Spring Cleaning...of the Camera Roll

 I am sorry for being so out of touch.  All is well and we are all reveling in the sudden spring here.  As  we prepare for our big 3 week trip (Italy and USA!), I decided to clear out my camera roll.  Here is what I found.... (For those of you on Facebook, sorry for the many repetitions of photos!)

Hard to believe but we were thoroughly covered in snow and ice mere weeks ago.  Here is a typical scene during my afternoon walks with Enzo.  He is beloved by the local children.  This is by far his favorite gang.  The boy on the right, Boden, lives in our building and Enzo is forever trying to break into his apartment for some extra love. 

As the snow melted it revealed 5 months worth of dog poo and cigarettes.  Bleck.  In typical Ukrainian fashion a law was passed last week implementing a new fine of 500 UAH (about $63) for throwing cigarette butts out of a car window.  All other trash is apparently just fine to toss.  It's a step in the right direction, at least!

A massive demonstration protesting the current (and, in my opinion  entirely corrupt) government.  This was the first gathering I have witnessed where the protesters actually outnumbered the heavily armed militia always dispatched to these things.   

Last weekend our school PTA (including yours truly) organized a very fun Venetian Carnival -themed fund raiser.  We raised oodles of cash and had a blast doing it!  These are my friends Suzie, Merilee & Naz.

 A certain sign of the end of winter??  Gio's beloved bouncy castle has returned to the park.  Time to shell out our daily 20 UAH for 10 minutes of wild fun. 

After a long battle with the flu and endless travel Paolo finally returned to the soccer pitch after months away.  Fashion choice is questionable (Italian on top, but whale swimming trunks on the bottom?? hmmmmm.)

This past Friday Gio and I returned to school in the early evening to help set up for the school's first ever prom.  I thought it would be fun for Gio as his two beloved babysitters would be attending.  It was an impressive event as the students did all of the organization themselves.  I think they had a lot of fun bossing us mothers around and we loved every minute.  

The prom mom team.  As we were working Gio bossed around all of the high school boys waiting for the event to begin. I went behind the curtain to find him playing a rousing floor hockey game with 8 teenagers (dressed in tuxedos and suits).  Needless to say it was very difficult to get Gio to leave his first prom.

Another fun thing that returns to the park in the spring are these electric cars.  Small dogs, toddlers, pigeons and ladies in open-toed stilettos beware!

Gio's favorite toy makes its way to the park nearly every day. He launches his Stomp Rocket (look it up and order one- you will NOT be sorry!) and usually has a crowd of children gathered around to take turns within minutes.    

These friendly signs have begun to appear all around our lovely Botanic Gardens.  We, of course, ignore them.  Diplomatic immunity, right??

Curious what Gio eats for dinner?  Well, here is what he had tonight.  Yes, those are Reese's Pieces.  So sue me, nutrition police....