UVA football 8/30/08

Today was the first UVA football game of the season. Everyone was so excited. (We were glad to be going because Luba had be started on antibiotics the day before due to a questionable lymph node infection on her neck. When she woke up she said she felt fine and her neck was feeling better, she also didn't have a fever.) Of course we knew it was going to be a 'slaughter' as John put it, but it is still fun going and how often do you get to see USC play. It was extremely hot and humid and not knowing if it was going to rain or not we decided not to tailgate and ate at Arby's instead. We were able to relax in the gym (with AC) before the game and everyone had to have a Chris Long picture taken.

Just before the game started it clouded over a little bit so the sun wasn't beating down as much which made the game a lot more tolerable. The did lose as expected, but the kids enjoyed cheering and yelling when they could.

We are spending the night in Waynesboro and plan to do site-seeing Sunday and Monday. One last Hoorah before school starts.

Mom x3

Unexpected concert and the beach

During the past week and a half not much was done, but run a lot of errands. Kristina had her laser surgery on the 13th so we spent the rest of the week relaxing around the house. Kathy and Kendall, (John's sister and niece), came to visit over the weekend, which the kids always love.

Tuesday, the 19th, I was able to take Kristina to the Jonas Brother's concert along with Kendall and her friend. Kristina's doctor bought us the tickets!!!! I've never known a doctor who would do that. She was so excited, but of course didn't know what to expect. We had lawn tickets and ended up standing the whole time, (3 hrs) about 30 feet from the rope. It was so LOUD. The place was packed, I haven't been to many concerts there, but there were more people than at any other concert I had been to. I honestly think Kristina was a little bit scared because there were so many people. She knows a lot of the songs and she was singing along, she is more reserved out in public so she was dancing or jumping around. She really had a good time. Unfortunately I didn't bring the camera because on the ticket it said no cameras, but of course everyone had one. :(




Today, I met a friend of mine from highschool, and her two boys, at the beach. It was the first time all three had been at the beach together. It was very windy, so the waves were big. They spent their time digging holes in the sand and standing in the water about ankle deep. They did have a good time. Michael learned not to feed the sea gulls. I didn't realize he was throwing his sandwich to them until he started yelling. There were about 20 on the sand less than 10 feet from him and some others were hovering in the air. We had to have a long talk about how the sea gulls weren't hungry.

Mom x3

Fishing and swimming

Today after church we went over to a friend's house for a cookout. We were a little worried because it was pouring so bad on the way over. It cleared up by the time we got there and ended up being a very nice day. There were a total of four families which included nine children. Our kids always love going over to someone else's house and playing with different toys, although they tend to want to take out all the toys at the same time, which is typical.

After eating the kids all had fun playing in the pool, until the fishing poles were brought out. Suddenly our children didn't want to swim anymore. Kristina caught on very fast and was soon casting her line by herself. She caught a total of eight fish, she was so excited. Luba caught one and Michael, unfortunately didn't catch any. Not sure what happened with him, but he didn't have the patience to sit and wait and wanted to go back in the pool after a short period of time.

After going back inside the kids all got into the costumes and enjoyed dressing up. A fun time was had by all!!!!!!

Mom x3

Fun in the pool

Well, I finally took the camera to the pool! Today was an awesome day, the weather was perfect. All five of us were able to go and enjoy the pool. Kristina and Luba love to throw a hockey puck across the pool and swim under water to pick it up. They also like to do handstands and somersalts under the water. Michael just enjoys floating around. We were at the pool for over five hours and we were able to sit and enjoy sandwiches.

Mom x3

Vacation Bible School

VBS final program. Kristina is hiding behind the boy in the camoflouge shirt, Luba has a blue shirt on and Michael is right in front with the blue shirt on.

This week the kids were in Vacation Bible School at John's parents church. They loved it, they hadn't been able to go to the one at our church since we were in CA at the time. They loved it. Everyday they came home with different Bible stories and they asked so many questions about Jesus, the Bible, and Heaven. John and I were so excited. Of course they go to Sunday School everyweek, but I think the plan of Salvation was really drilled into them everyday. We hope they keep asking questions and will soon understand the true meaning of Salvation and what it means to be a Christian. I bought a children's Bible which was over 300 pages and Kristina finished it in 4 days, much of it she was reading out loud to Luba and Michael. They were all so excited about all of the stories, it was hard for them to comprend the stories in the Bible are real.

Since the kids were in VBS I was able to have almost three hours to myself every morning. I made a huge list and raced around from store to store everyday. I was able to buy a lot of clothes at the thrift shops which I was so excited about. I hadn't been to them in two months and was starting to feel withdrawls. HA HA. I'm happy to say I got all of my errands run, it is SO much faster doing things with out three extra people. I now have all the needed school supplies and the kids have their shoes. Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

Mom x3

One year mark!

