teachers for the last time, Adam, Lydia, Truc, me and Kate.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348236134327161634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6CBpeYB4YpIpWpY8ILufkFjgRqpIzFCoDZaec2xg3QCw-O8aOtRw4ClVpHzQ9qQfsVVef0URRQKnMYEL3mcui3E5kLqhtaDemB7pwAv__IOKYLzjkjRaemTovj_kqppXiYnnxOT8EbUI/s400/P1000827.JPG" /></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-71457958799909120552009-06-11T00:04:00.000-05:002009-06-11T00:10:25.622-05:00Sister here!Sara came in on Monday afternoon. Everything went smoothly at the airport which was our biggest concern. Documents are such a huge thing here and I have seen it go wrong so many times. But everything was perfect.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure I have worn the poor girl out. We are both completely exhausted. But she is getting a glimpse into what my life is like here for a few days. Today is my last day of work! But that means she has been getting up at 6 am with me, leaving at 7.15 and the earliest we have gotten home is 10.30 for the first time in the day. So we are a bit tired. But things will slow down in about a week. We are going to St. Pete on Friday and that will not be restful. We are going to see as much as humanly possible in 3 days. Plus we are seeing a ballet at the Marinsky theater there. It is supposed to be the most beautiful theater in the world. They still have the throne of the last Tsar there, where him and his family sat when they saw ballets.<br /><br />So anyway, I have to go. I will make a better post later!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-64718099309052239532009-06-07T08:55:00.000-05:002009-06-07T08:57:31.134-05:00A Day at the ParkYesterday I had the pleasure of having the day off and spending it the my favorite Fisher kids. I was supposed to be on an excursion to the Kremlin with my students but there was apparently some problem with us being foreigners. There is always some kind of problem. So Kathryn and I took the Fisher kids to the park for the afternoon to give their mommy some much needed relaxing time. Dad is in Iraq for a month with the BBC.<br /><br />So here is some of our day! It was not your typical park. It is what we call the statue graveyard. It is behind the art museum and the put a bunch of statues on some land and made it a walk through park.<br /><br />This first one is actually the last. After our day in the park and dinner at McDonald's, we had bath time and were watching a movie. Angus and Amy were feeling particularly snugly. This is how we layed for about an hour. I was shocked they were still awake!<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344257298420294242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuqHWO4p_F4k3mf5uZf7DL4fdtXrjpfPnby4r7At_BinPbQOCNcAuX-EV1r1UUiB5rmKfGo1gWcc1LaO9FZ2pnk_v4NmR8i1Ohet_CDboAgrlL0MzgyMOcQ-ID-NAuycjLtZgz4NNAiTA/s400/P1000852.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8MEst0Tvg2zYzNVeq4znNN6PkGHifE8GyqlSctO3HREJJl6JPDCNqVHeaVSbg_ZAj1MmS29miw0LSjLr2GiGeeWg-uaxnAF8cUks6f6nCnlnBa5wdtC3DKZuUN1RYHVSjUl15Vy_DJsE/s1600-h/P1000843.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344257292248170722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8MEst0Tvg2zYzNVeq4znNN6PkGHifE8GyqlSctO3HREJJl6JPDCNqVHeaVSbg_ZAj1MmS29miw0LSjLr2GiGeeWg-uaxnAF8cUks6f6nCnlnBa5wdtC3DKZuUN1RYHVSjUl15Vy_DJsE/s400/P1000843.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQptI_Wjg4FrOxJD21ThMlQQNlEdOhnWRrky4Y9e_iE5T15kWfgeYjJq63uis-UnSlXw96P4IXOaWIdYiCGSMl76zBjGD3mztCX5dcWtzJ2iFeU3cK7xyAnhHbGbbrnTEW7C6gL6-6Kqbg/s1600-h/P1000841.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344257288232638626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQptI_Wjg4FrOxJD21ThMlQQNlEdOhnWRrky4Y9e_iE5T15kWfgeYjJq63uis-UnSlXw96P4IXOaWIdYiCGSMl76zBjGD3mztCX5dcWtzJ2iFeU3cK7xyAnhHbGbbrnTEW7C6gL6-6Kqbg/s400/P1000841.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgId8uNdnNgYRd48m9aK9Ambf0cWFqCtgSQj5-H5ZOfg-zB5mn5FztclMEX_FMsSSepWeN4eKdwhVRQoVY6hvkFVnwnDPDePIEqlSqJGiiUdborHGyvnCbyEGZhDhMhy4mM6N2SVuCFCc/s1600-h/P1000834.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344257285293993746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgId8uNdnNgYRd48m9aK9Ambf0cWFqCtgSQj5-H5ZOfg-zB5mn5FztclMEX_FMsSSepWeN4eKdwhVRQoVY6hvkFVnwnDPDePIEqlSqJGiiUdborHGyvnCbyEGZhDhMhy4mM6N2SVuCFCc/s400/P1000834.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnCusy2qEYfIdP_JZsdAuSNRi7RyZlxvGgcg4Cd-wrjr-mw4_TYQfOVZMre40Y5nzYGrRDEirlFU0cEufT_zMqtp-0EyKjnog3qU6lFKnrsb4iWJmnNtb9em-pRc0BpOzVxqGd-Y3be1y/s1600-h/P1000832.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344257280756312386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnCusy2qEYfIdP_JZsdAuSNRi7RyZlxvGgcg4Cd-wrjr-mw4_TYQfOVZMre40Y5nzYGrRDEirlFU0cEufT_zMqtp-0EyKjnog3qU6lFKnrsb4iWJmnNtb9em-pRc0BpOzVxqGd-Y3be1y/s400/P1000832.JPG" /></a> I especially like this one. I got one of them all looking at the camera but I really like how Angus is lookng up at Jude.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqofl6MbVejFXfUYTyu4q2GkErT4x_EFXLFvGDlpiLBOMni7fHaH3Wou73uF2Oj_SqNMHcLyuN-XzuSrXRNiAfFAAePGTgOipsYaQM9IzaaJGGG13IG28JekZvgkuexiC4nNCqtE_geqk/s1600-h/DSC04915.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344255145969249954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqofl6MbVejFXfUYTyu4q2GkErT4x_EFXLFvGDlpiLBOMni7fHaH3Wou73uF2Oj_SqNMHcLyuN-XzuSrXRNiAfFAAePGTgOipsYaQM9IzaaJGGG13IG28JekZvgkuexiC4nNCqtE_geqk/s400/DSC04915.JPG" /></a>Of course we had to have ice cream in the park too!