A series of rainy days with fast-moving weather has given us spectacular rainbows. And made us grateful for every glimpse of blue sky (let alone sunshine!) that we are given. While I try to remember to enjoy the sun in Colorado, there's nothing like living without to make me grateful for every small gap in the clouds.
Because Eric and Lena were both sick this weekend, our planned team overnight at the Goz' dacha was canceled. The kids were very disappointed. They had dreamed of cooking over a campfire, sleeping in a tent, and ... well, a lot more. (Their proposal was that we hunt for all of our food.) We even found real American marshmallows at a grocery store. So, instead of a campfire, we roasted them over candles in our kitchen. Although it took patience and low expectations, the process was pleasing to all.
Instead of spending the day with our team at the dacha, the kids and I drove out to a family's house out of the city. It's the first time we've visited friends who live in a house in St Pete. (Well, not really, 'in' the city!) Though we met the Rivers last spring, we've never gone to their home. Their two boys are both older than ours, but are very good playmates. We had a great day of grilling hot dogs (on a grill, not a campfire) playing in a big house, picking apples and berries off the trees. I enjoyed digging bulbs out of Christine's garden--I love playing in the dirt. She has an amazing spread of berry bushes, flowers, and an incredible vegetable garden, with two greenhouses. One of them shelters grapevines! It was the perfect time to visit--the hardest part was leaving!
