Ukraine!

We are currently in Ukraine right now - the Donetsk region. 

More posts, pictures, and stories to come later! Can't wait to tell you guys all about our trip!

One great weekend!

Our Memorial Day weekend started out with Misha and I leaving Birmingham after work on Thursday around 6:00 pm.  Yup, we got to Valdosta around 2:00 am.  That's one long drive, but soooo worth it!

By the way - side note - we stopped at a restaurant in Montgomery, Alabama.  We like eating at local spots just to get a feel for the local flavor.  Well, I ordered a vegetable plate with okra, corn, tomatoes, and green beans.  I expected the okra to be fried, but so were the tomatoes AND corn.  Fried corn?  

 Come on people!  I'm from the South too, but fried corn???  I was just floored. 

Anyway!  Meanwhile in Georgia....

We had breakfast (okay, brunch...we slept in a little) with Mama, Daddy, and Susan.  Then we got ready and went to Clay Road to see Nanny & Papa.  We also got to spend a few minutes with  my uncles (sometimes like brothers!) Earl & Mike!

Hanging out at Clay Road!

Papa took Susan, Misha, and myself for a little ride around the farm

That's one big bull.  Susan was totally afraid of him.  ;-)  He was pretty fierce looking though. 

I love this one!  Misha gave Papa some of the striped bass that he caught on a fishing trip.  Papa loved it!  I love the grins on their faces!

Group shot with Papa, Nanny, Misha, and myself.  I wish we could have stayed in Valdosta longer, but Gainesville was waiting on us.  We hadn't been to G-vill since Christmas!  We will be planning a Valdosta trip later this summer.  We've got lots more Valdostians to visit and catch up with!  :-)

I was so happy that we got to stop by and meet Hannah!  Her mommy (Lindsay) and daddy (Willis) are good friends of mine that I went to school with.  Their little family is so precious to me.  Love you guys!  And love this little koala bear I'm holding!   

Doesn't this picture look good?  ;-) 

Lindsay is a beautiful and natural mother.  Thanks, Lindsay, for letting us come hang out!

We arrived in Gainesville Friday afternoon.  Can I just tell you how much I love palm trees and Florida?  :-)



 We got to visit Misha's fomer workplace - the University of Florida nuclear reactor.  I will admit - I was a little bored, but it was awesome meeting his former coworkers and hearing about what all is going on in the department.  After that, we picked up Lyuba from her work and got to have dinner with them at their new house. 

We also got to see Dato, Mariam, and their new baby girl Tekla. 

Dato and Mariam are such an interesting couple from Georgia (the country).  Mariam is (well, was - she just graduated) on the UF Track & Field team and competes in throwing the shotput.  She's competed in the Olympics and is currently training for some championship (after having a baby!).  She's one awesome woman.    

I enjoyed getting to spend some time with them.   We then went to see some of our very best friends - Dima & Alona and their beautiful baby Julia.   

We also got to hang out at Sergey & Zoya's place on Friday night.  There were lots of people coming into town for the weekend so this was the first hang out night.  Sorry - no pictures from that b/c I was so consumed with catching up with everyone! 

The next day we had breakfast at Lyuba & Bill's.  Natasha and Alexey also came up from Miami to spend the holiday weekend in G-ville.  We were all checking out Lyuba's new ride - a Honda Fit.  LOVE it! 

We talked, looked at pictures, relaxed on the porch, cooked, and enjoyed spending time with one another.

That afternoon, the guys went to the shooting range and I got to have girl time with Alona!  We had lunch together, played with Julia, and went to the mall.  Then we all came back to Lyuba's for dinner. 

Yum!!!  Borsch!!! 

and Ceviche!  (basically a delicious seafood salad)

I got to rock Julia to sleep on the swing!  It was my favorite part of the day.  :-)

Alona and I got some more girl-time in while Julia was fast asleep.

We also got to do an impromptu photo shoot with Julia.  She just looked so darn cute with her blue-jean jumper and the yellow flower headband!  Lyuba also had some pretty yellow sunflowers in her yard, so it was just perfect.

After dinner, we went back over to Sergey & Zoya's because all of our friends were gathering there to hang out for the evening.  Sasha & Anastasia were there with their baby girl (Ulyana).  The two girls were so fascinated with each other!

Group shot early that evening (while the babies were still there).  It was so wonderful seeing everyone.

As the night went on, more and more friends came by.  It just so happened that everyone was coming into Gainesville for Memorial Day weekend!  It was awesome!  It's like having 30 of your best friends all in one place!  We had SUCH a great time!

After the "reunion party" Saturday night, somehow we all managed to wake up Sunday morning and head out for a camping trip. 

Heading out for an adventure on the Suwannee River!

Haha - first ones to fall in!  I don't think we had even been in the water for five minutes!

Great group shot of our canoers + kayakers

We found the Redneck Yacht Club!  We pulled up to one of the pontoon boats that was making margaritas and it just so happened that I had $2 in my back pocket!  Oh yes!  Margarita to go, please!

Party Boat!  Missy + Natasha + Alexey

After what seemed like forever, we finally made it to our destination!  Don't get me wrong, the canoe trip was a blast and rather eventful ;-) but it was soooo nice to jump into the cool refreshing waters of Fanning Springs!

Our campsite

No, we all did not sleep in the same tent.  LOL! 

Camo twins Dasha & Celine!  Thanks Danilla for the awesome camo cargo pants!  :-)

Dima, Alona, and Julia also met up with us at the campsite!  It was Julia's first camping trip and she loved it! 

We actually didn't spend the night.  We had planned to, but realized we would be so exhausted so we decided to go back to Gainesville with the Kistens so we could get a good night's sleep.  I'm so thankful we did!  The next day we had to leave, but before we did, we got a little more visiting time in. 

We met up with Livika & Andrei for "breakfast" at Mochi. Oh how I love that frozen treat with all those toppings! :-)

What great way to start your day - frozen yogurt + good friends! 

Ira & David had just gotten back from Ukraine that morning so we were able to see them too! 

Then we had to pack our bags and say our goodbye's.  Oh how I desperately wanted to see baby Gabriell (Anya & Radu's baby boy). He's already five months old and we haven't even met him yet! That's one downside of living so far way. I admit...I do stalk his pictures on Facebook though...he's such a handsome little guy! We'll be back to Gainesville in early September so I am already looking forward to seeing him!

Saying bye to Julia.  Next time we see her will be for her 1 year birthday party!

This trip was so wonderful because we were blessed by all our friends and family.  We love all of you so much!