When we got home from our outing today I put hudson down to have a little drink when i went back to check on him jo had snuggled up next to him and was even hugging him a bit. It is so precious when Josiah wants to be with Hudson, I hope they will always be great friends. 

Hudson is really good at standing now and has taken a step a few times usually landing on the ground but once he took a step and stayed up for a few minutes. So... I think he has Emma beat with her walking at 9 months record because she walked in her last week of the ninth month but he is just in his first. Unless he takes a break and has no improvement in the next few weeks:) 

Winter is here!

another one of poor cold Hudson. I don't really know how to cover his face which is what they (the babushka's) say is cold. I believe them that it is but I know he wouldn't want it covered anymore than that. He doesn't like mittens and boots and a snowsuit as it is nevermind not being able to see anything:) I guess I could put a scarf around him too and an extra hat. Maybe a blanket over him even though that snowsuit is plenty warm. It is very fun in a way to be out in the snow. We couldn't make snowballs today to throw as the snow was too dry but hopefully soon we can make some. Emma is excited about snow angels and snowmen. Me too.  

josiah (thanks for the hat and scarf paula) 

Hudson and his cold nose:) 

It's Cold!

Well. seems like the snow may be here to stay. I've been having troubles getting pics on but will try again.
There isn't a lot of snow but it is very cold and when I think of going outside I get tired... It takes soooo long to get the kids dressed for the cold and wet snow and then when I get them all with their hats and mitts and boots and more clean diapers and out the door the babushka's point at them and tell me that I'm a bad mother cause they aren't dressed enough or something like that. It is different being told exactly what people think. Good thing I can't say much back to them yet cause then I'll have to bite my tongue:) One lady touched hudson's nose the other day and said Ploha Mama (bad mom:) cause it was cold. That is what happens when you go outside. I didn't have a nose hat? I guess. I wanted to touch her nose and say something about it actually being cold too.... I was warned about the babushka's and understand that it is different here. I suppose I have often thought that someone was a bad mother or wasn't taking good care of them or something like that but I would never say it, only because our culture isn't advice? friendly. We don't give candies to kids when they fall so they don't cry, we don't take our kids out to play at the exact same time as all the other kids every day, and we don't tell a stranger that their kids are getting to much sun on their face. We do things differently, each parent has a different way of doing things back home but not here it seems. We don't even tell our friends or family things like "she shouldn't have a soother anymore or they shouldn't do this or that..." Maybe we should. So I'm sure the winter will be amusing in this regard but don't worry I won't take it too hard. If anything I have always been perhaps a little too overly prepared as far as having everything one could possibly need during the day, extra clothing, snacks, hand sanitizer and the works. I will continue to say Spaciba (thankyou) to the ladies and after all, aren't the older women supposed to teach us younger ones how to do things... We westerners just aren't used to it actually happening, we don't want to give advice even when it really might be helpful.

And besides what else do the ladies sitting on the frozen bench outside all day have to talk about...

More Snow!!!!

Ok. Yes, laura we got more snow. It is adding up quickly this morning, big flakes (too bad they don't show up in the pic cause they are pretty.) David's walk to class this morning will be a little trickier than usual and by the time I head out this afternoon...oh boy. Emma asked how people will know which car is theirs now that they all turned white. Good question. Back home it is the one in our driveway. Here with no special spots or anything I imagine it can take a little looking at times. This is out our kitchen window. I actually first noticed the snow when I saw the snow on the kitchen table. It seems we will be plenty warm inside anyway as the heaters are not controlled by us and are very very hot. Our problem is how to keep the house cooler as the open windows make a very very cold breeze. Glad we don't have new airtight windows anyway. Winter starts. There is already double the snow in the picture, I'll take one later perhaps. Yikes! 

Hudson just turned 9 months old and tried out some new stunts for his 3/4 birthday. He has sturdy little legs and can free stand for quite a while now. Go Hudson Go! Well ok his legs aren't little :) but they are sturdy! 

