Happy First Birthday, Max...

Or, should I call it, "I Survived My First Year with Lots of Lego Choking Hazards."

Max is delightful, and we are so thankful for the gift of him in our family.  We've had less sleep and fewer peaceful dinners in the year since we were handed that golden-haired, 7 pound, 2 ounce bundle, but now we have his smiles and the joy of seeing the amazing creativity of Our Father.  

Max squeals with delight when he hears the garage door open as Dad returns from work.  He thinks his two brothers hung the moon.  He wants a cuddle from Mom when he wakes or when he falls.  We love him and want to enjoy him and savor the moments while we still have a red-headed baby.  

Dad decided we should have a silly hat birthday party.

 

 

 

Russian Kindergarten

So, Seth has not enjoyed the music class at his Russian kindergarten that he attends half-day.  He says that they miss recess if they have music practice, and that does not make him happy.  He judges his days by recess and lunch, and the days when they have "red soup" for lunch (borscht) he is also not so pleased.  Friday they did the program that they have been practicing, and he really had fun.  It was a one hour musical done as a graduation program for the three girls in his class who will be moving up to 1st grade next year.  (That is when school officially begins here.)  I have to be honest and say, like Seth, I'm not sure exactly what the musical was about.  That is the reality of life in another language.  But, it was fun, and he really liked his costume.  These kind of events take place a few times a year at most schools and are taken very seriously. 

 

 

This is Seth's school pal, Nicholi

 

 

Seth said his favorite part of his costumer was his shoes.

Tooth #2

He got 3,000 sym for his lost tooth... that's enough for two popsicles from the kiosk nearby.

 

Rainbow Blood

So, Vic got a black eye last week.  We aren't sure exactly how it happened, but somehow he got in the way of a friend's baseball bat.  He was saying as he cried, "It's not a bad hurt."  And, really, it has looked way worse than it has felt.  Vic always does much better with pain than hurt feelings anyway.  As it has changed colors, he has enjoyed telling people that he has rainbow blood.

Spy Kid

Recently Seth and Vic watched the movie "Spy Kids", and they loved it.  Afterwards Seth headed to the basement where we keep the costume box and created his own spy suit.  This just makes me smile.  Watch out bad guys!

 

 

 

 

Zengi Ata

A couple of weeks ago we traveled just out of the city to a sight that is considered one of the holiest here, Zengi Ata, built in 1870.

 

 

To Market, To Market

Strawberries.  Yum.

Cherries.  Yum.

Strawberries.  Yum.  Gold teeth.  The norm here.

Strawberries for freezing

Spaghetti and cherries... and stain stick