June 8

Is it already the 8th? Only about a week left here in Elektrostal with the fam. I must say I feel blessed every day that I'm here. I know the sacrifice that Patrick & Christy have given to have me & Madeleine invade their private domain for 3 whole weeks, but I've had a perfect time & look forward to more adventures before I fly back home to my own life & family.

Today was another day home in Elektrostal, but it was just right. With all our lolling around yesterday, we neglected to get our grocery shopping done that was needed. In fact last night when she should've been counting sheep, Madeleine came in to tell me she'd been thinking about chocolate chip cookies. We were basically out of butter, flour, & sugar so she had to put off her midnight craving 'til the next day, but the wait was well worth it.

After paying the landlady the monthly rent, we ventured out by foot to the hardware store to gather what we may to mend the castle--a new lock for the bathroom & potting soil for the plants. I found some garden clogs there that I had to have & it was off to the grocery store. Of course, along the way we went to the local McDonald's for lunch & sent Patrick with our initial purchases & the car while we walked right next door to the grocery center. Madeleine & I found our laundry soap & yogurt & basically drooled over the immense chocolate section. That's one thing I definitely could become Russian about--their love of good chocolate. We found a few more flavors & brands to sample before leaving & then had the pleasant task of driving to the parking compound--about a 15 minute walk from their apt. In the meantime, the clouds & thunder had rolled slowly in. We were afraid we'd have to run for it, but the clouds only let a light sprinkling down upon us before we made it to home base. Madeleine peered out the landing window outside the elevator hall & told Uncle Patrick that Alex was there--he's the bully boy that some of you may know about. He was Ethan's first friend here & they were great pals & then after he returned from an extended trip, Alex has basically been turning on Ethan ever since & that's where all the hallway grafitti is coming from. To make a long story short, we all snuck quietly in the house while Patrick waited outside the door to have a visit with Alex. He scared him with a good-humored "Boo!" and then proceeded to ask Alex what they'd done to have him start behaving toward their family in this way. He didn't apologize for the writing/drawing he'd been leaving on the walls or any of the other light damage done, but he did say he wouldn't be doing it anymore. They talked a bit more & so now time will tell whether it had an impact upon Alex.

With groceries put away, we whipped Madeleine into shape with her cookie baking--they were yummy with milk, too. This led us to our 5:30 rendezvous with Natasha--the head of the school where Patrick & Christy taught this past year. We were led on a private tour since school is not in session right now. It was a nice thing to see where they work & I sent Madeleine with Ethan & Megan to capture the rooms on camera while Patrick & Christy showed me "their rooms." I really like Natasha, but probably will not see her again before leaving next week.

After arriving back home, the kids played some more surivival games (basic boy scout activities from Ethan's manual), Wii, & then whipped out a light supper of bread, meats, cheese, veggies & mini store-bought pizzas for the kids. It was decided that we'd watch the movie "Bridge to Terabithia," which turned out to be a great flick. Madeleine had already seen it 4 times before & had bet us we'd cry. We all shed a few tears.

Then it was off to the bedtime routine for the kids, which has been ending with Madeleine reading aloud to the kids for several minutes before lights out. They extended that privililege as we adults did adult things in the living room--internet, laughing, planning our next 2 days, etc. I watched an episode of Extreme Home Makeover--courtesy of TV copies from American friends
. . .so now it's lights out for me, too. We have a day of going back to Ismailova--the open market for me to buy more souvenirs. The first trip there a few days ago just wasn't all it was cracked up to be, & Christy is mortified that all I could come up with that I liked from that trip was a couple of Santa matrushka dolls. Sheesh! Off to spend some good money to show for my trip!