Happy Birthday Skip! (Can't believe you're SIX"

Telling Ksusha a secret.

"Winter Cherry" cake...we had NO idea what it would taste like - but it turned out to be DE-licious.

"You can't get me"

"I need to sit and rest a minute"

"I'm gonna get on this thing if it kills me!"

Today being 7 January means two very special things. For one, it is Russian Christmas, and secondly, it is Skip's 6th birthday. What better place to celebrate than in the city of his birth?

After our morning visit with Harry we went to a special "kids cafe" (the closest thing you'll find to a Chuck-E-Cheese" called Tortuga. It's a pirate themed cafe with an adjoining nautical themed indoor playground. Irina had found this place for us, and made arrangement for our family and hers to come to celebrate Skip's birthday. The staff was VERY accomodating, the food was excellent 4 or 5 kids and the playground was perfect for a six-year-old. We had a ton of fun, enjoying both the great food and conversation with these amazing friends we now consider family.

When we arrived, we noticed they had a table decorated with a special tablecloth, napkins and even a birthday hat and horn at Skip's seat. It was PERFECT! After Skip gobbled down his dinner (pancakes!) he spent about an hour playing in the gym with the other 4 or 5 kids while we talked and enjoyed our meal. When he got tired of running around, we had a tea/coffee, and a birthday cake we bought yesterday at the grocery store while Skip opened the gifts he received from Irina & Vova. His favorite was a Jet propulsion race car model. Irina knows he loves Science, so she and Vova thought he'd enjoy this toy. She was right. Although we thought Harry might be able to spend the time with us, because of the holiday the Head Doctor wasn't available and we couldn't get his permission. We missed him, but all things considered, it was a very memorable day! As for Skip - his only complaint was that two of the girls in the gym kept chasing him...We told him he probably has to get used to this and that someday, he won't mind it so much - in fact - he might enjoy it!"