O charm of nothingness so madly decked!

на вы!

2012-01-31T10:46:00.002-07:00

one time when i experienced

-40 degrees

i took a picture of it.

and it was almost like you could see the air

completely frozen in place,

zinging and stinging every thing it touched.

back then

i wasn't even properly outfitted for such weather,

i wore what i had

(i was a humble missionary!)--

oh wait, i take that back,

i did have a fur hat.

i wish i had a picture to show you.

and now,

beyond my wildest imaginations

i live in almost as harsh a climate

as i did in those days.

after a mild holiday season

which hovered around freezing,

temps have dropped to zero and have stayed.

this year is the first year i've had a fur coat.

the second year i've had uggs.

hats are not fashion accessories but necessities--

nobody is without.

you take out your hand to make a 30-second phone call,

and you can't move it by the end of the conversation.

scarves are also not optional.

there are little clouds of steam

floating in front of everyone's nose

everywhere they go,

and your nose hairs freeze with every inhale.

i must admit,

it's during these short, dark and unrelenting days of winter

that i am forced to ask myself,

how did i end up here?

my husband has always told me,

с природой на вы!

desert country

2012-01-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

oh yes,

the safety question.

let's just say, that i was prepared for much worse.

and in fact,

i see a whole lot more security around here

than i did there.

never once did we feel

even a little bit uneasy--

not even crossing the borders into the west bank

(where a wave of the passport

was all that was needed),

and not even in jericho at night.

security was a non-issue.

and so the last part of our trip

was spent traveling south from jerusalem,

which found us in desert terrain--

which offered some stunning views.

especially those from masada,

king herod's desert fortress

perched at the top of a mountain.

we also had a picnic

and took a little hike

at the ein gedi nature reserve

where the kids entertained themselves

by spotting ibex ("mom, i see an iback!")

and hyrax--

those little mammals you see in the tree.

and from there

it was finally on to the dead sea--

something that milla had been begging us

to move up in the itinerary from the day we arrived.

she wasn't even afraid of the mud.

we got there at the end of the day

when all the crowds had cleared out

and we had the whole beach to ourselves.

and while we didn't have a whole day to float around

(an incredible experience),

it had been worth the anticipation.

and after that we gradually made our way

back to tel aviv

and back home to moscow's zero degrees,

with fond memories in our pockets!

O Jerusalem

2012-01-24T12:50:00.004-07:00

jerusalem.

what a place.

nowhere else in the world

can claim to even be similar.

one of the most memorable,

awe-inspiring, intense, and впечатляющее

places i've ever stepped foot into.

we stayed in the old city.

arrived at night

and saw the western wall from above

almost first thing,

which remained one of the most

captivating places during our whole stay there.

we got our own chance

to put our own little prayers in--

as tradition bade.

the church of the holy sepulchre,

and the church that stands

at the garden of gethsemane

which stands and looks over a spot

so holy

my camera felt a sacrilege

but i had to have my own image

to help me remember

the feeling that i felt there--

pondering what these very trees witnessed

2000 years ago.

a quick afternoon trip

to bethlehem

took us to the church of the nativity

where the kids lit their own candles

where we paid homage

to the place where the Holy One was born.

and also to the tomb

where perhaps the Savior was buried

to rise again.

unforgettable.

sacred.

perfectly indescribable.

northern israel

2012-01-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

in the north

we drove through haifa,

and saw the bala'i shrine

at dusk--

with it's amazing view over the city

and the ports.

then we spent a day in akko--

visiting the old city,

the citadel,

the turkish baths,

the mosque of jezzar pasha,

of course the old market,

and ended with dinner on the pier at sunset

and a little carriage ride

for the kiddies.

from there we drove east to the kinneret (galilee) area.

we stayed in a little bed and breakfast,

and from here visited all the sites.

we spent a day and a half in nazareth,

which gave us clouds and a bit of rain--

but allowed us to see

the church of the annunciation

as well as make a visit

to nazareth village--

the village designed to demonstrate

what life was like during the time of Christ.

it turned out to be one of the highlights

of the area.

we spent a little time in tiberias,

running around on the pier,

and sipping lemonade,

as we did in every restaurant

because those israelis really get the lemonade thing.

and of course "pitahummus"--

as the kids devoured anywhere they could.

at the mount of beatitudes,

we found the monastery closed.

and so we were relegated to stopping on the side of the road

and making our own way onto the mount,

in the peace and quiet of our own company.

