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OK! We are back in Moscow. Seems we missed the worst of the heat, smoke, poison smog. . . . .Friday - the day we arrived - it was a bit smoggy, but no smoke smell, yesterday was sunny, hot, blue skies, a bit of wind. Actually a very nice day. Hopefully the smoke will stay out, it will rain, and the fires will get under control. (crossing fingers).

So this summer we:

drove a lot - to seattle and back from Portland (about a 3 hr trip each way) 6 times I think.

went to the beach

sent P to a half week camp (couldnt bear to have him away for longer - we will try and brave a full week next year)

spent a lot of time with family just hanging out

I didnt sign my kids up for anything other than P going to the mini camp

they played outside

rode bikes

went to the library

made forts

just had a regular kid summer

played with each other and their cousins

For P's big 10 birthday we went to Great Wolf Lodge (go ahead and google it). We had a great time. Yiayia and pappous (my parents) gave the kids each some $ to buy stuff in the gift shop. Each of the kids (mine and my sisters boys) chose a picture frame and either a tshirt or a cup. I took a picture of all the kids and had them printed at costco's 1 hr photo when we got back in town. The frame, along with a little mini sandcastle from the Oregon Coast are Ms 2 "most prized possessions."

So what now? Well it is 3am for one thing. We are all up. except Leo. I wish I knew his secret but he can sleep anytime, anywhere, any amount of noise, light etc. He just goes to bed, and well, sleeps. I know it will take at least a week or two to get back the rest of us on the right time. 11 hr time difference is pretty killer. So we have been unpacking and cleaning the apartment, doing laundry. We arrived to an inch of dust on everything. bleh! Not from the smoke. Leo said it came while he was still here (the fires started just as he left). I think it all came from the remont upstairs. I thought I was smart and washed all the sheets before we left, but I had to strip all the beds again because they were all so dusty. Not a problem in the US where my moms washer does a load, start to dry in less than an hour. My wash cycle takes almost 3 hours. 4 to dry, and 1 beds worth takes 2 loads. yeah, washer and dryer have been running since we arrived.

We are just hanging out now, waiting for school to start at the end of august. We plan on heading to Gorky Park sometime later today (you know, after our morning naps!).

**Update - Gorky Park was fun! Forgot the camera - sorry! Kids complained the whole walk, but once they saw where we were going, strangely their energy picked up! ha! P and I went on a roller coaster (not the upside-down one!) P and M on the log ride, Leo took the big kids on the Ferris Wheel (when they got off both complained that "LEo worried the WHOLE time - get away from the door! stay away from the edge!" - I forgot he is afraid of heights), Natasha and I went on a little bumper boat ride, but we were the only ones so we cruised around the little pond, big kids did bumper cars . . I have never seen P with a bigger smile on his face! he LOVES roller coasters, bumper cars, etc. We did notice the smog was worse walking home - and this morning we could smell the smoke. The weather report keeps predicting rain, have only seen a sprinkling so far.

Looking forward to a good old fashioned thunder shower to clean everything up!