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKiVWOR7Mk4rz_WRlsp_BWfrWi0Ccx5T0k7U4Q6uQKy1g2nsfwTdLTFNAkOv9ddgBtguuQBBoRv99pjLSrhHLbznkCpNvAM-5um0r1zp4RrKYo0PEZKfz3hT9NyejwR_ENnGZXBYw47o/s1600-h/DSC04913.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344255143121778178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHKiVWOR7Mk4rz_WRlsp_BWfrWi0Ccx5T0k7U4Q6uQKy1g2nsfwTdLTFNAkOv9ddgBtguuQBBoRv99pjLSrhHLbznkCpNvAM-5um0r1zp4RrKYo0PEZKfz3hT9NyejwR_ENnGZXBYw47o/s400/DSC04913.JPG" /></a> Angus liked to eat from the top and bottom at the same time!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-C_eDqJLCcCsl4RoiDffFsd-Hi3II6POdmlhIztuXJaAeRcpRUBqKuFMKTQXqjVVfccxFCCb94GFe7hyphenhyphenFE9ZrPbhEnX_AKSc7kIb8JHplEGtt0lGHoLeywvuvGVsrtmZ9t3kZjAg1HEx/s1600-h/DSC04911.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344255136444655058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-C_eDqJLCcCsl4RoiDffFsd-Hi3II6POdmlhIztuXJaAeRcpRUBqKuFMKTQXqjVVfccxFCCb94GFe7hyphenhyphenFE9ZrPbhEnX_AKSc7kIb8JHplEGtt0lGHoLeywvuvGVsrtmZ9t3kZjAg1HEx/s400/DSC04911.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLP7jYhreQZvviE99ejA6yCUIGDPKIqtqfGzl33CR5FNy7-lze2fTatY0kg8f8TRMbuBR9MK0-rKAjniARnX_MNu64TairY7a53BOaoRZgpq5xUNFlfE9SQAablXJugdh7U8B6HmsjRUnd/s1600-h/DSC04910.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344255134111561378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLP7jYhreQZvviE99ejA6yCUIGDPKIqtqfGzl33CR5FNy7-lze2fTatY0kg8f8TRMbuBR9MK0-rKAjniARnX_MNu64TairY7a53BOaoRZgpq5xUNFlfE9SQAablXJugdh7U8B6HmsjRUnd/s400/DSC04910.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioox01MB1MxxyI3QN-tktXg3SWZKEAvTx78Ycxpju929NrcBUvkNlMIfGNO1XwQKneiX_BWK7LyitJEKT2GgtY2WIze2XjM9Qoa3ZBdJPb09856ERmk6_eQGkqMXngxDP-v6WZ1soLavWd/s1600-h/DSC04899.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344255128095297842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioox01MB1MxxyI3QN-tktXg3SWZKEAvTx78Ycxpju929NrcBUvkNlMIfGNO1XwQKneiX_BWK7LyitJEKT2GgtY2WIze2XjM9Qoa3ZBdJPb09856ERmk6_eQGkqMXngxDP-v6WZ1soLavWd/s400/DSC04899.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-43378953743458981502009-06-04T15:35:00.002-05:002009-06-04T16:00:52.520-05:00<div>Well the regular school year is over and now we are in Summer school. There are only about 30 kids in the 1-5 grades. We have only had 2 English lessons in the last 4 days but it has been great to just hang out with my students and play games with them. We also went on an excursion to the Moscow River. We got a private river boat tour with a tour guide. I have done this many times but the kids didn't seem so interested. Their PSP's were much more fun to them. But I really enjoyed being outside all day. </div><div> </div><div>Tomorrow is an excursion to the Kremlin all day. Me and the other 2 English teachers were supposed to go but they are claiming some problem with foreigners so we can't go. Not the end of the world though because that means I have the day off! I'll spend the day with my favorite Fisher family instead. </div><div> </div><div>This is random,but this pic is of some trees all near our apartment. They are all over the city. I don't remember them from last year at all. Maybe they were not near where I lived. I think they are maybe lilacs. I'm not sure but they smell sooooo good. </div><div> </div><div>FYI: I took this pick on my walk home from the metro on night at 10:30 pm. Look at how like it still is. The sun is barely beginning to set. </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575136047476242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtcNyWlbejvpcc9oQr3BlYf7M5uykj2iYE31P-NFb2G-YrltJTek3devMIXyp8pBs5XfwERbkyIwCrzYZpw2iqAUnui3S0m_Rj16B_GMorTgQI_AO01wKc8zUGadOjbidFCjRc2IHkHOt/s400/DSC04883.JPG" /></div><div><br /> </div><div>Here is the river boat. Some of my previously 2nd grade girls, Olga, Dasha and Sonya.</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575132897357058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-83BEhyphenhyphenmE-ByjNJYPhKEsnnubFS_gmI-iru6WTTheZ5bGW6_Nt1fli4XchsQ49k6p11IrdvKXaaF_f41-w2O7aIRdRwCwgWeYSKatEQwDS0Oo-S_TDqjBVtzNTM3K0kqb-CKDt18-F7yC/s400/DSC04896.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>Here with my sweet 4th grade girls, Anna, Arina and Sasha.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63sbnpyVsWlSwfrnqGDj5el_eiWzQlPGW0e2YsybKIvF-ig1-9K-vtwZPEk1ZOKIIFYlgc1bYltUROwG1fMEdofsHkceZ8x1Xu8wV8MY41HJZCelC0ximYrCfZSE14sifohDdmO3txFPd/s1600-h/DSC04895.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343575129592247170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63sbnpyVsWlSwfrnqGDj5el_eiWzQlPGW0e2YsybKIvF-ig1-9K-vtwZPEk1ZOKIIFYlgc1bYltUROwG1fMEdofsHkceZ8x1Xu8wV8MY41HJZCelC0ximYrCfZSE14sifohDdmO3txFPd/s400/DSC04895.JPG" /></a><br />I think it is safe to say I am beginning to realize that I'm going to miss them! Some of it is beginning to hit me...<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-67032684873348270562009-05-29T01:00:00.000-05:002009-05-29T01:00:00.978-05:00RetreatThis past weekend we had a great chance to get outside of the city and have a retreat. I go to a Bible study on Tuesday nights with the 'young adults' from the church I used to attend here in Moscow. This group if full of people from 18 to their mid-late 30's. It can't be called the singles group because there are several married couples in it. And it can't be called a college group because there are only a handful of college students in it studying abroad for the year. So we call it the young adults group.