Weekend review

It was one of those weekends that I just so enjoy.

The dance "was fun". He said he didn't dance, and he was awfully smug and proud of that fact, hahaha! I prodded a little more, but there really wasn't much. (at least not at this point in the weekend yet!)

Saturday came and my husband and I cooked together and laughed, talked...the easy going, relaxed atmosphere of this place is really nice sometimes. There really isn't much to do unless you find something to do...like go and play tennis, swim, grocery shop... but outside distractions and running around? There really isn't much. So you get the chance to reconnect with your self, your family... I like this a lot.

Sometimes also, we say no...for example, there was a Mardi Gras party on Saturday evening. We said no. We wanted to take a step back, breathe and relax and enjoy the solitude of each other...

ok, well, we had 5 kids come over for homemade pizzas and 3 friends of our son sleep over.

Still, it was such a fun evening!

I learned that they got all the Italian girls go and ask my son, plead with him to dance...and he still said no! I think he just likes to be different. As long as fun was had by all, what more can we ask, right?!

Sunday we did some more of the same...

I am really looking forward to spring break coming up! I will fill you in on the details later...

oh, and my review of Black Swan!

It should be a busy week...

The Dance

Tonight my 12 year old son is going to his first middle school dance.

There is another international school here that sometimes likes to mix in with our kids...

granted there are no more than 10 going from our school, probably less, but that's ok, at least they are getting the experience!

When I asked my son what he thought he might wear (I know, silly question for a boy, right?!)

he said he was thinking of his suit.

Yes, that would be my 12 going on 30 year old son.

I love it!

Then I asked if he was going to dance.

Nope, I'm just going to stand by the snack bar.

Suit wearing, snacking boy is going to a dance...

I should tip one of the other kids to let me know what he actually does :)

MAcro Ice Designs

As promised, here are the photos that I took on Wednesday. Every once in a while, the weather is so cold, and the air is moist with rain/snow, that it freezes overnight and gives us a beautiful

Ice Palace. This only lasts for a while, because, even though it is still bitterly cold outside, once the sun comes out, the ice begins to melt off the branches and fences.

So enjoy these photos...

Here are a few not with the macro lens...and boy, let me tell you, I tried to not change lenses too often, because I have to take my gloves off to change them, and my fingers were freezing in these temperatures!

Winter Wonderland

Wow, the days have been beautiful here.

Yesterday, the snow fell and fell...big flakes, flurries, sun in between.

I was walking around the camp, ready to take pictures, when I saw a friend that was going outside the camp to take more photos. Three of us went for an hour and a half...really long to be in the cold, but I got some great pictures from the excursion!

This is the Muslim Mosque across the street from our houses:

Here is Makhambet Square, which honors the two men who fought for over 200 years to gain independence for Kazakhstan:

Here is the Russian Orthodox Church

These are a few of the scenes we saw along the way

Enjoy the photo tour and come back tomorrow for the macro ice shots from this morning!

(I just didn't want to post too many because I know some of you do not like long posts!)

Appreciation

Happy Valentine's Day

to all of my friends and family that make my life richer for having you all in it.

Especially to my husband, you are the light of my life, my best friend, and the person that I can not live without. Thank you for always being there for me, for spoiling me and for sharing with me on such great adventures!

Happy Valentine's Day!

A new life begins

This title is what my daughter said when she saw the first picture of my new niece. It gave me the shivers to hear her say this. It is such a precious gift that we receive when a new child is born into this world.

Her and the new Mom, my niece, are doing very well. She is healthy and oh so tiny...only 6 lbs 1 oz! My kids were almost a full 2 lbs more than her at birth!

She is beautiful and I am longing to return to see her and hold her in my arms...

I am now a Great Aunt!

How cool is that title!

Is it an internal clock?

Life sometimes has such a routine that I believe our bodies respond whether we want them to or not. It seems that in the early morning hours, between 4 and 4:30 am, Bella wakes up to go outside for her business. My body has been programmed now to wake up with her.

I eventually fall back to sleep.

Here is where my fascination then lies....she knows when it is time to wake up...

somewhere between 6:45 and 7 am.

Now, it is not that she has to go outside again...she doesn't. She just comes over, before the alarm sounds and wakes me up with her cold nose and wet kisses!

If you are wondering how the unpacking is going...

well, it is just about finished. I will post after unpacking pictures soon...once I find 10 minutes to take the photos and actually download them. I have been working really hard to get all the boxes unpacked and the "stuff" put all in its proper place. I have been hoovering like crazy...picking up all the lint and dust that comes with all the boxes. My townhouse neighbor gave me her sweeper! I am so excited to have an upright that works again...especially since the stairs and top floor are all carpets. I have decided that I prefer a house without wall to wall carpets, but has strategically placed area rugs. Anyways, it is certainly nice to have an old fashioned Hoover sweeper to suck up all that hair, dust and dirt!

and last but certainly not least...

my niece is in labor! She will have her precious child soon...

May God watch over the both of them through labor and bring us our little one soon :)

Well, I still love 'em

My Steelers lost.

I still love them and support them....

because that's what the Steelers Nation does.

Here we go...

Steelers, here we go...

Let's go win the Superbowl!

As you all get to enjoy (if you like) the festivities of Superbowl Sunday, I am winding down my day, getting ready for a little nap before our game.

So with dreams of a Black and Gold 7th victory, I will say good night and see you at 4:30 am Atyrau time....

for

The Steelers vs. The Packers!

GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!