My Life Before

On an Ukrainian adoption group we are part of. A family posted this story from their son who is now 13. The family has okayed me posting this for their son. They said he would feel honored. It is beautifully written and touching.

Here is their email and a little history"

"We adopted our son a year and a half ago when he was 13. He has decided to write a book of his time before we adopted him. Hope he can keep his stamina! Reading his stories, which he really wants to share with us, has given us so much insight into him and his life and thought process. Thought you might like hearing what goes through a kid's head. This story is from the time our son still lived with his biological parents. He was around 6 or 7.
Hope you like the story,"

MY LIFE BEFORE
I had three friends. One of them was kinda rich with a big house and nice stuff. I still remember. His name was Sasha. To go to his house you had to go straight and then high up the hill and to the right. Sasha had a scooter. Before school I asked if I could have it but he said “no”. His father had given it to him. I stole it in the winter at night.
It was during the day that I had decided to steal the scooter. While in school I thought about how to do it, drawing my plan on blank papers while the teacher talked. Without a plan things can go wrong. During the day his mother was always working next to the house putting out laundry on the lines. I knew at night would be the best time because everyone would be sleeping. If you want to steal something the best way is to do it at night or during the day when no one is home. At night you have to be careful because people have guns. I knew Sasha’s father had a gun because he went hunting. He could shoot at a shape without looking at the face.
After school Sasha went back to his house and I went my way. The guy was a good friend. When it was cold and I didn’t have food he brought me some, a big kind of fish. The night comes early in winter. I stayed up; didn’t go to sleep. I went to his house. He had a fat, sweet rottweiler. The dog knew me. I gave him a piece of bread while he was eating it I took the scooter. I got it and started running. I was so happy. A light in the house came on but I was running and, by that time, far away.
In the village where I was born there are four different colors. Spring is grey because the water is running on the streets. In summer everything is green, so green it looks fake. In autumn the village is yellow and orange but mostly orange. And in the winter it is pure white like the sheets I have on my bed now. Then it was winter and I couldn’t use the scooter. It had three wheels and a seat and couldn’t roll in the snow.
Sasha didn’t realize until spring that his scooter was gone. He always asked me if I knew where it was. He would ask me questions like, “Do you want to go to your house to look for it?” I would say, “I am your friend I would never do that.” I had no feelings in that life. Now, I can say how sad that was.
One time when no one was at the hill where we usually played I took the scooter to ride. My friend was hiding behind a tree and came out. He said, “I knew you took it. Give it back.” I didn’t even feel ashamed when he took it back. We stayed friends but he didn’t trust me so much. I was never invited in his house again. I had to wait outside. I didn’t care. I didn’t have anything and didn’t care about anything.
It was Ukraine. Everyone is poor. In the beginning people try to do something with their lives but it doesn’t work. They give up and drink. If you don’t have anything it’s easier to be drunk.

Comforter

Before we had children, Larry and I had bought a paisley bedspread set way back when.

After three kids and three dogs, it is WAY past it's time. Chewed pillow corners by a dog or two, one too many washings, and the most awful color scheme. You may now find it at the local Goodwill store.

A new year and it is now time to invest a little time in MY bedroom!

A few weeks ago Oksana and I went to JCPennys's and finally purchased a whole new comforter set. Crazy as it sounds there was a box of kleenex, that had the colors I sort of had in mind. A mixture of jade, dark brown and cream. Here is what we bought (this is not mine though this pic is from the catalog)...

I can't wait to sleep tonight in my new sheets and warm comforter.

The dogs will have to find a new place to sleep at night (they just don't know it yet).

Broken Resolutions

I can’t believe it is the second week of January, and I have broken my three big resolutions:

1. Get back into Weight Watchers eating mode (I quit in November after losing 15 pounds)

2. Exercise at least four days per week. This included walking the dogs. Larry seems to have taken over this duty and has been walking 2.5-3 miles a night with them. So, why do I need to bother?

3. No yelling. Calm and collective discussions with children about things like bedtime, picking up one’s room, getting ready for school, playing fair, no back talk, etc…
This one I probably broke the first day.

So I am extending the start date to Monday, January 19. It is a holiday for me. I will have no reason not to on that date: Get to the gym, sign up with weight watchers, and create a no-no/yes-yes board for three crazy kiddos!

December Recap In Pictures

December Recap..

(Nikolai took all of the pictures of his Bengal outing)

Nik's first Pro football game and the Bengals won
Believe it not Larry got the tickets for $10 each on EBAY
Cant go wrong there for a kid that LOVES football!



Kids at the church Christmas program


Daddy and Vitaly Christmas brunch
who knew this guy was recovering from a heart attack!
The little tree behind them is our UA ornaments tree


O Trying to get in good with Mr. Claus
(somehow I think she already has him wrapped.. no message needed!!))


Who is that handsome daddy :) Bring on the loot from GrandPAS and Aunt S!



Now the chaos at my dad's house...
Grandpa and V with his new backpack



Cousins in Grandpa's house and a shot of his Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!

Happy 2009

What is College?

Driving to the sitter’s before school:

Nik: Mom what is College again?
Me: That is the where you go after High School and study what you want to be when you grow up, like a Doctor, Teacher or Nurse or something.
Vitaly: And a Police Man?
Me: Yes you would go to college for that.
Nik: How about a BMX rider?
Me: No, not for that.
Oksana: What about Mermaids? Do they have Mermaid College? I am going to be a Mermaid!