New Year's Eve

New Year's is THE biggest holiday here in Kazakhstan.  From the Western perspective,  a Kazakhstan New Year's is like Halloween (kids dress up in costumes and are awarded truckloads of candy), Thanksgiving (enormous amounts of food are prepared and family come home to celebrate), Christmas (decorated fir trees in every home/business and Father Frost comes in the night bearing gifts), and New Year's Eve (people stay up all night to bring in the New Year, drink far too much, and shoot off fireworks).  It is definitely the mother of all holidays here in the former Soviet Union.  We were totally unprepared when we moved here almost seventeen years ago.  As a matter of fact, Dan and I didn't even like New Year's very much when we first arrived.  Dan generally turns into a pumpkin by eleven o'clock and I was terrified of the amount of fireworks being shot off of balconies in our apartment complex.  It was the one time of the year I was REALLY thankful that the buildings were made of solid concrete.  But, the longer we have lived here, the more we have grown to love New Year's celebrations.  As we are far away from our families and had no particular New Year's traditions when we arrived, we were free to create our own over the years.  Now I believe we would all claim New Year's as one of our favorite family holidays!

Our traditions have grown to such an extent that we must get going early on New Year's Eve in order to fit them all in!  We take turns with meal selection and preparation throughout the day (partners or adult assistance are permitted.) In order to eat the meal, however, each family member must fill in the appropriate "meal ticket" - year highlights, favorite books/movies/songs, and "growth opportunities" to prompt evaluation and sharing about the past year (on New Year's Eve day) and goals for the year to come (on New Year's day).  Throughout the day, we play games (usually involving much screaming and bantering) and construct a gingerbread house.  For our evening entertainment, we always pick one of the year's best movies to watch.  The theme for the gingerbread house generally is borrowed from the movie - whether it is a pirate ship, a space ship, a wardrobe (that one was really difficult), or a flying house - this year's UP! selection. And then, of course, fireworks, coke floats, and gingerbread at midnight!  Unlike most of the country, we generally do NOT stay up all night, as we actually like to function during the daytime hours the following day.  By 2:00 or 3:00, we go to sleep to the sounds of fireworks and dream of large-scale warfare. 

Today Jackie woke up early and made some amazing Russian blini for our breakfast.  (We knew there was a reason we had children.) You go, girl!

                                    

Abby made a mean fettunine alfedo for lunch while Dan provided the protein by grilling some amazing peppered steaks to accompany.  We had some luxurious sharing time until we realized that we needed to get going on our gingerbread construction.  Just at the time when we were about to whip egg whites for the gingerbread "glue", our electricity went out.  So typical for our life in Central Asia.  But, also so amazing to see how accustomed our kids are to handling adversity.  Everyone just got up and ran to find the flashlights, light the candles, and check the fuses to make sure it wasn't our personal system.  Dan measured and cut the gingerbread by candlelight and then the kids started offering to have our own Survivor reward challenge by beating the egg whites by hand.   We decided to wait for an hour to see if the electric company might come to our rescue on New Year's Eve or not.  Before the hour was up, the power came back on and we were able to continue with our celebration.  So thankful that our plans didn't have to be altered even more. 

Our gingerbread house was in honor of Carl/Ellie and Dug.  There is plenty of Dug voice going around this house. . .

Ellie:"It's like America but South." "You don't talk much. I like you."

Dug:  "I have just met you and I love you."  "Squirrel!"  "I do not like the cone of shame." "I am very ready to not be in a high place." "It is funny because the squirrel got dead."

If you are wondering what happened to Jackie, she was gifted some beauty moles by her father. . .

I love Abby's creative wall mural. . .

And Allison's frosty window and potted plants.

MIDNIGHT! An amazing blast of fireworks and lots of acrid smoke covering the city of Almaty!!

Happy New Year from the KazBurns!!!

Game Night!

Tonight we invited the Marina/Masha dynamic duo for a family evening of fun and games.  Marina brought a type of favorite pastries from her Soviet childhood to share with us.  Yumm!!