Well, a year ago, yesterday,we left Kyiv and flew to JFK. Today has been a year since we arrived home to Virgina. I can't believe its already been that long. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I don't know how we did it, somehow we were able to understand each other, or at least communicate, a little bit, what was wanted or needed. It seemed like forever that I carried around the English-Russian dictionary so I could show Kristina one word to try to get across what I was trying to say. Now she can't even read most of the Russian words, which is sad. They have learned most of their English thanks to the Disney channel, especially 'Hannah Montana'. Kristina is reading short books and John and I can no longer 'spell' words so the kids don't know what we are saying because Kristina can figure out the words.

I have noticed a big difference this summer in running errands. Last year I could go to multiple stores and not even hear any complaining, now they want to know how many stores we are going to, how long it's going to take, and if I'm going to buy them anything. I guess at the beginning we had to buy everything for them so everytime we went to the store they got so much. There have been times I just want to go by myself in the evening if John is home because I can fo through the stores so much faster.

Today I took the girls to the beach, along with my sister Allison. (John played at the house with Michael and took him out to lunch.) This was the first time the girls had been to the beach to 'swim'. They had no concept of how easily they could be pulled out by the waves. Since there were quite a few waves we didn't go in much past our ankles. We did see a lot of dolphins and a crab who was running along the shore line. The girls enjoyed trying to build a sandcastle and just running around in the sand.

Later in the evening for dinner we went to Red Robin to eat. They all love to go out to eat. They are starting to learn which restaurant is which, and they are always asking 'have we been there before'. They love going to McDonalds, (which used to be the yellow M), and Chik-fil-a if they have a play area. They like almost every kind of American food now, although Kristina always prefers the salad bar if there is one.

Mom x3

More Disneyland Pictures

arriving at Disneyland

Matterhorn line Tea cups


Big Thunder Railroad

Jungle Cruise

Watching a parade

On a roller coaster

Michael in Toontown End of the day

Lazy Summer Days

I was told Dennis was tired of looking at the cake picture, so Dennis this is for you. These are pictures of the latch hook rugs which you guys gave us. They sit in the girls room on the floor on either side of the dresser. They love them. Michael loves to play with the John Deere tractors. Of course, as you can see the jungle is right next to the farm, which is next to the race track, but he loves it all.

Not much has been going on these past few weeks. Kristina was going to go to summer school, (she even went the first day before we left for California), but they wouldn't let her come back because she was going to miss more than three days. During the day the girls love to color and watch TV. Michael loves to color also and play with whatever is his favorite toy of the day. We go swimming in the pool at John's mom's condo complex a few times a week. One day I'll take the camera with me, but I don't want it to get wet. Kristina is doing very well with her swimming and doesn't use a jacket at all. Luba needs to wear the jacket when she goes to the deeper end. She is doing well swimming in the three feet without a jacket. Michael wears a jacket at all times. He has no fear of the water. He even dove into the three feet one time, he went way under but didn't hit the bottom because he had the jacket on. Of course this resulted in him sitting out of the pool for a few days, I think he learned his lesson. They also enjoy riding bikes and we've gone for walks around the neighborhood after dinner.

We make weekly trips to BJ's and Wal-mart. I have to try to stick to my list or I would end up buying so many things we didn't need. I also have to check to make sure items haven't just mysteriously appeared in the cart.

John and I went to see the new Indiana Jones movie, (it was not worth it), with Allison and Brian about a week ago. Aliens in Indiana Jones, Please!!!!!! We took advantage of the fact that we had a sitter and also went to Cold Stone and Starbucks after the movie. Hey, it was only the third time we've gotten a sitter.

Last Friday, Michael decided he was going to shave using Kristina's razor. (I happened to be outside with an irrigation contractor at the time.) Kristina came running out saying Michael had 'blood coming out!' He had cut into his lower lip, there was blood on his shirt, the floor and the toilet. They had gone through a whole roll of toilet paper, putting it all in the toilet, which then became clogged. I had to hold pressure for 10 minutes before the bleeding stopped. We went to the ER just to make sure he didn't need a stitch. Michael loved the attention. He ended up having the laceration glued together, which then meant no swimming for a week till the glue dissolved. He has not been happy about sitting out and watching everyone swim. I suppose he won't try to shave again until he has hair to shave.

I am so excited, I have gotten all the needed school supplies already. Also, the kids have all gotten new shoes for school. Michael's shoes are blue and orange.

Mom x3