We have a plan...

(these are not new pictures - no we are not there right now)

After numerous iterations, we now have come up with what may likely be our return trip itinerary (how's that for non-commital?).

Tickets were purchased last night for KJ and me to return to Kazakhstan for our final trip to pick up Nurai and bring her home.  We will leave here on the 26th and arrive in Almaty in the early hours of 28 December.

We are so excited that this date appears to be working out since 28 December will be Nurai's 1st birthday, and now looks likely to become her 'Gotcha Day' as well.

For her part, in the interest of making this trip as short as possible and to minimize the risk of getting stuck in Holiday Limbo, Nurai will be escorted to Almaty to meet us on the 28th and will begin processing paperwork that morning so that we can get everything completed as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately our return options are very limited during this week.  The only two flights we could find for seemingly reasonable fares were KLM on the 30th and Lufthansa on the 3rd, so we are going with the 3rd.

It would be fun to think that there might be a chance to fly out on the 30th, but we need more than 48 hours in country to get everything sorted in Almaty, and so while we are likely to be all set by the 31st or 1st, we will have to await Sunday's flight on the 3rd.

Tougy will stay here at 'her' house and look after the dogs and after Christmas she will move up from the older toddler room to the pre-school room at school, a change she is very excited about making.  

I know that we have not been great about posting photos and videos from our first trip to Kaz as we previously stated we would do, but if it makes you feel better, I can promise that you will see them before you get our Christmas Card!

Take Care.