Kazak Hospitality

We were invited on thursday by a local family to join them at a nearby lakeside retreat for a feast, Kazak style. The parents of our very own Nantucket connection, Yershan, invited us and their close friends for kabobs and traditional Kazak dishes. Guests included the head of northern Kazakhstan's customs police, a former Kazak wrestling olympian, and high-ranking police. Lots of eating, laughing and funny comments regarding communism, democracy, and the KGB. Former Pres. Clinton was definately the most popular of US politicians. Big laughs after Leith asked why they all could get off work on this particular day during the work week.

In the early afternoon, we started with a most traditional Kazak meal (including horse prepared several ways: roasted, sausage and smoked...think good pot roast). Many toasts were made in our honor and they were very supportive of our adoption and Leith's pregnancy. We ate in the log cabin while it rained lightly. Delicious. We finished eating, the rain tapered off, then we strolled along the lake and rested on some swings.

Not long after, we began round 2. Chicken and lamb kabobs on the outside BBQ under a great outdoor firepit/picnic area. Honey cake and tea to finish. We had to head back to Petro, about 20 min. away, to get Leith back to bed before she was completely exhausted, so we unfortunately missed the evening sauna. Overall, a great experience that we will not forget.

Calling all children blogger viewers!!!

NOW PLAYING @ the Petro Movie Box...

G-FORCE!!

Russian M&M's

Hello to Wesoly, Holly, Rourke, Beck, Austin, Ali, Luke, Allie, Teddy and Max,

And any one else I might have forgotten...

David and I would like to invite any or all of you to the night @ the movies!!!

Please ask your parents permission first. The night will include.....movie tix, snacks , russian candy, ice cream and any thing else yummy.

Should be a fun night of fun!

PLEASE NOTE: the 4x flights to get to Petro are NOT included. Please also have your passports up-to-date..you eill need a Visa to enter Kazakhstan.

Hope y'all can join us on this Saturday night ...6PM.

Babyhouse Donations

The Babyhouse is looking for donations. They are in need of some simple things like:

Bandaids, Neosporin, and Desitin (baby fanny cream)

If any one wants to help...Dave will be returning back to KZ in late Sept/ Oct and can bring the items with him to share @ the babyhouse.

Thank You!

September 1st... Autum has arrived in Petro!

A new outfit for our Master Kinney! A gift from "Timor's"grandma.

When u eat this......you go to heaven or have a heart bipass!

Pigorgi (sp?) friend dough meets mashed potatoes. Just really yummy! They are made with other fillings too...cabbage, liver, meat . Had to have one to try.



SNACK ATTACK!

Mama Leith and Baby #2 were hungry for more Russian/Kazak snacks!

The chips are quite good..like bbq...my chocolate milk gone! Haven't tried the Tea cake yet..looks good..chocolate coverd yellow cake w/ apricots. We all know TWIX taste good...aren't they cute in MINI size!!



WE woke today to....CHILLY weather 50s? The rain has gone but it brought the cold chilly autum air!

Thank goodness I have 1 pair of cahmere soxs with me! We are doing our layering thing.

As, I mentioned school started today in Petro for ALL the kids big and small. Sorry, don't have any pix of girls w/ BIG bows in their hair. WE did see many of them and even 2 at a time!

The young boys were ALL dressed in there Sundays best...suits to yes, we even saw a tux!!

Today was a very social day for us Kinneys. First babyhouse visit...went well and fun. The babyhouse was back to it's busy place today. 2nd,shopping for our little guy...he needs 2x warm outfits to wear plus and outerwear snow suit/hat...things he will be leaving the babyhouse in when he is released and bought to Almaty to meet up with Daddy Dave...some time in late Sept/Oct.

We had a quick lunch @ Donner Pizza and off to meet our lawyer"Svetlana" about court dates and sign lots of papers.

After all that, we hosted a mini get together with our Nantucket/Kazak friend :Yershan..(Timor's dad) Mom. We met her and her husband back in August on Nantucket ans we wanted to them here in Petro. The family has a busines here in Petro and goes home to Astana on the weekends. Grandma gave us that good looking outfit for our little guy! She is sooooo sweet and kind and showerd me with lots of love and hugs!! We are planning on spending more time with them before we leave to go home .

Finally, meet up again w/ "Svetlana" and we have Great NEWS! We have a court date and it is Sept. 11th, Friday...Aunt Sara's birthday

Dave and I are in GREAT hands and we have been told. We are still the 1st couple to come to Petro for adoption while being pregnant! We are the trend setters!
Wish us luck! If all goes well we will returning to Nantucket several days after. The sad thing is our little guy must stay here in Petro another 2-4 weeks. We will then get the okay to come back to fetch him and return to his NEW home!

