A SURPRISE OF A LIFE TIME!!!!!!!....................................................................... ALL FOUR CHILDREN COME TO VISIT US IN MOSCOW

All together at the airport

WOW! WHAT A SURPRISE

Words cannot express our feelings of absolute joy which we experienced this week as our four children surprised us with a visit to Moscow. Todd had called us several weeks ago and said he and Kailee and Kailee's sister were coming to visit us the first week of August. We were so excited that one of our children would be coming to visit us. We found a convenient hotel for Todd's sister-in-law. When we ordered five tickets for a Russian Dance Festival for the Saturday during their visit, we got a call from Todd asking us if we could get one more ticket because Kailee's sister was now bringing a friend. Todd was so convincing when he even gave this friend the name of Lisa.When we got to the airport, we were waiting upstairs where we would be able to see them come down into the baggage claim area. Todd came down first and motioned for us to leave the window and go downstairs. Obviously he didn't want us to see the others coming down the escalator. We obediently went downstairs to await our guests. That is the only time we even suspected anything but even then we only thought that it would be just like Jon to come with Todd. We even reasoned that he could be Kailee's sister's friend who was added on at the last minute. Paul made a suggestion that maybe all the children were coming and I immediately dismissed that idea because Andrea is deathly afraid of flying. 

We all came to truly love Moscow because

we were experiencing it together.

Well, how wrong we were.  Todd was the first to come through the door....then Jon....then Andrea.... and then Ryan. Talk about a surprise.  By that time, I was crying uncontrollably. We were both in a state of shock. Absolutely a dream come true.  We have often seen something or experienced something here and have commented on how much we wish our children could be a part of what was happening in our lives here in Moscow. We had 5 glorious days to share our mission and Moscow with them. 

It was Wednesday morning when they all flew in. Even though they were very tired (they were all too excited to sleep on the plane) we kept them busy late into the night. After coming to our apartment and checking out our humble living conditions, Dad took Jon and Todd to their hotel to get settled. After a quick bite to eat at a nearby mall, it was then off to the Moscow river cruise which would give our children a relaxing way to see the layout of Moscow and an overview of many points of interest. It was so fun to be together.  Paul and I kept wondering if we were dreaming......and I had to fight back the tears every time I looked at them and realized we were all together in Russia.

Of course we had to take the metro to the river cruise.

They all had to touch the nose of the dog statue in this metro

station.  It is a Russian tradition for good luck.

One of many fountains we saw during our few days together.

This one is near where we boarded our river boat.

All together on the upper deck of our boat....

ready to see the sights of Moscow.

Novospassky Monastery as seen

from the river

At the end of the cruise, we toured the Novospassky Monastery which was nearby. Andrea and I were required to put scarves over our heads as we walked through the monastery grounds. When we entered the church to have a look, the boys were turned away because they all had shorts on.  Andrea and I were allowed to enter as we had on pants that covered our knees. This gave Andrea a feel for the Russian Orthodox churches which are so prevalent here.  It was then a walk back toward Todd and Jon's hotel for dinner at a restaurant we knew served good food. There was lots of menu items to chose from....even sushi for Jon.  

At the entrance of the monastery 

The lovely scarves covering our heads

Dinner at an Italian/Japanese restaurant

My first taste of sushi........Paul wouldn't even try it.

On the walk home they had to take a picture with this Armenian man.

Thursday, we headed to Victory Park to see the wonderful tribute to those 27,000,000 Russians killed during the fighting, what the Russians call, the Great Patriotic War, World War II.  The walk up to the museum is impressive with fountains on either side of the main path leading to a large statue and obelisk honoring the Greek Goddess of Victory. We were all touched by the reverence the Russians have for their fallen soldiers.

Victory Park entrance

Just like the statue

In the Hall of Remembrance

At Shake Shack for

delicious hamburgers

For lunch we jumped on the metro, went down two stops to Arbat street so our children could experience the Shake Shack. Lunch was delicious and the walk down Arbat street enjoyable. Of course, we couldn't leave without a frozen yogurt treat from Tuiti Fuiti. 

A favorite Russian buffet - MooMoo's.

There are three of them along Arbat Street so

our children had to take a picture by their

signature black and white cow.

By the evening we were ready to just relax in front of a movie in our living room. Such a fun day. Todd made the comment as we were preparing dinner that it doesn't matter where we live, home is where ever Mom and Dad are......even in our 500 square foot apartment in downtown Moscow, Russia.

The Kremlin wall in the background

Friday was the day to visit the icons of Russia....the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral. Our children had the same feeling we did when we first walked this area.....unbelief that we were really here in Russia.  We stopped at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier to watch a changing of the guards with their goose stepping moves and then walked to see about getting tickets to tour the churches inside the Kremlin grounds. The lines were incredibly long so we decided not to spend valuable time waiting in line but to just walk around the area. Our walk included seeing the underground mall, many beautiful fountains, the Bolshoi Theater, Gum's department store mall, and St. Basil. While inside St. Basil Cathedral, we sat and listened to some incredible singers who were wonderful....no background instrumental music, just the incredible acoustics of the tower in which they were performing.  One of the singers commented that Jon looked like Arnold Swartzenager.  He even pulled out a book with Arnold's picture on the front.

In front of the Bolshoi Theater

and its beautiful fountain.

