Independence Day

Yes, I am just now posting about the 4th of July. But you won't be sorry because that means you get to see that Ben's neighborhood had an Independence Day Parade and those peeps go all out for the Yoo Ess of Aaay:






Here's the Bloomfield contribution:



Good thing my mom had that red shirt on. Because otherwise you might have thought she forgot her USA cape. Or her flag balloon helmet.

Scott and Sheri's family was in town and they came for the big parade, too: Here's Preston being all hardcore with his beard and Tyler
Smiley Mark pushing Jakey

Pretty Paige with Ty
My pretty Aunt Sheri - I snapped a pic with her next to Ben...
and Uncle Scott decided he needed one too....haha.

Happy Fourth of July! (A month ago)

Goodbye, Russians

I kind of hate to post these last pictures of the Russians because it means they're really gone. A few hours before they left, I started feeling this compulsive need to take pictures even though there was nothing exciting going on. I think it was my last "holding on with the fingernails" attempt to keep them here somehow...
Guess I got used to having 7 extra people around, because the next day it definitely felt like something was missing. Goodbye Russians, we'll miss you. And Ola, I really really really hope you will come live and study here next year.
Ola started tearing up at dinner and was blinking back tears for the next couple hours until the Bates came to take them to Salt Lake. She gave me a hug that lasted five full minutes - every time she'd pull away she'd start crying harder and then put her face in my shoulder again so no one could see. Kept saying "lubilu" (love you) As their ride pulled away she was drawing hearts with her hands and pointing at us....can't decide if that is a good memory or a bad one.
Andrew probably said it best "I think they're sad our week is over, but sadder that it's one week closer to going back to where they came from...."
So glad you came. Lubilu.

Russians Day 6

"What must it feel like to own a mountain?"
That's what Svetlana asked when she saw the Ranch. I thought that comment summed it up on so many levels...comparatively we have so much in this country that would be/is astonishing to much of the world.

I guess I just feel afraid I will forget and take it all for granted. Not recognize the blessings. Not help. I do take for granted. Without meaning to.

Before we left we asked what their favorite thing was and they all said the ranch.
They adored the 4 wheeling. I noticed how Americans smile and show teeth for pictures, where Russians stop the merriment and get very solemn looking for pics. And if they do smile, they definitely do not show teeth.

They thought the zip-line was fun ( at least to those adventurous enough to try it, which of course included Nastya)
Played games at the Cabin, this is Drew with Jula and Nastya, my cousin Rachel and her friend Tyler. (yes, he knows that his name is the same as our new nephew Tyler)Ate and chillaxed. I just said chillaxed.

Played with the nephews. Here's Katie's friend Mike playing with Cameron out by the creek/crik. Cameron found a wild wish to blow.
Here's crazy ball of energy Jakey, who at a young age discovered the most efficient way to get popcorn to your mouth. I am so proud of you, Jakey.
Here's the girls with beaded Cam and Jake, after we set off fireworks and played a rousing game of "sally walker." Svetlana German pulled out a full-on Russian folk dance for her "little -sally-walker-walking-down-the-street" trick. She is awesome.
Couldn't help feelin warm and fuzzy when I saw this sign. My grandpa used to always say touched you last when we said goodbye to him. We'd try to tag and run to sneak in the last touch But he'd even stick his hand in a moving car to touch you last, and he always won, no matter what. I feel like he's still winning, and still touching us last because of so many things he passed on, like a love for ice-cream and show-tunes, but I always feel particularly close to him when I go to the ranch. Felt grateful for the ranch, and for my grandparents and great grandparents, and it felt good to know that in a way, their legacy and hard work was now reaching not only across generations, but across oceans, when these Russian girls were able to come enjoy it.


I think Drew finally realized on the last day that he had a very captive audience with these girls. He made sure he rode right in between all five of them on the way home and ate up the attention. On the late drive home, Svetlana was in the car following mine. She saw camera flash going off in our car, and said "Tara must be taking pictures of Andrew among the flowers" (aka girls)

Yes I was. Because how can you resist documenting your 72nd time of listening to The Pussycat Dolls "Wichoo" in a week. Two hours up to the Ranch, two hours back, automatic repeat. I would try to switch it and Oksana would command "Tahra, buskot dol". I wasn't complaining because at least it wasn't rap. They don't speak no english, but they do be speakin' all the words to this song, be havin it memorize. Which is good, because now they can say the first English they learned was Ebonics. "Nobody gonna love me better, I'm gon' stick wichoo forever"
Here's Drew, with an exhausted flower on his shoulder:
Ola, you could not be cuter.

Rodeo (Russians Day 5)

Strawberry Days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove Utah.








'Twas a rootin tootin good time.

Russians Day 5

Went and toured Kohler's grocery store. Which was actually kind of dumb. But we did get to watch them decorate a cake to look like a giant hamburger

And they gave us free ice-cream.
And we got to see how they put saran wrap on the meat.
Then we went to Thanksgiving Point to tour the Dinosour Museum.
Ola being silly.
Svetlana loved how interactive the Museum was.

Our neighbors Taylor and Peggy Smith and my Mom and Dad wanted to buy the girls some clothes. This was exciting because they only own 2-3 shirts to rotate between.

So we went to Kohls. Nastya said "nyet" and laughed at just about everything I showed her. Eventually after walking through the entire store we found something that she liked. Guess I don't have a russian fashion sense.
Oksana with Peggy Smith
Svetlana with my Momma. Sveta is so darling, and gives kisses on the cheeks to say thank you.
Oksana with Taylor Smith

Taylor and Peggy Smith then took the girls to the grocery store and gave them each $10. He told them to buy candy or gum, but they bought essentials - razors, deodorant, and, well, mascara. Which I know is an essential.


Ola was going to spend her $10 on razors and batteries. Taylor told her he had lots of those at home so buy something else...
Thanks, Taylor.
The girls came right home and changed into their new clothes. They got all gussied up to go to the rodeo.

Russians Day 4

Took the girls to get pedicures. On the way we stopped by Xenias house to see their quilts - the girls were ecstatic when they saw them. Their reaction made her tear up a little bit - I'm guessing/hoping their enthusiasm made her feel better about spending hours and hours and hours quilting 8 quilts!
Svetlana tried out the long arm quilter.
Pedicures:
Oksana thought it tickled.
Alina soaked it all up.
And they all had very cute toes. And green flip-flops which they wore for the next several days, including to the ranch, and to church.


Then we walked around Roberts Craft Store. They had never seen a glue gun, and we got some for them to take back to the school in Russia.
Hamburgers for lunch - at Chadders.

Then to Costco: Free Samples

And lots of M&M's. When we took them to the candy counter at BYU on Monday we let them pick from the huge selection. They examined all of the candies and then four of them chose - - - - plain m&m's. We told them we would get those for them later. Good thing we did because they ate this huge bag in less than 24 hours.
Ola tried on my sunglasses and they totally dwarfed her. She's my favorite. Shh.

The Bishop's wife Jackie Whitlock came over to make cards with the girls.

And at night they watched The Devil Wears Prada in the theater room.