With warmth comes slush!

Another nice warm day today! Almost didn't need a hat but yet most everyone had one on so I kept mine on also (and had a case of hat hair too!)

For breakfast this morning I made oven pancake again. We all slept until 8am again today – then watched some cartoons while the pancake was baking. I had started to get ready for the day but then we got the call from Andrew that he'd be here in 20-minutes and we were doing citizenship and passport so all of us were going. So quickly Brian got ready and I finished myself up and got Genya dressed also! He wanted to wear his "American" jeans but I got him into one of the pair Judy had given us… and no long underwear today! I did have Andrew tell him on the phone that if he wears his new shoes outside he can't wear them in the apartment. So he willingly got his boots on instead! I want those shoes to be worn outside the first time either onto the airplane or in Moscow and not get dirty and then all over the apartment!

The taxi with Andrew was waiting when we got outside and there was a big box of computer paper in the front with Andrew. We got to the office where we needed to get the Citizenship Stamps and the box of paper went in also. Andrew said to me "stay right with me" and we walked right past the "people line" and into the office. The box of paper got placed behind the clerk – a "bribe"? Anyway, she finished up the lady she was with and then told Andrew to give him our papers. He indicated the lady waiting in the room could go but the clerk said no and processed us. This was the first of the two stamps we needed on the birth certificate. Then we went down the hall to another office – here we had to wait a little bit… maybe 10-minutes? But got the stamp. Then to a place to make a copy of the document and then to the passport office. I said to Brian this must be the only place Andrew doesn't have influence as we had to wait quite a while to get in – just in the regular line. He even had me and Genya come stand by him as he said usually women with children get to go first but not today apparently! It really wasn't too bad but we eventually got into the application room. She looked over all the documents and I had to sign (I could see my name and birthdate on the application) and then Genya had to get his picture taken again. It's this cool booth like you'd see at a strip mall but there is a place your face lines up in the designated area that just keeps taking pictures… Genya had some interesting ones with his eyes looking all around, etc. But that was it then! As posted earlier, now we just wait. I really hope it comes in 2-weeks if not before. Come on, the kid doesn't have any criminal history! Let him leave the region and country!

We were only about 6-blocks from the apartment so we walked back. We ate some leftovers for lunch – Genya chose the "auto parts chicken" (I'll post those recipes soon!) and Brian and I ate up last night's dish. Then I asked Genya about going outside but he initially said no, that he wanted to stay here with papa. So I said I'd go to the market and they could stay here. Well as soon as I said that then Genya decided he wanted to go with me – so we all went! We walked up to the "people's market" – to differentiate from the supermarket – and got bread and some more veggies… Also three of the stuffed bread thingies with potatoes in them. But then we decided to go to the "Sunshine Café" for blini since it is Pancake Day and we were close. Claudia was there and served us once the other gal didn't know English and I was grabbing for my book. Brian and I got with cream (like sour cream) and Genya had with jam. We also were able to draw a piece of paper for a prize so I had Genya draw and he won the stuffed cow you'll see a picture of. He's so happy with that cow! He ate all the blini and drank his compote also. Hey, my Russian readers – what is the difference between compote and juice? I asked Claudia but she couldn't tell me as her "English isn't so good" per her… They're the same price at the café! And I think I forgot to mention, this Sunshine Café now has a computerized check out…and we're paying more realistic prices. I think they were forgetting some "0"s at the end of prices before! LOL Then we did a leisurely walk back. Saw Andrei, our Cheremkhovo taxi driver, along the way so we all waved! It is quite sloppy outside now but actually more depressing to me is that the store windows are showing the spring styles – sleeveless dresses, shorter skirts and spring colors… I said I know there is a new sweater waiting for me at home that I might not even get a chance to wear this year – now that made me sad! J

We walked by the Stadium on the way home because earlier we could tell something was going to happen there tonight. There is a lot of activity but everyone I asked "do you understand English" said NO so we can't figure out what it is. I called Andrew to ask him if he knew what it was but he didn't know and said we should go and report back to him what it was! We "think" it's a speed skating qualifying event… lots of guards, food booths, busses, kids in matching clothing, etc. We walked all the way around the stadium and stopped in at the market we hadn't been to in two weeks. I just got some salads to go with our potato thingies for supper tonight (but I might send Brian for a sidewalk sha-shiek yet!). While I was inside Brian said the "army" walked by – we're thinking they're probably security/ushers for tonight's event but they came in in the back of army vehicles dressed all in military clothes with hard hats, etc… I said that we're staying away tonight, they have riot gear! Ha, ha- Brian and Genya bought some nuts from the sidewalk vendor – Brian got pistachios and Genya pumpkin seeds… you get served them in a rolled up piece of newspaper. The pistachios both guys liked, the pumpkin seeds were a little chewy but Genya still liked!

Back at the apartment we just hung out. We're going on a new strategy – dinner for Genya about 6pm, then Genya's bath and then him to bed by 8:30pm or so… I'm realizing he's missing his "afternoon rest" so maybe that is throwing him off by bedtime and that's why get starts acting up. We'll either eat later or else with Genya, depending on how the day goes… We'll see how this schedule works after a few days! But we certainly are doing our best to get him fresh air now that the weather is nicer – we walked for over 3-hours today!! Our "more interesting" blogs might be back now that we're hitting the town again!

I don't think I've mentioned this but one of the "blessings" – yes, to me it's a blessing (lol) – is that up the street about 1 ½ blocks is a nice liquor store. I've been experimenting with different wines from different countries. Actually, they all taste about the same but I'm staying in the "under 200r" price range also! The last bottle was from Hungary. I've had a few German wines and a Russian one also. The beer here is too strong for me, and too big of bottles! One bottle and I'm getting snookered! Wasn't bad when I wasn't responsible for a little guy but now… I'm sticking to wine!

I am sending our agency a note tonight – asking them the longest a family has been stuck (for lack of a better word) in country for them… I wonder if we'll hold that honor?!

The "other American family" who was a week ahead of us for court finished their obligations in Moscow today and are flying home tomorrow! They were able to get their son's passport processed under the "old" system so didn't have this long wait for the passport – we're the first Americans for this I believe. So the good news is we're in the homestretch – the bad news is, like so many things in this region, no one knows exactly what the timeframe will be! I have communicated with our contact in Moscow tho and he's ready for us and will have a hotel room reserved for whenever we get there. Judy/Kathy – I think we're going to fly Aeroflot to Moscow. We had one-way tickets here so might as well try it – the pictures Judy had of the plane looked great!! Much better than S7 – and I like the idea of the afternoon flight… But I'm really looking forward to the Starbucks in Moscow – that might be one of the "first stops" for us, right before McDonalds! LOL Is this a sign of desperation???

Oh, well I'm thinking of it I have to tell about our video watching. I think I mentioned Brian figured out the VCR as I said but every movie we've watched at some point shuts off and then Brian has to futz with it to get it going… sometimes it does it for minutes on end and is really quite annoying… well last night we were watching "What Dreams May Come" and while we didn't think it was great it was a movie…so we watched and watched and I said to Brian "you know, we have to be nearing the end so it will shut off right before we find out what happens" – he said "I know" and what do you think happened?? Yep, about 2-minutes later it shut off! Brian got it going tho so we know the end… Sort of like most things in this apartment – functional but not entirely working!! (maybe that includes us also!) Tonight we're going to try watching "The Last of the Mohicans".