Emma came running to tell me "I can't believe it mommy I've never seen fall and snow all together!!!! We did it mommy we did it!" I don't know what she was talking about but she was sure excited. Our first snow. I know it doesn't really show up in the picture but it is there!!! Yay! I'm kind of excited too. Emma just pointed to a man looking around and said "he doesn't look so glad that there is snow." maybe he knows what is to come.... Owell. For now we like it! Now she's telling me we need to find a Christmas tree. a little early.  

What can you get at Maxim's restaurant and bar???? (in red) 

Robin loves.... (ok easy one especially if you can read english:) 

What does this sign say? 

Emma loves.......? 

What movie is this? 

What does this store sell...... notice the two spellings. The extra letter is the makyznak which just is a little pause kinda thing. 

It's time you guys learned to read russian so I'll start you off easy. The easiest way to learn the letters is to start with english words spelled with Russian letters. I'm not even gonna ask if you can read this sign. I'll find some harder ones.... 

A New Cousin!

My brother Robin and his wife Carla had their fifth child today! Kyla Jane weighing in at 10lbs 14oz. You are amazing carla:) Emma is soooo excited. She said just like I want a girl!!! Yikes. Congratulations! Can't wait to hear all about her:)

We have been trying to cut josiah back on milk. He loves milk soooo much. Even the ultra high temp long life shelf stuff they sell here. Though this brand Parmalat! doesn't smell tooooo bad. He looked in the fridge and saw that the container was empty so he went in the cupboard and brought me this saying more more more more bottle bottle (The t's are glottals if that means anything to you.) I gave in this time but hopefully I'll have the strength to say sorry no jo more as he isn't hungry at meal times and he needs more than milk. He is getting a little thin me thinks. 

Clean Up! This morning we have been doing some housecleaning, we seem to do that every morning actually. Emma asked for a cloth so she could do some dusting and then Josiah wanted one of course. I put on some fast music Axle F etc. (crazy frog) and we really go at it. I followed behind them really cleaning:)  

Ok here is a puzzle via our friend Vanya. Question: Which way is the bus going? (Include why you think so with your answer...) 

Can't wait till Christmas!

We are so excited to be able to say that we will have family here for Christmas!!! Andy and Char are coming to visit us for 8 days! Yay! We are playing christmas music today as we play cause we are so excited. They won't be here for Christmas Day but they will be here for the most important holiday here in Russia. New Year's Eve. But i think it is called something else? Anyway. There will be fireworks, well there are fireworks almost everynight at 11pm not sure why but I mean really big and lots of them on Dec.31st. The hard thing is that public transportation shuts down on Jan 1st for the day so I don't think we'll head to far in case we can't get back:) We can't wait to show you two around!
Another exciting thing is that Josiah has started talking again. He used to talk saying things like please etc. but went on strike and we couldn't get him to say anything except Pakaye at times. But the last couple of days he will say lots of words especially if we say Yay after each word. So he talks. Yay.
Gotta go do some more homework. Learning about answering using because, about, cognitive verbs and fun stuff like that. Why? Patamushka Ya Hoetiat Govarit PaRuski Ochen Horasho! Paka!

Cart use #3. Josiah always likes to find new places to sit and look at books.  

Another use for the cart. This way Josiah and Hudson both have fun and Jo just goes backwards when he gets to the end of the room.  

Yes Mom, Hudson is getting closer to walking. We got him this little walker thing and he goes around the house pretty good especially for 8 months old. He is a strong guy and has good coordination. He gets mad when he gets stuck at the end of the room though so it is fun for 1 minute and then he cries at the couch or wall and then we turn it around and then he gets a bit more fun. Soon he'll learn to turn it around himself... 

Here is a shamanistic flag up on the hill over Kyzyl. Some of you have asked about shamanism and I must admit I don't know too much. It is similar or part of animism. Click here to get a description of it in brief. We will learn more about it I'm sure in the future. Tuva is Buddhist as well/ combined sort of.  

Inside the Shaman house 

Tuvan wrestlers? 

Another Shaman