Greetings from Moscow!

We safely arrived in Moscow a few hours ago - yay! Wow the city has changed in the 6 weeks since we've been here last! Before everything was gray and dirty but now Spring has arrived and everything looks fresh and different. Weather is a little warmer too which is nice..no big coat this trip.

We had fairly uneventful travels. Our flight from Boston to DC was quick and then we had about a 3+ hour layover before we boarded our direct flight Moscow. That was a long flight - 9.5 hours - but luckily we were both able to sleep for several hours. I think it was only dark for about 3 hours though LOL. We also somehow were in economy plus which had a little more leg room than usual which was great for stretching out. When we arrived in Moscow they asked everyone to remain in their seats once the plane reached the gate because health inspectors needed to board the plan and check everyone for swine flu! Two women then came on the plane and pointed these black boxes at everyone's head which took some type of infra-red temperature measurement. It didn't take long at all but it was kind of funny to be lasered for swine flu...and the women were about the happiest health inspectors I'd ever met.

We then got off the plane and proceeded to passport control which in the past has taken a while to get through the lines. We thought we might be in for a treat since when we arrived there was hardly any lines at all and thought sweet we'll be out of here in no time. We were about 4th in one of the lines when we heard this massive sound behind us and turned to see several hundred youngish men descend on the area. Apparently they just got off a flight from I'm not sure where...I think another Russian speaking country based on the speech...but wherever they were from they don't have the same understanding of waiting in a 'line'. They ALL proceeded to move in mass to the front of the lines and soon there were no longer any lines. Paul and I had to literally shove our way to the front, as everyone else was doing, to get through. And they nudged at us and saying move ahead...but there was nowhere to move ahead! About 30 minutes later we were through and could finally go find our driver. Luckily we only had carry-ons for this trip (thanks Kali - little suitcase worked great!) so didn't have to wait for a bag (though it probably would have been through considering the time we were waiting to get through passport control).

We were very happy to see Max, our driver from our 1st trip, waiting for us. He took us to our hotel where we then had a lite lunch with another family who is here for court. We're all looking forward to court tomorrow and then going to see our kiddos! I can't wait and wonder how much Lucas has changed in 6 weeks...probably not too much but maybe he's walking on his own???

After a small nap (well Paul napped...I had coffee at lunch so no nappee for me :)), Paul and I headed to Red Square which is about a 10-15 minute walk from here. Amazing amazing amazing. We had come with Alexander on his trip 2 but were never able to get close to St. Basil's due to some renovations but this time were able to get close enough to touch it. When we leaving these 2 very sweet older women asked (in Russian) if I could take their photo in front of the ever-present lilac bushes that are in bloom...I said yes of course and it brought back memories of my grandmother who absolutely loved lilacs (as do I). Although even in good health she would have never lived to see this day, it would have been so incredible to have been able to bring her a lilac flower back from Russia. But she was with me in spirit today.

Well we're off to get some dinner and then to bed. We are getting picked up at 8:30 am tomorrow and we've been told court is around 9:30am. Hopefully some great news in the next post! For now, some photos of the past day (or two).

Paka!

Laura and Paul