and to be honest--

we, as i'm sure many do,

often found it much easier to feel the soul

of these holy places

when we were not thrust into the crowds and lines

and churches and shrines built on them,

but instead left to ourselves

to ponder,

as we did climbing here

and looking out onto the sea of galilee

as others once did

at the feet of the Savior.

the temple relics at capernaum

also lacked the crowds late in the day

and allowed us the peace

to be in a place He was 2000 years ago.

and from here

we headed south!

but that i'll have to save for another day.

tel aviv, jaffa & caesarea

2012-01-16T12:07:00.002-07:00

so we arrived in tel aviv

as hanukkah was going on--

which meant donuts and menorahs galore.

the kids loved spotting the menorahs all over the city.

it was here

that we enjoyed parks, shops, the art museum,

and endless car trouble with our brand new rental

(i.e. car towed, $150 parking ticket,

and getting the battery replaced).

and of course our whole itinerary was thrown off

before we even got to israel--

after sitting on the airplane for three hours

trying to get out of moscow.

but it was alright.

i knew that would happen.

we spent most of a day

exploring jaffa--

a very cool area of tel aviv

and of course its flea market

though my company didn't allow

for much indulgence here.

after a few days

we headed up the coast

to caesarea.

that also happened to be

probably the warmest day we encountered--

which allowed for even a little bit of swimming

between exploring the ruins

and having lunch

(sweet potato ravioli!)

overlooking the mediterranean.

and this little guy

was actually not one of the ones

that got to take a dip,

but don't worry

he got plenty wet.

back

2012-01-11T12:17:00.002-07:00

"it's so good to be home,"

alex said

as he plunked the last suitcase

in our entryway.

and as we laid in bed last night

before nodding off to sleep

i told him there are probably not too many people out there

who would attempt what we did:

seeing almost all the highlights of israel

in two weeks

with three little children.

we may be crazy

but we did it.

and it was unforgettable.

i keep asking the girls

what their favorite thing we did or saw was,

and they keep telling me different answers.

they even loved the tours

and the museums.

not sure when

i will be able to tell you about it--

as it will take a bit

to settle back into life

and get a hold on things.

but i can't wait to relive it again a little bit

as i sift through my photographs.

(this one is from the ein gedi nature reserve)

from galilee

2012-01-02T14:49:00.001-07:00

a snapshot

from the sea of galilee.

the weather has been cool,

cloudy, foggy and a little rainy.

we were told tonight

this is the coldest israel's seen winter

in a long time.

the days are super short

and we are packing them full.

so much to see and do.

the kids are holding up like champs.

today we were on a tour

with a group from the states--

and as i watched those teenagers shuffle around

with such little (evident) interest,

i pointed it out to alex.

our kids may be small,

and may not remember everything into the future

or realize the significance

of everything they're seeing,

but at least they are excited

and participatory

and loving matching the stories they know

about the Savior

with the sites they are seeing.

of course there's things like

losing that favorite sweater and diamond earring,

and getting a huge parking ticket (HUGE!),

and not being able to find a boat for a ride,

and finding the monastery closed, etc.

but we're rolling with the punches

and having quite the experience.

tel aviv

2011-12-28T01:55:00.001-07:00

oh, christmas was lovely,

especially the christmas eve gathering

around that decorated table

with the music and the food and the gifts,

the nativity, the festivity,

and of course the anticipation of what was to come. . .

christmas morning

and santa's unloading his (very large) pack

with what i will have to show you later. . .

although the day was spent packing,

since we left the next morning for

tel aviv!

and although moscow weather

kept us on the ground

(in the airplane!)

for an extra three hours,

and although our car has already been towed

(and recovered!)

we are here.

and loving every moment

of only having to wear sweaters

and ballet flats.

yesterday had us enjoying the park,

the art museum

and the shops of neve tsedek,

of course with falafel

and latkes and hummus to our heart's content--

and today we hit the flea market

and port of old jaffa

before heading up the coast to caesarea

and beyond.

if i can keep you posted, i will.

p.s. israeli's are oh-so-nice.

even that guy who towed our car.

handmade chocolates

2011-12-22T13:12:00.005-07:00

as we listened to

my favorite christmas album of the year

david ian's vintage christmas,

we handcrafted chocolates

for our family gift this year.

we melted down some high quality chocolate bars

(in the microwave

which was made for melting chocolate)

and filled little silicon cups

in all sorts of shapes,

adding our own surprise treats

in the middle.

then they get popped into the freezer--

and then popped out of their forms

when the kids are already nestled

all snug in their beds.

ikea provided perfect little paper cups

and gift boxes

in which we wrapped them up

to be gifted on christmas eve.

we got a ton more snow today

which will make our trip to the farm tomorrow

and the sleigh ride outing lovely.

after which it will be time

to start setting the table,

whipping up the pecan pie,

and doing last minute preparations.

christmas is in the air!

happy anniversary!

