What an experience. However, we'll start with some updates from the last days in Moscow. Every time I tried to post something, it sat unfinished on the Blackberry. Now that I'm fully awake at 3am, might as well do some updates!
Our last full day in Moscow, Saturday, Anna could see that we were exhausted, especially Jacki. She wound up kicking us out of her apartment while she sat with Tasha. Jacki, Ryan, and I went on a little adventure. We took the metro to a mall area where Ryan could get himself a Happy Meal at a McDonald's and there was a kid's play zone where he could get some foosball and air hockey in. It was a nice break from the confines of Anna's apartment and Vitali's car. Ryan especially liked the Metro ride, but once again I wound up getting scowled at by an older Russian woman. This time because I didn't know you buy tickets in multiples of 1 or 5 rides, and I made the mistake of asking for 6 rides. I guess she was mad because I didn't ask for either the 5 and 1 combo, or 6 individual rides. Anna told me later that I look Russian to the locals and when I don't do something that is assumed general knowledge, they look at me like I have two heads. Regardless of all that, the trip re-energized us all. Anna was a savior the whole trip. She was like having a family member assist through the whole process.
Before dinner time, I stayed with Tasha while Ryan and Jacki went back out to the ice slide area. During this time Tasha was forced to warm up to me and she wound up laughing and giggling while we played a chase game. I'd put her down, she'd run, and then I'd catch up, pick her up, and tickle her. Of course as soon as Jacki's in the room, it's time for tears again, but we're making good progress.
Sunday arrives awfully early. We wake up at 6:30am after another poor night of sleep, and ask Vitali to please drive gently so Jacki and Tasha don't have to smell like barf all day long. We had a successful trip to the airport without any explosions.
At the airport, again Anna boldly took command. There was a long line at security to get bags into the airport so I stood in line while Anna took Jacki, Ryan, and Tasha to the front of the line and went through. They found the check-in area and had Jacki wait there while she came back to get me. Once back at the check-in area, there was again a huge line, but she went right up to an agent, spoke to her, and called us up. After a tearful goodbye before the passport control area, we cleared through and although it seemed like a good amount of time had passed, the day had just begun.
Flight number one to Amsterdam was relatively uneventful. Tasha didn't like sitting the whole time, but for the most part did great. Jacki having to hold her the entire time, probably didn't think this flight was so hot though. Ryan watched a movie on his DVD player and was content the whole flight. Even Aeroflot gave him a kid's meal with a colorful kid's packaged box and some extra toys.
In Amsterdam, Jacki needed a rest so we stopped to get Ryan a slice of Pizza and a large beer for Jacki and I. I had to lead a screaming Tasha away from mom to a point Tasha didn't know where she was. At this point I could put her down and we played our chase game without issue. Ryan eventually joined us and helped entertain Tasha. After Jacki was able to finish most of the beer herself she came out to get us. We grabbed some hot water from a vendor to make some oatmeal and rushed off to find our gate.
The flight to Boston was an experience we will soon not forget. 3+ hours flying is one thing. Add to that another 7+ hour flight without any naps, etc. Whew. It was tough. At least the agent back in Moscow moved us into the front row of our cabin so we had that extra room on the floor in front of us behind the bulkhead. Tasha spent a good amount of time sitting on the floor and throwing her toys around, much to the dismay of the woman who had to sit in our row. Definitely not a child person. She scowled when she saw us coming and tried to change seats, but the flight was 100% full. She didn't look our way once in seven hours.
Tasha still had not napped to this point. Finally she started being extra cranky so we tried to get her to sleep on Jacki's shoulder. Tasha went out but lasted only about 45 minutes. After that it was a carousel of emotions for her. One second she'd be giggling, the next screaming/crying. I still don't know how we made that flight with less than one hour nap for her. Jacki's clothes were a mess, with food and drool stains everywhere, and of course each time I'd try to hold or carry Tasha the screams would start flooding.
The worst was yet to come. When we started to land, the pressure change must have been bad for her. She certainly didn't have an issue landing in Amsterdam, but in Boston Tasha screamed bloody murder at the top of her lungs for probably 5 good solid minutes. The stewardess sitting near us helped immensely just by talking us through the ordeal. She also befriended Ryan. She gave him some gifts for being such a great traveler and chatted him up after Tasha's emotional outburst exhausted her and she passed out asleep.
We arrived home and put Tasha into her crib. We were all dragging but tried to stay up as long as possible before hitting the sack. I was up at 2:30am however, and I can hear Ryan playing in his room right now. Today will be an adventure for Tasha. She will finally get to see her new home. I'm sure that includes ripping every book out of every bookcase, and pulling every pot and pan out of the cabinets in the kitchen. At least now this is in the comfort of our own home.
