Troika Ride

I finally had my dream come true! I went on a troika ride like in Doctor Zhivago with Tami and the girls at Kolomenskoe.

French Bakery - 3 small cheese rolls and a pistachio eclaire

The end to a busy day! Sound good? They were!

Too tired to blog. Days very full and busy, home late (crazy Moscow traffic). Off to troika sleigh ride tomorrow. Time flying by too quickly.

P.S. Sinuses much, much better. I keep popping those pills I brought w/me.

Sinuses Gotcha Down?

My sinuses are crappy and that's how my head feels. I did go to Natalia's program this morning but am not up for the long ride to and from the party at the ritzy dacha (classmate of Katya's). My SIL is also suffering from sinus problems and we both were planning to stay home and then Natalia wanted to stay home with us. Tami and Katya were going to go but now Katya wants to stay home so everyone will be home. I think the girls are just tired.

The school doctor (a friend of Tami's) checked me out after the class program and wrote down what Tami needed to buy for me at the pharmacy. We stopped on our way home but I don't feel any different. Of course, it's only been 5 hours so I can't expect a miracle. Sure hope the meds kick in by tomorrow and that this doesn't lead into a sinus infection (which I get about once every year or two). This also could be allergy related as they have 2 long hair cats and I'm allergic to cats. I would think if that were the case, then it would have started within a day of my arrival.

I'm really bummed as I really wanted to go and see this dacha complete with an outside "room" and the boy's treehouse.

The parents of Katya's classmate invited the entire class and their families. It was my chance to see how the "other half" here in Moscow lived.

Natalia's Christmas School Program

We all were out bright and early to go to Natalia's class holiday program. Natalia was so cute in a baby blue leotard with an attached skirt and fairy wings. Her mom had her hair in elaborate French braids with hair clips. She was an angel in the program. She and two other girls sang "All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" and it's true for her as only one of her permanent front top teeth has come in. The entire program lasted about 40 minutes and ended with all the 1st graders being given chocolates.

Some annoying boy from Katya's class was right in front of Tami and he kept getting up and down so at times she couldn't video the program. His stupid mother was sitting right next to him and she never stopped it. This is the same rude mother that kept trying to talk to Tami during the piano recital on Thursday and whose cell phone rang several times (during the piano recital)and she answered it and talked. If that happened to me back in the US, I would not sit there without saying something. How can children learn to behave during performances if the mother can't even do the correct thing? Guess I'll get off my bandwagon.

I am soooooo glad that I was here to attend their piano recital and their class holiday performances. The kids in the class, and especially my granddaughters, were so cute and did such a wonderful job.

Katya's Christmas School Program

Natalia and Katya went to school, Chris went to the Health Club, Katya had to be at school for an hour or so and I was home alone with the cats in the late morning/early afternoon. I thought I'd read on the couch and never even opened the book but napped instead.

We went to Katya's school in the midafternoon for her third grade Christmas program. Katya had some starring roles and even got to single a solo. I thoroughly enjoyed the program (all in English) and seeing her perform with her schoolmates. It was funny being in Moscow in December 2009 and seeing the kids perform to rock 'n roll Christmas music from the 50's in the US and English Christmas caroles. Parents and families were all invited.

After picking Natalia up at school, we headed home to our jammies for a quiet evening.

Natalia's school program is tomorrow at 10:00.

I started with sinus congestion and the runny nose last night and am on cold pills and Mucinex. Hope it doesn't get worse and go into a sinus infection.

It's Christmas morning back at home in the States so I know what you all are doing

Christmas Morning in Moscow

The girls did not get us up early. They were up for quite a time before we all went into the living room to see what Santa had left. The jolly old man was very quiet as my inflatable mattress is on the living room floor and he didn't wake me up.

The girls were thrilled with their Santa gifts and played with them before changing to head off to school. They were not expected to be there for school at the regular time this morning since it was our Christmas.

I'm staying home this morning and not going with Tami to her 4th grade play rehearsal. She'll just be gone for an hour or so and then be back here for the afternoon.

We adults will go to Katya's school early to save front row seats for the 3rd grade holiday performance this afternoon.

We are doing family gifts later in the weekend not to have an overload and to also allow for wrapping time. Mine are just about all wrapped as I had time the other morning.

Back in the US, Santa is flying around as it's 2:15 in the morning in CT. Merry Christmas to all of you.

The stockings are placed

by the big window with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there. There's no mantle in the Moscow apt. so they can't be hung. The girls are FINALLY asleep and we are all heading to bed too.

Today was school and I went w/Natalia for the morning. Then Tami came for me and we came home to do some Xmas things are were back at school for play rehearsal around 3:30. After that it was over to Natalia's school w/Katya for their piano recital. Both girls played a solo and they a duet together. I was so happy and proud to be there.

Can you believe this one ignorant, rude mother did not shut off her cell phone and spoke on it a few times. She also kept trying to speak to Tami during the recital. If it had been the US, I would have given her my "looks could kill" stare. Her sons also were fidgety and annoying. The two 1 1/2 - 2 year little brother of one of the girls performing was far better behaved. Also, one boy had full bangs and shoulder length hair and I first thought he was a girl.

Russian people are insane about their cell phone and always have them in their hands. Will the world come to an end if they have a call that goes to their voice mail? Natalia's teacher's phone must have rung 3 or 4 times but she ignored it but for the first call. Tami said it is usually parents calling the teachers. Hello, don't they realize the teachers are probably busy teaching their darling children?

Katya and Natalia did beautifully in their piano recital as did the other pianists. There were a few violin students and their playing was painful but we sat there attentively listening, smiling and clapping at the end.

Tami is the only parent that I saw with flowers for the piano teacher. Also the only parent that I saw with floral bouquets for her children performing.

We came home, ate homemade chili she'd made this afternoon, showered and tried to get the girls in bed but you know how that is.

Merry Christmas!

P.S. My sinuses started to fill up and I have a runny nose. Popped an allergy pill tonight around 9:00 and my Lunesta arund 11:00 so hope I'll sleep well.