2011-12-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

my wedding was so long ago

that i could only scrounge up

one digital photo--

of such terrible quality

and with such a silly smile--

here it is, in all it's glory,

from 10 years ago.

10 years ago!!!

alex and i thought a bit

about how to celebrate such a milestone.

we did have a big trip last october--

and when our friends invited us to israel,

well, that was one place we've wanted to go

ever since we were dating.

we entertained the idea for awhile

and pondered on whether or not to take the children,

and finally decided

to make a big trip of it

and take everyone

and see everything

and do it all.

ambitious?

i know, it is.

we've never done anything like it.

and so, maybe it is fitting for a 10-year anniversary?

it's taken a lot of work,

and like i said,

it way goes against our travel style

which is not to plan anything.

but you will find a word file

on my computer, with an itinerary planned

down to every day's activity,

with even a few restaurants planned in.

can we pull it off?

i think so.

andreas makes me a bit nervous,

as he's a mere two years old

and can certainly be a challenge.

but other than that,

the girls can handle it.

and we're taking enough time to hopefully be able

to take it easy,

and do things at a child's pace.

in any case,

preparation for this

has gotten me quite excited.

my scriptures have already come to life,

just thinking about visiting these spots soon.

and so,

in the midst of my christmas planning,

i am also packing bags,

as we leave the day after christmas.

happy anniversary, to all of us!

shrinky dinks & snow

2011-12-19T00:30:00.000-07:00

the magic of shrinky dinks!

i love it when things from my childhood

can still wow my children today.

in other exciting news,

our thus far mild winter

has finally brought us a good snowfall yesterday!

it did wonders for my christmas spirit

as we spent the afternoon at home

baking christmas cookies

listening to frank sinatra

building snowmen

and sipping hot drinks.

eco-friendly wrapping

2011-12-14T11:24:00.003-07:00

and with a tree in place,

well of course the gift wrapping

can not be far behind.

children need anticipation!

this year

i also did something

i've meant to for several years now.

it may actually have been inspired

by my children,

those times they "played birthday"

and would wrap up "gifts"

in scarves and shawls--

of course i was the one doing the tying

and i thought to myself,

this could not possibly be easier

and it looks lovely.

of course it is also inspired

by the sick feeling in my stomach

when i see the mounds of crumpled and torn

wrapping paper

on christmas morning--

thinking of all the christmas mornings

going on around the world

and all the wads and bags and bundles

headed straight for the dump.

and so this year

i tried something new

and purchased a meter-and-a-half or two

of my favorite natural-colored linen.

i wrapped the gifts up,

just as i would with paper,

and in fact scotch turned out to hold it in place

just fine--

(although some subsequent handling of gifts

by snooping children

has resulted in a re-taping or two)--

i tied them up with random ribbon pieces

and voila!

eco-friendly wrapping.

(next year i plan to use the same pieces--

although it will take a bit more work

to fit them all right)

big tree!

2011-12-12T01:30:00.001-07:00

okay.

so our own tree finally got put up--

long after most of the city trees.

i had long gone back and forth

about whether or not to buy the big tree

this year. we had talked about it last year,

and i had hoped to,

but as i was rolling those endless balls

i was thinking,

well maybe i don't even have enough of these things

to cover a big tree.

and so i finally resolved myself

to live with the little tree

just one more christmas.

and so we all gathered round,

turned on the christmas music

got out all the boxes,

and started to decorate

that little old tree.

and i could soon see

that there were actually plenty of the felt ball garland,

in fact i only used half on that tree.

and after it was all decorated and beautiful,

i stood back and took a look,

and said to myself

you know what,

this little guy

who only comes up to my waist

is cute and all,

but he just doesn't cut it anymore.

and i took the girls after school the next day

to pick out the tallest tree we could find.

and we took everything off

and put a new proud tree in its place.

and i am happy.

i bought these little folk dolls

at the artisans' fair last christmas,

but my big tree requires more!

