Alone? What's that?

The boys actually slept through the nite for the first time since Angarsk, and didn't wake us up til 5:45 a.m. That's BIG! We tried putting a DVD in to get them to be quiet a little longer, and let us rest some more, but, they were thirsty and ended up in our bed - which meant we ALL got up and started out day. It was nice not to have an agenda today, and after my third cup of coffee, and blog checkin', I got JUST MYSELF ready to go out. Strangely, when I said to Harry "Mommy's going bye-bye" his response was "NO! Ne Mommy bye-bye". He did give me a hug before I left, and then I got hugs from other two boys and left...alone...with nobody else tagging behind...NOBODY! Do you know how long that has been? Geez, can't remember when I went to the bathroom without one child or another trying to barge in!

Anyway, as I left the building, I thought it might be a little like what an ex-convict feels as he/she walks outside the prison doors a free person. The sun shining on my face was amazing! As I walked, unencumbered, I must have been smiling because more than a few passersby smiled at me - something that rarely happens here in Russia!


I shopped Arbat all morning, thoroughly enjoying the fact that I could go into ANY store I wanted without hearing whiny comments like "I'm SOooooo tired". "Do they have a bathroom? I REEEAAAAAAAAAAllllly have to go". "I'm bored. Can we go back to the apartment now?" Ah, freedom.


By about noon my feet were tired of walking, so I returned - regrettably - to the apartment, where I was met with shouts of "Momma" and one no-worse-for the wear husband.


Just one mishap reported - apparently Harry was playing with his and Skip's snow globe we bought a few days ago, and clinked them together - breaking one. His. They are pretty inexpensive so we'll pick up another. Poor kid was devastated! He LOVED that thing!

We had leftover pizza for lunch, and decided instead of St. Basil's we'd go the Moscow Zoo. We figured WE might want the St. Basil's picture, but given the choice, they'd likely prefer a family photo in front of the monkey cages. Who knows, maybe it will start a new tradition. Instead of flocking to the Cathedral, they'll flock to the zoo for a photo. Or not. Either way, the zoo it was. It started to snow as we walked down Arbat towards the subway, and continued to snow the entire day. The zoo is INCREDIBLE! When you first enter you think, "it's okay" but when you realize how HUGE it is, that opinion changes quickly. It is located on both sides of a major road. Half the exhibits are on one side, and you cross off a bridge to get over to the second half. Harry was SO excited! More types of Monkeys than I knew existed, horses, zebras, giraffes, HUGE polar bears, camels, tigers, and lots more. Harry got to sit on a miniature pony and have his picture taken. He was so eager and so proud! Skip opted to pass. We bought an 8x 10 photo which cost about $8.50, and is the perfect souvenir! We spent the entire afternoon there, until just before it closed, and we still only saw half the exhibits!


The cost to get in was 150 rubles each adult, and kids are free. Less than $10 USD for all four of us! I recommend to all the waiting families out there to visit this zoo. As for the customary photo in front of St. Basil's - we're glad we passed on it. Instead we took a family photo in front of a HUGE carved animal carving. I figure, our life generally IS a zoo, so this photo would be MUCH MORE FITTING! Ya never know, we just may have started a new trend!

We took the subway back to Arbat Street, and had dinner at a great Italian Restaurant near the apartment. Then it was back to the apartment, bedtime for the boys, and Mike & I packed up.

We are READY to come home! I'll be posting in the morning before we leave, but then, the next post should be from home! YIPPEE!! 7 weeks but we're done!

Remember the photo of this building I posted a few days ago? We walked right by the zoo and didn't know it! In fact, the clinic we were at yesterday is RIGHT behind the zoo!

We HAD to let him ride this - check out the name on the grill!

giant grasshoppers!

Carnival game - he won a box of candy!

He LOVED the horse!

Could have done without the giant cockraoch display!

This one loved entertaining the crowd.

Now if this one isn't the saddest one I've ever seen!

There were tons of these signs near the duck ponds...

Yet they have life rings hanging near them...huh?

click on this picture to enlarge - check out all the animals & figures!

Better than a picture at St. Basils!