Merry Christmas!

So sorry it's been so long since we've posted. The internet cafe where we go has been down and then we couldn't access the blog site- WHAT a drag!!

We didn't have court on Friday- the paperwork didn't get done in time back in Kyiv. However, we will have court tomorrow, Christmas Day at 2 pm our time- please keep your fingers crossed and the prayers coming. After that, we have a mandatory 10 day wait, but basically, we'll be marking off time until we come home.

We're leaving for Kerch at 7 am tomorrow, picking up our translator in Simferopol and then headin' out to Kerch. We met a Ukrainian basketball player here at the internet cafe tonight- he was extremely helpful and spoke perfect English as he studied in Buffalo, NY for two years. We keep getting luck :)

So, let me fill you in on what has turned out to be possibly the MOST bizarre Christmas Eve of my life- I certainly hope it never gets more weird than today.

The day started out with a great visit with Natasha. She's such a love bug, always wants to cuddle and kiss me. We've got to bribe her to hug and kiss Daddy right now- but she knows what she's doing- she playing Daddy- I keep telling Matt to get used to it. We met my parents down at the open market afterward. While we were buying some cookies and candy to take to Vika tomorrow, some guy tried to stick his hand in my Mom's coat pocket.

Wrong move, buddy- she about kicked his you know what. The last thing this poor guy suspected when he was going to try to rob this gray haired American was for her to whip around and unleash a torrent of curses upon him in flawless Ukrainian. By that time, that sent Matt and Dad running and the guy took off. He's probably still shaking. Mom said the worst thing she could have said to him was that she knew his Mother and would tell her. Anyone that's Ukrainian will get that joke!

After the rumble in the market, we were standing around waiting to purchase something else and another guy walks up to Matt and my Dad and starts speaking English- turns out he owns (probably the only) golf range here in Yalta! Matt just about followed the guy home. When we get back here in a few days were going to go visit him. He's got a pretty nice place it seems and Matt is itching to hit a bucket of balls- this could only happen to Matt.

Tonight, we had Christmas Eve dinner at a very nice "Italian" place here. The restaurant was beautiful, but the atmosphere was downright bizarre. There was a large party going on (Ukraine doesn't celebrate Christmas until Jan. 7th) and they had some rather "colorful" entertainment provided for them- I'll refrain from going into too much detail here for the sake of our readers who may be Matt's students- but let's just picture La Cage Aux Folles, okay??? 'nuff said!!!

So, now we're going to head home because we're on the road super early tomorrow and we still want to call some people back home before we turn in.

Merry Christmas- we miss you all!!!

xxoo
Lisa and Matt