and so the fair happens to be this week,

and i'm hoping i can track down some

more lovely ladies to join their friends

on our tree.

and after failing to find a star that i liked,

or one that went along with the theme,

i was resolved to make my own,

which i did by embroidering some felt

and covering an ikea star.

oh, and that tree skirt

that i had sworn to make this year?

well, let's just say

that one is getting shoved onto next year's

"holiday notes" list--

with a side note to purchase the fabric

in the summer.

i got no further than cutting a circle out of an old sheet,

when painting the backdrop

for the church nativity took my every evening hour

for a week,

and i decided the old sheet will have to do

this year--

but promises of better preparation next year

will hopefully get us something better.

and there she stands.

our big, tall tree!!!

gift tags

2011-12-08T23:55:00.001-07:00

yesterday's advent activity

was to make gift tags for the gifts

(that have yet to be wrapped).

a couple of years ago

we had the construction paper,

stamps, markers, glue and punches out

for such an activity.

but after finding

these lovely printables,

the task was easy-peasy and our tags

are as cute as ever.

of course, now the girls are anxious

to have something to put them on--

or should i say,

something for me to put them on. . .

trees

2011-12-05T00:41:00.001-07:00

the trees have all gone up!

(except for ours)

in the absence of thanksgiving,

there are no rules here

on when the trees can go up.

and just in these last six years

of living in moscow

i have noticed that they go up earlier and earlier

every year.

the big ones go up

on the big squares, at the big malls--

there are littler ones

outside of or in the window of every store.

even the little kiosks

prop a little 1.5-footer up on top of their roof.

so even if they're all doing it

for a different holiday,

at least it's the same tradition

and helps us to feel in the christmas spirit.

and now when our advent calendar

bids us to spend the evening

looking at christmas lights,

we will find plenty

to press our noses to those cold windows

to look at.

rollin' rollin' rollin'

2011-12-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

and so now i will tell you

the first note i am making to self

for next year's holiday season:

figure out what the tree will be decorated with

in the beginning of november,

to allow time for preparation!

here it is december 2

and we are all anxious to put the tree up,

but i am still scrambling to roll those darn balls

for the felt ball garland!

i had the idea last year, but it was way too late,

and of course i only remembered about it

just recently.

and so i ran out to buy the wool,

found a tutorial on youtube

and have been rollin' rollin' rollin'

for a week now.

the skin on my hands

resembles pink alligator skin.

and i still have a whole bag left!

i'm determined to finish tomorrow

because the tree must go up

for it to feel christmasy around here.

although the advent was begun already,

and the music has been playing,

and my shopping is almost done. . .

i'm back to rollin'!

early training

2011-11-29T10:53:00.001-07:00

someday i'm sure

he'll be grateful

that he had two sisters

who had the initiative and the drive

to see that his potty-training was begun

promptly at 2 years old.

they are awesome at talking him into going in,

encouraging him,

giving him an example of what to do

("see? i'm doing it too!"),

getting his paper

and teaching him how to wipe (!!!)

and even entertaining him while he sits

("but mom, i really need your phone!")

he is doing great,

and i certainly don't to jinx myself,

but aren't boys supposed to be later at this stuff

than girls?

maybe it's just their good influence?

blessings

2011-11-25T01:53:00.001-07:00

thanksgiving is all about blessings.

family and memories.

it's not about the fact that

the beverly hills diner's version

of a thanksgiving dinner

paled in comparison to a home-cooked one,

or that fact that i was the only one missing

from my family back home. . .

it was about celebration

and spending time together

and alex getting off work early for us

and taking the metro to red square together

and playing air hockey over and over again

and bundling up for the cold

and walking around red square

as they were setting up the ice skating rink

and laughing at the stray dog

that was following us for so long

(we were carrying left-over turkey with us)

and admiring the massive christmas tree

and staying up ooooh so late

laughing and skyping with everyone back home

and then counting all those

many many many

blessings

before nodding off to sleep.

thanksgiving eve

2011-11-23T12:35:00.001-07:00

why am i showing you

milla's new pastry mat?

because i love it--

it's even better than my old silpat. . .

thinner, flimsier but sturdy,

and milla just loves those "pizza circles."