<br /><br />We got to stay at this dacha for the weekend. It was about an hour electric train ride outside of the city. We did a study over a C.S. Lewis book. We also had a great time in fellowship over tea, yummy smores, a great meeting with some guys from Tajikistan, a skimpy-dip in the pond and tons of fun. I was unfortunately sick the whole time. So I ended up spending our Saturday free time asleep in bed but I still did everything else, just heavily medicated.<br /><br />Well all the fun stories begin with the need for smores. You cannot have a weekend in the woods without smores. Doug was able to go to the American Embassy store and get Hershey's chocolate, Jet Puffed marshmallows and real graham crackers. But it had rained all day and we couldn't find any dry wood for the fire. Well some of the guys in our group started to walk around looking for some. They ran into two guys from Tajikistan who said they had some left over roofing wood we could have. Well they ended up inviting them to have smores with us. They loved it. It was a real treat for them.<br /><br />We had already planned on jumping in the pond when the Tajiks invited our group over. So about 10 of us went to their 1 room home. It wasn't any bigger than my office here at school. It was a father and his 5 oldest sons. He had 5 other sons, a daughter and a wife still back in Tajikistan. They were working and sending their money back for them. Well they cooked us up some lamb fat and onions and did some traditional Tajik dances for us. It was the best time. Great memories. They kept going on about how it is such an honor for them to have guests in their home. Their home by the way had no bathroom and an outdoor sink. It had 2 benches and a table with one set of cabiniets. They also had a little 2 stove gas set to cook on. Their hospitality was truely amazing. Before we left they wanted to pray for us. So one of the sons sang a beautiful prayer in Arabic to their god Allah. Then one of our girls asked if we could pray for them. She prayed to the one true God (in Russian). They continued talking about what a blessing this was for them. Here in Russia they are like beyond scum to the Russians. It is quite sad. But I know that Jesus loves them just as much as he loves me.<br /><br />Then we went for a skibby-dip in the pond. You can't call it a skinny dip because we were still in our skibbies. It was great fun. Though Lydia and I both got cuts on our foot and it probably only made me more sick. But hey, it was a great way to end the weekend!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340916002492161778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOE51GOau7BRTbHzo7YYT_bcpVWy0Y1dEIQa5VcPKLPTdtBUyYbykjZ2WMh5HDCBYcQn4So6iz4XlzMIWwgKyQDN51DoZGYHQ77YamOQWqr1qm-nKaKjS43H4X25Ak7SBSFFuE5T9asJ36/s400/P1000713.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br />This is the house (dacha) we stayed in for the weekend. It was so wonderful!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0KgMeNNu-rm4NvyOqQJHd6BSBmV759pnaNyHGO9e_oBMxgnzy69r2WwBtdXSYKWW90dskeinX7MyiheVlscFVxtUY-hwocp26o2awSCjvRf1Z0E0Lb-mecLfUN6MoIUNkfy42g1LKmW6/s1600-h/P1000714.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340915997051990050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0KgMeNNu-rm4NvyOqQJHd6BSBmV759pnaNyHGO9e_oBMxgnzy69r2WwBtdXSYKWW90dskeinX7MyiheVlscFVxtUY-hwocp26o2awSCjvRf1Z0E0Lb-mecLfUN6MoIUNkfy42g1LKmW6/s400/P1000714.JPG" border="0" /></a> A view down the street of the village.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUcvr4o9nQuHF_vy_jCOYoaTjkvu3ooayDO11ojNfcvpqQ2xuITnzrCKSjXDwua_SVjvQ2x7_SN9-rhuzTVAx8-MidTQnRKpungDiQij3_0Q531hsLVnjoWdnJvq5H6HBXjPcIvbGTKHN/s1600-h/P1000719.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340915989284752786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUcvr4o9nQuHF_vy_jCOYoaTjkvu3ooayDO11ojNfcvpqQ2xuITnzrCKSjXDwua_SVjvQ2x7_SN9-rhuzTVAx8-MidTQnRKpungDiQij3_0Q531hsLVnjoWdnJvq5H6HBXjPcIvbGTKHN/s400/P1000719.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think this house doesn't have much longer to be standing.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTwUuwf2-fhQFdtag-HuWG27Wkw0RSSOk7U-rDmixmdXRgJ8pQEYHVzkOp9oCrXtqbJV7fpE5tnZXw-FGHT2yv4LaZARn4N3_qnIZyIDkWGhiTTfITJ0Yq_ewsrPCDCPkCnshkG7hGbYC/s1600-h/P1000721.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340914335415880866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTwUuwf2-fhQFdtag-HuWG27Wkw0RSSOk7U-rDmixmdXRgJ8pQEYHVzkOp9oCrXtqbJV7fpE5tnZXw-FGHT2yv4LaZARn4N3_qnIZyIDkWGhiTTfITJ0Yq_ewsrPCDCPkCnshkG7hGbYC/s400/P1000721.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL2p9QiRabdwMO0_eGwn8rY4mijC5v2D7yD_jlDcUz2Sv2jhdgpIZJFZoS5b2Gqs5R63WL3BYrBJ2J7j_pn9XLVtlcLX2ZyLQo1aSa6lVmGktSTE-oJWpBqV7YubPZaf-PKWjVSr0T65f/s1600-h/P1000725.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340914331274216642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBL2p9QiRabdwMO0_eGwn8rY4mijC5v2D7yD_jlDcUz2Sv2jhdgpIZJFZoS5b2Gqs5R63WL3BYrBJ2J7j_pn9XLVtlcLX2ZyLQo1aSa6lVmGktSTE-oJWpBqV7YubPZaf-PKWjVSr0T65f/s400/P1000725.JPG" border="0" /></a> Another house in the village<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRY_qSeuRykS2Q1wPzDsxaYnOx0PRTC-BbNqEUiCqfWEdfgktWFpAWv4KJMPuBxUNRPqVav-MzC4b1avxzl3CYU0dvbGVOQpJ4FpvHXeuqLQGFv8XfA903x9TlsBETSCFdJqHa7WYwY5x/s1600-h/P1000728.