Book Club for three year olds.

Once Luda had the idea to get some friends together with their kids to discuss a favorite book the kids had read. This has now become a regular event - a book club for kids.

This time they discussed a book by the author Vladimir Suteyev. He was an animator who became a children's author, illustrating his own stories. He was also ambidextrous and could even write and draw at the same time!

One of his most

Maths Games

Luda has collected and created a host of games that teach and train mathematics, we test them on our own kids.

On Saturday we were invited by our friends in nearby Divnogorsk, to run a session of Maths games. 

It was a way to help parentss both inside and outside of the church.

The Church building in Divnogorsk

inside 

You can just about see the view of the surrounding mountains

First the kids played

Then we drank tea!

Our team of helpers!

Our Dacha

Our dacha is 35 km (about 20 miles) outside of Krasnoyarsk.

There is one room and a "kitchen" downstairs and a second room upstairs

Downstairs room. We decorated it with lots of the kids old paintings (as a rule anything old goes to the dacha to live out it's last days)

Kitchen, from the staircase.

Upstairs room

Anita and friends painted the murals, the big picture is of the church summer camp.

This is the view from the upstairs balcony.

For most people dachas are for growing things, we look at ours more as a place to relax and get away from the city and the polution.

That's why we have a climbing frame and sand pit, instead of plant beds.

Now that I have finished building the climbing frame (after only six years) 

I am turning my hand to making raised beds.

This summer we dug out the top layer of grass and sowed clover, we used the turf to make
raised beds

There's always something to do at the dacha!

You can run around,

play in the pool

eat

sleep

take pictures

Climb a tree

In the evening we like to watch films by candlelight!

Only in Russia - Sushki

These dried bread rings get their name from the verb, "to dry" - "sushat".

They come in different varieties and sizes. 

These ones are made with milk, which makes them softer, others are more crunchy.

These sushki are made at the bakery.

They have Peter's seal of approval!

 

A Botanical Walk

One of our neighbours, Ira, came up with the idea of taking the kids on a walk to learn about some of  the local plants. She even prepared a guide with pictures. 

Our band of botanists set off in search of samples.

Their labours were rewarded, richly!

Those who could not wait for the picnic, tried placing sticks on an anthill,

and licking them afterwards (I am told it tastes sour).

Berries were also sampled

At the top of the hill we admired the view, although smoke from distant forest fires affected it badly.

Then we shared a picnic,

took a group picture

and headed back down the hill.

The track comes out at the biathlon stadium, where some, 

who could not wait for winter, ski on rollers!

Tired, but happy!