The Russian Historical Museum in 

the background.

Standing together in front of St. Basil in Moscow, Russia

AMAZING!!!!!

         

Inside St. Basil Cathedral

Caught in the rain with not enough umbrellas...

a shopping bag over the head seems to work well. 

After lunch and relaxing for a bit, we took the metro back to our apartment as it was threatening rain. We did get caught in a major downpour on our way to see our Institute room in the church building. It was there we decided to change plans for the afternoon. Jon and I went to view the Russian artwork at the Tretyakov Art Museum while Paul took the others to see where we do our weekly shop. We needed to go to Ashans to buy another fan. Our air conditioner unit in our bedroom started leaking between the wall and the wallpaper so we had to turn it off. (We were glad we had another fan in our apartment as it turned really hot on Saturday and Sunday.)  It was dinner at home, visiting, and then to bed.  Our children aren't used to walking so much everyday and were exhausted. 

Jon standing in front of the Appearance of Christ painting

A Russian icon painting

 dating back to the

 1100's-One of the many 

incredible art pieces at 

The Tretyakov Art Museum

For many, Saturday was a favorite day.  We started the day at the Ismylava Market where everyone bought gifts for their loved ones back at home. They all had a great time bargaining for the best prices and felt they all got some really good deals. It was fun when we got home to see everyone's purchases......hats, matrushka dolls, music boxes, a jeweled dragon and frog, and lighted crystal pieces with scenes of Russia etched inside.  

While at the market we

gave our favorite vendor

a BYU shirt to match

his hat. 

It was then off to the DVNKh park (All Russian Exhibition Center) to see the space monument and the many incredible buildings and fountains in the park. It was a lot of walking but the children were able to get a feel for life during the Soviet era of this country. This park was the number one tourist stop during Soviet times.....a show a power, wealth and strength.  

Resting at the base of the space monument

That evening we attended an Russian Dance Show performed in a hall just across from the park. We welcomed the chance to sit in an air conditioned building and watch an incredible dance performance portraying the story of Russia through the distinct style of Russian folk dance. The talent and stamina the dancers displayed was amazing and kept us in awe the whole evening. We were all so glad we could experience this part of the Russian culture.

Hot and humid described Sunday, but it was so wonderful to be in church with all our children.  We were so glad they could experience listening to the talks being translated into English by one of the missionaries and singing the songs in Russian. They met many of our friends and young singles before we left the church for some Sunday appropriate sight seeing.

We took the metro to the Christ Savior Cathedral and as we went inside everyone was awed by the opulence and beauty displayed. The walls were painted with religious scenes as were the very high domed ceilings. As in all the Russian Orthodox churches, the inside was decorated with lots of ornate gold works. We wished we could have taken pictures but it is a working church with people worshiping inside continually. The outside was equally as impressive, though the dome was undergoing some renovation work.

We decided to walk home by way of the Lock Tree Bridge so the children could watch Paul and I 'lock our love' as is the custom here in Russia. We had painted a lock with our initials which we took with us. Once there, we locked it on one of the metal trees on the bridge and threw the key into the river....also the custom in Russia.




By the time we got home, we were drenched with sweat and welcomed sitting in front of the fans while dinner was being fixed. 


That evening we wanted our children to experience one more park....Tsaritsina Park.  It is where Catherine the Great had a palace built that she never lived in. Again, we walked a long way but enjoyed the beauty of the grounds, the palace, and the dancing fountain. To relax again in front of a movie was our choice to end our last evening together.

A walking bridge across a gully on the palace grounds

The huge and magnificent palace

              

Enjoying the dancing fountains

Early Monday morning we took our children to the airport, via the aeroexpress train, got them checked in, and said our good byes as they entered passport control to return home. We left the airport sad that their visit had come to an end, but so grateful for having all of us together here in Russia for five incredible days. We will be indebted to Todd and his generosity for making this all possible.  (He used a big chunk of his frequent flyer miles to get everyone over here.)  We told him he has given us a life time's worth of Christmas gifts.

Heading on the metro to the train that took us to the airport.

Andrea was glad it would be her last metro ride.

Not her favorite thing about Moscow.

LIVING IN RUSSIA SPOTLIGHT

We have mentioned several times how there are certain things we cannot buy in Russia. Our problem of not finding what we want was solved with the children's visit. Todd packed a whole suitcase full of welcomed American products.....graham crackers, Oreo cookies, vanilla, brown sugar, etc.  We hope we are set now, but who knows. With the new embargoes Russia has set against USA and European products, our ability to get what we need and want might be severely limited. We'll keep you posted.


While walking to the Cosmos Hotel to check out where the dance performance would be held, we passed this Hummer limo......Now that is really traveling in style. How about a little off road experience in this Hummer?






Russians are big into festivals.  As we were walking around Moscow this week we noticed preparations were being made for a festival. When we asked what it was all about we were told it was a festival celebrating Crimea. Interesting!  Part of the preparations around Red Square included this amazing sand castle. It was one of two the artist was working on. We watched for a while as he meticulously sculpted out the ear on this child. So much detail work. We wondered what happened to these when it rained later that afternoon.

THE BEST WEEK YET IN RUSSIA BECAUSE WE SHARED IT 

WITH THOSE WE LOVE THE MOST