Circus, Circus, Circus

I am thinking Christmas card worthy. What do you think?

In front of the famous Russian Circus

Lily lovingly stroking the leopard. What!!!!!!!

<>At least the alligator had its mouth tied together.
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I've heard from my siblings how great the Russian circus was so our kids were dying to see it. We waited till Matt arrived in Russia to go. It was great!!!!! There were lions, dancing poodles, a chicken in ballet toe shoes, and man and woman dancing on moving horses, and much more. The kids loved it. Jane was harder to contain in a seat so I took her out and then Matt took over and was able to get her to sleep. Thank goodness that girl is strong and very very active. Thanks Mema and Papa for a great time at the circus. I think this one will be hard to beat in the USA. I think animal rights activist would not be happy.

Red square

In front of Lennon's tomb. As Matt, Porter and I were walking down to see him it was really dark. I could see a soldier at the end of the hall. I thought it was a statue. As we got closer it moved and I screamed. It scared me so bad.

Mema and Papa showed us around Red Square. It was so cool to be there and see the buildings I've seen in pictures and TV for so long.

My mom took the kids for a day and Matt and I were able to tour the Kremlin. We really wanted to see the armory and they only sell a few tickets. So we got there really early and we were 5Th in line. But to our dismay many people made there way up to the front. They didn't care that we had been in line. The last tickets were sold to the group in front of us. So we went on a tour of the grounds and churches. There were some really neat churches. I couldn't read Russian so I didn't find out much about them. Matt listened to a tour group speaking Spanish, so he understood somethings and passed it along. The art inside was really cool and the air inside was really cool too.

The missionaries

We were able to spend some time with the Moscow West missionaries. They were so cute and seemed to be valiant servants. It would be a difficult mission so they need the best of the best. The kids even got their own tags and loved being a missionary too. They even sang I am a child of God in Spanish for the first service at the new Spanish branch. Matt gave the talk and did a great job. So I think I didn't understand much.

Eating lunch with the missionaries after the zone leaders council.

The future Elder Flake

Don't step on the grass

Everyday the kids wanted to eat MacDonald's and go to the parks. Of course their Mema spoiled them and bought them kids meals each time because the toy was a i dog. even Jane loved the i-dogs so she got her own kids meal too. We collected a lot of i dogs during this trip. We loved the parks so the kids could run around and play. Their favorite park was the one with swans and squirrels. We would bring food to feed the swans and tried to feed the caged squirrels with fruit. They did have one crazy rule. You were not allowed to walk on the grass. That was a hard one to follow, but we tried. Thank goodness for parks!!!!

In front of my parents apartment ready to go on our daily outing.

I don't think I've ever eaten at MacDonald's so many times in my life.

They had the cutest wooden statues in the children's park

Lily loved the swans and pretended to be the swan princess.

Mema loves to find rocks shaped as hearts and found this one at the park.

They had some animals in cages that the kids loved to go see.

Hanging out in Moscow

I just got back from a 2 week vacation to Moscow. My parents are there serving as mission president. I was the last one out of my siblings to make the trip to visit them. I was really nervous to take the kids by myself. It was very stressful at times, but we survived. I was so glad Matt made it for the second week. I had so much fun being with my parents and seeing their faithful missionaries. They spoiled me and the kids like crazy. I have so many great pictures and memories.
The kids loved sitting in the window and watching outside. They would get their pillows and blankets and pretend to be camping.

Lily was so tired from the time change she would fall asleep doing the funniest things.

Lily loved putting makeup on with Mema. Every morning when Mema was getting ready she would join in. Mema said that she was really good at it and that she used a light hand. Maybe she can give her mom some tips.

Porter loved playing the piano. He learned to play star wars and loved showing the missionaries when they came over for dinners and lunch. He also learned the beginning to I hope they call me on a mission. Its time for a piano!!!