Bike Trike Week

It was a brisk Fall morning for this years Bike Trike Week at Pre-K. Bikes were washed and waxed, handle bars glistened in the sun, tires heavily coated with Armor All, and Wonder Pets helmets gently swayed in the breeze.

The bikes were readied for the event and everyone who walked by knew this group meant business.

The riders prepared for the big event of the week...the St. Christophers 500...not for the faint of heart and certainly not for sissys.

From the beginning, it was clear there was one rider who was going to take this race all the way to the finish line.

At times he seemed distracted by random water puddles, but then again, what boy wouldn't want to go zipping through at such high rates of speed?

The grueling laps continued on with fans and paparazzi around every corner.

But always the consummate professional, this racer pressed on with steely determination and pure grit only seen in racers twice his age. Each lap taking him closer and closer to the coveted finish line.

It wasn't always easy. At times it looked like he may be waning and in need of his afternoon nap.

But it only took one quick glance over his shoulder to see his competition gaining on him.

And in a final burst of speed and a sharp turn to the left...

...our champion celebrates at the finish line by popping a wheelie and exclaiming, "When is snack time?"

Three Russians

This past weekend Artem and I drove to Houston to visit with family and attend Zooboo with Artem's cousin and our dear friends Jane and Jim and their two adorable children Cooper and Kara.

Both parents and children had a great time at the zoo and we couldn't have asked for better Fall weather for the visit.

Once I returned home and started looking at the pictures from the day, one stuck out at me. A simple picture of the children watching the elephants.

But when I look closer at the picture I see three little Russians, born into unfortunate situations, through no fault of their own. Three little Russian children placed into orphanages, cared for by the state, provided with basic necessities, with an occasional treat provided when the funding allowed. Three little Russians with a single, sad picture placed on the government database, waiting for someone to come along and "claim" them. Three little Russian children who had no idea that two sets of parents on the other side of the world prayed for, cried for, begged for, children of their own.

Several months have gone by since those children were in the orphanages and I look at the Three Russians differently.

Now I see one little Russian who loves animals so much he actually kissed this goat. A little Russian who for the first time rode the "up and down" animal on the carousel and proudly exclaimed to his parents that he's "not afraid" anymore. A little Russian boy who strutted around the zoo showing off the bulging biceps of his Spider Man costume.

I see a Russian princess whose smile lights up her face. A little girl with a face that glows against the pink tulle of her fairy wings. A little girl who stood on the crowded zoo dance floor and shook her hips from side to side to the beat of the music pumping out of the speakers. A petite princess who unashamedly announced to everyone around her that the giraffes STINK!

I see a little Russian that was so excited to be a train conductor for Halloween, despite the fact that after many attempts, he still couldn't say "train conductor" to save his life. I see a little boy with a huge appreciation for anything given to him and listen to him proudly exclaim, "Oooo mama, I yuv my baby pumptin!" And I catch myself laughing when I hear that little Russian in the back seat recite, "Trick or treat, smell my feet...pull down my underwear??" and then hear him giggle uncontrollably.

Three little Russians that have changed our lives more than they'll ever know. Three little Russians participating in the childhood tradition of dressing in their favorite costumes and acquiring more candy than their little tummy's can hold.

Three little Russians...Cooper, Kara, and Artem.

Annual Birthday Trivia

I know you've waited all year for this special post...the highly sought after Birthday Trivia and in honor of my 39 years on this earth, I give you 39 useless details about me. And someday when you are at the Department of Motor Vehicles waiting for your ticket #96 to be called and they are only on #34, feel free to pass your spare time by catching up on my 37th and 38th Birthday Trivia lists.

