Tuesdays adventures in Moscow

Here's some photos of our sightseeing trip today(Tuesday).





The famous KGB building.








Lenin's grave/masoleum inside Red Square. Did you know that Red Square stands for "Beautiful Square" ? Not red because of the bricks. The walls around the Kremlin used to be wood, then white brick and now they are red. But just because the bricks are red, is not why it is called Red Square. The president does not live in the Kremlin. He does not even work there. He has an office outside the city proper and what is inside the Kremlin now are just a few governmental offices, a museum, and other historical buildings.










Julie and Taryn in front of St. Basil's Cathedral.


This is our friend, Natasha. She works for Adoption Associates out of the Moscow office; which is actually her home. There is no official office in Moscow. All three AAI employees here in Moscow work from their homes. Natasha has been taking care of us while we have been here. She is absolutely wonderful and we want her to come and visit the US and stay with us and other Michigan families she has helped in the past. Hopefully someday soon she will come.



And here is Taryn asleep in the car. She did lots of walking today while we went sightseeing. Natasha took us also to a "market" similar to what you find in Nassau or in Mexico... we bought some Christmas ornaments (hand carved out of wood and hand painted), we found a beautiful purse compact for her when she is old enough to carry a purse, we also bought her an authentic hand made Russian girl's dress. It is really pretty. Maybe she can wear it in her 2 year old pictures, or maybe for Christmas time pictures. One other thing we purchased at the market was a hand made "Snow Girl". Russians do not have a Santa Clause. They believe in "Grandfather Frost" and "Snow Girl". The Grandfather Frost looks very similar to our Santa, but the Snow Girl puts a new spin on Christmas. So we bought Taryn a Snow Girl too.

She was absolutely wonderful today. It is 11pm here in Moscow and so I am going to bed now. I will post again tomorrow (Wednesday). We go to the Embassy tomorrow for Taryn's appointment to receive her visa to travel home. YEAH! One more day and we will begin the journey home.

Oh, for those who are wondering... Taryn is wearing the 12-18 month clothes that I brought along. Some friends have emailed me asking what size she is. She is wearing the size 4 and size 5 shoes I brought also. She LOVES, and I mean LOVES the little purse I brought her and her headband. She already knows when we get ready to leave the room that she gets her shoes and her headband and her purse. It is so darn cute! She is a smart little thing! She watches me very closely. If I start getting "prettied up to go" that she gets her stuff ready too.

The doctor this morning had a quick evaluation of her for the Embassy appointment and he thinks she weighs about 25 pounds.

Until next post...