Alex running the basketball booth. ("Me okay Mom, you go!")
Austin not super thrilled about running his booth
Devree running her booth with not much enthusiasm.
Alex wishing they would hurry up and take this group picture. ("HOT!")
The Group Shot
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Save A Child Fund Raiser....
Austin not super thrilled about running his booth
Devree running her booth with not much enthusiasm.
Alex wishing they would hurry up and take this group picture. ("HOT!")
The Group Shot
Friday, June 26, 2009
Swimming!
Alex & Brach not just cousins but best of friends!
Kambree getting cooled off by Austin
Syd & Ry
Muscle Kids
Muscle Men
Alex's first time off the diving board...
And this is probably the 5th time! He loved it!
Rylee
Austin
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Walken, Tooth Fairy, Sleep Overs & Name Calling
This morning I sent Alex off to Boy Scout camp for the day. He's quite worried that he'll be very tired as he's under the impression he will be "walken, walken" all day. This stems from the fact that Austin went on an overnight hiking trip last weekend with scouts and Alex thinks that's what he's doing. Alex's camp today is more like activity's and I think he'll have a lot of fun, he's not too sure about it though. I'm sure I'll hear all about it when he gets home this afternoon.
Last night Rylee was explaining the Tooth Fairy to Alex and he waved her off with a "I don't want to hear about this" hand wave. Rylee exasperated asked, "Alex, don't you want to get money for your teeth?" Then a little flustered Alex explained through pantomime and a few English words that he tried putting his tooth under his pillow in Ukraine, went to sleep and in the morning "No money!" Although he acted pretty disgusted about the whole event I could sense the disappointment he must have felt. Somewhere he heard about the Tooth Fairy and on his own he must have tried it out. At this point I spoke up and said, "But Alex you didn't have a Mom then, you do now, won't you try it next time you lose a tooth?" He looked up at me with watery eyes and nodded. Wow, everyday we seem to find out more about the loneliness & heartache of living in an orphanage and not having someone to love you.
James is gone so Rylee's been sleeping with me and Alex didn't seem to care one way or the other but last night he asked why Rylee sleeps with me and I asked, "Why? Do you want to sleep with me?" I got a big smile and nod. "Okay, you can have a turn." Rylee was pretty sad about it. "But Mom, I'm not use to other kids wanting to sleep with you!" After some negotiations I told her she could sleep on the chase lounge in my room. Alex was already in my bed and saw her come in and prepare to sleep on the chase lounge then he showed her that there was plenty of space next to him in my king size bed (sweet huh?) so I slept with BOTH of them. Lucky me. Between Kambree going to the midnight showing of Transformers, Ella barking to announce her coming and going, Rylee talking in her sleep, Alex making his little groaning noises, and my alarm going off at 5 am I got very little sleep!
Now the next part of this post I warn you is a bit crude. If you want to stop reading now-that is okay- if not....you have been warned!
Yesterday, Austin came in to the kitchen laughing and telling me, "Mom you gotta blog this!" Then he proceeded to tell me this story. Austin has this habit of calling his siblings Poo Head. (No, I don't like it and yes, we've talked at length about it but regardless he keeps calling them this lovely name!) So yesterday while playing Wii Austin called Alex Poo Head. And Alex came right back at him with a name of his own. Austin said "What did you call me?" Alex said (and this is verbatim) "You talk me Poo Head-me talk you Penis Head!" (translation: "You called me a Poo Head so I'm calling you a Penis Head!") Austin burst out laughing and came in to tell me all about it. Obviously, Alex has just moved up a notch in Austin's esteem. However-this is when I am very grateful to my years of comical theater training and the ability I have to not laugh even when something is very funny-I sat them both down at dinner and told them that name calling is unacceptable and next time I'm putting Tabasco in their mouths. I even went so far as to make sure Alex knew for sure what it was he was calling Austin and...he did! (Great! He can't remember the word for arm or leg but he's got penis down!) Both boys just chuckled between themselves and agreed not to call names anymore. Why do I feel like that is a futile promise?
Last night Rylee was explaining the Tooth Fairy to Alex and he waved her off with a "I don't want to hear about this" hand wave. Rylee exasperated asked, "Alex, don't you want to get money for your teeth?" Then a little flustered Alex explained through pantomime and a few English words that he tried putting his tooth under his pillow in Ukraine, went to sleep and in the morning "No money!" Although he acted pretty disgusted about the whole event I could sense the disappointment he must have felt. Somewhere he heard about the Tooth Fairy and on his own he must have tried it out. At this point I spoke up and said, "But Alex you didn't have a Mom then, you do now, won't you try it next time you lose a tooth?" He looked up at me with watery eyes and nodded. Wow, everyday we seem to find out more about the loneliness & heartache of living in an orphanage and not having someone to love you.
