August has flown by and I have been seriously slacking in keeping up with the blog.  The main problem is our DSL modem went out and we have to get a new one or new provider, so I can't use our main home computer.  So I am having to use our laptop, but without internet access it has been painfully slow.

 

Oksana has had some firsts:

 

On Monday, my little two year old gathered her courage and proudly boarded the school bus to attend pre-school for the first time.  She was so excited and loves it!

 

Earlier in the month she said her first three-word sentence.  That is HUGE for a little girl that has had her CL/CP repaired only a bit over a year and has to learn to use her mouth.  The sentence was "mommy help me".  

 

Nikolai is now in Kindergarten and already receiving high praise from his teacher.

 

Vitaly played in his first football game and did great as a defensive tackle.

 

The kids spent a long weekend with my cousins and Aunts and their respective children and had a blast! 

 

The kids went to their first wedding and watched Larry's best friend finally get married after all of these years.

 

Larry has been working hard on stripping /sanding and hopefully this weekend, restaining the deck. 

 

Next project, Oksana will get her "new room"- time to paint and give her a big girl bed for her upcoming birthday.  I am not very creative so any cute girlie room themes please send your ideas.

 

Have a great Labor Day weekend and enjoy some pictures from August.

Yesterday, V went to his first day of second grade.   It is a little sad that the kids will miss the last two weeks of summer.

What happened to returning to school after Labor Day? 

For that matter, what happened to the old-fashioned school supplies lists.  I remember having  a yellow box with my pencils, metal scissors, a new box of crayons, glue and paste, and be so excited to return to school with goodies.

 

Here are a few of the items that I have been asked to purchase for the three kids:  (81 items total)

 

14 Large glue sticks for Kindergarten (yes 14)!  Add to that the 10 others requested for the other kids and I am purchasing 24 glue sticks!

5 boxes of eight crayons plus one box of 24 crayons all for kindergarten

3 packs of markets

3 packs of wet wipes and kleenexs

1 roll of duct tape (for my preschooler-hmmm)

1 pair of tube socks

1 box of expensive hefty ziplock freezer gallon bags (no substitutions)

plus $79.00 in for supply/activity fees

 

Just crazy!!!!

 

Oh and I lost my retainer that I only got three weeks ago (I was straightening up a tooth).  I know I had it in my bedroom or bathroom, but it just disappeared without a trace.  So either a toddler decided to play with it and hide it in a remote area that won't be searched for the next five years or a large dog has decided it makes a nice chew toy.  Anyway I called and they want 195$ to replace it.  I know the minute I get a new one the old one will miraculously re-appear, so I will wait....

 

I also want to mention for anyone still reading the blog, my apologies for my blog slacking.  We have been having computer problems, but I will try to update when possible.

 

 

 

 

 Enoy this wonderful video by our UA friends the Brooks family

 

 

And then feel free to review my family amateur pics from June- July 2007

 

Well on 8/8/99 a little boy was born to a mother in Ternopil Ukraine. 

Does she remember that today her firstborn is EIGHT and he was born on 8/8!  I want to thank her for giving us such a precious gift.

 

So, today our lives were filled with the joy, of the newest eight year old opening his presents (little presents) at six oclock am! 

 

Because, we did have to work today, Grandpa was wanting to give him a special one on one day.  He spent the day with Grandpa doing farm things and loving every minute!

 

Vitaly came home to his favorite meal cheese pizza.   Also, My wonderful SIL made some cupcakes and stuck them in the fridge.

 

After the cupcakes, I snuck out to the garage to wheel in Vitaly's  big surprise- a new BIKE!   He spent the rest of the evening showing off his new bike to anyone in the neighborhood that cared to look. 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VITALY!!!!