(i got it at williams-sonoma this summer)

and tonight,

on this thanksgiving eve,

she was nice enough to lend it to me.

and so you can only imagine

under what aromas wafting from the kitchen

i sit here now. . .

well, let's just say,

it starts with brown sugar pumpkin pie

and ends with toasted pecan crust.

i haven't yet tried the pumpkin part,

but i can tell you that every pie for the rest of my life

may just have to be made with this crust.

and so if you're in charge of pies this year--

this may be right up your alley.

alex and i finally decided

just tonight after the kids were in bed

exactly how we are going to spend our thanksgiving,

in the absence of extended family or close friends.

and it won't so much be traditional,

but if i can't be with

my 50 close and beloved family members

who are gathering tomorrow,

we'll branch out a bit

and go unconventional.

and now to check on that pie. . .

all for us!

2011-11-22T10:48:00.001-07:00

this is our humble little courtyard.

it may not look like much to you,

but to us it's awesome.

when we moved in a year ago,

it was nothing more than dirt

and a little sandbox.

in the springtime

they brought in that old swing on the right.

and just recently

they put in the rubber covering

and a brand-new playground.

now i won't say anything

about the mayor's new bus lane (shaking fist)

but i will commend him

on putting this playground in just for us

(since we happen to have the only children

in the building).

woo hoo!!!

check the date!

2011-11-18T00:12:00.001-07:00

and so i checked the date yesterday

and indeed,

christmas is not too far away.

(okay i admit

i've let myself listen to the christmas playlist

a couple of times already--

it's cold outside!!!)

and with all that is on my plate right now

which is things not a few,

i was still on the ball enough

to remember that i made some holiday notes last year--

notes to self

for the next holiday season.

what did i find?

1) get the gifts bought before december!!!!!!!!!!

(i must have written this after spending hours

in the december traffic which is

notoriously horrendous)

2) make a tree skirt

(i hope we're buying a full-size tree this year!)

3) prepare the advent activities and crafts

in advance (i sat down to this yesterday)

4) watch it's a wonderful life!

(i still have never seen this. please tell

me i still fit into some category of normal)

5) make a wreath.

(i've already nearly finished one,

thanks to that class last week!)

6) don't forget the wassail.

(did i forget this last year???)

7) get a nativity.

nativities are very committal i feel like.

since i don't think i'm going to be one of those

that collects nativities from around the world,

i just want one.

and i don't think i'm going to find the perfect one

(since i don't even know

what i want yet)

this year.

what are not committal though

are tree decorations.

this year i found these old vintage ornaments

that i think are dashing.

(please just don't let my little one

dash them--

he seems to be full of trouble

ever since he turned two three weeks ago. . .)

it's time to be on the ball!

new & old bolshoi

2011-11-17T02:42:00.001-07:00

babushka gifted the girls

tickets to cipollino

at the "new stage" of the bolshoi theatre.

and so we played hooky from school for a day

and even dad joined us--

sitting there on the second row of the balcony.

we stopped for a second in front of the

"old bolshoi theatre"

which actually just reopened

after at least five years of major reconstruction.

now there is all sorts of confusion

(at least in my own head)

about what to call what.

as the "new stage" was built to house the troops

during the reconstruction,

well now it's more like the old stage,

and the old one the new stage,

but officially that one is called new

and i guess they've created the official name

for the old one to be called

the historical stage,

even though it looks new, but it's old.

are you confused now too?

though we have yet to visit the

"historical stage"--

though i'm dying to get there

for the nutcracker this christmas--

because nobody in moscow can get tickets.

why?

the scalpers have bought up every ticket

for every night.

in fact i heard on the radio yesterday

that they are going to start requiring passports

to buy tickets, in an effort

to curb the hoarders,

who are selling tickets for $400 a piece or more.

we'll get back there someday,

when all this stuff settles down a bit--

and when i've figured out what to call that stage anyway.

avi's day

2011-11-15T10:38:00.001-07:00

this summer her cousin

had a bowling birthday party.

if only she hadn't sprained her ankle

the day before,

jumping off of that table with her cousin,

she may have been in better form

for such an activity.

of course nothing stops children.

we wheeled her there in a stroller--

and every time it was her turn to bowl,

her cousins would wheel her up to the lane,

set her ball up on the ramp

and she'd push it down on its way

toward those pins

with perfect satisfaction

at being part of the group,

despite a temporary handicap.

this time of year

it was her turn to be in the spotlight--

and she chose a bowling party.

in these parts such a thing is a bit novel,

as i think all the russians were attending

their first ever bowling party.