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340914329326681906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRY_qSeuRykS2Q1wPzDsxaYnOx0PRTC-BbNqEUiCqfWEdfgktWFpAWv4KJMPuBxUNRPqVav-MzC4b1avxzl3CYU0dvbGVOQpJ4FpvHXeuqLQGFv8XfA903x9TlsBETSCFdJqHa7WYwY5x/s400/P1000728.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDScggDzPQhcJpyLOPLrw752Jv3nVs5uy7X_5x3zeYdFIfL-U9mhWeqBYZhq57g96mVbVzqJ-zdFLUjQjroFcY8p88oR_OG4X5_wVFLRkNLoRCtXcMOkNXLhNVktJAj5cQMPCLIGNfDO5/s1600-h/P1000730.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340914317036805378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDScggDzPQhcJpyLOPLrw752Jv3nVs5uy7X_5x3zeYdFIfL-U9mhWeqBYZhq57g96mVbVzqJ-zdFLUjQjroFcY8p88oR_OG4X5_wVFLRkNLoRCtXcMOkNXLhNVktJAj5cQMPCLIGNfDO5/s400/P1000730.JPG" border="0" /></a>Emily out on a walk.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozQ0nQSMIr9c2DliEfDxoI41fwECJy9FtxxxsxBHXo8Ar5OOgiD6D06-UKEAqPy17BsT_woc3hrxg7MItOahSBmorkWwnH8qX7j5ivTH7FxbldUxdEJXj2zOQ_wtZi71ls8ALXFA3Hcyj/s1600-h/P1000734.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340882866854666306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozQ0nQSMIr9c2DliEfDxoI41fwECJy9FtxxxsxBHXo8Ar5OOgiD6D06-UKEAqPy17BsT_woc3hrxg7MItOahSBmorkWwnH8qX7j5ivTH7FxbldUxdEJXj2zOQ_wtZi71ls8ALXFA3Hcyj/s400/P1000734.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of our neighbors houses.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-1ZvN0_KmJdGGRjV7-5WyNcxlLeRBdxt7nS1KxTdPCHUsUKl8HpDWT3UyalSXRkaijWPV8kVkzI4rlPpca2P7cnhkZkfJzy0bS9UgPtXEaMCWqLYxlLa3IlkL3YuVt_ZhEKf8KLPPMAe/s1600-h/P1000742.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340882862487876018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH-1ZvN0_KmJdGGRjV7-5WyNcxlLeRBdxt7nS1KxTdPCHUsUKl8HpDWT3UyalSXRkaijWPV8kVkzI4rlPpca2P7cnhkZkfJzy0bS9UgPtXEaMCWqLYxlLa3IlkL3YuVt_ZhEKf8KLPPMAe/s400/P1000742.JPG" border="0" /></a> Attempting to get a fire started with roofing wood and copybooks after it had been raining all day.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNozkHJMlus1-JZ8tGSAIUbBwclVqw8zeNFEB_xlSSlf2tQq9HaTM9Ql8ATM0aAmibhUWkbuKE5iEBSIEHO1dVRbtD4XtUUyG05_f9s3Yx-ss7ot4xNra4DGl8tSQub8cfOvbbZP0UBrh1/s1600-h/P1000745.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340882859667154818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNozkHJMlus1-JZ8tGSAIUbBwclVqw8zeNFEB_xlSSlf2tQq9HaTM9Ql8ATM0aAmibhUWkbuKE5iEBSIEHO1dVRbtD4XtUUyG05_f9s3Yx-ss7ot4xNra4DGl8tSQub8cfOvbbZP0UBrh1/s400/P1000745.JPG" border="0" /></a> The girls about to enjoy some smores!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wcU_4cSF9nLB-XCd_1hIws-bQFr1va7u-pbvD0Q4iFgvhAzg3t5qq-Wu9WiMxNbjidcfxgikWmXO1uHZwLfSlQD9ozPSgbCymSUfv25acITXpN0xwstCH2t0ZfO7WE5ZaX5iX2RkjP6e/s1600-h/P1000747.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340882854970329986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wcU_4cSF9nLB-XCd_1hIws-bQFr1va7u-pbvD0Q4iFgvhAzg3t5qq-Wu9WiMxNbjidcfxgikWmXO1uHZwLfSlQD9ozPSgbCymSUfv25acITXpN0xwstCH2t0ZfO7WE5ZaX5iX2RkjP6e/s400/P1000747.JPG" border="0" /></a> About to eat my first smore of the night<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFvN7VIFOXkiF3BoECmJrL_fQwEgUTJyyR4PNEGr2gbcLmYAJsRC22ig7_IeQmXEPhRPz3nXnxsfjsQyNPn-tAN5lIEtq2Kxvdz-2BM9_SpKcN4-9JFhwO4hbp4qdu3qD4L5MnmmdzwTg/s1600-h/P1000750.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876201752292674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFvN7VIFOXkiF3BoECmJrL_fQwEgUTJyyR4PNEGr2gbcLmYAJsRC22ig7_IeQmXEPhRPz3nXnxsfjsQyNPn-tAN5lIEtq2Kxvdz-2BM9_SpKcN4-9JFhwO4hbp4qdu3qD4L5MnmmdzwTg/s400/P1000750.JPG" border="0" /></a> Betty and her head torch. She had never had a smore before (poor British girl) and just though you were supposed to eat the marshmellow melted. She was all happy about it too. Then we had to show her the good stuff.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcqObzS_CLrm4ouJ5Hc2AOnCfZtcmbb5WnIR_-Rs5kvHh-7NiluNQcCHt4t6upX8rWo5qvmeocNKBJ_sLs4D0K8zfG1jJu5aXdlEowO8xboY0xxniAijPQP6Nv6mMC0y6ZNTzyChF7Tgw/s1600-h/P1000755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876192005994242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgcqObzS_CLrm4ouJ5Hc2AOnCfZtcmbb5WnIR_-Rs5kvHh-7NiluNQcCHt4t6upX8rWo5qvmeocNKBJ_sLs4D0K8zfG1jJu5aXdlEowO8xboY0xxniAijPQP6Nv6mMC0y6ZNTzyChF7Tgw/s400/P1000755.JPG" border="0" /></a> Emily had the great idea to just put the chocolate right on the marshmellow and melt them into a tasty treat. Those Brits are clever.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FW9N96WhMWcFiBW9m2_r-MfrLllD1r2fzOYyUSE6PcsNSYf8_X27LMQPTLcAnOpgcl41WXJuIyJlyp2pVq8Ly1YhFDry1Y778iH-xCJ6k9VPDPGnP-ZGJuY2wEBqxZZ8uXzj5NOqzEwP/s1600-h/P1000758.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876186654779170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4FW9N96WhMWcFiBW9m2_r-MfrLllD1r2fzOYyUSE6PcsNSYf8_X27LMQPTLcAnOpgcl41WXJuIyJlyp2pVq8Ly1YhFDry1Y778iH-xCJ6k9VPDPGnP-ZGJuY2wEBqxZZ8uXzj5NOqzEwP/s400/P1000758.JPG" border="0" /></a> Getting smore number 2 ready.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCWHLa2sg1HeEoMCw8JI1V3EtuohMz3TqHgVZDIxRiYjZ9D1QTTGlsz_73Afs10tOfi6WRKQAZmgvBR5VTs86LJN6w14gar_5ztykkSdo89Giwj-JSH1T1Aqz3KSlfUoK3zJvvyGZaRiI/s1600-h/P1000759.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876183177005106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCWHLa2sg1HeEoMCw8JI1V3EtuohMz3TqHgVZDIxRiYjZ9D1QTTGlsz_73Afs10tOfi6WRKQAZmgvBR5VTs86LJN6w14gar_5ztykkSdo89Giwj-JSH1T1Aqz3KSlfUoK3zJvvyGZaRiI/s400/P1000759.