Packing List

Ten years ago our honeymoon packing list to Mazatlan, Mexico included things like sunscreen and bathing suits.

Our packing list this time around includes items such as several bottles of water, can opener, water purification tablets, peanut butter (for a friend in Ukraine since they don't have PB there), flashlight, duct tape, antibiotics for TD, and a spare book of Mormon in English, Russian, and Ukranian to give away.

However, we intend to have just as much fun this time around even if it doesn't include any sand or surf.

Winding Down

We wait and wait and wait for the Specht cousins to get here. We play, and play, and play, and then unbelievably, it's already time for them to go back home to Nebraska. Like Bryant said, "it seems like a millisecond."

Thanks for the memories cousins!

School supplies...check

Took four kids to Wal-mart to do school supply shopping and shopping for trip necessities (disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, water purification tablets etc.). We were there for a long time and I broke down and opened a box of granola bars to appease Hyrum before we actually checked out. I had some explaining to do to my kids who were shocked that mom was letting Hyrum eat something we hadn't paid for.

James is away to inservice and we miss him.

Great Neighbors

We had our annual neighborhood BBQ tonight. This is our sixth one, and now it is just a party with friends and not stressful. We are saying good-bye to a couple we have really grown to love as they head off to new adventures in Arizona.

Hotels in Kyiv and Kharkov now booked. Still praying for rain for Moscow. A few more details in transportation between cities. Lots of packing, cleaning, and getting kids ready for grandpa's and grandma's house.

Old pics, fresh smile

I'm out at my parents today so the cousins can play together. While I was looking over my mom's shoulder at the computer I saw these photos.







Currently, the performer is laying on the floor complaining about having to practice the violin...

...(15 minutes later) it's amazing how much he can improve in 20 minutes when he puts his mind to it.

Getting there...

After many, many, many phone calls, I finally found someone who was very informative and polite. Thank goodness. So, James and I are headed for our international travel appointment at the Department of Health for "education" and at least a typhoid booster. Still on the to-do list: a couple of hotels, a couple of train tickets, traveler's insurance, and last but not least (hopefully not needed) our will. But, we've made headway. We've "found" a lot of people who we care so much for and can hardly wait to look into their eyes.

On a side note, Sariah helped me put on my bracelet for our Seminaries and Institutes Broadcast this morning. Her precious little four-year old hands helped me do something that was very difficult to do myself. Love that.

GoogleEarth

Retracing steps from 12 years ago on GoogleEarth. So exciting I can hardly contain myself. Unbelievable actually.