Family day in Siberia

We got a surprise phone call from Irina this morning, asking if we’d like to go outside the city to another camp similar to Angarsk Hill. I didn’t have to ask these guys if they wanted to – I knew they’d love it. Right after lunch Irina, Ksusha & Vova picked us up and we drove to the site – close to Angarsk Hill. This place is owned by the factor where Irina’s borther & mother both work and in the summer it is a camp for kids, while in the winter, employees and their families are allowed free access. The sign at the entrace says "welcome all"

It was a cold but beautiful day and the boys were very excited when they saw all there was to do. We first used our flat sled to go down a large wooden slide.

It was huge compared to the little slides in the development here where the apt. is, and very long. Irina took the boys up ½ the time so I could take pictures, then I took my turn.

Not too clear, but this is me with both boys

It is very much a family camp, less wooded than Angarsk Hill, but more open space for the rides. There were 3 or 4 large dormitory type buidings which serve just that purpose. They are big, and In addition to the wooden slides there are swings, and teeter-totters, and quite a few plastic slides like you’d see in any park back home.

There was one large covered slide shaped like a spider that Skip & Harry both couldn’t wait to try. In order to climb up, you had to go inside the large tubes and use the ridges inside them to pull yourself up. Skip had no problem, but Harry, the poor guy, just couldn’t get the knack, and was holding up the lines, so Vova decided to hoist him up to the top of one straight, uncovered section of it, and let him slide down. He liked that a lot, and went down quite a few times, but then wanted to explore inside it, like Skip. Again Vova put him up and pointed him in the direction to go. We all waited at the bottom for Harry to pop out.

We waited,

and waited,

and waited.

Lines started forming, kids became impatient, and finally, “Vot” as Harry says, there he was.

He tumbled out,

a bit disoriented, but no worse for the wear and eager to go again. He did it several more times, each time doing a little better than the previous turn. The boys were tired (cranky) and red-cheeked by the time we were ready to leave.

It was again good to get out of the house, and very thoughtful of Irina to invite us. Here, children go to school 6 days a week, and many people work on Saturdays as well, so by the time Sunday rolls around, it is very much a family day; time for visiting & recreation. It was refreshing to see entire families – from the very young – to the “older” generations, enjoy such simple things as sledding, skating (a HUGE rink) and playground rides.

We also saw many cross-country skiers, and given it was such a beautiful place, I was wishin’ I could give it a try. It’s been years since I’ve X-country skied,

but I would have loved to had the opportunity. Someday.

When we got back to the apt. around 4 we played one of the new board games for the first time. Another Candyland type game that comes with 4 colored markers, a die, & folding board. There’s no reading required, and simple instructions so it worked out well – better than our first time at Old Maid! Harry really won this time, so you know, another victory dance. Skip, who usually doesn’t like losing, enjoyed the dancing so much I think he’d lose again on purpose just to see Harry bouncing around, singing in Russian!