Luke is home two months :)

Luke on the beach behind the VMI

The brand new playset at the VMI

VMI sign (notice the Canadian leaf)

The train in Vlad., Russia

The staff at the VMI playing with Luke :)

Geena the Crocodile and a white mouse...unfortunately we don't have a photo of Cheburashka

Above is a photo of Jason, Jesse, Alina (their little girl) and Luke playing :)

This is Irina with another adoptive couple :)

Yesterday we celebrated an Anniversary, of sorts :) It was Lukie's two month Anniversary since arriving here in the USA. We didn't do anything unusual, although we have started on the path to get him vaccinated. He officially only needs 5 vaccines, which is GREAT! Yesterday, he received 3 vaccines plus a PPD test. Then in 6 to 8 weeks we return to his Peds. Dr. so he can receive the other 2 that he is missing. This way we don't have re-vaccinate him with vaccines that he is already immune to. We also thought we would take the opportunity to reminisce about Vladivostok, Russia...the things we miss and well not so much :)

These are in no particular order:



Things we miss about Vladivostok, Russia...

• Irina, Irina, Irina...after all we have her to Thank for completing our family and EAC's wisdom to have such a WONDERFUL facilitator!!!




• Jesse & Jason...without this couple I don't think Ron would have made it 23 days in Vladivostok, Russia (these are Ron's words and you know what I second this statement!!!)




• Stroller walks to the beach, to the train station, to the amusement park, or to the market to get essentials such as soda or ice cream.




• Skipping stones with Jason & Jesse




• Joking that Ron would come home with a Russian bride :)




• Geena the Crocodile, Cheburashka...we have Jesse & Jason to Thank again for this one :)




• Baby Einstein time with Jesse, Jason, Alina, Luke and Ron..."Tropical Bird".




• The wildlife in Vlad., Russia...especially those funky looking squirrels and those crazy birds.




• The groups of families we met in the different stages of the adoption process.




• The restaurant at the VMI for breakfast...Ron's stuffed french toast and my cream-cheese and crab filled pancakes...Mmmmm :)




• Friends that we have made in Vlad., Russia, from the different families to the staff at the VMI (who were willing to bend over backwards for you, no matter what!).




• Children playing on the brand new playset at the VMI.




• Sanity checks every night at the "White Rabbit" :)




• Being in your own little cocoon at the VMI.




• Being able to stay in Luke's birth country...what an experience and you know what we wouldn't have it any other way!

Things we don't miss about Vladivostok, Russia:

• Being apart...Ron and I were apart for 18 days and believe me there were times we didn't think we would make it. We didn't think we would miss each other as much as we did!




• Going to the grocery store and not knowing what you are getting, or going there and not being able to order deli style sliced lunch meat or American cheese...can you believe they don't have American cheese? However, as Ron found out they do have what they call "Hamburger Cheese".




• The driving...need we say more???




• The bath water being brownish before you give your child a bath :)




• Having to brush your teeth with either bottled water or water that had been boiled...when we were recently in Washington D.C., it was the first time we had been away since returning from Russia and I was brushing my teeth with bottled water until Ron pointed it out to me...LOL!




• Not being able to just get a drink of water from the tap.




• Camping experience does come in handy at the VMI, we only had 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 knives, 2 cups, 2 plates and 1 pot to cook in...we soon realized that we would have to wash the dishes at least 3 times a day and this was in our fully stocked kitchen :) However we did have a refrigerator, a microwave and a stove and we made due.




• The washing machine that sometimes spins and drains your clothing but sometimes it does not :/ A dryer that for no apparent reason just decides to turn itself off...in mid drying cycle.




• The cable television...on a good day you had maybe a couple English speaking channels on a bad day maybe one if that and it always seemed to be BBC Television. As Ron stayed those 18 days he loved the fact that the English speaking channels would play the same exact thing that they played in the evening as in the morning. As if it was just looped...LOL! But Ron did become quite fond of Russian MTV :)




• Paying an enormous amount of money to eat, some meals were great some were not.




• The wildlife in Vlad., Russia...especially those funky looking squirrels and those crazy birds!




• Joking that Ron would come home with a Russian bride :)

I believe that is everything??? If we have anything else to reminisce over we will, you all know that :)

Love & HUGS,

Jenny, Ron, Ryan & Luke :)