Just a family photo

Proud mama to 2 Russian Blessings!!

August 5th...Birthday Party Weekend Continued

Katia....how old are you now?

THREE!!!

Bounce House...compliments of Aunt Connie and Uncle Country!

Bounce House isn't just for kids!

At least one kid was looking at the camera!

Happy 3rd Birthday Katia.....we love you!

What a weekend....each day was filled with fun! Sunday was the "main Birthday event". Family, friends, and well, the Birthday Princess! No surprise with the cake (fit for a princess). I think I loved the bounce house more than the kids did though.....

Katia's 1st Day (well..2nd day) of Pre-School

I must confess, I forgot to get her picture on the first day of Pre-School!! Poor second child, doesn't get all the pictures and fuss as the first. Yeah, don't feel too sorry for her. I completely spaced that it was her first day of pre-school. Could be because it is at the exact same place as her daycare and it is only 2 days for a few hours each week, so nothing really changed in our routine. Mornings are soo chaotic in my house....getting breakfast, lunches, snacks, back-packs, purses, pager, cell phone, my work bag and trying to remember if it is bike day or water day (which involves more things to take to daycare). All while trying to get myself half way presentable and ready to tackle the day! No wonder I spaced it!
I felt bad once we got to school as several of the kids were all dressed up and the parents were busy getting tons of photos (must have been their first child) :)

She chose a little mermaid back-pack

So, I decided to make a production for her very first "second day" of pre-school. She was ecstatic! Princess thought she was something extra special as she got to take her very own "back-pack". She even picked out her clothes for the day to coordinate.

I asked Roman if he wanted a picture with her on the "big first second day", but he declined.

Katia's Birthday: August 3rd

We made cupcakes that morning.....then Mommy & Katia took off 

shopping

Katia picked out this new dress for her Birthday Evening Celebration

Her expressions crack me up!

What a great day...or should I say weekend of festivities. We started her Birthday off like I do for both kids, which is I take the day off (if through the week) and it is all about them! We got Roman off to school that morning. Of course "Ralph the mouth" a/k/a Katia made certain to tell EVERYONE in the daycare that she wouldn't be there because it was her Birthday and we were going shopping. Let's just say, Roman wasn't happy when he heard what was going on. Luckily, I told him that the "party" was that night and we'd be going to Grandpa & Grandma's house!!

We went to some favorite stores....the ladies at Victoria's Secret LOVED her! Yes, I think a future Angel's Super-Model is in the making. She was my personal shopping assistant. Then off to Dick's to check out some things. Katia LOVED this one, as it had an escalator and she thought it was way cool! Next, we stopped by the "Disney" Store a/k/a "Princess Store" by Katia. She got some extra treats there since it was her Birthday and they of course realized a "Princess" had arrived. Along the way to lunch we stopped by some stores to add to her wardrobe. She had a melt-down when I tried to stop by Macy's to try on a pair of boots...so I gave up on that idea! Finally, we ended up at Chuck E Cheese and all was well again.

Later, we picked Roman up from school ...then off to the 1st  "party" of the weekend!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Here he is...enjoying breakfast before the "big" day

This year's back-pack. An array of
Super-Heros! No surprise there!!

My yearly photo. Same spot...each year. 

"Princess" wanted her picture with the "Big" Brother.

Here's something we discovered this summer: Bike Riding. As you can tell in the top photo someone got a new bike. No more baby bike! Princess Bike courtesy of Grandma & Grandpa J. Katia noticed the bike on the box had a Cinderella princess doll in the picture. Well, the doll wasn't included and all you know what almost broke loose! Luckily, she had just received the exact same doll a week before from one of my Single Mama friends. What are the odds? Crisis diverted!

Roman has really gotten into biking this summer. This is the kid who would barely make it out of the driveway  last year and be done. Not anymore...he loves that I have a bike too and can keep up with him. I used to jog, but he has gotten pretty fast that even with working out....it was easier to bike with him.

Happy Graduation Roman!

My Graduate!!

Singing with his "groupies"

Happy 4th Gotcha Day Roman: Feb. 26h

 Yes, this is posted extremely late! If you know what transpired Feb. 27th early am....maybe you understand why I've had "writers block". It was a wonderful day....after all Feb. 26th is a very special day (not just because it is my Birthday either). This year was 4 years since I "snatched" Roman from the baby home. I look at the picture above with joy.

Leaving the baby home: February 26th, 2008!! 

Our happy family of 3! 

The weather was beautiful....the day was awesome!

A favorite Mexican Restaurant

Silly Roman!

Ok, I am hooked on a new Mexican restaurant! It wasn't hard to talk Grandma J and my crew into going out for dinner. Roman did request that next time he doesn't want to sit in the chair with the big sun because it was scary (I think he added some drama because as you notice in the picture above he didn't seem to mind at all). Katia tried everything. Of course her favorite was the grilled shrimp. That shouldn't be a surprise because that girl LOVES shrimp (especially cocktail shrimp). We've already got some offers for company to join us next time too!
How could I forget to mention the Margaritas? AWESOME!

Yes, it was a Year Ago Today....

That my sweet baby girl left the only
home she had ever known. Yes, the baby home.
I look at this picture and vividly recall
every detail of the place inside. The paintings,
the lay-out, and the smell. This is where
my sweet baby spent almost 18 months of her
life. Everything changed for her on Jan. 26th, 2011.
She had a family!!

A final picture leaving the baby home.
I was soo happy because after the caregivers
dressed her and brought her into the room
where I was waiting....for once she wasn't
scared or stoic. She came RUNNING to ME!
I think she knew!!

Enduring the 8.5 hour car ride from Borovichi, Russia
to Moscow. She was a little trooper.

Here she was on Jan. 26th, 2011.
Soo beautiful, and sooo scared.
She had no idea what was in store!





and here is my Princess today:

Katia...you make our family happy and complete!