James is gone so Rylee's been sleeping with me and Alex didn't seem to care one way or the other but last night he asked why Rylee sleeps with me and I asked, "Why? Do you want to sleep with me?" I got a big smile and nod. "Okay, you can have a turn." Rylee was pretty sad about it. "But Mom, I'm not use to other kids wanting to sleep with you!" After some negotiations I told her she could sleep on the chase lounge in my room. Alex was already in my bed and saw her come in and prepare to sleep on the chase lounge then he showed her that there was plenty of space next to him in my king size bed (sweet huh?) so I slept with BOTH of them. Lucky me. Between Kambree going to the midnight showing of Transformers, Ella barking to announce her coming and going, Rylee talking in her sleep, Alex making his little groaning noises, and my alarm going off at 5 am I got very little sleep!
Now the next part of this post I warn you is a bit crude. If you want to stop reading now-that is okay- if not....you have been warned!
Yesterday, Austin came in to the kitchen laughing and telling me, "Mom you gotta blog this!" Then he proceeded to tell me this story. Austin has this habit of calling his siblings Poo Head. (No, I don't like it and yes, we've talked at length about it but regardless he keeps calling them this lovely name!) So yesterday while playing Wii Austin called Alex Poo Head. And Alex came right back at him with a name of his own. Austin said "What did you call me?" Alex said (and this is verbatim) "You talk me Poo Head-me talk you Penis Head!" (translation: "You called me a Poo Head so I'm calling you a Penis Head!") Austin burst out laughing and came in to tell me all about it. Obviously, Alex has just moved up a notch in Austin's esteem. However-this is when I am very grateful to my years of comical theater training and the ability I have to not laugh even when something is very funny-I sat them both down at dinner and told them that name calling is unacceptable and next time I'm putting Tabasco in their mouths. I even went so far as to make sure Alex knew for sure what it was he was calling Austin and...he did! (Great! He can't remember the word for arm or leg but he's got penis down!) Both boys just chuckled between themselves and agreed not to call names anymore. Why do I feel like that is a futile promise?
My boys!
Alex before leaving for scout camp this morning...
And giving me a cheesy smile...
Austin came in to talk to me while I was putting on my makeup and proceeded to sit in my claw foot tub and eat cookies. It was so funny looking I made him promise not to get out while I get my camera. He refused to smile but did let me snap the pictures.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Wishes....
Tonight I took my youngest children to Mimi's Cafe. Devree is at Oakcrest, Austin went to Lagoon and Kambree had rehearsals. (I didn't, one of the great things about having a small part-they don't need you every night!) And the little kids had free kid meal coupons. We invited Brach too and had a great time. Our conversation was a little strange, the boys kept trying to tell us about video games and blowing up aliens. They'd just laugh and laugh at each other and their sound effects and seemed to know exactly what part of the game each other were referring too. Rylee and I were lost.
I was so impressed with Alex's willingness to converse. We talked about places we ate in Ukraine, about our day swimming, what he read with his reading tutor today. I think not having the older children around made it easier for him to try new words and be a part of the conversation. Dinner time is often chaotic with everyone trying to talk and you really have to concentrate when Alex talks and listen intently-not an easy feat when four other children are vying for my attention. At one point during dinner tonight, Rylee was sharing how she wished she was Elastic Girl from "The Incredibles" and she could just use her elastic powers to step over to Disneyland for the day. Alex-wanting to share his wish-said, "Me wish- good family." It took me back for a second then I realized this is what he HAD wished for so I asked if he got a good family and he nodded vigorously with a big smile.
How bittersweet. How many of us at ten years old wished for a good family? I just took mine for granite. It's a little sad to think that children wish for good families and yet it made me happy to hear that his wish had come true.
I over heard Rylee tell Alex that she loved him today. He just sort of shrugged-typical boy fashion-then she asked for a hug and apparently he cooperated by picking her up (he is two inches taller) and hugging until she told him she couldn't breath. I guess this is his rough and tough way of showing love?
I made a salad first thing this morning to take with us swimming and Alex chopped up the tomatoes for it, he went on and on about how good the salad smelled and how much he loves salad. He kept trying to wave the smell of the salad up to his face. How funny.
