A perfect day!!!!

Today was such a GREAT day!!!!  Well, first of all, yesterday was Alyssa's 2nd "gotcha" day.  We are going out tonight to celebrate it.  She want's either Chuckee Cheese or McDonalds & ice cream :)  Last year, we had a Ukrainian feast.  I picked up some food from a Russian/Ukrainian deli and celebrated at home.  Ukrainian food is much better in Ukraine :)  HAPPY GOTCHA DAY ALYSSA!!!!  WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Today is Dina's birthday.  She turned 6 years old today.  My friend Tom, who knows a sweet lady in Kerch (Irina) told me they had a suprise for us on September 9.  He gave me Irina's phone # to call her that morning and told me she'll be with the children and to brush up on my Russian in regards to little girls and birthdays.  Well, I got "Happy Birthday" down "S Dnem Rozdeniya" and a few other phrases.  He told me he would send me an e-mail at 7:45am to tell me what to do.  I got his e-mail and he told me that Irina and a friend were on the way to the orphanage to pick up Dina and Sergey and taking them to a live webcam that is in the city.  That way we could "see" them while we talked to them.  I was thinking "Oh, how cool" until I realized we are still in the "dark ages" and have dial-up.  I couldn't talk to the kids from our homephone, Tom on our cell (he was translating) and see the webcam all at the same time.  So................we ran out the door in our PJ's and booked it to my Mom's house, which has highspeed, and is 30 min. away.  Irina and the kids were to be at the webcam in 20-30 min.  We drove VERY fast and made it just in time.  As soon as I got to the computer, and went to the website, there they were, standing in front of the camera (picture above-kindof hard to make out).  I called Irina ASAP and got to somewhat talk with the children.  Tom was going to be my "translator", but he couldn't get his calling card to work.  So, he had to helplessly listen in the background as I tried my best to communicate :)  LOL!  When Dina got on the phone, she was talking up a storm!!!  So cute!!  Irina said she was saying, "You are coming to get us?  You are going to be my Mama & Papa?"  I told her "Da" (yes).  Then Sergey got on the phone, but wouldn't say much.  You've gotta wonder what was going through his mind........."Ok, we are out here in the middle of a street, talking on the phone to a lady who I cannot understand at all, and have to keep waving at the trees.........building........whatever the camera is mounted on"  :)  He would, however, tell Irina to tell us stuff.  He said "tell my Mama to tell my Papa and Sister I said hello"  He then got on the phone and said "I Love You" in English.  Awe, that was the sweetest thing I have ever heard :)  I then got to talk to Dina again and tell her "Happy Birthday".  Irina told me the children were very happy that we were coming soon.  I then let them go because Irina was taking them to eat ice cream.  What a great day for Dina and Sergey.  And and what an awesome day for us!!!!  This just makes me even more anxious to get there!  12 more days!!!!!!!!!! 

THANK YOU TOM AND IRINA, I don't know what I would do with out you two!!!!!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DINA!!!!!

Ya Tibyia Lyublu (I love you) my sweeties! 

Mommy