Amie Akridge:  

Sept 2008 All I want for Christmas is - - - This summer Mike and I hosted a 14 year old Russian orphan, Vladik. Our neighbor hosted two girls, Vikka and Katia. All three are teenagers and got along great - which worked out well because we don't speak one cent worth of Russian (unless Vodka actually means something). We both worked days, so Vladi and the girls had to entertain themselves a lot. Throw in trips to Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Beach, Horse Back Riding, Swimming, 3 Bikes, a Dog, a Piano, etc..., all the American food you can eat (pastrami, potato chips, pizza). In terms of prospective adoptive parents - They Scored! I never thought riding a bike was something I took for granted growing up. Everyone I know had a bike by 6. By 10 we were jumping curbs and sliding out. Me and Vlad set out to ride bikes one morning. Vlad wiped out 5 doors down. From that day on, the three of them rode bikes all the time. And every night the bikes would come back broken: brake cables undone, flat tires, the seat loose (How'd that...? Why...?). And every night me and Mike would get out the tool box and Allen wrenches and put the bikes back together. Vlad came equipped with his own Flash drive to carry around all his photo¿s and games, as well as the entire 5th and 6th season of "Charmed", complete with Russian voiceover, which played constantly. Ar...Expand for more