Love from the Other Side of the World PSF/GMYBS

Did you know that I lived in Vladivostok, Russia? I spent a semester there in 2003 and simply cannot believe that it's been eight years since I've been there!  Luckily, I've been able to keep in touch with Olga, my host mother, through her daughter (also named Olga) and my friend Elena!  Lena recently gave birth to the most adorable little girl, Masha, whom I adore from afar through Facebook.  Although the English counterpart of her name, Maria, is not on the top of my list, I LOVE the name Masha for a little girl and was so excited when Lena announced her name!  I enjoy seeing photos of their adventures to places around Vladivostok and my heart aches to be there with them and visiting the places that were once so familiar... someday I hope to take Doodle there for a visit.

Last week Lena sent me a note asking for my address and said that they were sending Doodle a parcel in the mail... I didn't get any further details, but was so excited when we picked it up from the post office on Wednesday:

They sent Doodle a bike! That's huge... I'm overwhelmed by their generosity!

Doodle saw the box as soon as she walked in the door and was very anxious for Daddy to put it together:

It's a Rebel Kidz bike and is a wooden bike without pedals... it's meant to help kids develop motor skills and a sense of balance.  It definitely took Doodle a few minutes to get the hang of it, but once she did, she hasn't wanted to get off!

 

She's tried riding it on the couch (and was mad at us for not letting her!) and has been dying to go outside, but the rain hasn't stopped since Tuesday so we're waiting on that!

What a wonderful surprise this was... it could have only been better if we opened the box and Lena and Masha were inside of it as well! ;)

Don't you just love surprises?!