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me and Kat enjoying the campfire.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51_D9kdNRpxZXoAIek04z4VxU3GQbgklE82agIcG5poMFIxfLmd5aESl5eCYJH3Wt6RKytBPfCTurXDVPuhqsfIoEh__-pbCSQBG0bATh_5-S62FRuKoO_XpsGrUzqneLIhk8N9695Tix/s1600-h/P1000761.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340876179948942530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51_D9kdNRpxZXoAIek04z4VxU3GQbgklE82agIcG5poMFIxfLmd5aESl5eCYJH3Wt6RKytBPfCTurXDVPuhqsfIoEh__-pbCSQBG0bATh_5-S62FRuKoO_XpsGrUzqneLIhk8N9695Tix/s400/P1000761.JPG" border="0" /></a> Roomates for a few more weeks!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-26205251501403953382009-05-28T08:51:00.002-05:002009-05-28T08:59:55.180-05:00Dr. Appt.So like most Americans I know, I am going to work sick because there is just TOO MUCH TO DO!! I have Russian medical insurance and I so as long as I see a doctor, I still get paid when I am sick. Well I have been pretty darn sick for the last week and finally decided to stay home on Tuesday and have the doctor come see me. She told me I needed to stay home for the rest of the week and go see the doctor next week. Well she was probably right but I am stubborn and there is just TOO MUCH TO DO!<br /><br />So I went to work today, late. When I walked in my supervisor was there talking to someone and she is asking my why in the world I am at work. She says I should not be here until Monday. This is true. But I was there anyway.<br /><br />I really didn't want to miss the last week of school. So I went today so I could have a little more time with my students. Not to mention next week starts summer school. They finally gave us a schedule and a theme today so we can start planning. Plus there is tons of end of the year paperwork to do. Which I did early trying to be diligent. Of course, I did it wrong and got a nice yelling at from other teachers over that. So I spent part of today fixing my mistakes and will finish that tomorrow.<br /><br />Well I had to go to the doctor to 'close my account'. It was the fastest dr. appt. ever! There was no wait which is very unusual. Then I totally lied and told the doctor that everything was normal. I had to hold in all my coughs, this was hard. And she had to list to my breathing. I did my best to fake a really good deep breath, or well like 10 really good ones. She looked down my throat. I didn't do any sniffling. I passed the test! But what was really funny is that she kept asking me "Are you sure you want to go back to work tomorrow?!" I didn't even try to tell her that I had already been today. I bet I was her first patient who went back to work earlier than they are supposed to!Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-17843694666207383112009-05-26T15:00:00.002-05:002009-05-26T15:03:40.095-05:00SickI'm guessing there will be nothing fun to post about this week since I'm at home sick. I finally broke down and saw the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">dr</span>. today after feeling awful for the past 5 days. So the conclusion is: a low fever, an upper respiratory infection, a sinus infection and a virus. That whole breathing thing seems optional these days. So against what I want to be doing, I'm in bed resting and taking all my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">meds</span>. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">dr</span>. said to stay home at least until Friday. I don't think that will happen. I have to at least be at work on Friday because it is my last day with my kids. I have to say bye. But I'll think about that then because it makes me sad.Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-81012516139123118772009-05-24T05:45:00.008-05:002009-05-25T12:06:23.975-05:00My KiddosNext week is our last week of normal school. For some weird reason grades were due this Friday. We are not allowed to do anything for a grade next week. So I guess next week is like lets pretend we are in school and come but lets just play all week? I don't get it. Well I decided to take some pics of my kids. I got as much as I could. I thought I would share. Most of them drive me crazy because they are quite the spoiled brats, but they are too cute as well.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339350757892456994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJu0DjNIl5arnREcfVt1dlDDUcSJv6pyR_bAsgyIppYqn80lWlgRv6LxKSEoGlXrWIqhf4KckXoEFztZM4rZGgqjxqYh7PK662NqiLsFlzCodS2vUfxdTpvJec1_wG8MueVr3NEJ0vxq_S/s400/DSC04864.JPG" /><br />This group is especially naughty. Vova, Nastya, Nina, Katya, Max, Ivan, Alouna and Asya.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1MHU1u1m8XtuNNjarMnpAV4H8AZFt5Hg9D1Wtu1douuaQAU_rb4B6erXslIFQeNSnqnwILN7ywFMpSJjYpUIgtnFRyftIgh2CCxmqI2w2ekYrDFZgIU5V3UgA2_IyfipPhyi-5S4g9Tf/s1600-h/DSC04865.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339350751428979922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1MHU1u1m8XtuNNjarMnpAV4H8AZFt5Hg9D1Wtu1douuaQAU_rb4B6erXslIFQeNSnqnwILN7ywFMpSJjYpUIgtnFRyftIgh2CCxmqI2w2ekYrDFZgIU5V3UgA2_IyfipPhyi-5S4g9Tf/s400/DSC04865.JPG" /></a> Their true selves.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG6YPqBcNWGht7JtwYhoWR-c5qh9ms33dG-sjfS1hVc0SY2cBlfssi-OMCn0O6PTUCcvm16fFAvuAoIlAvkMIyQJDv82de1sF73syYMjjlCOJRLEZWSGUfysMb83IiBUeqX2POLVdafzI/s1600-h/DSC04866.