At the Bazaar with Sofia

An Uzbek Dinner

When the kids and I are out for walks and when Craig waters his small tomato garden out front, we get to meet some of the local folks around us.  We have met a couple of actual neighbors, but since most of the houses are walled and gated around us, we mostly meet driver's, guards, and housekeepers.  That is just fine with us, as most of these folks are truly kind people who are so warm toward all of us.  Last week a driver, Murat, invited us to him home for dinner.  It was quite the experience, and mostly a very, very good one.  Murat was called away for two hours in the middle of the meal to work, so we used every bit of Russian we know we the extended family.  We were humbled by the feast prepared for us, their guests.

Our feast -- before the meal was served

Murat's mom and wife

Breaking the bread -- always a job for the men

Stretching the noodles for the laghman

More noodle stretching

My boys with the whole family.  This is all the food still remaining after we ate. 

 

In a Pickle

After nap Saturday, I told Seth I had cookies waiting for him downstairs that I had bought at an international food fair.  He thought he would be smart and get them himself.  He got his stool and climbed up on the counter, only to figure out that he couldn't get down.  We heard him yell and this is what we found -- a slightly mischievous little boy, stuck on the counter.

We're Going on A Bear Hunt

This book is one of Victor's favorites.  He loves to find the arf-arf (dog) in each picture and the baby.  He will push all of the books on the table in his room out of the way until he finds his book.  He is such an expressive kiddo getting all over excited when he finds it. 

Seth "reading" to Vic

 

Victory Day

We were in Bishkek during the Victory Day celebration... You can read about Victory Day here. 

Honored Veterans

Kyrgyz Honored Veteran

The current soldiers prepared food for the veterans.

The people out enjoying the holiday

Making blinni (crepes)

Ala Archer National Park

On Monday we returned from a three day trip to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  We had a great weekend in and around Bishkek, and spending time with friends who are temporarily living there, like we are in Tashkent.  Saturday we woke up to beautiful weather and decided to go outside of the city for some hiking and great mountain views.  Within an hour we decided to go, fed the boys, called a driver, and were on the road.  Ala Archer Park is a gorgeous 30 minute drive outside of Bishkek. 

Only in a country with fewer lawyers than the U.S.

We didn't expect our driver to hike with us, and based on his shoes, maybe he didn't either.  He was a sweetie!

Vic loves rocks (wock, wock, wock as he often says).

A yurt, the traditional style home of the nomadic people

Along the road

 

Little Artists

Uzbekistan is known for incredible hand-works -- especially embroidery, wood carving, and pottery.  Last week a friend invited Seth (and me) to join her and her 3-year-old for an afternoon with a locally famous potter.  On Wednesdays, children are allowed to come work with him and create their own pieces.  He is amazing with the kiddos - gentle, kind, and patient.  I can't Seth that absolutely loved and appreciated it, but I thought the experience was so fun and interesting. 

The Easter Story

Craig and I are trying to create traditions and routines for our family so the kids will not be so connected solely to places, since we are the ever moving family.  I had an Easter activity planned, but could not pull it off because, well, we live in Tashkent, and where do you get cream of tartar in Tashkent?  At the last minute, on Saturday, we decided to let Seth create the Easter story with salt dough.  He and his talented dad made the characters on Saturday, and then, on Sunday afternoon they read the story while Seth used his characters to act it out.  Though unplanned, I like this as an Easter tradition.

(The cross was broken because Vic got to it before Jesus.)