Up on the rooftop

Tonight we went up for our third annual rooftop movie that Ken likes to plan.  On our way down I saw a hedgehog--my first up close since it cornered itself in the courtyard at school.  Ken and Rawly are sleeping out under the stars--we'll see if they can make it until morning.  By any means, I'm sure it will be an early one since the sun generally comes up around 5:30!  Well, it's almost one, so I'd better get some sleep myself before they get back or Zoya wakes for a feeding.
~Sweet dreams

Who's at the door?

We really love our church here--being away makes us so much more thankful for it.  But what's more is that Rawly really seems to love it too.  Here are some recent moments that I've loved...

Saturday lunch prayer..."Thank you for Gigi, Papa, Mimi, Grandpa, bubble, Jacob, store..."

Sundays a group of gals and I have Glee nights.  Generally it's at the other Alyssa's house or mine since we have the little tikes.  This week it was at our place, Holly was here playing with the kiddos while I was getting dinner ready when the door bell rang...Holly asked Rawly, "Who's here?" and he shouted, "JESUS!"  Really, who better would be coming over?

Thursday morning, after having Dad and Mom for the day (typical of a Saturday), he woke up, came into our room and shouted, "Church today!"  He was a little less than thrilled and a bit perplexed when we explained that it was a work day--the poor guy.

Ken's mainly been putting Rawly to sleep since Zoya was born.  Last night worked out for me to though.  As he was trying to fall asleep he asked, "Mom, Jesus loves me sing?"  which isn't a song that is in our usual repertoire.

Holidays and Such

In most parts of the world May 1st is Labor Day.  As nice as it is in September, I really appreciate it much more in May.  We've made it through winter--wahoo!  What better way to celebrate that basque in the beautiful sun and enjoy the sights and sounds of Spring?  The first of May fell on a Tuesday this year, here in Ukraine, Saturday was an official work day so that they could take Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off.  Don't really get that.  We (at KIS), however did NOT work on Saturday and therefore went back to work/school. 
For what seems to be the first time since we arrived, I had a bad wave of home sickness.  I'm not sure what really brought it on, it's silly really, I made it through the dead of winter--but I think it might just be that: instead of being trapped inside, I feel trapped in the city.  A friend asked what I missed the most, among the list was friendly strangers.  The very next day, a lady on the metro shocked my socks off!  An older woman kept smiling at Zoya and started to ask me about her.  I did my best to communicate in the minimal phrases that I know.  Realizing that I wasn't Ukrainian, she asked if I was American and proceeded to tell me (in Russian) that she was getting her green card in 2-3 (weeks I think).  Later another babushka sat down next to us with her granddaughter and they too started to ask about Zoya, then the first lady explained what she knew about us--all the while she smiled and laughed.  It's really hard to express how amazing of a feat that is--(former) Soviet strangers hardly smile, let alone laugh--in public, on the metro.
Our original intent was to rent a van and go to this awesome castle city southwest(?) of here--but plans fell through, so we hope to do it at some point.  We tried our best to make up for being indoors all winter, Sunday by walking all over downtown with some friends and Tuesday by going to see the Tulip festival.  (It's so weird to see tulips, lilacs, peonies, and irises all in bloom at the same time.)  Ken is back in school (online) working toward an Ed Specialist degree, so he spent large chunks of time on Saturday and Monday working on his final paper.
The following week we had another holiday (Victory Day), this time falling on a Wednesday.  We went to the other side of the river to visit some of our friends who recently had a sweet baby boy (fittingly on Labor Day:).  They live in a datcha which is a little like a cottage outside the city.  It was so nice to play in the grass (though Rawly did chew on some sidewalk chalk, probably not the nontoxic kind--he seems to be alright.)  Walking home from the metro, I really wished that we could have had a picture--both kids had fallen asleep and we were carrying them the same way--oh how I love these moments when they are still out "little" ones!

Easter in Espana

Sidetracked by swings on an Easter Sunday stroll

More swinging time at the playground near la Sagrada Familia

Zoya singing, "Da da da" and lots of other songs

grabbing lunch (and a kiss!)

The illuminating Alhambra, the place that has enchanted my dreams for years.  Unfortunately, we were only able to see the gardens--maybe we will return.  (Rawly just called it Baba's house!)

Happy as a clam in her little carrier!

A BOO!

On top of the Alhambra (the kids really were happy though you can't tell here)!

Climbing into the great unknown

Overlooking Granada from the Alhambra

Rawly is always observant of everything in the sky, especially planes

Back in Barcelona, "Feed the birds, tuppins a bag," in Plaza Catalunya

Exploring life from the stroller

Spring has sprung

April 22
The first cherry trees blossomed yesterday--at long last Spring has arrived!

Exciting things on the docket--nine weeks left until we go home

Our little guy keeps on growing.  He's grown out of his "FaS shoes" and is now wearing his new "FASt! shoes."  He loves running EVERYWHERE! Rawly's excitement for sports changes with whatever the boys are playing in the gym.  It's currently "Rawlyball" season (AKA volleyball).  He doesn't have too bad of an overhand serve either.  He also loves to perch on his window sill and watch everyone run fast (even mom's a fast runner--what a confidence booster!)

The plastic bag saga

April 1, 2012
Everyone knows that plastic bags are bad for children.  I know it, you know it, but they just sound so cool when you're five  months old.  DO NOT WORRY...as a precursor to reading this, no child is left unattended with a plastic bag...so tomorrow we're returning the car we've been renting since October.  This evening I cleaned out some odds and ends and put them in a large plastic sack.
Bag gets set on floor during dinneR.
Zoya finds
Oh, that box looks like fun.  Wow box, you flip, that's cool.  Box bumps plastic bag.  Plastic bag, where have you been?  Decisions...bag or box, box or bag....oh, Mom's typin
g on the computer so she won't forget how cute I am....Computer wins///////////////////

Spring is in the air

Ukraininans celebrate spring on the first of March, but it was much more true to it's actual date than we would have liked.  Well, I actually didn't mind too terribly much.  March 8th is Women's Day.  It's supposed to mark the "We can do it" attitude of women, but has been watered down to chocolates and flowers.  Now let's be honest, I love both flowers and chocolate, so I can't complain too much--plus we got the day off of school.   Zoya joined my friends and I for a "Sound of Music" sing along, nothing beacons Spring like a shout-out to the Austrian hills; I myself hope to frolic through them with our family someday.

Cock-eyed Sanders?

This picture may not look it, but Rawly is always very concerned for his little sister's well being.

I love it when he wakes up in the morning to let us know, "Zoya singing," or "Zoya, wake!"

It's hard to believe that she's already grown out of this outfit and that she is now holding herself up on four limbs.

We love tickling her.  Rawly can make her laugh more than anyone else can!

She loves gnawing on anything that she can get her paws on.

Zoya likes to help with toothbrushes and grabbing silverware--especially with food!

So Spring, have I mentioned how I love when flowers pop their little necks out?  The birds are chirping, the sun is rising earlier, which can mean only one thing--BRING ON DAYLIGHT SAVINGS!!!  This Sunday is the day apparently.  Maybe we can sleep in until the "new" six or shhhh...even seven???