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339350747954315458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYG6YPqBcNWGht7JtwYhoWR-c5qh9ms33dG-sjfS1hVc0SY2cBlfssi-OMCn0O6PTUCcvm16fFAvuAoIlAvkMIyQJDv82de1sF73syYMjjlCOJRLEZWSGUfysMb83IiBUeqX2POLVdafzI/s400/DSC04866.JPG" /></a> second grade boys<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9t-WXJEKTAQGep-X7VUMT4TeoufZRx20rHC6QGhu2-BvW7javoUTCdqF0RvoBYlt9ixiOyYE7ZmflPdDsJlzu9NB7pYiUx5J9WG5-EOHA_AtBB10Dqyc9OY4yyOPZ-s0NIOR4J7sdjS3/s1600-h/DSC04866.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339348918024920354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9t-WXJEKTAQGep-X7VUMT4TeoufZRx20rHC6QGhu2-BvW7javoUTCdqF0RvoBYlt9ixiOyYE7ZmflPdDsJlzu9NB7pYiUx5J9WG5-EOHA_AtBB10Dqyc9OY4yyOPZ-s0NIOR4J7sdjS3/s400/DSC04866.JPG" /></a> The boys acting somewhat normal<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBqZvag5Jp3-5AlRJRrkaR4YrdpJPEtjV-s95NcB7NjsI7lwSAXjhpW1cQiYxvVyxL8vuTZg8F0HkNqRjJAFjE3728hYepRG6LLwg7e7pU2Jp6BiFguHU_yGGRfRx9L_pTPh5sT0TZ0Ah/s1600-h/DSC04867.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339348912448336978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBqZvag5Jp3-5AlRJRrkaR4YrdpJPEtjV-s95NcB7NjsI7lwSAXjhpW1cQiYxvVyxL8vuTZg8F0HkNqRjJAFjE3728hYepRG6LLwg7e7pU2Jp6BiFguHU_yGGRfRx9L_pTPh5sT0TZ0Ah/s400/DSC04867.JPG" /></a> 2nd graders, Yagor, Vova, Gosha, Kolia and Daniel<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivniBB5XRd571Hg3H8oaJqOkdFL87sRHCOYScgw7UCax_gRHgdA47ITBmawz9wD6ozaTqpo4_i52CmkkIJTS09mUACkWOEg5hg_QnLZtcMgWuodysahnctFliB-j-etREmbbqzO05agVBh/s1600-h/DSC04868.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339348905430167762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivniBB5XRd571Hg3H8oaJqOkdFL87sRHCOYScgw7UCax_gRHgdA47ITBmawz9wD6ozaTqpo4_i52CmkkIJTS09mUACkWOEg5hg_QnLZtcMgWuodysahnctFliB-j-etREmbbqzO05agVBh/s400/DSC04868.JPG" /></a> A little crazy. 2nd grade.<br />Natasha, Olga, Igor, Alex, Artem, Phillip, Sasha and Artum.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHXZByoyseMuIIFV6vHq8XzKegK91exEu8v85PlN-5kQJQ7i0aJR_w5WyWKfD2nXtL7dvbwwZeaqMnYj8ZvjntGWpjJcdgBzJXYCRMefjFhbCI4yZoI_7kIM2qU1H6aE43QDie81pAIv7/s1600-h/DSC04869.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339348900387399490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHXZByoyseMuIIFV6vHq8XzKegK91exEu8v85PlN-5kQJQ7i0aJR_w5WyWKfD2nXtL7dvbwwZeaqMnYj8ZvjntGWpjJcdgBzJXYCRMefjFhbCI4yZoI_7kIM2qU1H6aE43QDie81pAIv7/s400/DSC04869.JPG" /></a> Some fourth graders, Anna, Arrina, Gleb, Robert, Sava and Andre<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2eamuM6NwTlQEXQKh8NkAWbkpAiUwlJWgqrwlth9OoJuiPmAG3Cp0F-AEyqiAD46vZa30Zvt6MSGDbwZS30VmM56516y6yusMMuRApi-MTYR4fdu_6UpkNQQLg_4EihvFkOL570HrLiU/s1600-h/DSC04871.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339348897557971442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2eamuM6NwTlQEXQKh8NkAWbkpAiUwlJWgqrwlth9OoJuiPmAG3Cp0F-AEyqiAD46vZa30Zvt6MSGDbwZS30VmM56516y6yusMMuRApi-MTYR4fdu_6UpkNQQLg_4EihvFkOL570HrLiU/s400/DSC04871.JPG" /></a> Acting a little crazy. They show their true colors.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLWFJ1paOGcwumnhTwRZzvqA1cywxOtSayuFtb2X97ktOGGcwb3O8IYtEp_9Nu7NLtRsWV2NJpmn0L8kWFFfAmcQ1bGBCNTYnkNhJvDLBBT48AfNLiXTXw7L2WoulzgWQK-U0lf5phi2M/s1600-h/DSC04872.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339346884207479250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLWFJ1paOGcwumnhTwRZzvqA1cywxOtSayuFtb2X97ktOGGcwb3O8IYtEp_9Nu7NLtRsWV2NJpmn0L8kWFFfAmcQ1bGBCNTYnkNhJvDLBBT48AfNLiXTXw7L2WoulzgWQK-U0lf5phi2M/s400/DSC04872.JPG" /></a> Sava and Max. My fourth grade boys<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36EOaBWS2XcRWbbG3i3ErZSIKIOrPsPqMKoGbT0Ze-YcGao7nvaqtGx5ObBN6N3WSXWr5SiZ2H4joDvPkZiR9PfG8RoACuKeatRKh3P-u4FcvV1d19hEqBik0lwqHYEdoBXUni_wOX7wE/s1600-h/DSC04873.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339346874428337858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36EOaBWS2XcRWbbG3i3ErZSIKIOrPsPqMKoGbT0Ze-YcGao7nvaqtGx5ObBN6N3WSXWr5SiZ2H4joDvPkZiR9PfG8RoACuKeatRKh3P-u4FcvV1d19hEqBik0lwqHYEdoBXUni_wOX7wE/s400/DSC04873.JPG" /></a> Some sweet fourth grade girls Sasha and Dasha<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlTtaGCv6Oq-HJtDGL-5WBkwOJCGexf8ZiJVRaSMBDM-EnHrZNQbnEVuhSNIVtoGH0_I7ozI3pirGib6J_2k0oa2NqPNH_HKyb1v4FnVc0pk7OGeT1QDk4H-o03MBQFalVAatajg8joG9/s1600-h/DSC04874.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339346871492137410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlTtaGCv6Oq-HJtDGL-5WBkwOJCGexf8ZiJVRaSMBDM-EnHrZNQbnEVuhSNIVtoGH0_I7ozI3pirGib6J_2k0oa2NqPNH_HKyb1v4FnVc0pk7OGeT1QDk4H-o03MBQFalVAatajg8joG9/s400/DSC04874.JPG" /></a> Some more fourth grade girls, Aleena, Anna, Polina and Arina<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH9OqT70rnCRPduyUc2OmxIPAR1LGgW67GH8hIjMTy3VH4Ej1sbvFlGaccawtJ548WCK64v55IT3B09fw0X_67QfcwZRxKOpIXi67XGUD0PE9zz8kUPwquPrDIvTlhWUo_zMASz3U2LQt/s1600-h/DSC04875.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339346866627102946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAH9OqT70rnCRPduyUc2OmxIPAR1LGgW67GH8hIjMTy3VH4Ej1sbvFlGaccawtJ548WCK64v55IT3B09fw0X_67QfcwZRxKOpIXi67XGUD0PE9zz8kUPwquPrDIvTlhWUo_zMASz3U2LQt/s400/DSC04875.JPG" /></a>Polina and Stasya, 4th grade<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeaVPQwNjSl3PWdnnLJ5Y9gg0wbnCtn5VpXGflrTj-qtc8q8lnK1lyY6msa8EibPsL_Y0TDrg2w62NmI6rkwGESbk0aDWJVpC8uOiXBfBJC46tmEDYCci282hVPruHyOnkj5WQK1HzxXb/s1600-h/DSC04877.