Our fall in pictures

I had some interesting experiences with the medicine here in Kazakhstan. We have great medical insurance here but the quality of medical treatments is really hit and miss; everything depends on the doctors you get. When Nika had her surgery last year, we got to a good doctor. When Spencer had his ordeal with cancer, we went through a few doctors before we finally got to a good one. I wasn't so lucky. I have been having an unexplained pain for the last 4 years, and I went to a number of doctors here a few times, every time to no avail as far as my concerns would go. But every time they wanted to treat something else. Last time they thought I had some inflammation in the rib cage, so they prescribed 5 days of IV treatment. IV treatment is something they freely use here to treat just about anything. That and shots. This is how they administer most drugs. You need antibiotics? Sure, here is your shot, or even better ... here are your 10 shots! I had to choose between shots and IV, and since I had to endure IV for only 5 days (vs. 10 days of shots), I went with it. Here is me enjoying my choice at our health clinic on campus. There was no gain but no loss either, so I guess all is well.

Sophie is our absolute animal lover! She loves all animals but especially our dog Yuki. Yuki usually doesn't like cuddling (like in the picture bellow) with anyone, but she lets Sophie do it. This is how I often find the two of them.

We had our friends, the Thomas family, over for dinner and Halloween celebration here on campus. The kids were very excited to do real trick-or-treating among our four apartment buildings. While the kids went on a candy hunt by themselves, the adults had a great time visiting.

Our combined crew of trick-or-treaters.

Getting ready to go out for the candy loot!

As usual, our girls were very creative Halloween artists!

Our entrance door from outside.

I was very proud of myself for creating this Pinterest worthy dessert: witch fingers! (shortbread cookies with jam and almonds)

In November Spencer had his 41st birthday. Contrary to what he may have thought as a child, he didn't die at such an old age! Just got a bit wiser, that's all!

In November we also went to a Korean Cultural Night that was held at the Ballet Theater. That theater was built two years ago and is very modern looking. Before the night started, the Korean ambassador gave a speech  about different projects that South Korea and Kazakhstan have together. The cultural event had dancers and melodies performed on traditional Korean instruments. The dances were very unique.  They were the complete opposite to the energetic Russian dances I am used to. In a way they reminded me of shaman dances of Siberian tribes. Very interesting!

Spencer's childhood friend, Jon Peterson, came to Astana in November to teach a 2-week course at Nazarbayev University. Jon and his family lived here a few years ago, and became our family overseas. It was really nice to have him here and to remember the "good ol' times".

Our Thanksgiving dinner with Jon.

Our church branch had a Thanksgiving get together at the Thomas's house. We had super yummy potluck dinner and then played a fun charades game with a Thanksgiving theme. It was a fun evening.

Here is Sophie showing whatever it was she was showing for all of us to guess.

Our Christmas Program at the church was much earlier this year because all three families (all three happen to be American families) were leaving in the first part of December to various vacation destinations. One went to Dubai, another one went to India, and we went to visit our family in America. Here are our Primary children singing a Christmas song during the meeting. This was the last time all of them were in the same class together because the three girls in the back (two of them are ours) have moved up to the youth class with the ringing of the New Year.

It is 2020 and the University went above and beyond in preparing for the New Year Celebrations! When I took the two pictures below, they didn't have all of the decorations up yet but it was very festive already!

Babushka and Sophie are in the background. 

We had a long fall this year and a pretty mild winter so far but winter nonetheless. My favorite time is when we have a fog in the night and early morning and then the sun comes out, and we have a Winter Wonderland! Of course, we will have this Winter Wonderland for 5-6 months, and by the end of the season we will all be fed up with it but for now it is a pure joy!

The front of the university.

I am just loving all of it!

 Well, as I mentioned earlier, for Christmas we went to America to visit our family and so our next post will be about our adventures there.

Our Summer Trip to Utah - Part 3

Every year in the summer when we come to Utah, the kids take swimming lessons. They are all very good swimmers but I want them to learn proper techniques and solid water survival skills, so we make them take swimming. Most of them love it. The one that doesn't still has to do. Yep, we are mean parents. And we are good at it!

Lexa making her breast stroke.

Sophie is making her way to the other side of the pool.

Twins were the only ones in their class who would dive head first and they took every opportunity to do so and then some more!

Nika and Lina waiting for their class to begin.

Payson where we mostly spend our time in the summer has Scottish Festival at the beginning of July. This year it took place just a few days after our arrival. People from many different states come to compete in Highland Games. Our favorite event was when they had to throw this haystack weighing 16 lb for men and 12 lb for women up over a raised bar. There were some very impressive throws!

This guy was over 60 years old and a champion in his age category.

A log throwing by women is happening in the back.

Kids watching intently and cheering for their favorite contestant.

While in Utah we also took the kids to the Payson Temple and to Temple Square in Salt Lake City. At Temple Square we visited our favorite place - the Family Search Center. It is a lot of fun for all ages plus you end up learning something about your family. For example, we found out that Spencer (and our girls) are related to a few famous people including a couple of US Presidents. My family on the other hand is a mystery since we all come from Eastern Europe and Russia.

It was Lina's first time going inside the temple.

At Temple Square in Salt Lake City.

Reflection pool

This is one of my favorite pictures of the Salt Lake Temple.

Spencer at the Family Search Center is finding people he is related to.

All of the places his ancestors came from.

Girls are leaving a recording for posterity.

It is funny how when you live in a place, you often do not explore much around it. Since we moved out from Utah, we keep finding these little gems that we didn't know about while we lived there. Or maybe it is just that we are at a different point in our life now and have different interests. I love hiking but there are no mountains in Astana where we currently live. And so I try to find some fun hikes whenever we happen to be around the mountains. Donut Falls up in Big Cottonwood Canyon was such find! I heard about it on one of the blogs I read sometimes so we decided to try it out. It was sprinkling a little the day we went there but it didn't stop us. The area was just beautiful. The hike was easy and led to a nice waterfall.

Twins and Spencer are crossing a little stream.

Two partners in crime.

Mika and Lina trying to get back down from a rock. The rocks were wet, and it was quite an ordeal.

Nika

Lina

Beautiful!

While in Utah we visited some of our dear friends and family... unfortunately, I didn't take pictures with each one of them.

One night we had a dinner with the Stices at their Provo home.  They've been home from Kazakhstan for a year now, and it was fun to see them again.

We saw Mary and Jerry Busenbark who we haven't seen in a few years.

And one evening we met up with Spencer's two high-school friends, Mike Hansen and Dan Haring and their families at Payson Park. We all have kids about the same ages and they all ran together and got along great!

We made a couple of trips up to Logan and ran into Aunt Laura at the Farmer's Market! Of course, later we gathered for a big get together at her house with some of our family.

Twins being twins at her house.

We also stopped at Suzie's house for a couple of days, and the girls had a great time playing with their cousins and Jade the dog.

We are a pretty good team!

Every great vacation comes to an end at some point. We loved seeing our family and friends and having all of the great experiences but it was time to go home. We are now back in Astana having other kinds of adventures.

Lexa walking through the airport in Houston.

When a crew member saw the way I put our luggage in the overhead compartment, he was in awe. He was also a German which makes his awe even more impressive!