White Christmas

We woke up this morning to a bit of a light dusting of new snow. As December 25 is not a holiday in Russia, we more or less followed the usual routine of taking kids to school and detskii sad. However, A's class was having a little New Year's show, so we decided to let K come and see it instead of going to her class (her show is tomorrow, Boxing Day, and the final rehearsal was today, but she already knows her lines as well as several of the other kids'). When the little show was over (and we got K and A dressed again, no small task itself), we stepped outside to see this:

   With a stroller in this, it took quite a while to get home: -8°C, feels like -17° (about 18°F and 1°F, for those of you that are metrically challenged…), low visibility, low traction, stiff breeze but inconsistent direction, etc. We were wishing we'd brought our little sled — though you can't use that all the way, either, because they do keep some areas cleared and salted.

    We eventually made it home for some Christmas hot chocolate and naps, but here's the view out our kitchen window down onto the yard:

So if anybody's "dreaming of a White Christmas," drop on by — we've got what you've been missing.

Advent Calendar 2014

Thank you, Grandma B... for the Unicef Advent Calendar.  It was loved by all...

(this is, in order, child 3 and child 2)

Holiday Decorations outside

Moscow does go in for Holiday decorations in a big way, but here they are New Year's decorations.  They arent really out in force until mid December, and then are around until almost the end of January (usually).  I dont have time for sight seeing, but on my way somewhere else, I got a couple of snaps of a few outside decorations.

putting up the christmas tree

Second year of using our first artificial tree.  Dad doesnt like putting it together, would prefer a real tree.  Mom loves the fact its already here in a box and doesnt have to be searched for new every year. 

Plus kids love "helping" Dad put it up. 

It didnt get decorations on that day.  Took a bit.  But hey, got the tree.

Thanksgiving dinner

Food Court Ice Cream...

Well, at least one company (should be obvious in the photo) carried over a marketing trick from the US to Russia.  Of course our kids loved it....

Hair Bows

Grandma B sent some long pink ribbons in the mail (thank you Grandma!).  This is what the girls decided to with them:

And yes, I let them go to school like this.