SNOW & APRIL & EASTER 2007

Honey& Grandpa Dave & Boys

The boys and their "loot"
Dying Eggs with Honey



Bunny Cake Makers



The McCaffery's Easter 07'




Sam and Ian, the best looking of our crew!!









Well, in Monument, Colorado we searched for eggs in our basement as snow decided to make it's way down the mountain once again before allowing Miss Spring to move on in. Our boys didn't mind, they had a blast and were quite excited to put their "loot" into their banks. We also had a nice week-end as Honey and Grandpa Dave we're still in town and helped the boys make an Easter Bunny Cake, dye eggs and simply spend some quality time together. Here are a few photos from our day!!
Paka-Paka

PHOTOS ONE YEAR LATER from Karaganda to Monument, Colorado... April 3 2006 & 2007

My "babuskha," who I call "Honey" is visiting with our family right now and we are having a fun time together...




After we practice swiming without life jackets, our teacher, Mr. Charlie lets us play tag with life jackets, it's tons of fun...



A little coloring before my brother wakes up and Mommy makes us some scones, cantaloupe and strawberries.... April 3rd, 2007






PreCooked Easter Egg Cookies, Mommy let us eat some of the cookie dough and was it good..... April 3rd, 2007







APRIL 3rd 2007, Monument, Colorado
" BROTHERLY LOVE and Breakfast"







APRIL 3rd 2006, Kulenshak Orphange, Karaganda, Kazakhstan...
" Overwhelmed"

April 3rd 2007 A year ago today we met Sam for the first time in Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Wow, I can't believe a year has passed since we met Vitaly Borisovich Cernovsky. Now simply known as Sam. Sam has grown so much since we first met him, physically, emotionally, mentally and socially. We are very pleased with all that he has achieved in such a short time. He has a heart of gold and the bset laugh I've ever heard. My favorite about bringing Sam into our family is the bond he shares with his brother, Ian. They are like two peas in a pod. I really think having us go to Karaganda as a family was such a blessing for both of them. They have yet to say unkind words to one another and never has Ian wished for Sam to go back to the "detsky dom." In fact if Sam is being disciplined Ian always make certain that I will never send Sam abck to the "detsky dom." I said, no siree, Sammy will "zigdah" (always) be a part of our family. I have no siblings so I'm always a bit cautious about how they are to one another. If they do get a bit ornary to one another I remind them both what a privilege it is to have a brother and to be part of a family, as they both know some children are not that fortunate!! That usually puts them in their place!! He, He,He.

They are both enjoying life in Colorado. They both attend a montessori school just up the road 5 days a week 3 hrs a day, but are in seperate classes so they have some "alone" learning time and then in the afternoon they have their together time. Sam will have one more year in preschool in fall of 2007 to give him the best possible chance of succeeding in academic life in America. and Ian will attend Kindergarten. This way we'll give them both a chance to "shine" in school and have different friends, but always have eachother for support and comfort. They are taking swimming classes and love spending time in our backyard swinging, digging for rocks, kicking balls and just being carefree little boys. This is not to say they don't do a fair share of work as well. As an example, they must put their clothes right-side out in the hamper nightly, clean up their playroom daily, asked to be excused from the table, clear the table, say grace, use proper manners and we remind them daily how fortunate we are to have one another, enough food, a home, a safe place to live and play, clean clothes, etc. Things most American families take for granted!! Here are a few recent photos, one of Sam and Ian on their first meeting of one another and then 1yr later!!!

Ok, it won't let me post photos, I'll try a new post to enter the photos...aaah

Enjoy!!
Paka-Paka
Nell

Pictures from Dec 2006 and Jan 2007

I've been having trouble adding photos lately to blogger, which is a bummer. Anyhow here a a few from the holiday season, swimming class and helping Daddy to become a Lt. Col in the USAF!!!

Happy 2007

Happy 2007!

