This Week in Pictures

Sat Leo and I went out without the kids. We went to kalina bar. We had a really nice time. Leo was afraid we would run out of things to talk about just the two of us since we are always focused on the kids, but we managed to keep the conversation rolling. ha! We sat in the very romantic moroccan room - semi private, couches, etc. That was fun, but part of the entertainment is people watching. It was nice to dress up and go out, nice to enjoy my meal without having to feed a baby, nice to order a meal based on what I would like to eat as opposed to what natasha could eat off my plate.

Sun we decided to go to Pancho Villa. what can I say about it. I will give it mixed reviews. We went and there was some confusion about our table, nay. They brought some kind of frothy orange drink for the kids (and didnt charge us!) yay. Brought some of the food quickly -yay. took FOREVER to bring leo and my food (I think they forgot to put the order in?)- nay. Gave kids a toy to play with -yay. kids broke it ,nay. brought balloons for the kids - yay. kids were wild -nay nay. kids made me crazy -blah!. Kids were banned from ever going to a restaurant again. ever. We ended up asking them to box our food and left. We ate it the next day and it was pretty good. So - good for kids (had a highchair too), slow service, decent food (not what I would call "american style" mexican, but no mayo in my fajita and the salsa was good).

Next day it was cold.

I made tortillas (not really - I made them fri night). I was wanting mexican food and even though I knew we were going to a mexican place that sun, I made my own fri night. That way I wouldnt be craving it when we went, thus not disappointed if it wasnt good. see how I plan ahead?

we had some snow. yep there is a car somewhere under there.

Decided to go to the toy shop and get the kids a sled. I had my doubts but we made it down this perihod (переход) and then back up the other side. (by the way, it is the stroller that makes this difficult. walking is no problem - I have no issues otherwise with perihods. - see what I did? just added an s to a russian word to make it plural. hahaha) turns out it is easier to not use the ramp. P helped me bump the stroller down and up the steps. He is a good son.

got to the toy shop and guess what? no sleds! so we had пончики. they look like donuts. They come in 3 varieties : классические, оригинальные, and особые. Classic, original and special. pretty funny. I didnt know what особые meant so I ordered 3 classic, and 3 original. Can you tell the difference? I guess the "original" has a bigger hole? tasted pretty much the same to us. kind of good if you are looking for sweet, oily, doughy.

came home.

P and Tushi shared some love. nice to have a big brother.

Next day (Tues) was Defenders of the Fatherland Day - I think originally it was Red Army Day, then a day to celebrate anyone who "defended the fatherland" now it is men's day - as opposed to women's day in March.

the sun was shining so we decided to head out again and pick up a cake for leo.

I saw these and remembered that I learned a new word. What would we call these in the English? "piles of snow"? maybe "snowdrift" - but I always thought a snowdrift was a naturally occurring pile of snow. Anyway, russians have a word for "pile of snow" сугроб. Maybe I am wrong - I dont know - I am not from a snowy part of the US. I am not familiar with the lingo. Anyway. here are some сугробы. or maybe you prefer sugrobs?

that was taken in front of the TACC building. First time I saw it I said "wow, that building is kind of ugly." I got a deep sigh from Leo. "This is an important historical building!" It is THE central news agency. Ok, sorry. I still think it is not that attractive. What do you think? nice blue sky though.

Here are some photos from around the area showing a sunny snowy moscow.

I dont know the name of this church. It is "the big yellow church where Pushkin got married"

Russian style air condition. hahahaha

thought the sky looked pretty blue - to pink, sun on the steeples.

Conservatory

here are some random kids playing in the snowdrifts.

Here is my favorite from yesterday. Secret Moscow. see the shadow. from the street could not see what was making it. I just know there is a beautiful old church hidden in that alley . . . ahhh, not a russian church at all. P just informed me it is the anglican church casting the shadow. hmmm. secret and surprise.