Busy..busy..busy day!

Sending love to all!

(please note my spell check isn't working so...I am not a good speller and sorry for my mistakes)

Monday Rainy Day!

Thought y' all would like to see what the neighbors building looks like. This apt is right next to us by the Hotel Skiff.



Welcome to the Hotel Skiff! Home Sweet Home for the 3 weeks! It's the best Hotel in town...Petro only has two. It has a swim pool/fitness center, beauty salon and a full service restaurant with one English menu. Also, security guards too. Our room is very big and comfortable. We love having the chamber maids come to give us fresh linens & towels. Did I tell u they have laundry service too. FULL service here!This is our dear "Valentina" our translator...our connection to the people of Kazakhstan. She speaks English beautifully and has been to the US several times...Quincey,MA and the Cape.


We would be lost without her!!! Dave and I are very lucky to have Valentina all to our selves. It seems to be a very slow time here in Petro for adoptions and we are the only family here.
Valentina has been working for the last 10 years for the adoption agency and before was an English school teacher. He husband is too an English teacher @ a private city school.


They have a 15 year old daughter who attends the school. I am trying to have her come to Nantucket to be our summer mother's helper. We shall see??




We woke up this morning to rain and alot chillier than before. Autumn is in the air! Saw on Sunday, some ladies trying on Fall/Winter fur lined coats. They are getting ready for the cold weather.


Dave and I had another GREAT day with our little guy. The Baby house was very quiet again today, it was also the holiday so.....not many if any other than us visiting.


We had an inside playdate today...Rain! We were all invited to play up stairs in the music room!


A very large pink room with a puppet theatre stage, a home made "Yurt" by the ladies from the Baby house and a Big boom box. The three us us had a fun...tummy time, singing time, and just playing. Note..we were the only ones there. This is a home for children under the age of 4...right? It is the most quiet place...no sounds or crying and laughter. The walls are really sound proof. All the care givers are so kind, loving and gentle and LOVE what they do!!!


Heard it will b e colder in the am on Tuesday. We will be meeting with our adoption coordinator "Svetlana" to go over details about our adoption and court date. She lives in Almaty...the former capital of KZ about a 4hour plane ride south of us.

Tuesay is also the first day of school for the children of Petro. Hope to see and get some pix of the kids all dressed up!

Have a good one..til next post!

Sunday Holiday in Petro

All aboard! Doesn't this look like a fun ride?

Here are some performers...in Russian costumes singing traditional songs. The lady costumes remind me of my Polish heritage.

These Lovely girls were waiting to go on stage to preform. Don't you love the bright yellow?

They were so cute to watch and pretty too!

Lunch time!

This is one our favorite restaurants walking distance from the Hotel.

Lamb kebabs with home made french fries like "in and out". Served with a spicy red dipping sauce. Can't quite figure it out...ketcup ,A1 sauce, worchershire???? I must write to Gourmet Magazine for the recipe!!!!

Leith's lunch Pork kebabs with rice. I am playing it safe with most food.

Dave and I enjoyed our Sunday together! We had a lazy start knowing our afternoon was going to filled with "Constitution Day" festivities the holiday which was taking place this Sunday. Sorry,I need to brush up on my Kazak history for you.

The celebration took place on Constitution Ave.....which is a very long pedestrian walk way thru out the city. The DPW guys were working pretty hard several days before in preparation.

This avenue is lined with tall full trees , lovely flowers, benches and shops and restaurants and again it a short walk from our Hotel.

The day was a day for ALL. Families old and young and the outfits the people were wearing that were not preforming were very fancy to very basic and plain. The ladies of all ages love to wear high heels and tight jeans. The older ladies..(grandmas)that are" chic" do love their hair in the Henna color wash and other odd colors too.

All the children wear hats of all shaped and sizes. Very cute! Buggies/strollers are in an abundance but the most popular means of transportation for the Little ones ( 1& and up )are the ride on bikes with stirring wheels,baskets and horns. Must take a few pix.

Over all we had a nice day with out our dear friend "Valentina" our translator. We did very much miss our guy!!! I wish we could have had him with u!!! Our next visit is this morning..Monday so I must get ready.

Will post about today's adventure when I can.

Happy Monday to all!

Crazy Post!

Sorry all..... for the "mixed up / upside down "last post. ...Saturday's sleep time. I was trying to post too much and got confused.
This blog thing is ......trial and error. Enjoy the pictures and our adventure!