Nicolas is here!

We thank God for the "little" blessing He gave us on Sunday Dec. 21st at 10:02 p.m.  Nicolas Valera was 9 pounds 4 ounces and 21 1/4 inches long.  Because he was so big his right collar bone was broken during birth.  The doctor says that happens sometimes with big babies and it is God's way of helping him to be born.  It will heal on its own we just have to be careful with it.  We'd appreciate your continued prayers.  We will try to post more pictures later and include Zarina & Alexander.

The Beauty of Cheboksary

Cheboksary is a beautiful city located on the banks of the great Volga River.  We are right in the middle of the beauty of fall, so we really enjoyed the colorful leaves.  Below is a picture of the Volga River which we could see from the church windows.  

We stopped to take a family picture among the fall beauty.
In the center of the city, they have beautiful fountains in the middle of the River.
There is a bridge that you can walk across to the statue of a woman with her arms open wide.  At the base of the statue there are fountains.
Zarina posed in front of some of the fountains.

Experiencing the Market

While the Heaths were here, we gave them some cultural experiences.  Here in Russia, people walk many places.  We took them for a walk through the park and to the market.  Zarina is posing with them next to the eternal flame in the park.  Many brides traditionally put flowers in front of this flame.

Walking through the market.
Checking out the way meat is sold.  
Selling fruit.
Butch Heath had fun buying candy.

Alexander's Birthday

On August 4th Alexander turned two years old.  We invited Valera's family to help celebrate.  Since you can't buy icing sugar here, it is easier and not expensive to buy a cake.  The cake we bought had oranges and grapes on the top.  As soon as the candles were lit, Alexander blew them out.  He knew just what he was supposed to do.  We lit them again so he could blow them a second time and he wanted to just keep blowing the candles.

Here Zarina and Alexander are playing with some blocks that Olga, Valera's sister, gave Alexander for his birthday.  He also received a book with simple pictures and words in Russian.  He is always bringing it to Mommy to read to him.  Happy birthday Alexander!

Pictures of our children

On Sunday mornings we have been walking 45 minutes to an hour one way to church to save on gas, get some exercise, and our children enjoy it.  On the way back Zarina loves to pick a bouquet of flowers.  

Alexander loves to pick up stones...

and throw them in mud puddles.

Alexander with his daddy's sun glasses on.

Zarina showing off her "castle" made from boxes.

Zarina and Alexander inside their "castle".

Alexander loves to put on his daddy's shoes.