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339346860539695618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeaVPQwNjSl3PWdnnLJ5Y9gg0wbnCtn5VpXGflrTj-qtc8q8lnK1lyY6msa8EibPsL_Y0TDrg2w62NmI6rkwGESbk0aDWJVpC8uOiXBfBJC46tmEDYCci282hVPruHyOnkj5WQK1HzxXb/s400/DSC04877.JPG" /></a> 4th grade boys, Pasha, Andre, Robert, Robert and Sasha<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HvuN-1nb8wQDlkz_nW67OLeLPxcpVH-n3Ew5u2ru_ejgTvuOKvI-CS9S3tjl62vxhI5PkuALSA7dznxrdJmnG8FQoOYSo8bXUzN5ZzIbOL8gXNpe2MmBSdHN-Gm7kx9DCVjg7g6WsAwj/s1600-h/DSC04879.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339344971590208082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HvuN-1nb8wQDlkz_nW67OLeLPxcpVH-n3Ew5u2ru_ejgTvuOKvI-CS9S3tjl62vxhI5PkuALSA7dznxrdJmnG8FQoOYSo8bXUzN5ZzIbOL8gXNpe2MmBSdHN-Gm7kx9DCVjg7g6WsAwj/s400/DSC04879.JPG" /></a> My sweet 1st grade girls, Masha, Tania and Liza<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxzLJJYruzhvvhHhmlx_7UXN2Pn1K1knPKeBW6Xe90gN9vW8lC-QD5VOEWkm6PQfainKr5z3gW2ApMIyryU_CaILjG0twi5XGJ6UHrT6f5-02lkKo7Ig7AtmDVz07pv54eDtdRCLmcg5F/s1600-h/DSC04880.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339344966071185138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxzLJJYruzhvvhHhmlx_7UXN2Pn1K1knPKeBW6Xe90gN9vW8lC-QD5VOEWkm6PQfainKr5z3gW2ApMIyryU_CaILjG0twi5XGJ6UHrT6f5-02lkKo7Ig7AtmDVz07pv54eDtdRCLmcg5F/s400/DSC04880.JPG" /></a>some more 1st grade boys, Misha, Igor, Yakov, Sasha and Ivan<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJQjAZ63s8qKw_hgbx6T1mYCFmuf5KkIpjiHvBLGmLIJOKgqvND3A6Sx6-5oyoYMf3kWeAnFuG5JzWqQh5xKXU1wnl7MVQCbQRCV6JEI31A6uKkxxzYj0vkmH7MYAUaX7GrKBzQGh4gfr/s1600-h/DSC04881.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339344963339469522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJQjAZ63s8qKw_hgbx6T1mYCFmuf5KkIpjiHvBLGmLIJOKgqvND3A6Sx6-5oyoYMf3kWeAnFuG5JzWqQh5xKXU1wnl7MVQCbQRCV6JEI31A6uKkxxzYj0vkmH7MYAUaX7GrKBzQGh4gfr/s400/DSC04881.JPG" /></a>Arkadya, Tate, Serge and Misha (again kind of trouble makers, but cute)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmdEkZJkcW9rccC7rDRYofamJ8MoLt6o7EhM6RmJ2z8kFnXM43ne_2YBqaIDf4x8pztCC6iCdNA2SAlG-qImraMmeF4p5yqUdZ992P3ENWHqPpwQQSgjW2Ki8yOk4W2m_qY5qjH59bLz7/s1600-h/DSC04885.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339344959391676962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmdEkZJkcW9rccC7rDRYofamJ8MoLt6o7EhM6RmJ2z8kFnXM43ne_2YBqaIDf4x8pztCC6iCdNA2SAlG-qImraMmeF4p5yqUdZ992P3ENWHqPpwQQSgjW2Ki8yOk4W2m_qY5qjH59bLz7/s400/DSC04885.JPG" /></a> Alex and Elijah, I don't know if you can tell but they are trouble makers<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsCU7LX-XNL9elY6-acLh1OnYL1Zv103OQIHb1s7P-7bRks8Df33FlyWaiXT-Sfp9hg8UHWgFDP4RuzKM1UxYihtKXcHAf4rzkCOdSMKtpei1ikVIZnOKX6NpyT6sya1LelADVW2ZNqpd/s1600-h/DSC04886.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339344954850066018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsCU7LX-XNL9elY6-acLh1OnYL1Zv103OQIHb1s7P-7bRks8Df33FlyWaiXT-Sfp9hg8UHWgFDP4RuzKM1UxYihtKXcHAf4rzkCOdSMKtpei1ikVIZnOKX6NpyT6sya1LelADVW2ZNqpd/s400/DSC04886.JPG" /></a> These are native English speaking first graders, Alicia, Stepan (his father own's a huge pharmacy here called 36-6) and Masha (President Yeltsin's granddaughter)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARpoyJ9z37CZ4a1MG2sYhhDHchOk8E1bLhtI_PJGzXRGFkz6IgvH2Pl6l2WaixDbgFQE-OQqfJeRyLZIRpqqHp4Wro9spZkiBdbVuZQLhR8eDeIydlTI_WEPZqWWkcjFx2jO8_Hw3WCTZ/s1600-h/DSC04887.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341472456892946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARpoyJ9z37CZ4a1MG2sYhhDHchOk8E1bLhtI_PJGzXRGFkz6IgvH2Pl6l2WaixDbgFQE-OQqfJeRyLZIRpqqHp4Wro9spZkiBdbVuZQLhR8eDeIydlTI_WEPZqWWkcjFx2jO8_Hw3WCTZ/s400/DSC04887.JPG" /></a>Two sweet 1st graders, Misha and Sasha<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs1LtgN3TZz10g5phmY4f3rYwwPwuVWNrZxLpNpzMeyzCp9lwfEFsdnXUEjqSBd6KnDfwdbf-6FXLl-K0RZOKkNlbPOFCA4Evyl9YrUetaV-oU4SvVvJmBuHyM18RRJg6NT5akK2JXLOE/s1600-h/DSC04888.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341464721179170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBs1LtgN3TZz10g5phmY4f3rYwwPwuVWNrZxLpNpzMeyzCp9lwfEFsdnXUEjqSBd6KnDfwdbf-6FXLl-K0RZOKkNlbPOFCA4Evyl9YrUetaV-oU4SvVvJmBuHyM18RRJg6NT5akK2JXLOE/s400/DSC04888.JPG" /></a> Second graders: Veronica, Sonya, Dasha, Seva (sebastian), Dima, Nikita and Nasar<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5ODGIubPdkixt7j1sQQF27wuZYpShvv899ZQIAJrIe5DO2xSqp_JwcGKNvyebUCcXhASpVe1nITrdDWdLhIj_TTKC7c1CdLBU1nMO-6gsggW7x6wAZwZ_Nc6-dlvV6Nq3TZ4O2fmOX4F/s1600-h/DSC04889.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341460108824210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5ODGIubPdkixt7j1sQQF27wuZYpShvv899ZQIAJrIe5DO2xSqp_JwcGKNvyebUCcXhASpVe1nITrdDWdLhIj_TTKC7c1CdLBU1nMO-6gsggW7x6wAZwZ_Nc6-dlvV6Nq3TZ4O2fmOX4F/s400/DSC04889.JPG" /></a>This is my second graders acting silly.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMR2bPr6umoEkBmK_ih7hM-M77FTawiVAAYmamVSGnMelM8ImVurzltFLfcTmDmtgQyd_NTELg_P2lI1qvetpkgeyXHqhogDqniI3Fstl-oXieF2l5U2mN9k5cZSjK90ZbCk72gtfgacp/s1600-h/DSC04890.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341454857583986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMR2bPr6umoEkBmK_ih7hM-M77FTawiVAAYmamVSGnMelM8ImVurzltFLfcTmDmtgQyd_NTELg_P2lI1qvetpkgeyXHqhogDqniI3Fstl-oXieF2l5U2mN9k5cZSjK90ZbCk72gtfgacp/s400/DSC04890.JPG" /></a> Three of my sweet 4th graders, Ann, Sofia, and Adely<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSCP4KEsxLcTU5FdGxV5GIGRvqssjVEJzvmwOPX5StT_YDvIIOu8M7zo9RWL6vK6xMck0BYyV5RYBS8zmJ95QN8vcQz1FlFHzoo5Bei7U5WoGvXTWEzFK3aYTdUtnKZLqvffl9sWUHGGf/s1600-h/DSC04891.