Wednesday the 12th

Ahhh the excitement of life in Astana. We all slept in today, Serik and I until 8:50 and Kurt until 9:30. Kurt's been up until 2 a.m. most weekdays working and on conference calls. Around lunch time Serik and I went to the playground for a bit. It's amusing watching all the kiddos wrapped up and playing on slides and swings. Serik and I made a snowman and did the 'merry-go-round' also had him go down a slide or two. A babushka who was there with her twin granddaughters informed me (in Russian) that Serik shouldn't be up on the swing set because it's slippery - gee, ya think? There were a few new moms out there with their babies wrapped and sitting in strollers - I guess for the fresh air. We played for about a half hour and then came up to get ready for the baby house. Sasha mainly wanted to be held today and by 3 o'clock was cashed out on me. Finally had to wake her up around 3:35 because if we had let her sleep her caregivers would not have been happy with us. Can't have 9 babies on 9 different schedules. She's typically up at 6, back down from 8-10, up from 10-12, sleeping from 12-2, up from 2-4, sleeping 4-6, up til 8 and down for the night.

Saule, our coordinator, came by to have us sign the petition for court since tomorrow is the last official day of bonding. I suppose we'll know early next week when court will be. After the visit we went to Respublika (seems to be a habit) and went to the 'Sweet Fairy Tale' cafe. We had or chai (tea) and coffee and Serik had two banana milk cocktails. The cafe has had a makeover since we were there last time. There used to be a sign that said 'no kissing' etc. Guess with the swankier decor they allow smooching now.Here's Irina chowing down on a huge piece of cake: We walked to a little market after and got a few prepared foods for dinner and lunch tomorrow.

For you fellow Astana families here's what's now located where Arbat was: and no your eyes aren't playing tricks on you that is a TGIFridays - let the Americanization of Central Asia begin - bummer. They also have Domino Donuts in every Ramstore and a little shop on Respublika it's exactly like Dunkin Donuts just Domino.