More pics

This is Garett again from Russia....see post below for more explanation.

Notice how small the pockets are in comparrision to the pool ball in Russian Billiards. Very difficult to play as you can imagine.

So, I don't think I have ever had a more "Russian" evening then this in my life. First off, we spent the entire day in Moscow, seeing everything. Then we came back out to the most spectacular dacha (cottage) in the countryside that I have ever seen. They have a Russian Sauna in the basement. After eating roast chicken, russian blackbread, fresh watermelon, russian salad, etc. We escaped down to the sauna, then we would get out rinse in cool water, wrap ourselves in towels and play russian billiards in our towels. When we cooled off, we would pause the game and go back into the sauna again and repeat. It was awesome!

"I follow the Moskva Down to Gorky Park, listening to the wind of change. An August summer night, Soldiers passing by listening to the wind of change" - Scorpions, Wind of Change. Well, This is Gorky Park. A large park in Moscow on the Moscow River that has all kinds of fair like activities including some "Amerikanskii Gorki" which are roller coaster. How awesome was that!

There are a lot of things that Russians eat "for health," I guess that is no different from us. This is straight up pollen balls collected by bees. In fact there is a dried out bee in this pollen. Anyway, fill a teaspoon with the dry pollen, eat it in the morning and wash it down with water for more "energy." Yummy, just dont eat the bee!

Where in the world!

This is Garett, I thought I would quickly hijack the blog to post some pictures from where we are at right now in Voronezh, Russia. I have the most wonderful wife who encouraged me to visit my most favorite place in the world (Russia), where I served my mission from 2000 to 2002. I couldn't convince her to bring Mallory and leave the boys in AZ this time, so next time she will be my travel partner. Fortunately I have an excellent brother who is always up for an adventure, and this is his first time going out of the country, so what better place than Russia?

This is at Victory Park in Moscow inside the WWII museum there. This is the "Hall of Heros." The USSR recognized some 70000+ individual Soldiers here in this room as "Heroes," and I think they actually were alive when they were recognized. How is that for something, no a days in American they wont even consider a living Soldier for the nation's highest wartime medal.

You can just tour the metro stations in Moscow and see some of the most beautiful art. This is the metro station at Victory park.

We took a boat tour of Moscow on the Moscow River. This is the "Temple of Christ the Savior" it is just down the river from the Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basil's Cathedral. Down the river further you can see Gorky Park, Moscow State University, and many other wonderful sights. In case you were wondering, there was only a little smokу on the first day we arrived. Then it rained a little and things were crystal clear (at least as clear as a city of like 10million+ can be). The weather was absolutely perfect, 70 degree with a mild breeze and partly cloudy.

Our first dinner at the Dacha outside of Moscow. I am determined to pack in as much Russian Culture for my brother Jeff as I can in the short time that we are here in Russia. This is a traditional Russian salad (cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, and a little salt and oil), Pelmainy (which are like wonderful meat filled dumplings, which you top with sour cream or ketchup), some fresh bread from the corner. Excellent!

Jeff and I on Red Square right after we got to Moscow.

Canada

On Sunday I thought about it, on Monday I found out Garett wasn't coming with, on Tuesday I made the decision to go, on Wednesday I freaked out, on Thursday I packed and on Friday I went..........to Canada........driving..........with two boys and newborn............it was a super great week......Seriously!

On the way there we stopped in Erie, PA and stayed the night at our friends house. Preston was in Preschool with their son and was so excited to see him again. They took us to Lake Erie and as we drove there I totally fell in love with Erie. I know I can't believe it either but from what I saw, it looks like a really great place to live.

The next day we drove the last 3 hours. We were all super excited to see Auntie Sues. Preston kept going to her and gave her kisses on the arm or face or hand, basically anywhere he could reach.

Mallory was a champ during the driving. I took Garett's car which allowed the kids all to be in the same row. Preston sat next to Mali and every time she would make a peep he would shove a paci in her mouth. It wasn't that bad to drive by myself and I would totally do it again, just not anytime soon.

Spencer, Preston and Luke

The ward/church that we went to when we lived there no longer exists (it was split and combined with other wards, which was sad for us). Because of the change I went to church at the wrong time and had to wait an hour for it to start. The boys were super cranky so the waiting was not really fun. Right when church started Preston laid on the floor and took a nap, I had to wake him up at the end.

We spent the week going to our favorite parks and stores, eating street meat and other favorite foods, cuddling Auntie Sues, and of course playing with Puppy Morgan. Morgan is a face licker, she also likes to lick in the inside of your ear. I hate it but of course the boys called it kissing and loved it. Yeah, I wasn't giving them very many kisses after that.

Mallory is a mama's girl. It took her a little time to warm up to Sues, but as you can see here, she loves her Auntie!!

Mallory loved Puppy Morgan and surprisingly she loved her back. Mallory would grab Morgan hair by the fist fulls. It had to have hurt but Morgan never yelped, snapped or anything, she just kept on coming back.. She loved to kiss Mallory, sometimes it was overwhelming for Mali. In this picture Mallory was trying to eat Morgan.

All of the parks in Toronto have a wading pool like this. It was prefect for the boys. I wish North Carolina had something like this. We went to a few different parks and played in the water.

On Friday Garett flew into town and we headed strait for the island. It is such a fun place to go. There is a small amusement park for kids, bike trails with cool bikes for 4 to rent, tons of picnic area and beaches (clothes optional and clothes required). We decided to head for the beach (clothes required). However, once we got to the first one Garett decided that he wanted to go to a different beach. We had to walk about 2 miles to get there, but it was a nice walk and we enjoyed it.

This was one of the parks on the island. No fear Spencer was at the top in seconds, but before we left Spencer "taught" Preston, so the both were at the very top.

Preston was making a sand angel and then fell asleep.

The water was so cold but the boys loved playing in the sand. Of course we got in!!!!

This is how Mallory enjoyed the beach.

Lastly, on Saturday, Auntie Sues took us out for a very special treat. We went to the CN Tower (boys call it the Tower of Power after a backyardagins). The tower has a restaurant on the 117th floor that rotates. It was awesome!!!

The Tower of Power also has a observation deck with a glass floor. Spence was jumping all over it. No Fear. Preston and I were a little chicken, so we just watched Spencer.

We had a great time in Canada. We love you and miss you Auntie Sues!!!

A couple picks of summer

Just wanted to get a couple pictures online. Will post some more soon from our recent trip to Toronto.

Catching a quick nap.

Say cheese!

Bath time.

Crape Myrtle trees really are not for climbing...but don't tell them that.

Ready for a morning at the playground.