We are home! It has been a very long 24 hours. We woke up at 2:30AM Russia time for a 6AM flight to Frankfurt, had a 4 hour layover, and then a 9 hour flight to DC. We are all exhausted. Well, Daddy and I are exhausted and the girls seem absolutely fine. A slept a lot on the plane, but M didn't sleep at all on the 9 hour trip, and she's been going ever since. Amazing.

Re-entry has been fine, although I'm so tired that it's hard to process all of it. Allie is home from the dogsitter's. She doesn't seem to be doing that well – she's having some trouble walking and her legs are turned inward (pigeon-toed), perhaps due to the tumor in her chest. She has started coughing again today, which is worrying me a lot. But I am very happy to see her, and it's her 15th birthday today!! What a dog. She has really weathered a lot. I think she is happy to be home, but she seems uncomfortable. 🙁

In other news, Blueberry the fish died, and the pumpkin patch has completely taken over the backyard. (I will take pictures tomorrow). It's out of control. My car appears to have a slow leak in one tire. One fuse was out (the one where the aquarium filter is on) – ugh. Otherwise, all is well. Grandma took good care of the house this week AND picked us up from the airport today. We are very appreciative!

Tomorrow will be a busy day of getting ready for school, grocery shopping, etc.

Before I forget, though, here is what we did on our last day of the trip. We woke up and headed to a nearby fruit market, where we were suckered into buying honey (deliciious but $20!!), as well as dried apricots and an assortment of very deliciious cookies. We walked by Doestoevsky's apartment (now a museum) and then back to the hotel to drop off the very heavy honey and apricots. We then took a bus to the hydrofoil that took us to the Summer Palace. Unfortunately, it rained much of the time we were there, but we got to see the gorgeous fountains, including the trick fountains, and then took an amazing tour of the Summer Palace. I think that was my favorite place in Russia. Beyond opulent, but so beautifully preserved. It's an amazing spot.

We caught the last hydrofoil from the Summer Palace back to St. Petersburg, where it was brilliantly sunny (finally), and walked to a restaurant called The Idiot that we had read about. It was very yummy, It was set up kind of like a library/reading room, and we sat at couches for dinner, which the girls liked.

After dinner, we walked to the Nevsky Prospekt, took a bus back to the hotel, and then packed up for our departunre. At this point I don't know what day or time zone I am in, or have been in. I think I just need some sleep.

Here are some pics from yesterday: