The Russians Are Coming - Part One

Back in August, wildfires burning outside of Moscow Russia were blanketing the city in smoke. Too bad for the Russians, not so bad for us. Because the US Embassy evacuated my sister and her kids right smack dab in the middle of my house for two weeks. Her husband Scott was able to help them get here, but he was only able to stay for a few days. We LOVED having them here. Our house feels so empty with them gone. I have about a bajillion pictures to post of all the fun we had with them. I am gonna have to break it up over a few different posts.

Here is Part One:

Scott and Owen

Zac and Steve playing with the sling shot and trying not to hit anyone upside the head with a rock.
Emily, Tia and Aubrey

Silly, stupid me. I thought it would be fun one night to build a fire in the back yard and cook hot dogs and s'mores for dinner. It wasn't until we were sitting by the fire and I couldn't get away from the smoke that I realized, HEY DUMMY! Smoke is probably the LAST thing they wanna be around right now. My gracious guests assured me that the smoke put off by my backyard fire was nothing compared to the smoke they had to endure back home.

The kids ate hot dogs. The adults patiently waited until the kids were snug in bed and then we ordered take out from Pei Wei. Our Russian house guests were trying to cram in as much yummy American food as possible. And we did our best to oblige. That day I had Cafe Rio Pork Salad for lunch and Pei Wei lettuce wraps for dinner. Mmmmm...that was a good day. Because we got to spend it with family, of course.

This is a picture of the kids NOT feeding a strangers horse carrots over the back yard fence. We NEVER do this. Just for the record...

Zac made a cake one night. Mmmm...feeding 7 kids cake. That was a fun mess to clean up.

I learned my lesson after the cake, and made them take the popcorn outside. OK, not really. I ALWAYS make my kids eat popcorn outside. Because I am mean like that.

INSERT DALLAS TRIP HERE

(click on the above words to be taken to the Dallas post)

The day after returning from Dallas I dropped my kids off for their first day of school and met everyone at IHOP to celebrate. Here is Baron, Sam and Teresah.

Lauren and Kay

Tia and Me

Addy, Kristy and Owen

That same night we had dinner at the park, as illustrated by the photo below.

Watch for "The Russians Are Coming - Part Two". Coming to a blog near you.