We teach our kids to not only be proud of their now American citizenship, but to also be proud of their heritage, their birth culture and country.
Cala is a very proud Russian girl!!! So tonight, we watched part of the closing Olympic ceremony and especially when Canada turned over the Olympic flag to Sochi, Russia. (*for the year 2014). Then, we listened to the Russian National Anthem being sung. Cala then brought her Russian flag down right before bed and said, "Go RUSSIA!"
Our house is a house where we celebrate our different cultures and we love it that way! :o)
Just to show you gas prices around here... what about where you are?!
Glenn continues to be dizzy and have pressure and pain in his head. I would certainly appreciate you praying! We will know something on Monday, concerning the recent blood tests he had.
Today it was time to have a conference with Seth's pre-school teacher. As we already knew, Seth is smart. He just is. O.k. I typed that out and then noticed it sounds like a complete "Mommy" brag, and I guess it is! ha
Seriously, his teacher reported that the only thing she really needs to work on with him is not to blurt out the answers before everyone else has a chance to process the question. He does this at home too, and so I mentioned it to him.
My word! His response was, "I'm smarter than the average bear!" Too much of watching Yogi Bear I guess..... :o)
This afternoon, I went to Ethan's school, for a parent/teacher conference. I am always happy to hear good things about any of my kids, but there's something that gives me a sigh of relief to hear anything positive about Ethan. There's so much negative that goes along with his mental illnesses that it's such a blessing to hear of any positive progress.
I am happy to report that although Ethan continues struggling in Reading, his Math is going strong. He seems to love Math and not care as much for Reading and we will certainly continue working on that. He does love writing though!!! AND he's starting to be able to put his ideas down on paper and make sense. (spelling of course is cute :o) He's making steady progress and that's the important thing at this point.
It looks like he's headed for summer school, but that's actually a blessing too! I am so happy that we were blessed with this school. They really do seem to care about the kids! Oh yes! Obviously, the above picture is of Ethan's locker.
A picture (from the net) that is obviously not in winter time! ha This is the doctor's office where Glenn and I spent the morning... They are running a LOT of blood tests on Glenn, trying to find just what is causing the dizziness and pressure in his head.
I must admit I am worried, but trying to remember that no matter what lies ahead, God is there. I do ask you to pray for him! Tonight, at church, we had a very nice service... a church member led our service and did a good job of a devotion. Glenn was able to sit out there with us and participate a bit.
Thanks for the prayers! We won't know anything more until Monday.
Today's picture is of Seth waiting on the school bus. He absolutely loves going to pre-school and is looking forward to Kindergarten in the fall!
In other news, please pray for my husband. He's been feeling really dizzy and having pressure in his head for several days. Tomorrow morning, we will be taking him to the doctor.
No, that's not our truck out there on the ice! I just always find ice fishing intriguing. We saw it many, many times in Russia. There, it was almost always people sitting out on the ice, having not come by vehicle. (as most did not own one). Here, you see trucks, cars, vans, out on the frozen lakes and rivers.
One of these days, maybe I'll convince Glenn to let me drive out there :o)
One of the types of food we love around here is Barbecue. We absolutely love the chain of restaurants known as Famous Dave's. For those of you in Florida, or anywhere there is a Sonny's... well, we always liked Sonny's but Famous Dave's is ten times better in our humble opinion. hee hee
ANYWAY- a few weeks back, we found a good deal on brisket, and bought it. Yesterday evening, my dear hubby came up with his on rub for the brisket and cooked it in a crock pot from 4:40 p.m. until lunch today. It was GREAT! I made baked beans, corn on the cob and banana pudding. OF COURSE we had sweet tea!
We felt like we were at a restaurant and it was much more economical :o)
My boys sure enjoyed their corn on the cob and they will provide the pic(s) of the day:
I spent 3 hours alone this afternoon...
and here is where I spent a couple of those hours... our Wal-mart! Glenn has been having terrible dizzy spells and a strange pressure in the head, ever since he had two teeth pulled a few days ago. Our doctor told me to buy him Dramamine (what you use for motion sickness) and after 3 days, if it's no help, he needs to be seen in her office.
Anyway... I went to Wal-mart to get the medicine for Glenn and a couple of things I had forgotten yesterday (when doing our grocery shopping- hate to make a list and forget to put stuff on the list!!!) .
After Wal-mart, I headed to Target to pick up Ethan's prescription (noticed this morning, he had just through tomorrow on one of his major meds.).
