Happy Cleaning Day!

So Kazakhstan actually has a National Cleaning Day. Yes, it is true. It isn't today. In fact, it isn't in December at all (though it is another holiday today- I think Constitution Day.) I've heard different stories about the Cleaning Day. One person told me it is the last Saturday of every month and it is a government holiday, another person told me it is sometime in the Spring (the day before Stalin's birthday.) Apparently this "holiday" carries over from the Soviet times (no big shocker there.) I guess the country was supposed to be clean for Stalin for his birthday. Anyways, today is not National Cleaning Day, but it was Cleaning Weekend in the Tennen Apartment in Astana.

For those of you who know me, you will have to use your imagination and believe me on this one--- I actually got out a pair of rubber gloves, a bucket, some sponges and some rags, and I was on my hands and knees cleaning this place. This is all true. You see, I am having 2 very important people come stay with me this week.

1. My Dad is coming Thursday!!!!

2. Rylie is coming to live with me--- finally!!!!

So in an attempt to prepare for the visitor who will be crawling all over my floor and likes to lick everything, I have been scrubbing and vacuuming everything and everywhere. Adam, you would be so impressed!
As I mentioned earlier, this week is full of Kazakh holidays--- (not Cleaning Day) Constitution Day and some other fast day as well. The schedule as far as visits and when Rylie leaves the Baby House is still up in the air. So my plan is just to go where they tell me to go, when they tell me to go. I learned early on in this process, nothing is in my control- which is obviously a little difficult being that I am a control freak. So I'm doing my best at the whole "go with the flow" thing.

So while the cleaning is very "un-Sara," I did impose a new rule when Adam left which is much more "typical Sara." See, since I don't really eat out much now that he is gone, I decided that for every Sunday I am here alone, Rylie gets a new, cute outfit from Kazakhstan.

Here are Rylie's newest acquisitions....

Last Sunday's purchase:

Today's purchase:

The good news for Adam is that today was my last Sunday alone, but won't Rylie look cute!

This afternoon, I went for tea and treats with two of the other moms here. We had a fabulous time chatting/debriefing/venting/ etc. Good times!

And of course, what would a posting be without a few pics of little Rylie. Here are a few from yesterday of Rylie and Sabina playing. Obviously they both couldn't look at the same time, so in the first Rylie is looking at the camera, and in the second Sabina is.

So that's the scoop from Astana.

Love to everyone...