July 4, 2008 - First trip to Russia

we're here & sad to say only one more day left in this beautiful city! :( we met Nikita Miles Johnson on July 3 and totally fell in love! :) he is the most adorable, cutest, and from what we've been told "most clever & no other like him" boy EVER! we officially "accepted" him (russian standard - which means we got an official stamp - they oh so love stamps/seals on everything!) today. we took our shirts off 3 times this morning for the 8 panel doctor physical & we are proud to say we are in good health - no HIV/Hep or the like. and - apparently, we are NOT crazy! :) so - we got to see him today & go to see a bit more of his personality as he interacted with the other kids in his "shest groupa" (group # 6). we definitely have our hands full...no english & he's like "seriously...why don't you understand what i'm saying to you?!" but - we already love him soo much and will do everything we can to make him ours. so - tonight we're celebrating with a few friends - my dad's former colleague Paul & his wife Courtney, which live in St Pete - somehow we lucked out in that department! - russian beer, true vodka & enjoying the fact that the sun barely sets (it basically just set @ 12:30am & will be lighter again around 2:30am - CRAZY!!!) and will visit Peterhof tomorrow, take a canal ride (St Pete is made up a bunch of islands w/ canals) thru the city and see the main bridges raise at 1:30am (the trade routes, etc) - best time to see them is now "White Nights" - when it stays light all night & is warmer. bad part is - we will not sleep tomorrow night - we will leave for the airport at 3:45am! good thing the flight home is 10+ hours!!! SO - long story short - here is a sneak peak at "Nicky J"...more to come!