Halloween Party

We have a Halloween lover in the house. It started mid-August with pleas to host a spooky party.

Then came the weeks of lists, floorplans, and big ideas. In final preparations, she sewed her own costume and proudly displayed it,

in all it's sundry incarnations.

Apparently her friends are all likewise spooky-minded.

So I did my best to come up with the right themed foods and decor in a country void of Halloween.

"Baby Mummies", for example.

She masterminded the games, prepared supplies, and orchestrated events. 

And the result? Not bad for a group of international kids who mostly don't celebrate Halloween.
Children are so accommodating.

And this guy helped clean up any leftovers.

Someone must have taught him the stem trick . . .

We'll likely be seeing these hard won homemade decorations again next year.

Stony shore

Batumi highlights

Ajarian Lobiani: like refried beans in a hot bread crust.

Ajarian Khachapuri: in my haste I missed the "before" pic. Think fresh pizza with an extra dollop of butter and an egg yolk and remove any trace of vegetables. What's not to like?

We got another one with ham. Heaven in a bread bowl.

A bit heavy, however.

It must have been the first sunny day in weeks. Everyone had the wash out.

Love birds.

My lovebird.

The coveted toy pony ride.

The night time beach scene.

The spectacular fountain/light/music show. Best I've seen.

Batumi

On the far southwestern corner of Georgia lies a seaside city that can trace its origins back to Ancient Greece. Today Batumi still serves as an important port on the Black Sea, and business in the tourism industry is thriving thanks to massive infusions of foreign investment dollars. We came by train (the "fast" train makes it a 5-hour trip) for a few days of sunny diversions. Our first stop was the Batumi Botanical Gardens. They officially opened in 1912 and are one of the largest botanical gardens in the former Soviet Union. 

With three children on foot we barely made it a third of the way through, but if you visit Batumi, you must see the gardens.

Disgruntled customer

A friend sent this pic.

I recently attended a shopping tour around Tbilisi with some expat friends, including this little guy on my back, as usual. Although baby-wearing in the States is quite run-of-the-mill, here it's a real spectacle. He is constantly getting pinches or kisses on the cheek, hands or thighs squeezed, and offerings of food which he may or may not want. 

Here he has a mouthful about which he's having second thoughts, whilst the spice merchant leans in. Charmed, I'm sure.

Twilight

End of an Era

This month we bid farewell to the last group of Elders who preceded us in Georgia. They were greenies struggling with the language when we arrived, they now return home as mission leaders. We also say goodbye to the first Sister missionaries called to serve in Georgia. I can hardly express what a meaningful part of our Georgian life these fantastic young people have been. We will truly miss them, as well as all who have gone before.

Speaking of which, we were sadly stripped of a face-to-face goodbye with these wonderful senior missionaries/surrogate grandparents when they had to leave unexpectedly in August. But their early departure was probably for the best, because we couldn't have borne losing all these precious souls at once.

Perhaps pointedly, this month also stands as the midpoint of our family's time in Georgia. I find myself constantly marking the moments and reflecting on how best to proceed for the remainder of our time. I'm so grateful for the unusual advantage of being able to live here for nearly 4 years, more than most in our position. We have really gotten settled into this life, although it took a while; we have been stretched and schooled by the variety of new experiences. Here's to another expansive two years in Georgia!

DD # 2: My first Karate class

One day I was looking at the after-school clubs with my mom and I saw rock climbing so I got so exited! ...But then my mom said there was karate and I got even more exited, so my mom signed me up for karate class. And so as you can see I have learned a little karate, but unfortunately I still have a white belt, but one day I'll have the black belt. 

Caucasian harvest

A smattering of October's bounty, à la Caucase; grapes, plums, pomegranate and persimmon.

Botanical Gardens

Tbilisi boasts a beautiful botanical garden, now officially the National Botanical Garden of Georgia, with a history that spans several centuries. First known as the royal fortress gardens as early as 1625, it has an illustrious history of visits by notable scholars, writers, and artists.

To enter, one must first ascend a steep street that has been beautifully restored in traditional Georgian architectural style, with intricate brickwork, colorful balconies, and impressive wood detailing.

The garden is nestled in the shadow of Narikala, a mountaintop fortress that dates back to the 4th century. Because Tbilisi is mostly surrounded by mountains and not far from the warm Black and Caspian Seas, it is protected from the cold winds of the north which results in a moderately humid subtropical climate. This translates into beautifully blooming flowers well into autumn.

The children always start our visits with a stop at the playground, one of the nicest in Tbilisi.

In addition to plants, trees, flowers and lofty peaks, there are a number of still pools and a river that slices right through the center of the garden. We engage in much stone tossing.

One of our favorite Saturday ventures is a visit to the Botanical Garden with friends.