When I told him we'd be going swimming again today he kissed my cheek about five times and gave me a tight hug. He LOVE'S to swim! Today we spent the day swimming with the Rast and Bunch girls at the Milne's pool. It was a fun time and before we knew it three hours had flown by. Thanks Lucinda for the invite.
Tonight I had this brilliant idea to have Alex read a page to Rylee and then Rylee read Alex a page. This way they can BOTH get their reading in for the summer reading program. It worked marvelously at least it did tonight, we'll see how long it will last.
Fathers Day yesterday was a little lonely. James was at work and Rylee refused to sing with the Primary because her Dad wasn't there. My Dad wasn't there either so I couldn't pull the "sing for grandpa" card and Alex just brushed off the idea of going up on the stand. As the kids were coming back to their seats he loudly said. "Me no sing. Me no Dad here!" But I had to chuckle because Alex was mouthing the words to the songs as the children sang.
Well, it's time to tuck in my children for the night. The other night I went to tuck in Alex and he had the worst ONION breath. Apparently he had taken a large bite out of raw onion before going to bed. Yuck! Who would have thought.....
I was so impressed with Alex's willingness to converse. We talked about places we ate in Ukraine, about our day swimming, what he read with his reading tutor today. I think not having the older children around made it easier for him to try new words and be a part of the conversation. Dinner time is often chaotic with everyone trying to talk and you really have to concentrate when Alex talks and listen intently-not an easy feat when four other children are vying for my attention. At one point during dinner tonight, Rylee was sharing how she wished she was Elastic Girl from "The Incredibles" and she could just use her elastic powers to step over to Disneyland for the day. Alex-wanting to share his wish-said, "Me wish- good family." It took me back for a second then I realized this is what he HAD wished for so I asked if he got a good family and he nodded vigorously with a big smile.
How bittersweet. How many of us at ten years old wished for a good family? I just took mine for granite. It's a little sad to think that children wish for good families and yet it made me happy to hear that his wish had come true.
I over heard Rylee tell Alex that she loved him today. He just sort of shrugged-typical boy fashion-then she asked for a hug and apparently he cooperated by picking her up (he is two inches taller) and hugging until she told him she couldn't breath. I guess this is his rough and tough way of showing love?
I made a salad first thing this morning to take with us swimming and Alex chopped up the tomatoes for it, he went on and on about how good the salad smelled and how much he loves salad. He kept trying to wave the smell of the salad up to his face. How funny.
When I told him we'd be going swimming again today he kissed my cheek about five times and gave me a tight hug. He LOVE'S to swim! Today we spent the day swimming with the Rast and Bunch girls at the Milne's pool. It was a fun time and before we knew it three hours had flown by. Thanks Lucinda for the invite.
Tonight I had this brilliant idea to have Alex read a page to Rylee and then Rylee read Alex a page. This way they can BOTH get their reading in for the summer reading program. It worked marvelously at least it did tonight, we'll see how long it will last.
Fathers Day yesterday was a little lonely. James was at work and Rylee refused to sing with the Primary because her Dad wasn't there. My Dad wasn't there either so I couldn't pull the "sing for grandpa" card and Alex just brushed off the idea of going up on the stand. As the kids were coming back to their seats he loudly said. "Me no sing. Me no Dad here!" But I had to chuckle because Alex was mouthing the words to the songs as the children sang.
Well, it's time to tuck in my children for the night. The other night I went to tuck in Alex and he had the worst ONION breath. Apparently he had taken a large bite out of raw onion before going to bed. Yuck! Who would have thought.....
Finally the sun came out (for one day) and we went swimming!
Kambree and her friend Camille
Alex & Ry
Then it rained Saturday and Sunday but Monday we had another great day and went swimming at the Milne's with our Ukraine friends!
Here's almost everyone!
Tonight it was just Alex & Ry & I for dinner so we went to Mimi's to use their free children meal coupons. Brach came along too!
My newest plan for reading! Alex read a page to Ry, Ry read a page to Alex!
They look so sweet!
Rylee helping Alex with his pronunciation!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Just A Little Plug For Our Fundraiser!!
Save a Child Foundation Fundraiser
Where: Layton City Park
When: June 27th, 2009, 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
What: 5k race, carnival, benefit concert
Visit: www.saveachildfundraiser.com
Who: Everyone! This is a fundraiser to raise money for the foundation and the upcoming hosting expenses. Please invite your friends, neighbors, families, co-workers, relatives, etc! It will be a lot of fun for a great cause.
For more information, contact Mary at saveachildcarnival@gmail.com or call her at 
801-643-6654
. Or,Amy at Amyjson@msn.com or call 801-776-3570,
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