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339341451462282370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSCP4KEsxLcTU5FdGxV5GIGRvqssjVEJzvmwOPX5StT_YDvIIOu8M7zo9RWL6vK6xMck0BYyV5RYBS8zmJ95QN8vcQz1FlFHzoo5Bei7U5WoGvXTWEzFK3aYTdUtnKZLqvffl9sWUHGGf/s400/DSC04891.JPG" /></a> Two of my mischievious fourth graders, David and Robert </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3456857832377433588.post-44814240357543517952009-05-24T05:24:00.003-05:002009-05-24T05:38:54.943-05:00Bridal showerI'm still doing some catch up. Last weekend we threw our friend Elizabeth a bridal shower. Her and Max are getting married June 5th. We wanted to do something special for her since we are all parting ways soo. We had such a great time just the girls. Here are a few pics. <br /><br />Our cool ring cake we made.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339337109182741202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIg77JTrZuQkj2sZp5RlGCHx7YSLdHN07lDWTLOPgNVleC6KG8LCxgEf_SlTGGXBTXP_rRtXG_YE8U5jZ2khjSj_RkP-0howregLo6fNMqWMCh1no-mNTw96nheE1WiS8BQqkkSRBkHFM/s400/DSC04853.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMQlnPSDyYvPSt3MQMUbrazY4szqaBrk89TcLbaILQeTsLhBAJDdueP_dfjcqk6NXXmhyvLhvIGBSxSE2NwaAR1mkbWfjCbVC7mXwJ3rkMv0-s45En3gM4_GEp12GoLApSfMoP71IMTVR/s1600-h/DSC04855.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339337104620804482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMQlnPSDyYvPSt3MQMUbrazY4szqaBrk89TcLbaILQeTsLhBAJDdueP_dfjcqk6NXXmhyvLhvIGBSxSE2NwaAR1mkbWfjCbVC7mXwJ3rkMv0-s45En3gM4_GEp12GoLApSfMoP71IMTVR/s400/DSC04855.JPG" /></a> some yummy food<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gSL-p7zFgXbMMl7sbluZ1flFat1h37aL-2ztkKT0OHc76bFQzJmr4rZaxDPzKD9b7ezFwWUZKQd6ickZjtbEL6TsTa9ZwA72x7pr-PJ2lBx1WmWsMrG_4tsX8ruv81swhuIYYekMu0vk/s1600-h/DSC04856.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339337098400194274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6gSL-p7zFgXbMMl7sbluZ1flFat1h37aL-2ztkKT0OHc76bFQzJmr4rZaxDPzKD9b7ezFwWUZKQd6ickZjtbEL6TsTa9ZwA72x7pr-PJ2lBx1WmWsMrG_4tsX8ruv81swhuIYYekMu0vk/s400/DSC04856.JPG" /></a><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFc2M7Q4x0UxqTCjLyGIDooJEG3oEGPcYOLDE5eyH2cw_WFw_cLvndFSGQ5FMFjJVtgNUGlNYzn-ySXm_cBIc4vNpqKEcQ_KkGke2kObNT4M038KLLc5UmmOPvb1qWFVb0qOtsm2gHWM-/s1600-h/DSC04857.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 330px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339335160056865762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFc2M7Q4x0UxqTCjLyGIDooJEG3oEGPcYOLDE5eyH2cw_WFw_cLvndFSGQ5FMFjJVtgNUGlNYzn-ySXm_cBIc4vNpqKEcQ_KkGke2kObNT4M038KLLc5UmmOPvb1qWFVb0qOtsm2gHWM-/s400/DSC04857.JPG" /></a> Girls in pink, Betty, Nataly and me.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejxyeUGw9H7m4QxJCru4MTiEM497jSX9qbwNzUgr4X0sEhnThR3nE1kWcPUYQ7ZftRiKe2lz0BSbc2wOO8vtBUQHhyOYvp6xPz8DEyABunnVcsc6n5dfxV-oKGdA4wVZGdOGwW0Csszg_/s1600-h/DSC04858.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 312px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339335154723267074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejxyeUGw9H7m4QxJCru4MTiEM497jSX9qbwNzUgr4X0sEhnThR3nE1kWcPUYQ7ZftRiKe2lz0BSbc2wOO8vtBUQHhyOYvp6xPz8DEyABunnVcsc6n5dfxV-oKGdA4wVZGdOGwW0Csszg_/s400/DSC04858.JPG" /></a> Girls in pink, me Betty and Katya<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-plIUxhFIJyOL6GImevBizyYyCNSs5vGMW8jZOfpjkbeKW4OOlORzzl_tGyXMurI6zxTsGTrzl2Ogt3Zu6JN8L1qH3AOFTzbKcGqwwKcnssUK4yqmMfWadfPCrVFS1dphHCxvPuasxzG/s1600-h/DSC04860.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 393px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339335148521515618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-plIUxhFIJyOL6GImevBizyYyCNSs5vGMW8jZOfpjkbeKW4OOlORzzl_tGyXMurI6zxTsGTrzl2Ogt3Zu6JN8L1qH3AOFTzbKcGqwwKcnssUK4yqmMfWadfPCrVFS1dphHCxvPuasxzG/s400/DSC04860.JPG" /></a> Me and the lovely bride to be Elizabeth.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiGpX6wUFHWlUT4U89stIC3Wi6SkrnlFnHHvtXLocJi9TCK2agVkhgFJPaOOXEJOnXVXL1OqrNemiuLH_0RPPuCmCrmZrOxxzHNZNpLQ818pnCZaakTj9Lj64aDVAB8kGOsKTFX5vPcSb/s1600-h/DSC04861.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 298px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339335143028333058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZiGpX6wUFHWlUT4U89stIC3Wi6SkrnlFnHHvtXLocJi9TCK2agVkhgFJPaOOXEJOnXVXL1OqrNemiuLH_0RPPuCmCrmZrOxxzHNZNpLQ818pnCZaakTj9Lj64aDVAB8kGOsKTFX5vPcSb/s400/DSC04861.JPG" /></a> All the girls at the showerMandy, Katia, me, Elizabeth, Kate, Truc, Betty and<br />Jane. Nat was taking the pic :(<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZnunGXzfkNe1zAlmZcI-g5Vd4wI4C65xy8LL7pJwnzdpUbDKhJ5V3Gt5A1UlrOcmufwFIwfrEtlq5aOas8llRVhj1aSHZvb8cTs-CcpVUSS8ko2vYrXnyh2GzWpW5ROY4F-jiC-rlvS2/s1600-h/DSC04862.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339335138849743682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZnunGXzfkNe1zAlmZcI-g5Vd4wI4C65xy8LL7pJwnzdpUbDKhJ5V3Gt5A1UlrOcmufwFIwfrEtlq5aOas8llRVhj1aSHZvb8cTs-CcpVUSS8ko2vYrXnyh2GzWpW5ROY4F-jiC-rlvS2/s400/DSC04862.JPG" /></a> The guest of honor with her hostesses: me, Elizabeth, Kate and Truc.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Je</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17097342764357371234noreply@blogger.com0