Thursday, November 19, 2009

Quarantined

We’re in Week 3 of Swine Flu quarantine here. All schools and universities are closed, and public gatherings of more than 30 are supposedly banned.

Since Dietrich’s not in school and Eric wasn’t scheduled to teach during the cancelled seminary session, we Oldenburgs haven’t been much affected. In fact, Dietrich likes the quarantine — it means his nanya’s charming 7-year-old daughter comes with her mama to play with him.

The seminary remains open to faculty and staff, so we still can work. However, the construction workers have used this opportunity to shut off the electricity all day today, so I’m working (secretly) from home. (Don’t tell Dietrich; I’m hiding out in our bedroom.)

Since I’m at home, I have access to the tangle of cords needed for various tasks, such as downloading pictures. Here, then, is what we did during quarantine (and a few days before).


Trying to stay warm in front of our “fireplace” before the government turned the heat on. We’re comfy cozy now.



Off to watch the Angels play the Yankees at a friend’s house. The friend’s connection speed far surpasses ours. We can only listen to the games. That was fine, until they moved Rex Hudler to the radio.


When Dietrich got invited to the local Christian school’s Harvest Festival at the last minute, we threw together the world’s quickest costume. He loved it. Wish I could have spiked his hair, but it was cold and he wore a beanie.


Perfect chilly morning breakfast: Oatmeal with bananas and maple syrup, black tea with sugar and milk.


Where’s Waldo?



Bye, Daddy! Have fun in Belarus!



Dietrich built this track. We had no idea he could do that! The thought actually crossed our minds that perhaps someone snuck in and helped him. Somehow that was less freaky than the thought of him suddenly acquiring track-building abilities.


Oksana and Zhenya had us over for their birthdays, and she made this charming cake. As the cake was being cut, I made the mistake of saying, “Oh, poor turtle.” Now Dietrich asks me every day what was wrong with the turtle at Oksana’s party.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Perhaps we ought to focus on pronunciation

Songs play a crucial role in Dietrich's bedtime routine, and recently he's started asking Eric to sing in Russian. (Linguistic progress! Hooray!) Tonight, he kept requesting the song with "the shoes, the shoes!" We were stumped for a moment, for we know no hymns about shoes. We finally figured it out: He wanted the song about Иисус (ee-soos) -- also known as Jesus!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Scavenged


How could I not put these sticks on display, when they were gathered so carefully by such a sweet little collector?

Saturday, October 03, 2009

In Ukraine ...

... little boys wear tights. Dietrich and I went on a stocking hunt yesterday. Here three new pairs drying on the hot-water pipe in our bathtub.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

Guessing game

Today I was handed an advertisement for McFoxy! -- a new fast-food joint in town. What kind of food would you guess a McFoxy! patron would find on the menu?

Monday, September 28, 2009

Isn't it romantic?

I hope clever men throughout our building are getting romantic credit for this anonymous note left on the driveway Saturday night.



You are my world.
You are my everything.
I love you.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

The birthday blog

Warning: This one is really for the grandparents. It contains more photos of Dietrich turning 3 than anyone really needs to see. Unless, of course, "anyone" is Baba Jane or Grandma Cindy. For the non-related, consider this: If you come visit us, you can have this exact same fun day (minus the presents). I'd even make cupcakes for you.

The day started with Dietrich waking up very, very early because he was just too excited about his presents. As a result, I've decided not to tell him about Christmas. He had to eat his breakfast before he could open said presents. It was the quickest he's ever eaten a meal.



The only present Dietrich asked for was an umbrella. Of course, we had to oblige.


Our friends Zhenya, Oksana and Baby Nikita (not so much a baby anymore, but you know how these names stick) came to the zoo with us. Nikita makes an awesome hedgehog face.


We went to the petting zoo, where we fed the sheep, goats, and pigs cabbage and carrots in ice-cream cones.


Sometimes I am reminded of how thankful I am that we learned Russian before we had Dietrich. The moment when the petting zoo minder told us that we could feed all the animals by hand EXCEPT THE PIGS was one of those moments.


We saw this bird fly right out of his pen and soar over the zoo.


And this bear was so personable.


Dietrich wasn't so interested in walking, but he did love swinging on all the bars around the animal cages. Exhibit A: Dietrich and an elephant.


Toward the end of the excursion, we paused for cupcakes.


My favorite photo from the day.


A highlight for Dietrich was riding the Ferris wheel. The wheel moved slowly, but didn't stop to let people on and off. That keeps the line moving, but you'd better be sure-footed. No lap belts. No walls on the sides. Dietrich LOVED it. The whole way up, he kept saying (in a delighted manner), "This isn't safe! This isn't safe!" (Eric and Dietrich are in the orange and yellow car; you can just see their wee heads poking out.)


Home for a nap, and then on to McDonald's for dinner.


Then back home to Skype with the grandparents. We saved a couple of presents so that he could open them while Baba and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa watched.


Playtime (our friends gave him THE hit present -- a little car put together with screws, and a drill to take it all apart). Then bedtime. Whew. Next year, let's all just take a long nap for Dietrich's birthday.