First Day of School

We flew in on Friday and school started Tuesday. They were all still a little jetlaged but yet excited to start school again. I think this is the first year C didn't have a tummy ache the morning school began.

Ready to get on the bus. There are three buses that leave the

Embassy dividing the groups to be age appropriate.

I am welcome to ride the bus anytime I like, which is comforting to me.

...and off they go to the Anglo American School of Moscow

... and mamma cried... and daddy consoled...

and we all survived the first day of school.

A few interesting sights and signs on our first walks off of the Embassy itself.

Starbucks

I wanted to tell Tigger I know how ya feel but I

don't think she would have understood me.

Maybe Tigger needs a Starbucks.

The Old Embassy Building.... this pic is for Joe and Carolyn

The top sign is KFC, you recognize the Nike sign

and under it is says discount, then Puma of course

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Subway

Moscow Zoo

Baskin Robbins

Dunkin Donuts

New Student Orientation

So the next morning we get up and head to new student orientation.

The school is beautiful... check out this playground!

We got to meet staff and tour the building. This was taken while Seth and Mary were still scavenger hunting their way through the building with other new classmates.

We also had to take some time to finalize Mary's Sr schedule.

Arriving

Welcome to Moscow Russia

Our first stop on the way home from the airport was here.

We were starving and very happy to know McD's tastes just like home

(unlike Germany McD's where french fries were a little different

and hamburgers seemed quite salty).

And then onto Home Sweet Home....

This is a picture of the long building housing a row of apartments on

the Embassy Compound. We are on the end closest to you in the picture, upper two floors.

This picture isn't quite accurate of our arrival and actually was taken a few days later. When we arrived there were a number of teenagers excited and bubbling over about our arrival. They came running to the gate to greeting us with hugs and then helped us carry all 21 plus bags up the stairs into our new home before I actually seemed to be walking in my sleep and then I think at that point they left in fear... not sure, really don't remember. But we did feel very welcome! From my Army counterpart there was a YUMMY dinner waiting in the oven ... thanks neighbors!! Its good to have great neighbors!

Leaving

We had about 24 hrs notice that the evacuation order was lifted and our tickets were confirmed... and we were on our way...

then we were ....waiting....

...and waiting...

then checking in...

21 bags, 7 carry-ons, and 7 personal items,

then one last good ole American fast food lunch.

M and I had Chipotle, S and J Burger King, and R and C Subway.

Then we boarded our plane off to our next adventure.

John made a new friend before we left VA

Our last few days in DC J befriended a few take home boxes... he named them and played hrs with them. He was insistent on not leaving them behind. We even drug them to the airport but alas he gave them up before we boarded... we were all thankful! Here are Rogert, Emily and a baby Puddy. How is it kids can get so much enjoyment out of simple styrofoam container?

Mt Vernon Take Two

Take two because I had gone once before with GrannyJo and Aunt

Clara but only three kiddos so this time I had them all.

I absolutely love the drive out as well as the museum itself.

You can't go visit Mr Vernon without stoppping for these two photos... it's the rule!

We added one under the Cherry Tree since George did chop one down, eh??

now that is some tall corn!

boys ... following in their father's footsteps... they never grow up

nor do the girls... they sure do love their houses yes??

the boys built them... the girls decorate them

too fun... another beautiful day.

Water Mines

Mary's friend Emma graciously gave us tickets for this water park that she had gotten from a friend. What a great way to pass the time, another day down.

Looks like fun huh?? We must have done the lazy river a hundred times!

The extra is Reu's best friend Luiz... we miss him so much and are

thankful we got to spend a few extra days with him!!

Portrait Gallery and Printing and Bureau of Printing and Engraving Tour

Next stop... Portrait Gallery... well so we thought. I carefully planned our day not knowing the Gallery didn't open at the same time as all the Smithsonian's. So we got there about 1 hour before it opened. Too long to sit, too short to really get anywhere. As I gathered my little chickens and began to debate how to pass the time a very nice gentleman who ran the Hop On Hop Off bus tour leaving from the Gallery offered me a tour. I told him thank you but I could not afford those tickets pointing to my brood. I chatted with him talking out my dilemma thinking we may just try to walk up to the White House Visitors Center... and then he offered to give me a ride on his bus explaining it was on the route and he hated to see us walk that far. He took us on his bus and wouldn't even let me tip him. He refused money saying he just likes to help people. I told him thank you sooo much, and that I appreciated not only the ride but the lesson he was teaching my kids! In reality, the walk was not that far (especially since we only did one way back to the Gallery) but it would have really put us later back to the Gallery then we had planned and then we would not have made our engraving tour. With his help our day went off without a hitch. And what a fun day we had!! This day was probably the highlight for me of our time spent as refugees in Washington DC.

This is right in front of the White House Visitors Center, where the bus man dropped us off and we had an early lunch to pass the time. The birds were really fun till one "dropped a mess" close to us.. then we packed up and moved on.

When we returned to the National Portrait Gallery "bus man" was still there and I asked to take his picture with the kids... he was happy to accommodate!! Nice bus man!!!

There were some really fun art exhibits!!

But we really enjoyed the Presidents Portraits the most and

I couldn't believe they let me take pictures!!!

Last stop Bureau of Printing and Engraving... we all found this very interesting.

vacation over.. adventure to begin... or not

Well... we arrived into DC to fly out Dulles and into Moscow on the 10th; but on the 9th they were working on a evacuation order because of smoke from burning bogs just outside of the city. The pollution was very bad and we were told not to come. We quick made arrangements to stay in the area and sit tight till given further word. Joey was essential personel so the wheels began turning for him to get in to Moscow asap and so he was only delayed 4 days, but the rest of us would be delayed 15 days. No big deal. We always make the best of the cards dealt. There were plenty of places in DC we hadn't had time to see this past year.

We made a list and got started.

First stop was WWII Memorial and National Archives...

where did my baby go?

She is a Senior this year... someone tell me how that happened so quickly!