MARCH BROUGHT EVEN MORE CELEBRATIONS

Men's and Women's Day Celebration in Krasnoarmesky

This was a homemade spinner.  Women took turns spinning the bottle and then reaching inside and drawing a number.  This number referred to the number of an act that would then be performed.
The men honoring the women.

Women honoring the men.

This is the District Woman's Day celebration held on March 8, Woman's Day.

Cute musical number.

The elders were 'babies' and the blindfolded 'mothers' had to feed them whipped cream. 

Four men were chosen to each make a romantic sandwich creation for their wife.  All the sandwich makings were on a table and they had so much time to create.

They had him get on his knee to present it to me.

He's sentimental side is revealed!

These men received compliments from the women below (not their wives).  If they liked the compliments, the women could take a step towards them.  If they didn't the women had to take a step back.
Tatiana and Sophia thinking of just the right compliments.

We celebrated Anna's birthday.

And we celebrated Lena's birthday.

Masha learned how to pin the tail on the donkey.

We celebrated Katya's birthday by learning how to make bear's ears (Пельмени).

They are ready because they have floated to the top of the water.  They were yummy, especially with a little bit of the water they were boiled in mixed with vinegar and salt and pepper.

Then we all worked on the book marks for the RS Conference the next day.  They had pictures of the Kiev Temple on them.  The temple will be dedicated in a few months.

Katya had to go on a treasure hunt to find her present.

She succeeded!
Finally, John & I celebrated our 42nd anniversary by eating at this restaurant.

The buffet cart at the restaurant.

John & Joyce by the 'Tree of Life' in the center of Volgograd.  Notice no hats and lighter coats!

March is going out like a lamb, apparently.

FEBRUARY CELEBRATIONS

Seems like all we have been doing is celebrating one thing or another the past couple of months.

Krasnoarmesky Branch held Масленитса (pancake week) celebration the middle of the month on a Saturday. 

 We had no idea until we walked into the parking lot and saw this scene that it was an activity that was being held outside.  It was bitter cold that day, although thankfully, sunny!  

There was hot chai and pancakes and other treats.  The neighborhood was invited and everything disappeared fast!  (Notice no gloves.....I was enjoying my handwarmers inside of gloves, but gave them up so some gloveless friends could put them in their pockets...luckily I also had a few extra with me that day).

There was singing and dancing and poetry and games......

accordian music added a festive air......

and a favorite game, besides the tug of war, was tossing the boot to knock down plastic bowling pins.

The event ended with burning old man winter and thus saying "good-bye to winter".  (The next day it snowed!)

We helped Masha celebrate her 5th birthday which was on Valentine's Day.  She liked the birthday cake I made for her.

Volzhkey Branch held a Men's Day celebration (Men's Day was Feb. 23).  This was the food set on each table.
How many paper airplanes can they make in 3 minutes?

John is drawing a picture of my face and then I had to put a mark on the back of the picture, without looking at the picture, and then we had to look through the picture and see where the mark was and he had to kiss me on that spot.  I got a kiss on the nose!

They sang traditional Russian songs.

Niel's family singing "Happy Birthday" to John.
The mission office staff also sang "С Днем Рождения" to John.  ( Pres. Nechiporov in foreground, Sis. Nechiporova in hat, office elders and Elder & Sister Jeppson....John's sister).

We celebrated John's birthday with the Sviridov family.  I learned how to make thin Russian pancakes (блины).

Ready to have our pancake week feast.  The rolled up ones have cottage cheese inside.  We ate them all with sour cream and frozen raspberry jam.  Scrumptious!

Wait.....there aren't 67 candles on that cake!!!!

Tatiana could not get her balloon to pop between her legs.   John succeeded.
What a memorable birthday party with our adopted Russian family!!

TURKISH DELIGHT!!

We just returned from 4 days training in Istanbul, Turkey.  We had a great adventure.

Excitement.....there were flowers!

Our bus negotiated the busy freeway, snarled city streets and this narrow cobblestone road.

Selnur, Hira and Sener Orhon were very gracious hosts our first night.

From the bridge connecting Asian and European Istanbul- guy in red is fishing.

An ornate gate we drove past.

These signs didn't help a bit when we got lost walking back to our hotel.

Our hotel-Celal Sultan
From hotel roof terrace looking toward the palace.

We came across our granddaughter's Istanbul cafe.

Inside the Grand Bazaar
One of many silver shops in the bazaar.

One of many ceramic shops.....

more souvenir shops.

The Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque
Inside the Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia by day and then below, at night.

Walking in Istanbul...no ice, puddles, mud or slush! (That was the real Turkish delight!)

FOOD
Anyone for baklava?

or candy and pastries...

or Turkish Delights?

One misstep and there are no simits for lunch.

This man is selling all kinds of nuts, except roasted chestnuts.

This is the roasted chestnut man.

This is the simit man...they are like soft pretzels or bagels.

Ships in Bosphorus Strait-Istanbul
Up, up and away to Russia.  We had a heavenly time with 12 other CES missionary couples from Eastern Europe.  When our co-ordinator sends the group photos and people photos, I will post them.