November in pictures!

Cam & Kam fishing:

Date:

Talking to Devree during dinner:

 Jesse & Austin

It's finally official!

 The first picture of our grand baby:

Alex's new job at Chick-fil-a

A few of Ry's friends:

 Ry the baker:

 My Mother Gothel look:

Alex trying on his options for Fall Ball:

Cameron graduating from correctional officers school:

New haircut:

Alex as the Chick-Fil-A Cow:

Saying bye to our Beau:

Heavy makeup makeover:

Fall Ball:

Leatherby's:

Dev visting "Alex from Chick-Fil-A"

Thanksgiving

(I was terrible at taking pictures!)

Troy's new kitty:

Mom School

Over the summer Alex completed drivers ed but was registered for careers & drivers ed first term.  I pointed this out to his school counselor and he told me not to worry, he has to have careers and he'd find him an alternate class for 2nd term. 

Well? 2nd term started last week and lo and behold there was nothing he could take! (He'd missed the first 9 weeks of everything and anything like weight lifting, peer tutor or choir were full or not available that hour.) So?? He has parental release which means.......MOM SCHOOL! (And dad as substitute/co teacher on days he's home!)  We have about 4 days under our belt so far and WE LOVE IT! (At least James and I - Alex has yet to voice his opinion.) 

So far we've worked on:

Conversation Skills

Being a Gentleman

Writing: He's working on writing his life history

Reading: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens 

and he and James have watched several TED talks on goals, having a positive outlook, and putting your past behind you. 

We've even watched a couple of church videos. 

It' s awesome.

The deal is he has to get up, get ready, have breakfast and scriptures, drive Ry to school and then comes home for Mom school for an hour and 15 minutes then heads to school. 

Today he needed 30 minutes to study and finish a project for biology then we read a little of  our 7 Habits book and then I had him read an entry of my blog out loud. I chose the day we went to court to adopt him. He remembers so little about his adoption. 

There was a part in there where I wrote about how Alex was sitting on my lap at the notary's office even when there was a chair right next to me. I then turned to him and explained that he loved sitting on my lap back then he looked at me and with a wink said, "I still do." 

That made me laugh. 

Yeah. It's true.

Granted he doesn't fit as well as he use to - he's 5'11"  and he doesn't sit on my lap as much as he use to but here and there he'll plop down on my lap and lay his head on my shoulder. It only last a minute because it's not physically comfortable for either of us but I cherish those few minutes. 

Anyway, back to Mom School - James commented last week that we should have done this with all our kids! It's so great to have one on one time with children and especially when they  pay attention and a willing heart and mind. It' so hard to find those opportunity's regularly. 

Here's hoping it lasts! 

Borscht Recipe

Here is the official recipe I use and my "cheats". 

Borscht
1 1/2 pounds of meat (I like to cut up a beef roast or pork but cheat #1 is use canned chicken)
10-12 cups of water

Salt to taste

6 potatoes peeled and diced

2-3 cups of cabbage shredded (cheat #2 use a bag of pre shredded coleslaw)

1 onion chopped (cheat #3 use frozen chopped onion - saves the eyes!) 

1/2 cup celery - thinly sliced (my boy hates celery so I skip this)

3 beets - peeled and grated (cheat #4 buy them grated in a can) 

Parsley (fresh or dried)

1 clove of garlic crushed (cheat #5 use pre minced stuff in a bottle)

1 cup of tomatoes or juice (cheat #6 I use a can of diced tomatoes)

1 6 ounce can of tomato paste

1 vegetable bouillon cube (I usually throw in whatever bullion cube I have?)

1 red bell pepper shredded or diced (I usually don't have one and skip)

paprika  

1 Tbsp of prepared mustard

dill and chives

2 Tbsp of lemon juice

Sour Cream and a sprinkle of more dill for garnish

Bring the water and meat to boil in a big pot. Remove foam as it accumulates. Add the potatoes. Then after about 10 minutes add the cabbage. While that continues cooking,  sear the remaining vegetables one at a time in a large frying pan in a little butter or oil and add the veggies as you go to the pot. (I've skipped this step before and it turned out fine)  I like to add the beets last and watch the magic happen - it's beautiful. Add the lemon juice last and then serve with a dollop of sour cream and an additional sprinkle of dill. 

Now, I've yet to mess this up. I've skipped ingredients add others. Stuck it in a crock pot.It's pretty resilient.(like Ukraine!)  It's just a matter of what you have or your family likes? And it's the vitamin bomb!! I like to make it on cold rainy days and serve it with homemade wheat bread. 

Great warmed up the next day or two too....we always have leftovers since my home grown kids aren't huge fans. 

Here's a link with pictures of the first time we made borscht:

http://blessedwitharichhart.blogspot.com/2010/01/borshcht.html

Fall Water Polo

Fall season ended November 1st with a tournament.

While walking in I tried to motivate Alex with a challenge? If his team won he could pick a place to eat breakfast afterwards.  (He hates to eat before he plays - it makes him sick - he had a 8:30 game.) 

Then he said "How about you make me borscht? All by yourself?" (I always make him help with all the chopping - and especially the beet grating - it makes your hands purple!) 

I agreed but not only did his team have to win but  he has to make FIVE GOALS! (The most he had ever made was three in a game. I thought I was safe!) Then as he walked off to join his team he said "Oh, yeah - and Dad has to twirl around in a tutu while you make borscht if I make 5 goals." James nodded but he thought he was safe too....

Oh. My. Heck. 

He was on fire!

He made FOUR goals in the first quarter.

Upon making the forth he looked up to us in the stands and waved 1 finger at us. 

("Only one more mom and dad!") 

Other parents in the stands asked why we hadn't made this deal with him earlier in the season? 

He made the 5th goal in the 2nd quarter. 

I wish I had a picture of his beaming face, treading water and looking up in the stands for us waving his five fingers!

He ended up making SEVEN goals  and numerous assists. And yes, they won!

It was a fabulous game! 

He was awarded the MVP award for the season!

Picture with a couple of his team mates.

(Harper & Casey)

Video for Ivan (Alex's 1/2 brother in Ukraine) to see:

And paying our bet two days later. 

(Alex has video of his dad's dance - he did a Polynesian Haka - count on James to make twirling in a tutu masculine?)