Two Felted Hats...

Last night, when our driver, Vinneyamin, brought us home, he wouldn't let us get out of the car.

He went around and opened up the back door and pulled out two little gift bags and handed them to us.

In it, we found these!
A felted hat for each of us. Isn't that so nice of him? Felt is used on yurts out on the steppe, here in the big K. It is to keep it warm inside and waterproof. I kept the hat on for just a few minutes and my head got pretty toasty!

Filling My Shoes...

The other night, we went over to Matt & Sonia's and R'iordan busied himself with this:
My black work shoes are shiny, so I think he was attracted to them like a bug to a light.

He was so cute! This is him, smiling for the camera...but he forgot to smile. He's just posing.

Then, the next night, I was over again and had on my Ugg boots.

Of course, he needed to sport those out.

The boots were up to his hips! He is such a fun little boy.

Thanksgiving...K to the Z Style....

I know I'm a little late with this, but as usual, I haven't had a whole lot of time to blog lately. But, our Thanksgiving was unlike any Thanksgiving Huzz or I have ever experienced.

There was no turkey. No mashed potatoes. No gravy. No stuffing - I know, unforgiveable. No green bean casserole. No pumpkin pie.

Surprisingly, we survived! At the time, we didn't know of a restaurant that did a turkey dinner, but we later found out that the InterContinental Hotel does...for a pretty penny.

Instead, we decided, appropriately, to go to the American Bar & Grill.

Here is Stephen, enjoying the smoked cheese that they give you for an appetizer. I think it's called "suluguni" in Russian. It's like a drier string cheese that has a delicious smoky flavor. I like it.

Oh, you can see the smoked cheese on the little plate on the right. I pretty much demolished it. We also got mozzarella "steaks" and onion rings.

Stephen had a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich and fries for his main course. As you can tell, he wasn't a fan.

I had their Crispy Chicken Sandwich, which has this tangy sauce on it that I enjoy very much. This is all I could eat. I was stuffed!

I meant to take pictures before we dug in to our food, but I was distracted with all the fried goodness. It did not feel like Thanksgiving, since we both worked and didn't spend the day with family.

We ordered so much food because I said at least we should just eat too much, since that is definitely what happens at normal Thanksgivings.

We can't wait to get home to the U.S. in THREE days!!! I only have one more day of work. Thank goodness. Waking up at 7:00 am and it is still pitch black outside is just not what I call a good time.

My Day...

Right now, it is 5:33.

I have 38 seven year olds in my classroom. They are watching Planet Earth.

We have just (finally) welcomed the President of the big K to our school. At the moment, he is down the hall, visiting a Year 2 classroom. Then, he's on to other various points in the school. He'll be here, maximum, a half hour.

We have been waiting since 8:00 am for this. Actually, we've been waiting since the beginning of September. This is the fourth time he has said he is coming, but the only time it has actually happened.

This is Kazakhstan.

I am tired. It is Friday. It is now 5:36 pm. I still have 38 children in my classroom. My estimate is that children don't even begin to be picked up until at least 6:30.

Apparently, we will have an assembly and tea time before they go home.

Somebody shoot me.

11 Days...

I'm not organized enough, and I don't have enough time to post every day and countdown to when we get to the US. I wish I was because I could also keep up with what all has been going on during the past week or so.

It has mostly been a week of sorrow and angst and more frustration. However, things are looking up because in ELEVEN days, people, we will set foot on our home soil.

I know I am going to enjoy my 3 1/2 weeks in the good 'ol US of A. I will make the best of every single moment that I have there. However, I can't help but already be dreading when I have to step back on the plane in Denver to head back out of my home.

I am kind of worried about it!

I am just hoping for strength, as I know it is going to take more than I feel like I can muster right now.

Anyway, anymore opinions about what to do about my hair?

Oh, and the President of the big K is "definitely" coming on Friday to visit the school. We are having school from 10 am to 5 pm. Is anyone happy about this? Um, no.

Grrrr.......11 more days.