1. I have an unhealthy addiction to chapstick.
2. I sing in the shower.
3. I do not use a pillow when I sleep.
4. I enjoy running. (did I really just say that?)
5. I only started texting this past June when I finally bought an iphone. Up until that time I was resisting the text movement.
6. I wear a size 8 shoe but have been known to buy an 8 ½ if they are too cute pass up and slip an insole in them so they will fit like an 8.
7. I’m seriously considering taking flying lessons. I happen to know a GREAT instructor. ;)
8. I never thought I’d utter the words, “Mommy can wipe her own pee-pee thank you!”
9. I have more great ideas than time and motivation.
10. I love to use the word “y’all” and I know the proper way to make it plural.
11. I hate the word “ain’t” and it’s like nails on a chalkboard for me when I hear people say it.
12. I like it when people underestimate me.
13. You will never, ever, ever catch me in a hot air balloon.
14. When I grow up I want to be a real estate agent, or an interior decorator, or a professional photographer, or maybe I’ll go back to teaching.
15. In my world its black or white, there is no gray.
16. If I won the lottery the first thing I’d get is a personal chef. I hate to cook!
17. I’ve seen every season of MTV’s Real World.
18. I love to vacuum but hate to dust. I’m fine with the dust bunnies and I’m considering claiming them on our taxes as dependents.
19. I eat cherub tomatoes every single day. I’m addicted to them.
20. I like to bird watch and even have a field guide so I can identify all the different types of birds.
21. I’ve watched too much Real TV to ever bungee jump.
22. I am a terrible bed hog and even worse about stealing the blankets. I may be little, but I can put up a mean fight with Randy in the middle of the night for the blankets.
23. I’m borderline OCD when it comes to organizing my closet and shoes. Oh who am I kidding, I’m full blown OCD about my closet.
24. I love to do crossword puzzles and word searches, but hate Sudoku. I think it too closely resembles math to me.
25. I still don’t know if I believe we’ve been to the moon.
26. I only have two real plants in the house and one of those is literally hanging on by a thread.
27. Nothing beats a comfy porch swing, nothing.
28. I’m afraid I will die and be known as the last woman in America that doesn’t wear a thong. So I tried to wear one and gave up by noon. Turns out I had the waist around my thigh and the thigh around my waist. Those things should be clearly marked with which way is up.
29. I love the Beastie Boys and crank them up when I’m home alone.
30. I never thought I would love Lebanese food as much as I do. I could live off of Shawarma and Arabic rice.
31. I consider driving in the crazy Abu Dhabi traffic and living to tell about it, to be one of my biggest accomplishments in life.
32. I owned my own motorcycle for a few weeks. I was out front of the house practicing my driving skills and fell off my bike. That was the end of my bike ownership. I’m very content to ride on the back of Randy’s motorcycle.
33. I am currently eating a huge bowl of Capn Crunch cereal while typing this.
34. I like to think I’m pretty laid back about things but I get cut-throat competitive at board games. I have been tempted to fudge a bit while playing “Hi Ho Cherry O” with Artem. I didn’t actually do it, but wanted to.
35. My first car was a 1987 Dodge Colt 2 door hatchback with a monthly car payment of $170. Oh to have that payment again!
36. I love to shop so much that Randy refers to me as an Economic Ambassador. He’ll ask me what my plans are for the day and I’ll tell him, “I’m going to do some ambassador work” and he knows that means I’m going to the mall.
37. I love to fill out paperwork and questionnaires. Seriously. Especially with a brand new fine tip pen.
38. I had a class hamster that died. The vet had to put her down. I took it so hard and cried so hard at the vet’s office that he felt bad and didn’t even charge me for the procedure. Her name was Lucille.
39. I could live in flip flops year round.

A New Look On An Old Blog

I've made a few changes to our old adoption blog. Stop by and let me know how you like the new look.

Photo Session

I had the privilege of taking pictures for a friend of mine when her husband came home from overseas for his two weeks of R&R. They are an adorable family and were so much fun to work with and capture their fun personalities.


I am really enjoying photography and I think Artem is enjoying my camera being aimed at someone else besides him.

My Little Cheerleader

There is nothing that makes me chuckle more than having my two year old pat my back, clap his hands, and yell, "Way to go Mama, good job pee pee!" while I am hovering over the public toilet with my thighs quivering, and I hear the woman in the stall next to me laugh with that, "been there, done that" tone. Oh that boy of mine!!

New Book

I took Artem to his first school book fair this past week and he picked out a new book by one of our favorite authors, Eric Carle. By the first day he had the book almost memorized and asked me to tape him reading it for daddy. So daddy, this one is for you!