All of us were back on our feet after a good night's rest from yesterday's travels. Artome and Katja are still getting used to the new apartment and enjoying the extra room here. It is on the fifth floor which means five long flights of stairs packing suitcases, kids, stroller, water, food and beer, so it all tastes better up here. Also not a bad view of the nearby mountains, and the furious construction going on all around us of office and apartment buildings.
Artome practically gets lost in a big room that we just dumped all their toys in. We're sure the neighbors below appreciate it. They love to bang their stuff around.
Our faithful driver Dima took us all to get the pictures that we will need for the U.S. Embassy tomorrow. There were also two stops at the agency office for more signing and paperwork delivery. We are glad he's driving. We still can't get used to the four car formation left hand turn!
Waiting outside the camera store for "Instant photos". Apparently the officials do not want pictures of the children smiling for their Passports. Katja and Artome in this case did not disappoint them.
Katja and Artome killing time at the International medical clinic. Their medical exam and accompanying reports are key to finishing the application for their U.S. Passports. The wait was a long hour, but luckily the office had some toys for the kids and a woman from Florida completing an adoption of a beautiful little girl for us to talk to. We drew a very nice doctor from Brisbane, Australia who is here for just five weeks working for an International medical aid program. He gave them both a clean bill of health, and compliments to the Baby House Babushka's for their quiet submission to the physical examinations.
Saddled up in the big stroller outside the new place, we are going to the nearby Ramstore in search of food and other supplies.
When the nurse came in to get Artome for weighing and measuring she said that based on his picture, she was looking for a "big boy". He checked in at just 18.5 lbs.
Ramstore; we meet again. See Mall in a box comments from first daily entries. We found a chicken sandwich and wings, a cheeseburger and some fries but none did what a trip to the Amsterdam Airport McDonald's will do in two days!
Almaty street scene; people on their way home from work. You definitely have to look both ways here!
Typical apartment house courtyard playground afternoon. Guys out sharing a beer and a smoke. Parents with kids on the swing, teens on skateboards and scooters, and a ping pong table.
Our last days in Kazakhstan are emotional ones.We are happy to be going home and resuming our lives, seeing family, friends and co-workers, yet sad to be leaving a place that we have become quite comfortable in, the new friends and those who have helped us bring the childern into our new family. The next few days will be a challenge to us moving ourselves and our stuff around the globe, but amazing and possibly quite frightening to Katja and Artome. We are preparing the grab bag of toys and snacks that may entertain them for a portion of the flghts, the rest is yet to be seen!
