Today we are heading to the water park to celebrate the birthday of our friend’s son. He turns five today and is a bit older than Timothy. Both of our kids are water bugs and are enjoying themselves immensely. Timothy is taking the green kiddy waterslide for the hundredth time, while Abby is content to play in the kiddy pool which also has small slides for the toddlers. Ramona and I both enjoyed a slide I call the toilet. A steep tunnel opens into a giant bowl which in the end dumps the rider into a pool below, hence the name, toilet bowl. The day was great, but by afternoon the water park filled with so many people it was hard to get on the rides.

Abby hanging out with daddy.

Timothy riding the green slide for the hundredth time.

Ramona playing in the pool with Abby.

A view from the second floor of the water park.

Majestic Skies…need I say more?

Sundays are usually a busy days for us. Often we are leading worship, translating or serving in some capacity in the church. Today we had a break from ministry and so in the evening we decided to take the kids to the local park. This was Abby’s first boat ride. The park has a small pond and row boats for rent which we took out for a half hour. The kids enjoyed the evening very much.

Timothy talk about his boat experience.

Abby sitting with mom enjoying the ride around the lake.

Ramona pausing to look at the Fontanka on the way home.

Today is bath day, always a favorite among our kids. This will also be one of the last baths for a month as the city will be turning off the hot water. Smiles are easy to come by in the bathtub.

Timothy enjoying himself.

Abigail after a good hair washing.

Natasha and Vicky our friends from the Ukraine are in town this week. We had originally planned a trip outside the city to see the palace in Pavlovsk, but due rainy weather we remained in town. Instead we walked together over to the Nicholas cathedral which is a fifteen minute walk from our house. The inside and outside of the cathedral is very beautiful. There was a baby baptism being performed as we entered the cathedral and many tourists mulling around.


A shot of our friends, Ramona and the kids on the walking bridge overlooking the cathedral.

A second shot on the bridge.

Ramona and Abby behind bars.

Today Ramona and our friends Natasha and Vicky took the day and visited Peterhof. They picked the only true sunny day this week and had a wonderful time together.

The palace from the side of the upper garden.

Natasha and Vicky standing on a bridge which overlooks the main cascade of fountains.

Ramona directly in front of the palace and main fountains.

What is St. Petersburg in the summer without getting out during white nights and watching the bridges go up? Well, it’s a bit more restful for one. Tonight our friends, Ramona and I are out watching the bridges after having taken in a late night movie. For one of our friends this is her first time to see the bridges even though she has lived here for many years.

Palace Bridge

Building on the Neva

Peter Paul Fortress

Happy Fourth of July! Today we celebrated America’s birthday with a barbecue. Some friends ours came over and enjoyed the evening together with us. They were very sweet and brought over some lovely lilies. Their son is just a doll and both Timothy and Abby so much fun playing with him. I think they wanted to keep him.

A little cup holder

Abby wanting to get into a picture

Our lovely lilies