Let it snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful.

Since we've got no place to go,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

After a few teases of snow which melted within a day, we finally have a white world. The grass is no longer visible, and the sidewalks are covered with icy patches that no one shovels or salts, making for interesting walks around town. Misha is always thrilled to look out the window and see the flakes swirling down, and snow always makes me feel nice and cozy as well, especially as snow brings the promise of Christmas.

Misha got a head start on his letter to Santa; he wrote it in November! He cleverly asked for two laser flashlights so that Sebby would have no excuse to steal Misha's.

We have been busy with all the fun traditions of the season. First up, sugar cookies! Mix, roll, cut, bake, cool, frost, sprinkle. They turned out pretty good, although not exactly like my American version.

And of course, Misha and I have an annual tradition of making a Christmas-tree shaped calendar with doors counting down to the big day. This is our third ever Christmas calendar. It certainly helps motivate Misha to wake up in the morning. I simply say, "You can go open another door!" and his eyes pop open. Off he runs to the calendar - even though he's the one who drew all the pictures behind the doors in the first place!

The big, bright stockings that arrived in the mail from Grandpa and Grandma really make the house feel Christmasy. And this week, Josh and I went to the bazaar to get a (fake) tree, so now we are in full Christmas mode.

Misha eagerly decorated our tree. We used our play-dough snowmen and hearts, as well as a few origami things and some ornaments we bought at the bazaar.

Misha's play-dough snowman.

Sebby's star

After Grandma mentioned that walnut shells could make great turtles, Misha decided we should try it out. Our turtles turned out super cute!

The only logical follow-up was to make a few Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Sebby is delighted with the Christmas tree. He keeps running over to it, shouting out the color that the lights are glowing at that moment. "Bluuuuuuuuue!" he cries, jumping up and down. He also keeps touching the ornaments to make them move. "See dat? See dat, mama? I make it wiggle!" He has already opened one of his presents, which I had to re-wrap. So far, he has tipped the entire tree over only once.

Misha has been busy creating his own projects and games to wrap up and put under the tree. He made a top-secret origami present for me, but he needed a bit of help with step 4 so I gave him a consult. And again for step 6, and 7, and 8. So I unintentionally saw the final product, but as Misha said brightly, "At least you won't know what I'm writing on it! How do you spell 'Happy Merry Christmas'?"

Holiday celebrations at the boys' school are in full swing now as well. Both boys come home singing "yolochka" (little pine tree) songs in Russian and Misha has been showing me the dances they practice for the New Year Show they will soon perform. 

In Kyrgyzstan as in Russia, New Year is the big holiday which includes the tree, opening gifts, and visits from Dyed Moros (Grandfather Frost) and Snegurichka (Snow Girl, the granddaughter who helps deliver presents). A huge, towering yolka (pine tree) has recently been erected in the downtown plaza of Bishkek, and soon Dyed Moros and Snegurichka will be there to visit with excited children. 

I really appreciate how the New Year holiday here encompasses the fun children's traditions as well as the generosity and good will of the season without binding itself jealously to one religion or another. The Kyrgyz people are generally Muslim, though not in a very strict sense, while the Russians are generally Russian Orthodox (they celebrate their Christmas on Jan. 7) -- but everyone celebrates a joyful New Year.