Spring Break

We had fun for Spring Break.  We couldn't go much of anywhere or do a whole lot, but we had lots of fun, nonetheless.  First off, was to check out the new City Creek Mall.  It was pretty cool. :)

I've heard parking is expensive there so we went to the Gateway and rode Trax over.  The girls loved it!

They've got cool fireplaces all set up for the winter months.

A Disney store!!!!!  Alas, it is mostly little kid clothes.  We got Little One a bathing suit, but it didn't fit so we had to take it back.  She got some goggles instead.

This picture is for Masha!  Her favorite store has another location.  We spent hours in Forever 21 when she was here.

This is the cool retractable roof over most of the mall.  Pretty snazy!

The three of us by the fountain.  We didn't get to see the show and it was too cold to wait around for the next time.    Another time....

One of the next days we went to TGI Fridays to have our yummy dessert like we did in Ukraine.  The girls have been working really hard toward a reward and this is what they decided to do.  Since they earned it, it was a good time to go.  Even though the dessert was a little different (and much smaller) than in Ukraine it was still yummy!  We were missing Masha though.

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So good!

Horrible picture of me, but cute one of the girls.

 On Friday the three of us took off for Pocatello.  My best friends from college live up there and it's been quite awhile since we've seen them.  It was an awesome way to spend the weekend!

I know my eyes are closed, but it was SO BRIGHT!  Not to mention cold.  HOLY COW!  I was freezing!

We got to go to church with them Easter Sunday and then head back home after lunch.  They made us a yummy lunch and we had a great time!  Here is Little One with their two middle kids.

Wendell, Katiemarie and I!  I'm so grateful for good friends. :)

Their oldest

#2 with the baby. :)

Catch-up Time Again

Well, here I am...very far behind again.  With school about to finish up (public school anyway...my girls go to a lighter schedule during the summer) I'm hoping to have a bit more time to keep up.  Famous last words, right??

Here are a few miscellaneous things from the past few months.

Little One set up her very own library.  She even had them categorized according to age.  It was awesome!

More crocheted clothes and accessories that Ira made.  I love the purse and the shoes!

My friend, Debbie, returning home from adopting her 3rd.

Ira got her temple recommend awhile ago so I took her for her first time to do baptisms.  It was awesome! Having worked in the temple before going to Ukraine I emailed the member of the temple presidency that I used to work with to see what day/time was best to go.  Not only did he tell me, but he and his wife wanted to meet Ira so we arraigned a time when we could do that.  They'd heard all about her before I left.  Pres. and Sis. Knighton met us at the baptistry and told them to give Ira the works. :)  Since we were the only ones in there she got to do more names than usual and they even let me do some too.  Ira even got to do a family name of a girl in our family named Ira.  How cool is that??  Afterwards we had some yummy food in the cafeteria.  My only regret is that I only asked Pres. Knighton to TAKE a picture of us instead of asking him and Sis. Knighton to be in one with us.  Next time.... :)

Ingenious girls.  They got tired of going to grab their frisbees so they tied yarn to them so they could reel them back in.

Lexi was in her school's play of Beauty and the Beast.  She did awesome!!!

Ira and Little One with Lexi and Nathan

Not a great picture but I was in the girl's room and they were jumping in our across-the-street neighbor's backyard.

Little One set up school for her "babies."  So cute!!!!!  She was in there teaching them all kinds of things.

Toothless Grin

I know, I know. I'm way far behind again. Here is a teaser though. Little One lost another tooth at our friend's house over spring break. Gotta love that adorable smile!

RS Birthday

Hey! This whole app for my iPod is pretty snazzy. I just wanted to show this awesome cupcake that I had for the annual Relief Society birthday party. It tasted as good as it looks. Handmade by a lady in the ward. :)

Conference Weekend

I love conference weekend. So uplifting. I found some really cool packets for the girls to work on during the talks. Man, I wish we'd had this kind of stuff when I was a kid/teen. Maybe I would have learned to like it sooner. It was hard to have to dress up on a Saturday, drive to the stake center and have to stay in between sessions because it was pointless to drive home. Staying awake was always hard in the darkened chapel too. So nice to watch from home now. :)

The girls are having so much fun on different neighbor's trampolines. I went with them and got a couple shots with my iPod.

Happy 1st Anniversary!

Okay, today is the last of our anniversaries.  We flew back from Ukraine a year ago today.  What a year it has been!  Here's to uphill from here on out. :)

As usual, these last three months have been even easier than the ones before.  Our hard days are here and there instead of ALL. THE. TIME.  Usually once she calms down we can talk about how her choices have influenced the consequences.  She still struggles to see that connection a lot of the time though.  I have had a few times where I've been able to mention how much happier she is when she's being obedient and she smiles and nods her head.  Hopefully I can get her to see that one of these days.  The problem with always blaming everyone else for everything that goes wrong in your life is that you are in no position to be able to fix anything.  You can't change other people or their choices so then change is never within your grasp and you continue to fall downward.  It's a hard lesson that most adults still haven't learned.  She'll be miles ahead of the game if she can realize that now and start applying the knowledge.

Still, things improve with her all the time.  Our relationship is growing and we are starting to feel like we all belong.  I'm eternally grateful to have that first year behind us though. :)

Cheers. *dinging of champagne glass filled with sparkling cider (or even better...our favorite cherry juice from Ukraine!*

Happy Gotcha-Day!

One year ago today I took Ira out of the orphanage forever. :)  I was hoping it wouldn't be "forever" because we would go back to visit someday when she's all grown up, but since they'll be closing it down here before fall, it probably will be forever.  However, I consider this my "gottcha" day. :)

Man, I miss those kids though.  I wish I could have taken them all home with me....