A Spring Birthday: Misha is 8!

The weather turned out to be absolutely perfect for Misha's birthday this past Saturday. We walked downtown through Erkindik Park with Vladik and Yarik, catching a pony ride on the way. Then we met up with Misha's classmates Pasha and Yan for a "gamburger" picnic on the grass. Since Misha was the birthday boy, he chose the menu. He opted for Begimot, which is the Kyrgyz version of McDonalds. (As of 2013, they even have chicken nuggets - called "stickensi.")

Yarik, Vladik, Misha, Sebby, Pasha, and Yan

French fries and juice boxes

Moving along to dessert, a homemade brownie cake like he requested.

He huffed and he puffed and he blew them all out.

Dig in!

Double dig in. (They're twins.)

The kids had a blast playing in the grass while the five adults chatted. I had originally planned to take the kids to a rollerskating club, but in the end, we decided that being outside was infinitely better. The kids rollerbladed in the park, as well as played frisbee, climbed on the rocks, and played pratki and dogonyalki (hide-and-seek and tag).

Misha, Alesia, me, Marina

The birthday boy with mom and dad.

My son is 8!

Misha and Vladik

Vladik, with Misha and Pasha peeking out.

Giving rollerblades a try.

Cool presents - thanks everyone!!

Since the park was right next to the Panfilov (the outdoor amusement park), we strolled over and went on a few rides.

Judging by their facial expressions, this ride was actually on the scary side.

We just loved this cute old cotton candy lady.

Bumper cars, a must.

The ferris wheel, another must.

Vladik and Misha

Attempting to drink from a water fountain - I love it. 

Misha and Pasha on the roller coaster

Pasha, Misha, Yan

Misha and Vladik

Roller-coaster ready

Sebby enjoying a calm golf-cart ride.

Evening sets in.

 Before heading home, Alesia and Chris (the twins' parents) invited us all out for shashlik - and the smells drifting through the park made it impossible to resist. Six boys and five parents descended on the poor cafe.

Arm wrestling

Juice toasts.

Tired and happy, we returned home only after the sun had set. It was a nice, relaxing birthday, with lots and lots of Russian! At home, Misha opened a few family gifts - like a box of his favorite chocolate alphabits (English letters only, though), a slinky from Sebby, water guns, and a mini chess set.

He celebrated his birthday in his school the Friday before. Everyone in his class wrote him birthday wishes in their scrawly first-grader Russian cursive, which Misha can decipher better than I can.

Misha with the two cakes he took to school - they were a hit.

Other Spring Adventures:

Badminton - both boys love it even though it's a miracle if they ever  get a volley going.

Bring it on.

A family walk downtown for pizza...

at the Obama Bar. 

Pictures and posters of Obama abound. Not bad!

My love for Kyrgyz squirrels is probably well-known by now.

This year, Sebby isn't as afraid to climb trees. Misha's a good teacher.

And our beans are growing like crazy, shooting up in noticeable jumps even at 12-hour intervals.

The proud gardener.

Notice how Sebby, determined to see the beans on the top shelf where I hid them from the cats, has climbed atop two stools stacked on top of each other. Oh-so-stable.