Jodie needs...

I Googled my needs as well. Here they are:

I need "my meat!"
Not really...I could totally be a vegetarian.

I need to "grow up!"
I thought I did that after well, getting married and having 3 children. Guess one can never stop growing?

I need "a man."
Got one, thanks. He is about all I can handle.

I need "to be in more roles on TV."
How much does that pay?

I need a "new nose."
I know...no one needs to tell me that!

(If you want to do this, just type in " 'your name' needs" into the google search bar and enter. Then read the descriptions under the headers. Those descriptions should tell you what you need.)

While we were gone...

My Mother had this great idea to jot a few things down about what happened here in Houston while we were in Moscow. Here are a few highlights.

Wednesday:

"The best comment of the week "so far" has been this evening. When I closed the door to the boys' room for them to go to sleep, Cole started shouting, "I'm afraid of the dark!" Alex responded, "Forget it Cole, she's not the babysitter."

"Alex's prayers were asking God to "bring Mommy and Daddy safely home the day they come home."

"When I opened the Randi's door this morning, before she saw me she said, "Daddy!" I think she was a little disappointed for a moment."

Thursday:

"About 10:30am the phone rang and the caller ID showed YMCA (Cole was at soccer camp). My heart skipped a beat. When I answered the guy on the other end asked if I was Cole Haney's Grandmother. All I could say was, "Uh-Oh." I guess he sensed my fear and he quickly responded, "He's OK." Cole had run through the sprinklers and was soaking wet. Of course, when I brought dry clothes, he was ready to leave with me. That was OK by me. I was so glad there was no REAL problem."

Saturday:

Sarah writes, "COLE POOPED. :) I told him he had to go potty before he could go to the birthday party. He sat down and went "poop." Then he looked at me and said, "I guess I'm growing up now because I know everyone has to go poop." I thought it was cute."

That's enough junk food?

I can't believe it! We went to the grocery store today, and Alex turned down a cookie. He said, "That is enough sugar for me. I want to start eating healthy again." He ate some deli meat instead.
What a parental victory!

Russia

Moscow

There are so many things of which I didn't get pictures...some of the AMAZING restaurants ($300-400 a head) and the night clubs ($40 to get in and $500 for the woman of your choice). Crazy.
It seemed the population was either extremely wealthy or extremely poor. I didn't see much of a middle class. There was also a LOT more women than men, and you could tell the women were working it...short skirts, tight tops and lots of high heals.

Best line of the week: I told one of the women with us that I needed to go to the gym after seeing all these skinny Russian chicks. To which she replied, "Why? Don't you like breakfast, lunch and dinner?"

Here are a few pictures.


There are statues all over Moscow...tributes to anyone deemed honorable.
This one is a tribute to the common man, soldier, in Red Square.

A typical street view. This is a huge walking city. The Metro system is very used. Traffic is insane...it is pretty much a free for all. I would NEVER drive in Moscow.

This is a view through the gate at a platform in Red Square where Ivan the Terrible made speeches, many overly dramatic, to the gathering crowd. (Red Square, now a gathering place for concerts, parades and such, used to be a little city of wooden shacks inhabited by those who worked within the walls of the Kremlin.)

GUM is a very upscale shopping mall. It was originally built as a market place for those who lived in Red Square, but was used as office and military space when Stalin was in power. It has now been reconditioned for the currents shops, but still maintains it original architecture.

This one is pretty self explanatory.


These two are of one of the restaurants we visited. It was just lovely, but the food, well, I have had better. One doesn't go to Moscow for the food.




St. Basil in Red Square
This was built and refurbished several times. It has been added to and colors have been changed. Historically correct churches were white with gold tops. The inside paintings have been re-done, but are generally the same.
Church in Russia is typically 3 hours long, standing in one place the whole time.

The HUGE cannon that was shot to let everyone know if the Kremlin was under attack.

Don's favorite dining establishment. He calls them "crap dogs." The translation is really "star dogs."

Our hotel...it was really strange that it was only this dark 4 hours a night. We would be out to dinner, wearing sunglasses, at 10pm.

Guards at the Unknown Soldier of WWII memorial.

Off to Moscow

Here is my signing off blog. We are going to Russia tomorrow.
I stocked the kitchen with every easy food of which I could think. Hopefully, this will help Nanna and the Nanny. The boys probably will not want Mommy to come home after a week of junk food!
The house was cleaned today and the laundry is almost done. If I could just stop feeling nervous about leaving the country without my children, I'd be all set. Guess that is part of the adventure.

Grateful Sunday

I am thankful for Natalie and Leslie who so graciously allowed me into their circle of friendship.
These ladies are best friends and it shows. Let me tell you why I think they are so great.
They are gracious and kind, considerate and real, and best of all they genuinely care about those around them.
You guys have taught me so much by simply being yourselves. I love your confidence and assurance of who you are. It makes it OK for the rest of us to be who we are.
Thank you again for your friendship. Thanks for reaching out to me. I will miss you guys when you move on with your "real" lives.
Watch out Leslie, it is too late for me to steal Natalie's car keys, but I might still be able to find a way to make you stay!

Think I like flowers?

Here are a few pictures of the flowers in my yard.


This one looks aggressive, like it is lunging forward. It's bright and dramatic.


This one reminds me of lounging on hammock during a beautiful day. It's soft and gentle. It seems to be open just to drink up the light.


This one says, "Look toward Heaven."


This one feels like rain on a foggy day.


This one, for some reason, makes me think of good wholesome fun.


This one reminds me of my Mother. It's both unique and classic at the same time.


This one reminds me to focus.


This shot teaches me that seeing people from a different angle may reveal beauty I never knew was there.