It's a Small Small World

Alright everyone- sing it with me. “It’s a small world aaafter aaall…It's a small world aaafter aaall…It’s a small world aaafter aaall…It’s a smaaall smaaall wooorld”  Is it stuck in your head now?  Me too.  As a matter of fact, it’s been stuck in my head for the last week.  After a calm and wonderful Memorial Day weekend that we spent at the lake house (I’ll write about that trip later), we were home for one day and then hopped a plane for Florida.  Destination  Kazapalooza- with a stopover at Disney on the way.  After an exhausting plane trip with a just-learned-to-walk toddler, we checked into our hotel and hung out for the afternoon.  The next morning we got up and headed straight to the land of Mickey where we somehow lucked out and got into the Disney castle's breakfast with the princesses.  At first Rin wasn't so into meeting the characters but once they informed him he was getting a sword, he was all in.  We met them all- Cinderella, Belle, Snow White, Ariel... all of them.   

Then it was off to enjoy the rides.  I love Rin's face on the spinning teacups.  Can you tell he's having an absolute blast? 

The Snow White ride didn't go over so well.  Rin said it was too scary.  For all of his fearlessness, he's still a little boy.

We stayed the whole day long riding rides and wandering around marveling at the pure Disney-ness of it all.  We met up with our friends Diane/Ceira/Tienna in the morning (the ones in Karaganda with us in 2010) and our friends Meagan/Tony/Taylor (part of the Astana 2007 crew) in the afternoon.  We stayed ALL DAY LONG and closed out the day watching the electric parade and fireworks before heading home at 10:00 at night.  The boys were troopers despite being completely exhausted.  They fell into bed and slept past 8 the next morning. 

And while we were in Orlando, we also spent some time chillaxing by the pool.  It was Bek's first pool experience so I had to get it on film.  He did pretty well and seems to like the water. 

And then it was off to the sunny beaches of St Pete and the wonderful people who have adopted from Kaz. Let me tell you that there is nothing like getting together with people who really get you like these people do.  There was no 'look at baby, look at parents, look at baby with quizzical look on face followed by well meaning but sometimes annoying questions'.  It was just "Oh my gosh, he's absolutely ADORABLE!" from everyone that we saw. 

Another first for our littlest one- the ocean.  He's a little texture wary and wasn't super fond of the sand.  As matter of fact, it pretty much just led to tears and pure misery when he discovered that it was actually STUCK TO HIS HAND (Aagh!!! Get it off!!!)  Then we took him to the water and that went over much better.

But you can tell from his face here that he was still a little unsure.  But check out Rin's face.  There's no place he'd rather be than sitting in the sand as the waves roll in.

And, being the constant daredevil, Rin faced the mighty blow-up slide and won.  Well, most of the rides anyway.  This one not so much since Daddy decided to take Ciera down instead of him. 

And there was a very rushed but nonetheless wonderful dinner with our dear friends from Astana.  I swear these kids are almost closer than cousins.  There's none of that awkward getting to re-know you time, it's just straight back into play mode.  With us adults too.  I don't really know how to describe it exactly.  They are just sort of like extended family.  We have shared with them things that we have not with our own families even.  There's something about experiencing what we did together that outdoes any kind of description that we could give.  You just have to have lived it right along with us.  And they did.  And I am hoping that these children know and enjoy each other their entire lives.  There knew each other before we knew any of them after all and there's just nothing that can replace that.  My friend,, Jila, was telling me that she always remembers Rinat being in the high chair next to her daugher, Kiana, at the baby house before we had even met him.  Sometimes I forget that there was a time that we didn't know him but I am glad that he was surrounded by his little friends and that we can keep up with some of them forever.  We are so lucky.

And post dinner was the pirate show.  And if there is one thing that this little man is passionate about, it's pirates and he was so excited to meet a real life Red Beard. 

And of course he had to load up on pirate paraphernalia and get in character. 

He even refused to take it off for the photo with our good friends from Karaganda.  Oh well, he is who he is stubbornness and all.  Or should I just call it excitement?

And as the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico, our weekend was almost over.  Our beautiful friends, old and new, scattered to spend the last few precious moments on their own.  The next morning we met up and said goodbye to everyone, got a little more beach time, and it was back home.  When I was downloading the photos I realized that as excited as I was about the weekend I really hadn't taken that many.  What can I say?  I guess I was just having too much fun. 

And isn't it a truly small world?  Five years ago, I didn't even know where Kazakhstan was and there we were in Florida celebrating a place from across the world with people from all over the US and Canada.  It's a small small world.  And we are all the better for it.  

Love to all,
-m
Next up- our big move.  Two days and counting...