It has been too long. I know. So instead of writing a book...to explain all that has been going on. I will just leave you with some highlights.

*I went horseback riding in a village about 10km away from Vologda with my friend Asya. She gave me a lesson on walking and trotting and then she rode for a while too. While she was riding, she fell off her horse once! I have always been afraid of falling off a horse, but she got right back on that thing. After she was done, I asked if she was okay..and she calmly replied, "I was just a little tired, I am fine." ...What I learned...~Falling off a horse doesnt seem to hurt.~

*On Saturday we carved pumpkins (I think it was more like a squash) with our friend Ann. She helped us make a pumpkin porridge, and we also made and decorated some sugar cookies. We took everything with us to the American Corner at the library for a Halloween celebration, where Brighid and I led the English Club. We played games, ate food, read Halloween jokes, and learned about the history of the Jack o'Lantern.

*On Sunday we had another Halloween party at church. The kids were so cute and had an amazing time, and I will get some pictures up soon. Because, picutres really are worth a thousand words in this case.

*Tonight was another party...it was Brighid's surprise party! Now, B doesnt really like surprises...but I thought about it, and decided to plan one anyway. I told her students to act like nothing was out of the ordinary. While my students and I were in the other classroom decorating, setting up the food (and five cakes), blowing up balloons, finding the right music...

So after we had set up, I ran next door to ask Brighid if I could borrow her camera. Now. To me, I thought this would give away the surprise, because it is kind of odd for me to interupt her class. And then I asked her and her class just to come next door so that I could take a Halloween picture of everyone.

She came over and my class had the lights turned out, and the candles on the cake all set. They yelled surprise and sang her happy birthday. She said to me she had no idea til she literally walked into the room.

So we sang, ate, danced, and celebrated Brighid's 24th.