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.

BS Pack Meeting Awards

Philip received the following awards at his Boy Scout pack meeting tonight:
Belt Loops for Pet Care( for taking care of his hamsters)and Good Manners.



He received a progress towards ranks badge and a parade patch for participating in the Christmas parade.

A New Suit for Santa

Philip had a homework assignment to design a new suit for Santa and explain why he needed a different suit, in a mini report. Using digital camo scrapbook paper we helped him cut out a new uniform so that Santa would blend in when he visiting soldiers all over the world.

Sherwood Christmas Parade

Oksana rode in the bed of Grampa’s truck with her Girl Scout troop in the Christmas parade. The theme for the parade was “Home for the Holidays”, so they dressed in their pj’s, like they were getting ready for bed on Christmas Eve. Philip wore his cub scout uniform and rode on a trailer decorated with a Christmas tree. Philip brought four bags of candy to toss out to kids along the parade route. When the parade was over he still has two bags left—he wanted to keep for himself. Phil and I watched the parade with Nico and his mom. Nico had fun collecting candy being tossed by the people in the parade and he was nice enough to share with his brother and sister.


Oksana waiting for the parade to start in Grandpa's truck

Philip on the boy scout float


Grandpa's truck carrying the Girl Scouts in the parade/


Nico running out to Santa at the end of the parade./

Philip’s First Reconciliation

Philip made his first Reconciliation on Saturday. He received a candle and a certificate with his name on it.

Breakfast with Santa

My mother-in-law and I took the kids to Sherwood Forest for the annual Breakfast with Santa. Kids eat free and adults pay $3 to eat. After a hot breakfast of pancakes and sausage, the kids line up to sit on Santa's lap.

Kids sitting with Santa. Philip wasn't in the Christmas spirit.

Nico smiling with Santa.

Kids in front of Santa's sleigh.

Nico and his buddy Kannon.

Happy Turkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family!

Happy Birthday Pop Pop

We went over to my father-in-law's to celebrate his 56th birthday. We had burgers and dogs on the grill. As you can see, my kids' favorite part of the night was the cake.

Go ahead, make my day

Phil took me hunting for the first time, after the Veteran's Day Parade. I didn't shoot anything. We spent more time watching a big armidillo root through the leaves looking for grubs, making a lot of noise. Then a doe came into view, but she was too hidden behind a tree for me to get a good shot. Hopefully I can go again next weekend.

Veteran's Day Parade

Sherwood had it's first Veteran's Day Parade on Sunday, Nov. 14. In the photo the kids are watching veterans go by on motorcycles and wait for them to throw candy. My dad is a Korean War veteran--so happy Veteran's Day Dad!

Happy Birthday Nicole

Happy Birthday to my very good friend Nicole in NJ!
I hope you do something special today.

Slug eating dog food

Believe it or not, this slug grabbed a free meal from some dog food that fell out of Daisy's dish.Too funny!

Happy Birthday Christine

Happy Birthday to my sis-in-law! Hope it's a goon one!

Deer Diorama

Philip made this diorama about white-tailed deer in Arkansas for a school project. He loves to hunt, so this was an easy one.

Happy Birthday Lisa

Happy Birthday Sis! Love ya and Miss ya!

Happy Birthday Kyle

Happy 19th Birthday to my nephew Kyle. Hope you have a great time celebrating with your friends at WVU.

Trick or Treat

The kids got to celebrate a bit early this year. One of the shopping centers hosted a trick or treat event on Thursday (10/28). They went from store to store to get their treats.

Oksana:Cruella DeVille Nico:Phineas Philip: Ferb
No, Phil and I are not in the Little Ceaser costumes!


Nico as Phineas


Oksana as Cruella DeVille


Philip as Ferb


Oksana, Philip and Nico in costume

School Awards

Oksana received a medal for scoring at the advanced levels in match and englist on last year's benchmark test. She also recived certificates for making the A-B Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance and for helping the special needs kids in her grammy's classroom.

Philip received certifiates for making the Principal's Honor Roll (straight A's, Perfect attendance and citizenship.

Congrats to both of you on your hard work-- Daddy and I are so proud of you.

Nico's Birthday Party at the Nature Center

We had Nico's party at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center on Sunday. We served cake and juice outside on the picnic tables, opened presents and then went inside for an adventure. Nico's whole class was invited, but only a few showed up. He didn't seem to mind--he had lot's of fun. The nature cneter is part of the AGFC, so the staff took good care of us. The kids watched a movie about AGFC and did a scavenger hunt. After the party Kylie (Nico's girlfriend from daycare) and Nick came back to our house to play. They left as were heard tornado sirens warning us to take cover. Luckily the storm passed over us.


Nico's Phineas and Ferb cake.


Nico and his buddy Kannon.


Skyla, Kylie, Nico, Kannon and Miranda posing by deer sculpture. That would be Philip's fingers behind the group.


Nico blowing out the candle on his cake, with his two girlfriends, Skyla and Kylie on either side.


Nico opening presents.


Kylie, Nico, Skyla and Nick by the aquarium.


Nick, Philip, Kylie, Nico, Skyla, Oksana, Miranda, Bro Shon by the aquarium.

Horeback Riding at Camp Crossed Arrows

Oksana and I went to Camp Crossed Arrows, so she could earn her horseback riding badge. The camp is about two hours from Sherwood, in the Ozark hills near Floral, AR. We left at 7 a.m. and arrived home about 6 p.m. that night. It was a long day, but the girls had a lot of fun. They learned about tack, the parts of a horse, how to put a saddle on, groom them and ride the horses.

Oksana brushing Scarlet


Oksana learning about tack