Oksana, Our American Idol

Hit the play button on the video below to see Oksana perform "Every Part of Me" by Myle Cyrus. She did an awesome job! Forgive the shaky footage, as I had someone in front of me who kept moving around. Her music teacher even announced that she is his American Idol from Sherwood--wish I had kept the camera recording when he said it. May need that in the future!

A Desperate Landscape No More

Our front yard was still in transition stage when my parent's arrived. Phil reshaped our sloping front yard with loads of dirt and built it up to make it level. He buried french drains so the rain would run out to the street and not wash away the grass. He used landscaping pavers to create a drop down flower box by the mailbox and line the driveway. We hadn't had time to add flowers, but with a little help from a gift card from Home Depot and Loews, we were able finish the project while they were here.



I planted purple and gold petunias in the drop down box and red Gerber daisies (my favorite) in front of our hedges along with some zinnias. Some mulch and solar lights completed the look. We still need grass in the front, and will probably lay down sod, but Phil wants to get the privacy fence built first.

Mom Mom and Pop Pop visit

My parents arrived on a late night flight on May 19 and left on an early flight May 25. They stayed in our new house for two nights to have a chance to be with kids when they wake up in the morning. The other nights they stayed at a local hotel my sisters and I paid for as a Mother's & Father's Day present. The kids couldn't wait for them to get here so they could show them their new house. They got to watch Philip and Nico play baseball (3 of the days they were here) and Oksana played her guitar for them. Phil's parent's came for dinner one night and we went to their house on Sunday for ribs and to let the kids swim.

Monday, May 24 was my birthday and we started the day off with some fishing at our local pond. I got my father an out-of-state 3 day fishing license from work and let him freshwater fish for the first time. AGFC stocks the ponds monthly and even though it was done in the last two weeks, nothing was biting. It was already 90 degrees by 9:30 a.m. and very humid. He got the hand of casting though.





We cooled off in the hotel pool and ate lunch.


Later that night after Philip's team beat the "undefeated Yankees," we all went out to dinner. It had been a long time since I got to spend my birthday with my parents, so it was really nice.




We picked my parents up at the hotel early the next morning to take them to the airport for their 7 a.m. flight. It was a nice visit and as usual, it went by too fast. Now my sisters need to make some plans to head this way!

Nico Gets a Check Up

Nico went to the doctor to get a physical before he starts school as well as an ear and eye test. He has perfect hearing, even though he doesn't seem to hear when you when you ask what he's getting into! His left eye was good, 20/30 but his right eye was weaker at 20/40 which we will watch as he gets older. He weighs 41 lbs and is 41 3/4" tall-- we told him he was a square 41x41. Unfortunatey at this visit he had to get five shots! We never mentioned it ahead of time and when the nurses came in they told them they had medicine. Phil held his arms while he laid down and one nurse held his legs. The other nurse gave him two shots in one thigh and three in the other--his only reaction? He said "Ouch" after each shot, but never kicked, cried or anything. Even the nurses were amazed at how brave he was. Afterwards we took him to pick out some candy as a treat for being so good and he asked if he could pick some out for Phil and Oksana. That's are sweet boy!

Best Buds

Philip's best friend Izahia just moved to El Paso, Texas where his father will be stationed in the Army. Once they get settled the boys will keep in touch by email and viedo phone. Izahia will visit when he comes to see his grandma and aunts and uncles. He slept over at our house two weekends in a row before he left. They really get along great together. I don't think I ever saw Philip as sad as when he realized it would be awhile before he would see Izahia again.

Character Kids

Philip and Oksana had to dress up as a character from one of James Marshall's books. Oksana went as Goldilocks and Philip was the Moon from Hey Diddle Diddle.

Happy Mothers Day

I got to sleep in late and then Philip and Nico came in to wake me up (Oksana was at her mom's). They helped Daddy make french toast and bacon for breakfast and I had three bouquets of flowers on the kitchen table and cards Nico and Philip made. Phil and I went to a flea market for a few hours with his mom and then went back to her house. The kids were swimming even though it wasn't very warm out. We had BBQ and enjoyed a nice day outside.

Happy Mother's Day everyone!