Kambree College Photo Update

Leg Lamp Halloween Costume:

Zumba Night:

Western Swing:

Drill "Nerd" dance:

Random Drill Pics:

Goofing off at the grocery store:

Alex Update For Ivan & Snezhana

I tired to email some pictures but it was too big of a file so I thought I'd just post an update of Alex's in 2012 for you.

After Christmas last year we went to Long Beach California:

Celebrating Ukraine Christmas - at the only Ukrainian restaurant we could find in Utah. We are with a few kids that were also adopted from his orphanage. 

(Alex said my borscht was better than this restaurant - he said their borscht taste like orphanage borscht) 

Alex decorated my birthday cake:

In March we went to Disneyland to see Austin and Devree sing with their choir:

Sledding and hanging out in a snow cave:

 Easter:
(Yes, I made this Paska!) 

Easter Sunday:

Scouts:

 Fishing:

 Choir Concert:

 Just a cute picture:

 Wisdom teeth out:

 Kick Ball:

 Dominican Republic Trip:

Snow Cone:

Another Fish:

Shooting - he was with Austin and James:

Hanging at the park:

 Alex's Birthday:

 He learned how to ride a motorcycle this year:

 Camping with cousins:

 Pirate swords with Alex - I was not thrilled they bought these!

Thanksgiving Last Week:

Tonights picture after putting up the tree:

He will be playing basketball again this year and joining the swim team.

He is 5'5" (He and Rylee are the exact same height as of tonight!) 

He still loves tomato juice, fruit, and candy - of course.

He is getting decent grades but struggles to stay up with his class. 

He reads very well but is still below grade level.

He has a problem with video games and is slowly learning that there is more to life than an electronic screen - and that is one of the reasons he'll be joining the swim team next month.

He talks of Ukraine often and his fondest memories are of you, Ivan and the good brother you were to him.

He still talks about Snezhana's cooking and how good it was. 

We sure love him and we're working hard to help him grow up to be a good man, a responsible citizen and a kind person.

Thanksgiving

 We had dinner at our house....

 Afterwards the girls were looking at something on a phone....

 And this was the only one I got of my mom and Dad

 Austin was chilling and digesting in the "hobby" room.

(Formally known as our formal living room -now it holds our bikes, snowboards, piano both baby grand and electric and I believe Alex's air soft bb gun - oh and this one chair that Austin is sitting on!) 

We went to see "Rise of The Guardians" after our dinner/lunch. (We ate at 2 pm) And then we went to grandma's for a pie fest! 

 Comparing thumbs.....that's my brother Arron's ginormous thumb!)

Austin and Grandma.....

(Love this picture!)

Earlier that day we all wrote down one thing we were thankful for and then we put them in pot and pulled out one and had to talk about how our life would be without that particular thing.  Here is what everyone was thankful for.

James: Sleep

Wendy: Healthy Body

Kambree: Dating/Love

Austin: Mountains

Devree: Beds

Alex: Family

Rylee: Kidneys

"Your Mom Goes To College"

It's official.

I'm enrolled and registered for classes.

Gulp.

I met with my "academic adviser" who tried to flatter me by saying.  "You couldn't possibly be returning to school after 22 years, you only look 22 years old."

Please.

Whatever.

Then he "thinks" I need another English class, a communications class and math.

MATH!
WHAT???

Oh, and since it's been 22 years, I need to take a math placement test.

Oh my stars!!

And pending how I test will determine if I need one, two or THREE math classes.

Shoot me now.
 He also estimates that I need about 10 more credit hours to get my associates.
(Why in the world didn't I at least get my associates way back when? Oh yeah. I got married and put my hubby through school.)
I had to get all my transcripts resent to be matriculated - again because they're so very old.
I decided to just take the one class to start and wait to hear what the "official" verdict is on what I truly need to take instead of Mr. Academic A's estimate.  

At one point in our conversation I explained I wasn't returning to school to change my career - I just want to get an education. I sell real estate and love it.

Then he proceed to tell me HOW TO SELL REAL ESTATE.

Real?

Mr. Academic Adviser? How many houses have you sold?
(I wanted to say that but I didn't. I just sat there politely nodding my head.)

Finally when he started telling me to knock on doors and get listings in a certain area, I could stand it no further.

