Mother Russia

Saturday Night I drove down to San Diego to visit dear Elder Gaines, whom I served with in Ukraine. He is in San Diego on business for a few weeks and his wifey and baby came to visit, so we all went to dinner. Before dinner we stopped at a Russian Mafia store that Ben had found. It was so awesome! It was surreal to see all the produkti that I used to buy in Ukraine. There are a lot of stores like this in LA, in the Russian district, but I haven't been there in a long time. I of course wanted to take pictures...Ben was funny about it, because in Ukraine they don't want you to take pictures of anything. They think you're a spy or something. Ben actually took a picture in a store in Ukraine and they tried to take his camera. So I had to reassure him that we were still in America and had rights, but still...I quickly took these photos and hurriedly put my camera away. :)

Ben with Zhivchik! Our favorite Russian soda. Tastes like apple cider, but better!
This one is for Cody. He loves Kvass, but I hate it! It tastes so gross...it's like a fermented drink, a bread drink actually, and it DOES have a little alcohol, no matter what all the missionaries say. But then again, so does cough syrup, right? :)

Anyways, it's nasty.

After shopping for Russian delicacies and a wonderful sushi dinner, we went to the mall for American shopping. Toni put baby Ana in her pouch and then we saw this Kangaroo and had to snap a pic.
I thought Ben looked creepy hiding behind the Kangaroo, so I made him come out in front. :)
Super cute family! <3

Their baby Ana is so good! She is almost 3 months old and such a sweetie. Even when she cries it's quiet and adorable! I hope my babies are like that...and if not, maybe I'll just steal their babies!

Later I got home and was able to enjoy my Russian spoils. The candy is so good! And my honey-gingerbread cookies rock! I also got some borscht and piroshki. These aren't the kind of piroshki I remember...these have a flaky, croissant-like crust. But the fillings inside are the same and they are Yum-O! Potatoes and cabbage!
They did have the kind of piroshki I remember, the ones with the different "shells"...I saw them on the same shelf. But you don't tell a Russian woman what you want...she tells you! :)