I must say, I felt rather strange to be alone... I haven't been out by myself in quite a few weeks, so this was different and quite nice. I confess though, I missed my husband and my kids. I ask you to pray for Glenn. I am a bit worried about him.
This is my beautiful, 11 year old, Russian daughter. I am so very proud of Cala!
In the past few days, we have noticed a lot of changes in her attitude, all for the better. She is not perfect of course, no kid is, and I am sure we have stuff to go through yet, but these past few days.. well, she's really been a major help around the house- and does things without complaining! (that hasn't happened in ages until recently :o)
However long it lasts, I will enjoy!!!
Today, I give you two pictures of the same place.... We had to go back to the dentist today for him to re-check Glenn's teeth (well, the lack thereof- it turns out after having two teeth taken out last week, Glenn suffered from "dry socket" and was in some terrible pain. ). Today he is fine.
While Glenn was in the dentist's office, the kids and I drove down the road to see what we could see :o) (*after all, we had just driven 60 miles one way*)
We came upon this interesting barn and I, having a LOVE for barns!, (yes, it's true), just had to have this picture. Cala took them for me as I was driving and it was on her side... I think she did a nice job! I also am posting a close up of an 'antique' gas pump in the same yard.
You truly never know what you're going to find if you take 0ff down a country road.
Good thing we didn't go too far... Glenn was in and out in a flash!
Look what came out of the bath ! :o)
On a dreary day, this little boy brightens my world! I think God put Seth in our lives to give us laughter and joy when everything seems to fall a part.
Seth tries his best to help when Ethan has his rages. Today, there were many rages with Ethan... it was as if he would stop and start, stop and start... and there was Seth whispering to me, "I am trying Mama to get him to not do this to you."
What a precious five year old I have.
These icicles are hanging on the side of the attachment center where we have spent much time over the past year.
This was taken this afternoon, as we took all three kids to a group therapy (recreation therapy) session- social skills, etc. etc.
It's a wonderful 3 hours for them AND us! Even though Seth has no real need for the session, the therapists suggested we allow him to attend to give us (Glenn and I) three hours to ourselves !!! This allows us time to eat out for supper, twice a month, alone! What a blessing it was when the therapist suggested this! Previously, Seth had been going out with us while we waited the three hours on Cala and Ethan. (it is too far from our home to return during that time). We enjoyed time with him, but now get to have a true date twice a month! Seth benefits in some ways, as he gets to join in the "fun" instead of always being the guy waiting in the lobby for his brother and/or sister.
I miss my Daddy so very much! He's been in heaven since July 10, 2008 and I seem to miss him more with each passing day. He and I were so very close and I confess, I am having a very difficult time right now with grief.
Somewhere along the way, either one Valentine's Day or Easter, Daddy bought my candy the day after and it soon became a silly tradition of ours... he would go on purpose a day late and buy me chocolate. The good thing for me was I got something bigger than I would have had he been "on time" and of course he got a bit of a discount. ha ha
I miss that so much. Even after Glenn and I married (nearly 17 years ago), Daddy would see to it that Glenn got me that chocolate a day late (of course!) . I still remember him calling here Easter of 2007 and when I answered the phone, he asked to talk to Glenn. Now, Daddy and Glenn loved each other very much, but it was strange for Daddy not to talk to me, but just ask for Glenn right off! When I asked, "what am I? Chopped liver?!" , he just laughed and asked for Glenn. I knew something was up.... He was calling to set it up with Glenn to buy me a big chocolate bunny (but he had to wait until the day after Easter- ha... it wouldn't be our tradition if he did not :o)
The above picture? Well, that's a picture of the chocolate heart that Glenn bought me TODAY, in memory of my Daddy. (Glenn gave me chocolates from himself yesterday). I was in tears... earlier today I was talking to my Mama and told her how I was sad, just feeling sort of silly, because one of the things I missed so much was Daddy getting me that chocolate!
When Glenn gave me the chocolate, he asked, "did you really think I would forget?" :o) I love that man of mine... and I thank the Lord for the Daddy I had and the relationship we shared.
Happy Valentine's Day!!! Today's picture of the day is obviously of me and my Valentine :0) We have been married 17 years this coming July and have known each other since Glenn's birth. I am a whopping 15 MONTHS older. HA
A couple of days ago, I got to realizing how Glenn and I really don't have any good recent pictures of just us! There's me and the kids, or Glenn and the kids, or maybe just me, or just him, or just the kids, or you name it... but not me and him together. SO, last night, we sure had a blast playing with our camera to get some good pictures. We got some really goofy ones too, but this is about as good as it gets :o)
I love this man so very much and am a woman truly blessed!