We've had a great 2006 and 2007 looks bright too, so no complaints here. My 3 boys went back to the East Coast for the Holidays. Of course we would have all liked to have gone together, but we waited a bit too long to purchase tickets and then the kennel we like to use did not have availability for our nearly 12 yr old rottie. Thus, Mama stayed home. Mama was looking forward to a bit of a break and planned on doing home improvement projects, visiting museums, shopping at a leisurely pace and simply enjoying not being accountable to anyone. While I missed all 3 of my boys I think it was a good experience for all of us to be a part for a bit so that all of us could truly appreciate how fortunate we are to have one another. So, after dropping my gang off at the Colorado Springs airport, I headed to a fancy outdoor mall, and window shopped, I also had a grown-up dinner at PF Changs and truly enjoyed my alone time, still, I was very happy to get a call from my boys a few hours later as they waiting in the Dallas airport. The next day was horrid, a major snow storm hit Colorado and needless to say our driveway is downhill and we did not have a snow blower at the time. Literally the majority of the 12 days apart I spent shoveling and shoveling and shoveling, while my 3 boys had a mild Xmas in Mass. They had a wonderful time with their extended family. Sammy saw his cousin Delia once again and enjoyed spending quality time with his Grammy's , Grandpa's and Auntie's and Uncles!! Here are a few recent photos from the holidays, the snow storm and simply a nice photo of my two hansome men!!

Our boys are doing wonderfully together and Sammy is making great strides socially, educationally. Most people have no clue he is adopted, they just figure he's about 1.5 or 2 yrs younger than Ian, due to his size. He's at a 4yr old level at English reading and comprehension, so we're quite pleased with his progress. He even corrected his ESL teacher for not using proper grammar!!! Right now both boys are attending a Montessori preschool and making great strides, although it costs and arm and a leg, it's right up the street, so that's nice for Mama.
Hopefully next Fall they'll attend the public school down the road, Ian in Kindergarten, Sammy another year of preschool!! The boys are also taking swim lessons at the Air Force Academy Fitness Center and love it!! They also tried ice-skating and enjoyed that as well!! Ok, right now blogger won't let me post pictures go figure!!

Keep checking back for more posts!

Paka-
Nell

Sammy and Ian meet a new friend from the North Pole

Wow, reindeer in Palmer Lake, Colorado! Our boys received a special treat from their Daddy yesterday. The had a chance to visit with a reindeer in the town next to ours!! Actually, a co-worker of Tim's raises reindeer, but the boys thought maybe the reindeer came down to visit from the North Pole. The boys were quite pleased to be able to touch the reindeer and give him some apples!! Sammy, our silly one, thought he too could be a reindeer someday!!!

I'm happy to say while our boys enjoy Christmas and all of it's hooplah, they are also learning about Hannukah and lighting the Menorah in rememberance of those long ago who simply wished to give thanks to G-d, and prayed the oil in their lamp in their temple would not extinguish itself. I'm so thankful our children are eager and happy to learn about many different religions and customs from around the globe. The idealist in me believes that if one or two children are taught to be more tolerant of others it can only help to make the world a better place.

Although we now have completed our family. I can't help but think of all the children in Sammy's group at Kulenshak in Karaganda, Kazakhstan and around the world who are still hoping to becoming part of a family!! Hopefully a few more older toddlers and older children around the world we be adopted next year!!

Happy Holidays to all!!

More Turkey Photos

Blogger would not let me add the photos by the sculptor and as they are so cool, I had to try again!!

Turkey Week-end Photos from Prescott, AZ

Hello! Just a few photos of our Thanksgiving week-end in Prescott, AZ with Honey and Grandpa Dave. The 12 hour drive was a bit long for all of us, but it was well worth it as well al had a ton of fun! Honey and Grandpa Dave finally met Sammy and fell completely in love! The boys enjoyed playing with Honey and Grandpa Dave's doggies, Shayna and Chotzke. They also liked trying to play a saxaphone, riding in Grandpa Dave's race car, looking at the plane Grandpa Dave is building and take a nature hike in the woods behind their home. We searched for havalinas, a.k.a., warthogs, or in chidren's movie talk, "Pumbas", but had no such luck!! Honey stuffed us to the gills and the boys had a ton of fun doing crafts and simply spending time with their extended family. There is an amazing sculptor who lives just down the road from my mom and we've added a few of his sculptures as well!!

It's funny how Karaganda, Kulenshak on the one hand seems like a lifetime ago, and yet, part of me would like to go back for a visit, not a 54 day visit mind you, but a visit just the same!!

Paka-
Nell

The Cog Railway to Pike's Peak

Hello! Just a few more photos prior to the holidays of some family fun we had two weeks ago. We took the Cog Railway up Pike's Peak. Eventhough we could not go to the summit as the winds were a bit too strong, the views from 13000ft were amazing. We were so far up we passed the treeline. The boys enjoyed the ride as did mommy and daddy. Here are some of our photos!!