O: What do you want for your b-day?
Me: ----------------
O: Nu, come on, seriously...
Me: Seriously, that is all that I want... :)
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-Jan.3, get together with family @ Arbat for a nice holiday dinner
-Early morning on Jan.4, as I am working away in my office, I notice from the corner of my eye someone moving. As I look up, I find the best hubster in the world standing there with a smile and a huge bouquet of roses. He personally delivered the most amazing flowers to my job. I fell into shock and I was mesmerized the whole day, walking around the office with a huge smile from ear to ear on my grill...lol
Kelly goes to me: Ugh! George would never do that!
Yank: "Oh I see Alan found a way to save on delivery fees"..lol

the most delicious tapas restaurant that I have ever ever ever been to. Amazing hot spot with great food and drinks...a def. MUST!

-Totally unexpected perfectly planned surprise party from my Oleshka and dear friends...

-On Saturday morning, Oleshka tells me he has hockey practice later in the day, so I went out with my doggy dog for some quality time, promised b-day brunch, and a game of wii tennis (not knowing that my dear dogster played a huge role in putting all this together I completely went along with his day plans). In the evening, Oleshka called me to let me know that he was on his way home from hockey practice, and since Boris and Ilona had plans to attend "Rinas's bday party", they offered to drop me off on the way...I was totally clueless, dressed-down, and completely shocked when I opened the doors to a house full of my dear friends, yelling "SURPRISE!!!!", lots of laughter, and night full of good times and memories...

...Props!

@ Arbat Restaurant

Celebration with Family

Boy, oh Boy, oh Boy and ???

Congratulations to Marina & Vitalik!!! We are very proud of Maryc'ka and very happy for Vitalik! Just in time for the World Cup! :)

~ Born at 9.4 lbs....malin'kiy baboonchik with cute cheeks :)

-catching some rays at the beach with nasha kompashka
-World Cup (USA vs. Ghana) at Vadiks cribo
-the unforgettable dinner at Blinaya; entertainment sponsored by "Arkadi" Yankevich
-the hysterical walk come..."Nak Nasheeman!"; "Glechik, Glechik!" ;)....hahaha

July 2 ~ July 5

-Dinner @ Nargiz w/ Marina & Mark; walk on Ocean Pkwy w/ Doggy and the gang
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-Girl thangs...
-Marina cooks up some yummy babka
-Pool party @ LI
-Marinkas svekol'nik is the best!!!
-Dinner @ Tatyana's on the boardwalk
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-BBQ @ Hempstead, LI
-Fireworks on the rooftop...sick view
-Game of taboo that turns the house upside down with laughter ...lol
-Pizza delivery at 12 am...yum!
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-Day @ Long Beach :)
-Dinner @ Minnesotas

-Great Weekend! Great Success! :)

Finally....

Spain (1) vs. Netherlands (0)

Vadik's pleading email to Lily:

Hi Lily...how are you? hope all is well?

for the love of god can you please upload pics from alans, dannys bdays....we know u r very busy and this is the last thing thats on ur mind but please when u get a chance can u upload the pics....we have a month worth of material being held hostage....im BEGGING YOU!!!!...:)

thanks,
Vadik

July 17 - July 20

-Mai drags me downstairs for some fresh air & gossip, and promises to buy gum and candy for me as a treat.
She then announces that Jackie send out an email, letting everyone know there are cup cakes in the conference room for anyone who wants. I, immediately rush to get upstairs first :) to find room full of pleasent, heart-touching surprises, and no cupcakes.. :)

from my fathers side...
lives in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
DOB July 16, 1997

you guys are freaking awesomely awesome!!

-special dinner menu for Fridkins & Arbuzini's

-amazingly delicious cute little restaurant in the village with outside sitting....just what the doctor ordered

@ 5:45pm

It's a BOY!

Congrats to Tanya & Timmy on the birth of their second baby boy!!!

with Tan'ka & Sashka :)

-dinner at a small french restaurant (bez prekluchen'e ne bivaet)
-dessert at cafe Sonatina
-and a looooong drive home

-royal banya
-game of fifa
-dinner at nargiz cafe

Woooohoooo!!! :)

-shleping through mountains of snow to get our hair and nails did :)
-dinner @ 1001 nights

@ Vadik's Crib