Get out and take some pictures of you and your honey :o)
Even though we have cleaned, cleaned, cleaned as we do every Saturday ("cleaning day"), today has been so peaceful.
We owe much of that peaceful feeling to the girl in the picture (who has lost her glasses! but that's a subject for another post some day!!!).
Cala (age 11) has really worked this evening, especially in the kitchen. I had it clean enough for church tomorrow (Sunday School for the kids is upstairs in the dining room/kitchen area) but Cala just all of a sudden got in the mood to clean she said and really went to town organizing things. Wow! She has it looking ready for a magazine!!! I am so proud of her tonight! She worked with a great attitude, never complaining a bit today! That's unusual for any kid, but for Cala, that's a wonderful accomplishment :o) She enlisted her brother's help and they truly didn't let me do much at all.
Once they had the downstairs clean tonight, they said, "Papa and Mama, close your eyes and come on down here." They then revealed the clean room and said it was that all the cleaning they've done is their Valentine's Day gift to us!! Awww.. how sweet. How very, very sweet!~
Every Friday night, our family has "Family Night". We take turns each week as to who gets to decide the meal, the game we play (or movie), and what we eat for dessert. ("Family night treat"). Tonight was Glenn's turn.
Glenn loves to cook, and as a result, we are avid watchers of the Food Network. My picture of the day shows the "Sonoran (or also called "Mexican") Hot Dog" (Sonora is a Mexican state), Glenn made tonight for each of us. It's a hot dog (we use all beef hot dogs) wrapped in bacon, has tomatoes, pinto beans, avocadoes, grilled peppers and onions, raw onions, mayonnaise, mustard (which I didn't have), ketchup, green chilies (they are just for flavor-not spice), and cheese (which as I type this Glenn realized he forgot to add to ours tonight!). I must admit I was not looking forward to this hot dog, but I was so very pleasantly surprised as were our kids. We all LOVED it! It looks like a sandwich that should be sold at a sandwich shop for sure (and it is as we saw on the Food Network). It's put on a "bolillo" (Mexican) roll.
It sure was good and will be something we'll eat again!
Winter may be long, but it certainly can be beautiful. I love the trees this time of year when they are snow filled and remind you of a Christmas card.
Today has been a cold one, waking up to 5 degrees BELOW zero. This is not nearly as cold as we can and do get during our winters here, but uh... to me, it's cold enough, thank you :o)
Ok... I admit... I LOVE the cold (but even I have my limits) and I love the snow. As I said, I love the snow, but admittedly, I'M not the one that has to get out there and snow blow or shovel. Would I love it as much if I was that person? Glenn certainly has lost his love for it. ha
Today's picture is of my dear husband, in front of the dentist's office! Glenn had a tooth start bothering him late Sunday night. By Monday morning, we began searching for dentists that accept our insurance and by Tuesday, we finally found one, but the earliest we could get in was this morning.
So off we went, 56 miles away! YES! I said 56 miles away (one way). They ended up taking not one, but two teeth out and well... I'm thinking he's smiling in this picture because of the meds they gave him! ha
Something cute... this morning when I told Seth where we were going and why, he asked, "can I get Papa's dollar?" It turns out he wanted Papa's (Glenn) dollar that the tooth fairy would leave!! HA (our kids even know it's us that leaves the money but somehow Seth thought he could claim that money!) Poor Seth...if Glenn would have agreed, it could have been two since two teeth came out. ha
Why did I never post so far this year?! No good answer for that. I think Facebook has been great! I LOVE it, but I think it's taken me away from blogging, and I never meant for that to happen... and so, here I am... back. Are you still there? :o)
I have seen many folks in the blogging/facebook world that are doing the "a picture a day" thing. I wanted to try it at the first of the year, but obviously, I never even posted! ha So, I will begin tonight!
Then, I plan to try post a picture a day until (at least) Feb. 9, 2011. Whew! Interested to see if I can really keep up with that!!! I'll do my best!
The picture I posted is me with my kids on my birthday- Feb. 3rd. OK! So, I didn't take this picture today, but it IS recent and I thought it was a good starting place.
I just absolutely LOVE my kids! Even with the oldest two having challenges, especially our oldest son (in red), we are sooo abundantly blessed!
We teach our kids to not only be proud of their now American citizenship, but to also be proud of their heritage, their birth culture and country. 
