Tutu, Dadu & Kazan

We made it to Russia!!! After flying through Abu Dhabi we landed in Moscow with very little time to go through customs and check into our last flight to Samara. After we got our bags, it was a little crazy and we were trying to find our way out when I see a very familiar and wonderful face, MY DAD! I started to cry and rushed towards him. It was such a wonderful surprise. They were coming back from a mission presidents seminar and flew through Moscow and surprised us there. Jorgen was very excited to see my Dad and give him hugs and then my Mom came through the crowds and found us too. It was indescribable how happy I felt inside! It has been two years since we have seen them and they have never met little Shelley. We did not have much time for hugging and visiting because the registration for our next flight to Samara was closing soon. The line took forever but we finally made it to the front and they checked two of our bags and then....registration closed. None of us were checked it but the registration closed on the computer so the attendant could not check us in. So my Dad found the transfer counter and worked his magic. The flight was delayed and they still got us on the flight, despite turning everyone else around. I always thought it was my Mom who could pull strings like that (which she most definitely still can) so I was so surprised when my Dad pulled this off. It pays off to be nice and smile! We made it to Samara late in the evening and headed to the grocery store to pick up a few essentials. It was so fun being in a grocery store there, reminded me so much of my mission in Ukraine. We headed home and all went to bed pretty soon thereafter, the kids were exhausted from the long flights and layover.

The next morning we drove five hours to Kazan. It was so neat to see the countryside in Russia. It is gorgeous! So different from the city centers. It was also fun to have five hours to just talk and visit. I miss my parents so much and it was surreal being in the same car as them. We kept giving each other hugs and being amazed that this was actually happening.

Kazan was beautiful, a much prettier city than any post-Soviet city I have been in.

The night we got there, we went swimming in the hotel pool. It was the deepest pool! I could not touch the bottom anywhere. My parents were prepared with floaties for Jorgen which we all used as well. :)

The next morning we walked to the Kremlin, an enclosed structure that has a Muslim mosque and a Russian Orthodox church along with a lot of other buildings (my Mom could explain it with more details).

We let Jorgen and Shelley play and run around in an open area where they had the time of their lives playing with their grandparents. It was so fun seeing them interact!

Hugs, hugs, and more hugs!

This picture reminds me of me looking and admiring my brother, Shelley definitely is becoming Jorgen's little shadow.

Airplanes

Stylish little lady Shells

That night, after the kids went to bed, we turned on a movie on the laptop and ordered fried ice cream from the hotel. It was d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! Just look at the presentation of it! Enjoy some for us next time you go, Mom and Dad!

On Sunday we went to the branch in Kazan. I did not get a picture of the branch there but I am going to try and round one up from one of the members there. It was such a special branch! My parents taught a two-hour lesson during the second and third hour. They are amazing teachers and I was IMPRESSED with how well they know the language! Oh my goodness, they have been blessed and they really connect with the people. My Dad even a really funny joke in Russian, which they laughed at! You know you speak pretty well when you can joke in your non-native tongue.

The next morning, we went back up to the Kremlin and looked at some of the shops there. Here is a sneak peak of Shelley's Halloween costume.

Jorgen is trying it on for size.

The rest of Shelley's costume...We picked up some Sushi and took it home to the hotel. YUMMY!

Them the boys went swimming!

Dadu being silly!

Three very handsome and fun males!

Justin found a hidden talent, he would dive into one of the floaties.

Perfecting his skill, check out his pointed toes.

Dadu would swim from one side of the pool to the others and Jorgen thought that was pretty neat, especially when he would sneak up on him.

Shelley and Tutu played while the boys swam. My Mom is gorgeous!

Such a cute picture!Kazan was so much fun! We were so glad we got to go see that part of my parents' mission!
More pictures to come of Samara.