Seeing Greece Together: The News

These photos are from February. While CC was gone, I researched some ideas for Spring Break. I found that our entire family could take the short 4-day Greek cruise that I did with a couple of friends last year for the cost of a hotel/gas to one of our normal spots. We are painfully aware that the clock is ticking now with having the 7 of us all together still for vacations. So, I CC up while he was missing us, far away, 8000 miles away. CC agreed that although he's never wanted to go on a cruise (read here: doesn't like them) and although it seemed like a lot of trouble, if I planned everything, we could go.

Realizing it was a stretch for him and appreciating his heart to be willing, I wanted him to be the one to tell the kids. Here are their reactions to finding out they would get to experience a cruise. 

Fast forward to March. We walked out the door to school at 3PM, drove straight to the airport, parked our van, and boarded a plane. Pegasus Airlines is our budget airline here. We flew to the Turkish Aegean Coast round trip for $50 each. I told you it was cheap. Here are the girls eating their Easter treats from Aunt B.

Our flight was only an hour. Then we waited at the airport for a bus to take us the one hour journey to the docks. We were a little tired, but very excited. 

I booked the cheapest hotel I could find that would enable us to just walk to the cruise ship the next morning. (With 7 people, transport is always hard. We can't fit in a taxi all together. So this seemed the easiest thing.) The hotel was...cheap. It's rare to still find hotel rooms that smell like smoke, but we did. We listened to a band at a bar next door, right up until the 4AM call to prayer. Blessedly, they quit once the call went out! 

We had a simple breakfast the next morning. That's always provided in Turkish hotels. 

And we looked out our windows to see this! 

And soon we watched our ship pull in!!! 

This was just before embarkation! 

Russian Adventure: On our way back home

Just before we left, M walked me to a Russian grocery store, and I filled my bags (on her credit card...she's stubborn) with sausage and cheese and random treats with Russian writing.

Lettuce is purchased with the roots in a pot!

Fish everywhere!

Pickled everything. Everywhere.

These are little filled dough balls. M says she buys them to boil for a quick dinner.

Caviar!

The sweet Russian lady M buys from each week!

 And then our driver came and we had to say goodbye. 

Firstborn and I had a direct flight home. For the price of a cup of tea in the airport, we found a cafe and used their Internet. I love this girl. She was a great travelling buddy! 

Russian Adventure: Time for Goodbye

It was a short weekend, only 3 days, but time/money well spent. I got to do this awesome trip with my daughter who will (in one year) fly on her own wings. I got to see an old friend who has made the effort to keep me in her life, though I am far away. I can even say someone spied on me now! I got to be with a family that strives to serve Jesus and love Him authentically. It was so great!

We walked the girls to their school on Monday.

I loved seeing their school, especially since we are soon to move into a bigger campus. I kept snapping pictures of fun ideas! Here's the entrance. 

A parent waiting lounge.

I jotted down ideas on how they do meal plans.  We've always ordered from outside vendors. Next year, we might have our own catering company. (READ HERE: NO MORE PACKING LUNCHES!!! I'm a little emotional at the thought, in a happy way.)

A musical instrument collage.

Paper murals to make the walls come alive.

The girls said goodbye. And then we all got a little sad. I prayed for these girls' safe delivery into the world. And I prayed for their first twin brother and sister who are in heaven, born the day before my birthday. That's what happens with lifelong friends. Hard times and happy times, you're there for it all.

Library fun!

A play center in the hall.

I super loved this! Clocks with times around the world. We'd need a lot at our school!

A world map made with bottle caps. Going to set my kids to making one this summer!

A timeline of world events.

Learning while you ascend the stairs.

And a painted mural of the beautiful city of Moscow. Ankara would be lovely, too.

Russian Adventure: Downtown Shots

While downtown, we got to see some amazing things. This was taken in Red Square. 

If ever given the chance, I'll always want to see how a country honors their unknown soldiers. 

It was freezing. Have I mentioned that? S and M took us into an amazing burger joint. Firstborn had been to one like it in Istanbul, but I never had. It was delicious. 

We walked in and out of stores.

One of our favorite memories is this. These enormous creatures, from Russian cartoons, walked the streets. When Firstborn stopped to get a photo with this large-eared mouse, he started to get a little too mousy. She quickly escaped his arms (and attempt at a kiss). This photo shows it all. And the sweet twins found a little wooden stacking doll of this mouse and surprised her with it later! 

We bought some "cider." Cider, they said. Wow! Somehow all my ailments were gone after a sip of that "cider." It is Russia, afterall. 

Russian Adventure: Nightime City Cruise

They treated us to a dinner cruise, passing all the beautiful sites along the Moscow River. It was wonderful! I wish I'd taken a picture of my food! I had a bowl of borscht. Beet soup. Sound lovely? It was. I could eat it every day with a big dollop of sour cream on top!

Here are some of the pictures I took from the boat. 

Old friends, since college days! 

Not one bit of editing. It was that beautiful. 

We stole up on deck (freezing, it's always freezing) for a quick picture! 

After the cruise, we walked back through the market. This isn't as clear as I'd hoped, but it looked so Russian to me. 

Firstborn played big sis. She does that well.