The cell phone apparently keeps cutting out on the girls, and that's what happened yesterday. However, they called from their room today and things are going along swimmingly. While getting them a calling card, Yuri bought them both a yellow "summertime" beer-like drink (that my office-mate, whose wife is from Lithuania, knows and hates). They both took a sip and hated it. But at least they're trying! They had a good time on the beach today, which is about 30 kilometers from the city of Kaliningrad. They were also apparently shopping at a Calvin Klein store (they can't seem to get away from stores).

Word from Gaye is that the big news in Russia right now is apparently a soccer game between Russia and Lithuania (however, upon looking up this match online, it looks like Russia is playing Latvia in an important World Cup qualifying game - in an attempt to finish in one of the top two spots of their group). Tomorrow, the girls are going to an amber museum and bowling.

On the adoption front, Yuri talked to the courts and we are supposedly at the top of the list now. Therefore, we might get to adopt fairly soon. Also, we find out that the process consists of Yuri hand picking a child, getting as much medical and birth records as possible, brining the child to a doctor for an exam (to determine any possible issues - fetal alcohol syndrome, etc) and then sending us a picture. So, most of the leg work should be done before we get their next. Of course, we will repeat some of these steps for ourselves, just to make sure. Oh, and there are many more boys than girls available, so it looks like we'll be painting the baby room blue!

By the way, for those who aren't familiar with Yuri, he is our Adoption Agency's contact in Kaliningrad, and he has been very helpful thus far, taking care of my wife and mom, getting the necessary paperwork completed, and communicating with the courts and locals. Gaye and my mom might be meeting Yuri's daughter tomorrow!

Andrew