"I've been selling real estate for almost 13 years. All my business is word of mouth. I don't cold call, knock doors or do much marketing. I've been blessed. I have all the business I need but thanks for your suggestions."
I do realize it's this guys JOB to advise people but please, I am not an 18 year old freshman. And isn't he an ACADEMIC adviser - not an "I know everything adviser"? 

In my defense I explained that most my clients I pick up by either a referral or they know me - for example I recently bought my bike and the cute girl I bought it from called me afterwards and is looking to buy a house next spring. That's the way I work.

Upon hearing about my bike purchase he asked if I'd be interested in buying his wife's Honda Shadow?

As in motorcycle?

I had to explain that my bike was a road bike with pedals.

Then he said, "Oh that explains why you have such.....strong legs." 

Oh gosh. 

Yuck.

I know he was just trying to be nice but seriously? The leg comment was a little awkward. 

I was glad it was while we were on the way OUT of his office.
(Note to self: Request a different Academic Adviser next time.) 

So....two months and one week from today - I start class.
Yikes. 

My Austin has class at the same time and we're going to carpool.

How cool is that?
Maybe not so cool for Austin......

Bullet Update

• Oh my stars! What was I thinking??? I applied to go back to school next semester. Why? I'm not exactly sure. I would like to have a degree....but I don't know what in. I would like to better my mind, but I'm not sure my mind is up to par. Austin and I went to enroll today and tomorrow he's going to orientation and I'm going to talk to an academic adviser. My biggest fear is that they'll tell me I have to take a placement test and that my 69 credit hours I took 22 years ago will count for naught! Cross your fingers for me.
• Kambree is ready to submit her mission papers but wait! Who has re-entered her life? A young man by the name of Travis that she was head over heels for last year. Gulp. Timing is everything isn't it? We'll see where this all goes. She might be taking classes with Austin and I next semester too depending on everything. I mean, who knows when she'll leave and now, who knows if she'll even submit? Fun stuff - adult children. But sort of cool - at least for me -  going to school with my kids? Three of them technically since Devree is taking congruent classes from SLCC in high school.
• Did I mention Austin got a job? Yes! It's true. He's working with mentally challenged/disabled adult women. He does in home care. He helps them with their dinner, house cleaning, medicines, shopping, takes them to dinner etc. It's awesome to hear his stories and see how sweet he is with them. We met two of his clients this weekend. They were adorable. Well? One was adorable the other just talked and talked and never stopped taking. It's looking like we may have one or two clients join us for Thanksgiving this year. I love it!
• Alex made it through a whole week without complaining or talking about video games! Woot! We bought him a model airplane to celebrate. He and Rylee are going to play Jr Jazz next month and I'm signing him up for a wrestling clinic next year - if he likes it or not! If he goes TWO more weeks without complaining/sneaking/obsessing about video games we're going to get him another model. Rylee wanted to work for an incentive too, hers is to NOT CRY when doing math for two weeks!
• Grades: Devree was crushed when she got two -A's this term. She's had a 4.0 since 8th grade. I felt so bad for her. She really is a fabulous student. She's just spread so thin. Rylee got her 1st 4.0. Alex got three A's, one B-, two C+ and one C. He did it ! Nothing lower than a C! However he did get two N's in citizenship. (Needs improvement - next step down is a U! We've had U's in the past - thanks to Austin - based on attendance - but this was based on behavior. Next terms goal? NO N's! And nothing lower than a C!)
•  And lately, I've been posting on Facebook and thought I'd document some of my favorite posts: 
• Last night Rylee jokingly asked for a walk in closet for Christmas. Alex rolled his eyes and sarcastically asked "Like we can put motor on your closet so it can walk around???" Ha! A walking closet? Needless to say we had a vocabulary lesson on what a walk IN closet is. 
•  Last night at dinner, Devree shared that a friend of hers landed a job as a princess at Disney World. (Pretty cool huh?) I shared how that was one of the many things I thought of doing after high school too. I wanted to play Snow White to which my youngest child replied, "Mom, you would be good at playing......a WITCH now."
  Kambree's had a friend to dinner and he attempted to not spew his drink out his nose as he waited for my response to that great compliment. He just doesn't know me very well yet. I would be GREAT at playing a witch! (Preferably Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty or Mother Gothel from Tangled - before she ages!)
  Funny how most of Disney's Villains/Witches are my age. Maybe I still have a chance of landing a DL gig?
• Well? There's my update in bullets!