and because of that

let's just say

it was a bit "chaotic" . . .

we did get the names up there on the board,

but it was pretty much anyone throws a ball

whenever they want

as long as the pins don't happen to be getting reset.

we also had pippi longstocking there

to entertain the kids

when they weren't busy dropping 10-lb. balls

(i still can't believe my 2-year-old

didn't get a foot broken).

i tell you,

hiring those entertainers is some of the

smartest birthday decisions we've made. . .

and then there was the mille-feuille cake

which we requested with extra whipped cream

that i'm not ashamed to say

i had two or three pieces of.

and with her name scrawled across the front,

well her little 5-year-old heart

was perfectly content.

and the packing up of the gifts

and the untying of the balloons to take home

officially marked the end

of another round of birthdays,

for another year gone by!

house full

2011-11-09T08:54:00.001-07:00

there's one other great thing

in the wake of a celebration,

among the shrinking balloons,

the torn wrapping paper,

the leftover cake,

and the calm of a storm blown over.

it's a house full of fresh flowers.

i love a flower-giving culture.

little confectioners

2011-11-06T23:56:00.002-07:00

milla's birthday party

ensued

the morning after the dinner, the presents,

the cupcakes and the circus.

in line with her dream

of one day owning

her own confectionery shop,

we put together

a little confectioner's party

at the old росфронт candy factory.

the little ones all got to try their sticky hands

at making their own little chocolates--

licking spoons and chocolaty fingers

all the way.

and if even just for a morning,

milla's (barely) 7-year-old dreams came true!

andreas' birthday

2011-11-03T06:56:00.002-06:00

we tried last year

to have one big party

for all three kids,

although when they were born

so close together i swore i'd never do it.

but when the third was born

on the first's birthday,

and when they have all the same friends anyway,

it almost seemed to make sense,

rather than invite all the same people

10 days apart.

so we held it on the 28th,

the birthday of the two,

and then made sure to do lots of fun things

and even have another cake

on avi's birthday, 10 days later.

but she always referred to the party

as "milla's party," anyway.

and i knew that plan wasn't going to work anymore.

and so 3 parties it was/is.

we started the festivities on friday--

while the girls were at school

andreas and i took a stroll to the park

where we did his favorite thing:

watching the horses at the riding school.

then we bought

a bunch of balloons,

which he had no problem hogging to himself.

we opened some presents.

we blew out candles on our cupcakes

and then we went to the circus.

and with that,

our little baby turned 2,

never to return to 1 again.

half-hearted halloween

2011-11-01T11:51:00.004-06:00

i will admit

that my approach to halloween

is fairly half-hearted.

with not only a husband that doesn't believe in it

but a country that doesn't believe in it,

it's mostly for romance's sake--

for giving my children

a piece of my childhood and my culture--

that we do it at all.

without halloween costumes being sold in every store,

and my lack of ambition for the whole ordeal

i ask my children what they would like to be

and then if it's not something easy

i try to persuade them.

milla insisted on "daphne from scooby doo"

which we could more or less manage,

and when avi said cinderella,

well, i thought perfect,

you mean, cinderella getting married, right?

and we pulled out the old costume from two years ago

(i have a total of two halloween costumes stored away)

which had to be hemmed up then

but fits perfect now.

and she's done.

the baby?

well, let's just say

i came across some friends halfway through

trick-or-treating that gave him

a little puppy costume to throw over his coat,

which we returned when we were done

trick-or-treating.

and that was that!

the kids had a great time

and we checked off halloween for this year

(already 10 days ago).

oh, but don't worry,

we did carve a pumpkin on sunday night.

that one i don't let slip by

half-heartedly.

now i'm just trying to find a recipe

to chop him into.

it's pumpkin season!!!

culinary students

2011-10-27T14:00:00.004-06:00

i think it was the first time

that i had three culinary students

crammed into my kitchen,

or into my personal cooking space--

which as it is, is only 24 inches wide--

leaving barely enough room for the bowl, and my elbow.

there was a time when the girls wanted to help me cook

every single thing.

that phase actually lasted a long time,

and sometimes i would dream of the days

i could just sit and cook in peace & quiet

while they happily played in their room.

but anytime i am pulling out sugar,

they are anxious to be involved.

and that little brother?

well, he's now old enough

to want to be involved in everything they are.

and so he was climbing up on chairs,

and then over milla

to get as close as he could to the action.

and hey,

since it's his birthday cupcakes

we were whipping up,

he was allowed.

