Touch down at Ohare Int'l on Thursday....

Wednesday AM here in Kaz'....that makes it 9 pm in Chicago and the Heartland. On Tuesday that is.

Got the flights changed to leave here on Thursday at 2 AM...and should be at Ohare on Thursday afternoon with America's newest citizen in tow. It will be exciting time...getting there, and then once we are home.

There are lots of Christmas trees and Santas around time. Sorrta surprised me there are so many, and I know understand they do celebrate...but there is no day off...and I have not seen any religious displays either.

Daniel and I enjoyed some Chicken wings for dinner. BBQ style. Plus some French Fries...he enjoyed those too. And this morning for breakfast, he seemed to enjoyed his pancakes with Chocolate...and then a couple with Sour Cream...and a few more with Molasses. Papa tried 'em all, but does prefer the Molasses by far over the other two toppings.

We should done at the embassy by the time the sun rises over the heartland. Then off to the airport to wait a few hours...and spend the rest of our tenge. It takes 12,000 tenge to make $100 US. Food and beverages are very inexpensive, and the meals have been good. Quite the variety of dishes and assorted fresh veggies and such. Plan to celebrate our last meal in Kaz with a Banana Split for lunch...along with a couple of bowls of borsh.

Thanks all. Do keep a look out for Lufthansa 430 out of Frankfurt at 10 AM and due to fly over Motown and or Fort Wayne around 2 pm Eastern. Papa and Daniel will belooking down and waving bye bye.

Daniel Jake and Papa

Tuesday afternoon in Almaty

Hi All

Enjoyed a good breakfast with Daniel here in the hotel. They have some sort of Molasses side dish and a thick chocolate pudding. Both of us loved it...Daniel more the Chocolate...and Papa the molasses. Yummy.

And I just finished my first, and last, dish of horse. Even Daniel ate a few bites. Some of the slices tasted like beeef, other slices....not so good. Plus there were pieces of fat in there too. I left those behind. The borsh soup is very good...and seems to be enouyght to fill up Daniel. He is a good eater.

Will get some more shopping in here later. Even after just three days, I have experienced the sadness of my son at Papa not buying him everything in the toy store. I know this has been experienced by many readers of our blog. My frustration was furthered by the fact that I could not get him to understand that NO meant Mama and Papa would get him a few toys in America.

We are doing well. Keep those posts coming!!!

Love, Daniel and Steve

In Almaty...with Daniel jake

Hi All

No photos here for the first posting from Trip 2. I have Daniel Jake next to me right now...our second day together. It is going well. We have taken two walks today, and he got his physical. Plus Papa signed more papers than one does for a mortgage....seemed like it anyways. WOW

We have Tuesday off.....And Wednesday, we should be at the Embassy. Hopefully we will be able to leave on Thrusdya AM...that would mean American's next citizen would land on Thursday the 13th. Stay tuned.

I will try to let ya know as best I can. This hotel does not have the internet stability that the hotel did in Ust Kamenogorsk. And traffic....it worse. Still those Kaz drivers that put all my commuter friends to shame.

Daniel did enjoy his airplane ride....no fears. He even managed to take a few photos out the window. And the best par t of the day was when we landed an hour or so after takeoff...he said....Chicago and Mama!

Only two more flights....on thursday...i pray and hope


Papa with Daniel"s head on my left hand. Time to wrestle

bye bye

Thursday the 8th

Hi All

Just a quick note to all. We got in safe and sound on Saturday and have been trying to adjust to the time, work, weather (it's warmer here in Chicagoland), and the like.

And Papa is still fighting off that same cough, running nose, ucking feeling from last week.

We will get some more photos and videos posted by the weekend.

Thanks all for your support and help. It was especially great to get back and receive so many phone calls from family and friends. Plus a surprise visit by Nick Ferrari...my man in West Berlin. Thanks Nick...and also to his Pa and Ma who tagged along for the visit.

Becky and Steve

Update from on the road...Almaty, KZ

Hi

Surprise Surprise....we got connected to the internet via Wi-Fi here in Almaty. One flight completed, two more to go.

Managed to pick up a few more souvenoirs here at the airport, and only about 9 more hours before we depart for Frankfurt at 4 am. But, hey, we ain't complaining about any of it. This is a breeze!!! LOL LOL

We sure do miss Daniel, but know we will all be together soon. Probably early December all the papers will be processed and Papa will fly back to bring him home. Trip should only take four to five days. Papa will be dressed for the Ust' (UP like weather) and Daniel will be dressed real warm too.

No photos here to add to this post. It is prohibited to take photos of the plane or in the airport. We were politely advised of this.....less, we would be writing you this posting from jail and looking for a rescue team.

We are ready to get home and will now have a few weeks to complete DJ's room, and lots of calls to make on various issues. Papa sure has missed making all those calls, and Mama has missed her TV shows....

OK....thanks for your responses and continued support and prayers on our journey, and now on our journey back to America. What a country!!!!

USA and Kazakhstan.....each.....What a country!!!

One last shout out to MTU. Goo You Huskies Goo and beat up Bucky the badger in Madtown. Bucky on a stick!!!!! Go Tech Go!!!!

Update from on the road...Almaty, KZ

2 November....It's a boy

Hi All Blog Folks

We know everyone there in America is probably asleep right now...it is 11 AM Ust' Time.

We just got back from court....it's official. We are the proud parent of a bouncing, jumping, eating, active, boy...108 cm tall, 19 kilo weight. Brown hair, brown eyes.

We will now leave the Shiny River Hotel on the Banks of the Ulba River. Our flight to Almaty is due in at 4 PM, local time. We will have leisurely 12 hour layover in Almaty. More sourvenoirs and coffee. MAYBE Vodka to celebrate!!!

Thanks again everyone for your support and prayers. Our dream has come true....Kaz we can...

Kaz we could!!! Kaz we did!!!!