Easter Pictures

The boys weren't overly cooperative with pictures, so I decided to live without the perfect picture Easter morning.  Preserving joy is more important than looking at the camera, right?

Egg Hunting and Ice Cream

Last week we had friends over to dye and hunt eggs in our yard.  The boys all had a great time, including Vic.  Our yard was great for hiding eggs since we hadn't cut the grass since we arrived.  Whoever is in charge of house things like lawnmowers, weed eaters, etc, has been trying to figure who will pay for ours.  In the mean time, we decided to borrow a lawn mower this past weekend while whoever figures it out, so that we won't lose our kiddos in our personal little meadow.





Vic was only interested in this particular egg.  He carried it around, dying his hands blue, most of the time.  Then, he squished it until he could eat a bit of it, spitting out bits of shell all along.

When Vic Controls the Spoon

Kazakhstan

Last week we traveled to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to renew visas, to see friends, and for Craig to do a bit of work.  We had such a great time catching up with folks.  I do hate that I didn't take more pictures of all the old friends we got to see.  The city was great, but the highlight was definitely old friends.  I was amazed at how European the city seems in contrast to my time there in '99 and to current Tashkent.  The grocery stores were amazing! 

We spent our first two nights with friends (one of Craig's college roommates) on the outskirts of Almaty.

 

Feeding pigeons in Panfilov Park, also known as 28 Soldier Park

Zenkov Cathedral, a 19th century Russian Orthodox cathedral, in Panfilov Park

The purple toilet that we paid $0.20 many times to use

This was one of Seth's highlights... for $0.65 the kids could "fish" for 10 minutes. 

Craig's 37th

For Craig's 37th birthday, the kids, a local gal, and I went to a bazaar and bought him pots, flowers, and tomato plants.  I would loved to have taken photos of the flower market, but those times are always too stressful  for photos with speaking Russian, the pushing and shoving, and the negotiating of prices.  He is very happy with his tiny garden, and the tomatoes seem to be surviving.

The gal who helps me a bit each week is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. She takes great care of us all.  For Craig's birthday she gave him a traditional Uzbek suit.  He wore it to work and the locals thoroughly enjoyed it. This hat definitely requires a confident man. 

 

A Picnic

Seth asked Craig if they could have a picnic Saturday for lunch.  I think the front porch counts as a picnic.

Our Walrus

Sweet Little Victor

Vic is a smiler and a laugher. 

Peek

A-Boo

He crosses his feet like a little man all the time.

Oh Mama!

On the Street

A group of boys were flying a kite near our home (smack in the middle of the street) this week.  I asked and they said I could take some pictures.  It was so fun to watch them play and chat with them a bit.

Navruz

Navruz is the spring "New Year" holiday celebrated here in Uzbekistan.  After two weeks of spring cleaning homes, streets, and public places, everyone takes the day off to be with family or out-and-about.  Craig was away with work, but our friends Jon, Margy, and baby Ian were in Tashkent visiting.  We went out to a park to see everyone and enjoy the day.

What a Friend!

A couple of weeks ago my long-time dear friend came all the way to Tashkent to visit.  It was so, so, so, so wonderful to have Christine here.  The photos are from our trip to the Fine Arts Museum.  It was a beautiful, interesting building and a great museum. 

Looking from a balcony into the lower floors.

 

Seth's favorite painting, the animals are dressed and acting like people.  I love this picture because Seth so enjoyed Christine.  She brought him new books and spent many, many moments reading to him.