Then we introduced them to the bean game and had an international Wii Winter Sports tournament.  Our last game of the evening was the "Coin Game", a game which must have originated in a bar somewhere.  But it certainly generated lots of  laughter among our sober teens, as well. A fun party evening with good friends!!

Alpenskaya Roza (Alpine Rose) and Lunaya Polyana (Moonlight Field)

Another beautiful day at the alpine lodge. 

The mountain snow was quite powdery and several feet deep.

Our Beautiful Snow Angels

Since the powdery, dry snow couldn't be packed enough for snowballs, forts, or snowmen, the kids chose to make Great Escape Snow Tunnels instead.  The girls actually connected their two tunnels -

before the tectonic plates shifted and a great fault line was created!

Abby attempted to pull Daniel through his tunnel.  All was fine and good until the roof fell in and we heard calls of "Dig out my face!"

Some retired mountaineers gave Dan a hot tip about the beautiful "Moonlight Field" which was just a short hike above the lodge.  Of course, we couldn't resist.

Wahoo!  They weren't kidding about the gorgeous peaks and pines surrounding this mountain field.

A perfect place to dig in and have a picnic lunch.

Even better was the great sled back down to the lodge!

We were so thankful for our family mountain get-away!

Our Family's "Sutki Vmesti" : 24 Hour Get-Away

In order to really get away from the phone, computer, and day-timer, we like to schedule family vacation days - even if we don't go very far from home.  This year we reserved a night in an alpine lodge, just 45 minutes drive from our house.  Through the busy chaos of the holiday season, it was comforting to know we had time this week reserved for "family only".  We were all so excited to begin our family "sutki vmesti". 

Looking down on the smog in which we live on a daily basis:

Me? A Target??

The lodge had several sleds available for use, providing much excitement for us on the ski hills!

Dan, where are you going with that shovel full of snow?

Daniel decided that burying Jackie was a good idea.  That is all fine. Unless your name is Jackie. :-)

And the ensuing snow madness. . .

It is always exciting to have an acrobat in the family!

This mother is quite glad that we have a smart acrobat - one who checks his surfaces and evaluates risks BEFORE doing a trick. . .

WAHOO!!!!

Nothing like some fresh air, fun companions, and dedicated time!  I am so glad these kids are our best friends. . . Can't believe how lucky we are. . .

Christmas Pageant, Broccoli-Cheese Soup, and More Christmas Party-ing!

Our talented children's ministry presented the nativity pageant once again for Almagul's Christmas service.  What joy to see Kazakh, Russian, and Korean children playing the various characters in the biblical account of that first Christmas!

After church we prepared for our FINAL Christmas party - a gathering of the Almagul elders, deacons, and their families.  We went "family-style" with this party, serving hot soup and baked potatoes with fixings instead of a multiple course meal.  I had my heart set on making broccoli-cheese soup and HIT THE JACKPOT in my internet recipe search.  Oh-my-goodness-recipe-of-my-dreams:  the copycat Panera Bread broccoli-cheese soup! Could not believe my good fortune - this recipe is the real deal and was DEFINITELY worth the calories! If you don't believe me, make it for yourself.  You won't be sorry!

Copycat Panera Bread Broccoli-Cheese Soup

1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup melted butter
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
salt and pepper, to taste
8 oz. grated sharp cheddar

Saute onion in butter. Set aside.
Using a whisk, cook melted butter and flour over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently.
Slowly add the half-and-half, continue stirring.
Add the chicken stock, whisking all the time.
Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the broccoli, carrots, and onions.  Cook over low heat until veggies are tender - about 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper.  The soup should be thickening. 
Pour in batches into a blender and puree.  Return the puree to the pot and place over low heat. 
Add the grated cheese.  Stir until well blended. 
Stir in the nutmeg. 

Alterations:  I used frozen broccoli instead of fresh and chopped into fairly small pieces.  I substituted 10% milk for the half-and-half.  I also didn't choose to puree the soup since I prefer small chunks.  All of these substitutions seemed to work well!

From our kitchen to yours - holiday enjoyment!