A Wet Morning

This morning as Aaron was getting ready for school, he noticed something unpleasant- water was dripping from a crack in the ceiling in our kitchen. So, I called our landlady and told her as well as I could what was happening. She called back later and said that our neighbor from upstairs would come and look at it. He came a while later and said something about mice and rats (could a rat chew through a pipe?) and said (I think) that he would wrap something around the pipe to stop the leak. At times like this I wish my Russian was a little better! So, we'll see what happens.

On another note, here are some fun quotes from Lydia:

• "Can you pray for my crayons, the tea ball, and my plate?"

• (While walking outside behind some pigeons) "I can't walk with not wearing my boots, like the birdies. But they CAN!"

Exciting Day for Science Teachers

Yesterday we got to see a very special monument on the way to visit some friends... A monument to Mendeleev, and his periodic table of the elements! Here we are in front of it:

It was an exciting evening for Lydia too, because she got to play with another little two-year old girl. They had quite a time together, and at the end of the evening little Olivia said, "I love you! You will come back!"

More Fall Frolicking

We've been having some really great fall weather here! We try to get out and enjoy it to make the most of it! Yesterday afternoon we walked to the Summer Gardens and joined many others who were out strolling and enjoying the beautiful sunny day. It was interesting to see so many people picking up the colorful leaves- adults and kids. Another interesting thing was that many people were weaving the leaves together somehow to make a garland-type hat! We asked one lady if we could take her picture with her wearing her hat and Lydia, and she was so nice and put the hat on Lydia's head for the picture. Even the statues were getting in on the fun (see below!)

Here we are in front of Peter the Great's Summer Palace:
Today Lydia and I made a craft with some of the leaves she picked up a few days ago. Here she is showing off her work:
This is her face after I told her to give me a big smile!