although,

we did run into problems

when it came time to lick the beaters.

there are only two!

and so he was relegated

to opening up and saying ahhhh!

like he does

every time he wants a bit

of whatever it is you're eating.

and milla was nice enough to share her beater.

i mean, they do share a birthday and all.

they may as well share a beater.

way back in september

2011-10-26T02:49:00.003-06:00

my only decent excuse

for the long absence is a little trip

i took all by myself

to new york city--

just to reaffirm to myself

that i did, indeed, leave my heart there.

but other than that,

it's just being busy and being lazy all in one.

as i scrolled back through my pics

i was thinking,

wow! look how not-so-long-ago

we were still able to wear sweaters

and bare feet in little ballet flats!

i remember that evening

we strolled across the river,

met dad,

and had dinner on the roof

of the old chocolate factory

in the fresh open air.

it in fact turned out to be

much longer ago than i had thought,

both proving to me

that time has gotten away from me,

and also that, no,

you cannot get away with sweaters and ballet flats

in moscow in october--

that night was clear back on sept. 14.

but it was still a lovely night,

even if it was so long ago.

and now, my friends,

the holiday season has begun in full force!

corners

2011-10-04T07:51:00.000-06:00

it's tough

to go from owning a place

back to renting a place.

there's only so much you can do

to make it feel like "yours."

and i guess it's not a big deal to everyone.

some people don't mind

moving in

and sitting on someone else's sofa--

walking on their rug,

living with their choice of window treatments. . .

but i made sure when we signed the contract

that the owner would be removing

nearly all traces

that would make me feel

like i was living in someone else's place.

and little by little,

more and more corners of our humble home

are becoming ours.

genius

2011-09-30T03:11:00.004-06:00

my mom thinks

it's OCD shining through

in his budding 23-month-old personality.

i think the fact that he does this

all the time

is a sign of pure genius.

or at least cuteness.

i love this stage.

montgolfier

2011-09-27T01:50:00.001-06:00

it was november 2 of last year

when i saw it for the first time.

i snapped a photo of it on my iphone

in my favorite store,

took note of the ugly price tag,

but said to it anyway:

i must own you.

but how to pull it off?

my first thoughts

(as many creative people's are)

were: i can make that!. . . uh. . . right?

but the more i pondered it

the more i realized how hideous my attempt would look

compared to the real thing.

so thoughts turned to the internet.

surely, it's sold somewhere else in the world,

cheaper,

as everywhere is cheaper than here.

and i think it was alex (as usual)

who thought to check amazon.

of course!

everything is sold on amazon--

(lest you who have access take it for granted!)

and alas, it was on amazon--

of course for 1/3 the price here.

but how to get it here???

i spent months exploring options

or waiting for some kind soul

who was making a trip to the states to haul it back for me--

but all in vain.

so how, then,

you may ask,

did it finally end up in your baby's room?

well. . .

let's just say,

it was a slightly belated 35th birthday surprise

from an uber-cool and thoughtful

sister-in-law.

how did i get so lucky?

chalk canvas

2011-09-22T09:21:00.000-06:00

this last move

(one year ago)

gave us something invaluable

and very hard to come by

in the center of moscow:

a gated parking area

(our own covered spot!),

and little private playground area for the kids.

now of course it's

far less glamorous than it sounds,

but for us

it's dreamy.

i remember far too well

the days of driving up to our house

with a car full of groceries

and two small children

(one a babe in arms)

only to have to drive around the block a few times

and settle on a spot clear around the corner

from our building.

now we can leave the building

without fear of the children

darting out into traffic

we can always count on a parking space.

i don't have to worry about my kids wandering

off of the playground

while i'm not looking. . .

and of course

we have a big huge canvas

for chalk drawings--

all to ourselves.

monkey challah

2011-09-21T02:58:00.002-06:00

the first time

i had monkey bread

was on new years day

in a cozy cabin

with a fresh blanket of snow outside

and a crystal clear blue sky.

they were sticky, gooey, and delectable--

and were the perfect sustenance

for a morning of sledding

and angel-making in the snow.

we attempted it ourselves

this cool fall--

when milla found

a monkey bread version of a challah recipe

in her jewish traditions book.

and while the recipe itself

was not like that mastered version

i tasted at the cabin that morning,

the activity

got scrawled down

as a perfect one for their involvement.

the dough is quick & easy,

and then of course their favorite part,

the ball rolling.

