Camping, Ukrainian-Style

This weekend we went with four other families on a camping adventure just outside of Kyiv.

Our cabins (yes, I agreed to go when I discovered we would be in fully equipped cabins with running water!) were overlooking a shallow river.  The children (and one father) immediately began a bridge-building project.  

Gio missed out as he was napping.

All of these "big boyz" go to PSI with Gio.  Actually, there were 8 boys and 2 girls in the group.  

There was a huge pile of beautiful sand between our cabins and the river. 

The adults started early on the fire. 

Enzo was thrilled to discover a young female pug had made the trip.
Her feelings about him were slightly less enthusiastic.  

The true romance on the trip was with the 3-year-olds.  Here Gio had asked Aiya to "come to the playground with me". Off she went, backhoe in hand.  Clearly a girl of Gio's dreams.  

As the children went out on playground dates and rummaged in the river, the adults focused on food and drink. Lots of drink....

The date in progress. 

The primary activity was jumping off this table into the sand. 

Once Gio noticed I was lurking about he said, quite politely, "Go away, Mama." They spent two hours here cooking up their own adventures. 

As a reminder that we are still in Ukraine, these two walked past our cabins, the man on the left in only his underwear. Sigh. 

Gearing up the fire for the meat and homemade fire-grilled bread. Yum!

Enzo, as you can imagine, was in heaven.  

After a night of revelry, including a fire on the beach with s'mores, the children hit the river the next morning. For some inconceivable reason, Gio chose to do his river exploration wearing his helmet.  

These two boys, Alexi and Gio's hero Quincy, took Gio across the river to explore the island on the other side.  

Enzo came along as life guard and stick retriever. 

Time to go home.  Enzo brought nearly half the beach along in his fur.
Our Volvo now has its own sand bar in the back seat.  

This was a fantastic way to say goodbye to summer.  For more on our weekend, see Merilee's blog: http://mcdougalfamilyoverseas.blogspot.com/

The group is already planning a return trip to this campground for a snow adventure this winter.  The river will be frozen so I am hoping to break out my ice hockey skates and see if I can teach Gio a few tricks.....