Our last full day in Moscow, Saturday, Anna could see that we were exhausted, especially Jacki. She wound up kicking us out of her apartment while she sat with Tasha. Jacki, Ryan, and I went on a little adventure. We took the metro to a mall area where Ryan could get himself a Happy Meal at a McDonald's and there was a kid's play zone where he could get some foosball and air hockey in. It was a nice break from the confines of Anna's apartment and Vitali's car. Ryan especially liked the Metro ride, but once again I wound up getting scowled at by an older Russian woman. This time because I didn't know you buy tickets in multiples of 1 or 5 rides, and I made the mistake of asking for 6 rides. I guess she was mad because I didn't ask for either the 5 and 1 combo, or 6 individual rides. Anna told me later that I look Russian to the locals and when I don't do something that is assumed general knowledge, they look at me like I have two heads. Regardless of all that, the trip re-energized us all. Anna was a savior the whole trip. She was like having a family member assist through the whole process.
Before dinner time, I stayed with Tasha while Ryan and Jacki went back out to the ice slide area. During this time Tasha was forced to warm up to me and she wound up laughing and giggling while we played a chase game. I'd put her down, she'd run, and then I'd catch up, pick her up, and tickle her. Of course as soon as Jacki's in the room, it's time for tears again, but we're making good progress.
Sunday arrives awfully early. We wake up at 6:30am after another poor night of sleep, and ask Vitali to please drive gently so Jacki and Tasha don't have to smell like barf all day long. We had a successful trip to the airport without any explosions.
At the airport, again Anna boldly took command. There was a long line at security to get bags into the airport so I stood in line while Anna took Jacki, Ryan, and Tasha to the front of the line and went through. They found the check-in area and had Jacki wait there while she came back to get me. Once back at the check-in area, there was again a huge line, but she went right up to an agent, spoke to her, and called us up. After a tearful goodbye before the passport control area, we cleared through and although it seemed like a good amount of time had passed, the day had just begun.
Flight number one to Amsterdam was relatively uneventful. Tasha didn't like sitting the whole time, but for the most part did great. Jacki having to hold her the entire time, probably didn't think this flight was so hot though. Ryan watched a movie on his DVD player and was content the whole flight. Even Aeroflot gave him a kid's meal with a colorful kid's packaged box and some extra toys.
In Amsterdam, Jacki needed a rest so we stopped to get Ryan a slice of Pizza and a large beer for Jacki and I. I had to lead a screaming Tasha away from mom to a point Tasha didn't know where she was. At this point I could put her down and we played our chase game without issue. Ryan eventually joined us and helped entertain Tasha. After Jacki was able to finish most of the beer herself she came out to get us. We grabbed some hot water from a vendor to make some oatmeal and rushed off to find our gate.
The flight to Boston was an experience we will soon not forget. 3+ hours flying is one thing. Add to that another 7+ hour flight without any naps, etc. Whew. It was tough. At least the agent back in Moscow moved us into the front row of our cabin so we had that extra room on the floor in front of us behind the bulkhead. Tasha spent a good amount of time sitting on the floor and throwing her toys around, much to the dismay of the woman who had to sit in our row. Definitely not a child person. She scowled when she saw us coming and tried to change seats, but the flight was 100% full. She didn't look our way once in seven hours.
Tasha still had not napped to this point. Finally she started being extra cranky so we tried to get her to sleep on Jacki's shoulder. Tasha went out but lasted only about 45 minutes. After that it was a carousel of emotions for her. One second she'd be giggling, the next screaming/crying. I still don't know how we made that flight with less than one hour nap for her. Jacki's clothes were a mess, with food and drool stains everywhere, and of course each time I'd try to hold or carry Tasha the screams would start flooding.
The worst was yet to come. When we started to land, the pressure change must have been bad for her. She certainly didn't have an issue landing in Amsterdam, but in Boston Tasha screamed bloody murder at the top of her lungs for probably 5 good solid minutes. The stewardess sitting near us helped immensely just by talking us through the ordeal. She also befriended Ryan. She gave him some gifts for being such a great traveler and chatted him up after Tasha's emotional outburst exhausted her and she passed out asleep.
We arrived home and put Tasha into her crib. We were all dragging but tried to stay up as long as possible before hitting the sack. I was up at 2:30am however, and I can hear Ryan playing in his room right now. Today will be an adventure for Tasha. She will finally get to see her new home. I'm sure that includes ripping every book out of every bookcase, and pulling every pot and pan out of the cabinets in the kitchen. At least now this is in the comfort of our own home.
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