Oksana's Eclipse Sleep Over Party

Oksana had an Eclipse Movie (Twilight Saga)Sleepover Party the Friday after her birthday. Grammy and Pop Pop kept the boys overnight so they would not "bother" the girls at the party.The girls had pizza and played the Wii for awhile. Then they settled down to watch the three movies: Twilight, New Mooon and Eclipse. They ate popcorn from bags I made that showed if they were Team Edward or Team Jacob. Every girl was Team Jacob. The girls had lots of fun and were up early the next day. We made them cinnamon rolls and bacon for breakfast.


Oksana's movie ticket invitation (address/phone removed for web)



Oksana's cake. Not my best work, since the spray icing I bought looked more grey then black. But it tasted good.


Oksana with her cake.


The girls watching movies.


Oksana's chocolate bar favors.

Making the Grade

Oksana and Philip did awesome again this semester. Philip got straight A's,making the Principal's Honor Roll and Oksana had all A's and one B, making the Honor Roll. They both received award certificates for this as well as for Perfect Attendance. Oksana was given a very special Citizenship Award for helping with the special ed. kids and always willing to help out where needed. Mommy & Daddy are very proud!

Snow Days

Sunday night it started to snow while I was at the Hallmark store. We closed early and it took me me an extra thirty minutes to drive home in the snow-covered roads. The kids had no school Monday and Tuesday, My job was closed Monday and had delayed openings on Tuesday, but I decided to stay home and let some of the ice melt from the bridges I have to cross to get to work. The kids were exciting about using the new sleds they got for Christmas at a big hill near the house. Phil and I had fun going down the hills too.

Oksana, Philip and Nico in front of the house.

Our snow-covered house.

Tinkerbelle drinking the melting snow.

Nico in a snow fort. (Much smaller then the kind we built up North!)

Nico asking if I liked how he slid down the hill.

Oksana with her sled.

Nico and Philip riding their sleds.

Happy 11th Birthday Oksana

Oksana turned the Big 11 today. We took her out to Senior Tequila's, a local Mexican restaurant. Mexican food is her favorite. She was serenaded by the waiters singing Happy Birthday in Spanish to her. I made cupcakes with signs that read, Team Edward or Team Jacob to go with her Eclipse movie theme. Oksana is definitely Team Jacob.

Oksana: Bobcat Hunter

Phil took Oksana and Philip hunting during the Youth Hunt this weekend. They didn't get a deer, but Oksana had her first kill: a bobcat. She shot it with a 410 shotgun. Daddy did the dirty work, so she will have a nice pelt to display.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all! As you may have noticed, I never found the time this year to do Christmas portraits of the kids and send out Christmas cards. I started working at our local Hallmark store p/t and didn't have a lot of spare time between both jobs. Hoping to be better organized next year. I hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Oksana, Philip and Nico on Christmas Eve.

Nico pointing to the footprints Santa left on our fireplace Christmas morning.


The kids in front of the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.


Philip, Oksana, Alex, Gaige, Cohen, Nicholas and Nico and Grammy & Pop Pop's house on Christmas.

BS Christmas Party & Award for Nico

Philip's boy scout Christmas party was tonight. We had to bring grab bag gifts for each of our kids to exchange at the party. I bought three Webkins. The kids sat in a circle and played a game to pass the presents around. Nico got some mini skateboards that the older kids like. An older boy across from him got one of the Webkins. Nico noticed he wasn't too thrilled with what he received. He went over to him and told him he could have the skateboards and he would take the Webkin frog (Nico didn't even know we brought them.)The kid was very happy to trade him. A soldier in the army, Cpl. Jackson, saw what Nico did. He was very impressed with how Nico offered his gift to the older boy. Cpl. Jackson went out to his car and came back with a special "Coin of Excellence," that he presented to Nico. We are very proud of you Nico!

Philip with his grab bag gift

Cpl. Jackson presenting Nico with the Coin of Excellence.

Front: Coin of Excellence

Back: Coin of Excellence

Nico's Cheek

Nico woke up this morning with the right side of his face swollen. We took him to the dentist to rule out any problems with is teeth. His teeth were fine so we took him to the pediatrician. After a bit of a scare when she said, "It doesn't look like cancer.", she told us he had an infected lymph node. It occurs when the body is fighting an infection, and Nico was just getting over a cough.

Sherwood Enchanted Forrest - Festival of Lights

Sherwood has one of the best drive-thru display of Christmas lights in the state. It is free, but they accept donations that are used to buy new diplays. At the end the kids get a candy cane. Here are some pictures and a video I took as we drove through it.

Today was the last day of school before winter break. Oksana could wear a holiday shirt with jeans and the boys could wear their pajamas. Each class watched the movie Polar Express. Phil and I went to watch the kids sing Christmas carols in the afternoon. The performances were supposed to start at 2 p.m. and at last minute changes it to 1:30 p.m.--so we only caught the end of Nico's class.