and now if i can get my hands

on that other recipe,

it may just have to become a new years tradition

for us, too.

reading

2011-09-15T06:35:00.002-06:00

when i so often feel that tap-tap

with that tiny hand with fingers spread wide

i look down to see him saying mama mama

and holding a book in the other hand--

and i know where we're headed.

i stand up and he makes certain

to grab my pointer finger with his fist

and lead me to the chair

where he taps with that hand splayed open

once again,

this time on the chair

to indicate what i am to do.

but i already know--

we do this many times a day.

i proceed to sit

then he climbs into my lap

and we read one of his favorites

like sunday with seurat

hippos go berserk!

and he asks for it again and again and again.

and when he's finally done,

he instructs me (without words)

to set it in the pile

while he runs for another one.

and we do this over and over again.

if there's one thing i've tried to give my children,

it's a love of reading.

and i can't even claim to be the best reader myself--

i'm certainly not.

but from the days of reading

on the day you were born

to milla

when she was just a few days old,

i have read to them

almost every single day.

i like games,

i like going to the park,

i like crafting. . .

but reading will always be

something. . .

special.

changing already

2011-09-13T09:32:00.004-06:00

when they told me last night

that mid-october would be the perfect time

to catch the leaves changing in vermont,

i thought of what is already going on

outside my windows now.

and in between dreamy thoughts

of making a trip back to the eastern u.s.--

not only to see favorite friends

but to get a hit

of the city i could never get enough of--

the reality of my city

and the impending winter

was seeping in.

if i could count the number of songs i have heard

in russian

with the words кончается лето

(summer is ending)

there just could be a hundred thousand.

for a country that sustains

such a ruthless and seemingly endless winter

every year,

fall is ever too soon and ever too quick.

my mother-in-law was right

when she told me

those light jackets i bought in france

for the girls

wouldn't get much use.

because we go from shorts weather

to coat weather in just a matter of weeks.

and while it's rain rain rain right now,

we are still holding on to the hope

of the indian summer.

nature is usually kind enough

to allow us at least that.

who am i?

2011-09-08T01:26:00.000-06:00

unfortunately

this year there was no taking advantage

of america's gargantuan craft stores.

i was never in one place long enough

to begin any project.

but one thing i did do

was pull together a who am i? game

that was a hit

at the family reunion.

each person fills out a questionnaire

beforehand,

which are then posted around the walls

with envelopes attached at the bottom.

then each person is given

a little stack of names

(color-coded so the scorer knows

whose vote is whose)

which they drop into the envelopes

of the questionnaires--

their vote as to who that person is.

it was a hoot.

and how else would we have known

that all five children in my family

think that cleaning public restrooms

is the world's worst job?

let me know if you want the questionnaire.

2011-09-05T13:20:00.003-06:00

the first day of first grade

is the first day at a new school

and is the first day

of a new life!

in fact

it's such a big deal here

that milla had 10 people in her fan club

that showed up to the schoolyard

to wish her well.

the sight is not one you can quickly forget.

a schoolyard full of anxious students,

all in their very best dress,

with their too-big backpacks, bows and braids and ties,

each holding a bouquet for the teacher

they have yet to meet.

the first grade class

is welcomed in by the entire school,

there's a skit, a song,

some words from the director. . .

(that's milla's teacher she's gazing at--

and she really likes him, despite the ponytail)

the parents and fan clubs

stand around watching their little ones

with adoration, anticipation & worry,

and a few fleeting thoughts

of this being the beginning of the end...

they then go into their classrooms

to find their seats,

still likely having no idea

of what awaits them ahead--

i.e. years and years of sitting at desks

and studying and reading and learning--

little realization of

what they have gotten themselves into

unknowingly,

and to be honest,

the parents just may feel the same way.

labels

2011-08-31T13:00:00.000-06:00

tomorrow,

the first day of school!

milla just could not wait

to get her school supplies bought,

put together,

and packed away in her backpack--

full of eager anticipation.

a new school,

a new teacher,

a new year,

a whole life ahead!

not knowing

exactly what supplies the school would require,

i couldn't do too much shopping

in other countries,

where there's a bit more selection.

but what i could do

was stock up on labels,

which we filled out and adhered to each notebook,

for continuity,

and of course 1st grade aesthetics!

the french general labels

by chronicle books

and the jolies etiquettes ecolier

by marc vidal.

now to get some sleep

before the big day!