Christmas funny

I asked the children to make a Christmas list, my requirements included - it needed to be written in English, must be legible and not be greedy. Lists included jeans, shoes, video games, MP3, then one stood out! Jacob wants a milk cow! I couldn't believe it. We explained to him that it wasn't just the cost of the cow to think about, it's the feed and the every day, twice a day milking. He understood, he let us know that he took care of the milking at his orphanage and he really liked the milk!!

New family pictures

We had family pictures taken, since we have new family members this year! Take a look if you like: http://vickimadden.zenfolio.com/paytonfamily

We were able to attend a Christmas party with a few of the other Tulsa area families that have adopted from Russia. The kids looked forward to seeing their Russian friends and had a great time visiting!

Merry Christmas!!

Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for!!! Sometimes I think we take the Thanksgiving season for granted or at least don't think about what it truly means to be thankful. Thinking about missing so many of Losha(Jeremiah) and Jacob's first's, saddened me a bit: their first words, their first steps,their first birthday, etc. Then it hit me, I have so much to be thankful for! We've seen so many of their firsts, without even thinking about it! Their speech in the past (almost) 4 months, has grown exponentially! Their interest in learning about Thanksgiving and the first time they've eaten turkey, happened this season! The excitement of Christmas decorations has been exhilarating and brought my heart to such a thankful point.
My Mom has finished chemo, had her petscan and we go Tuesday for the results. I'm thankful we will now just be going for checkups!
A lady backed into me and totaled the mini van a couple of months ago. I'm thankful we have the big van! Although, I did enjoy the gas mileage of the mini van, I'm still thankful!
As of tomorrow, we will safely have been home from Russia, with our boys for four months! That is news to celebrate!

Normal?

Mom has finsihed chemo. We've been home from Russia with our boys for 3 months now. I'm hoping we return to a normal life (whatever that may be). I was thinking the other day, how in the world did I make it through the last year? The fundraising, the cancer treatments with Mom, going to Russia, returning from Russia, feeding two more kids, clothing two more, schooling two more...... Last November I
spent many hours crying when the boys had to go back to Russia and I couldn't see them or talk to them. I have them here now, always talking :-) Now that I think about it, I didn't make it through it, God did it all!

BOYS

Our excitement for the weekend:Josh (our 9 year old) was riding Garrett's horse last night, before we'd started the hayride (Church hayride at our house). As everyone got there, we told him to go in the front pasture to ride (away from people). We don't know what happened, but we heard Josh yelling whoa, whoa!!! Jacky looked up, the horse is bucking and Josh ends up flipping over her head and lands on his back. Our pastor and his wife had just driven up, she sprints to check on Josh and Jacky's running, I'm frozen, and I keep repeating "in the name of Jesus' he is not hurt!". Then I looked at a friend and said "I need you to pray right now, with me, before I go up there!" She did, I walked up there expecting the worst and he's standing up, walking, talking and seemingly okay. Although I know God works miracles, I almost couldn't believe he was really okay until he was still walking today :-) Everyone that saw it said he was flying in the air and it was good that I was standing where I couldn't see him or I would've freaked out! We are truly blessed beyond belief!!!!! Guardian angels! My boys keep the angels very busy!!

Oklahoma Aquarium

We decided to go to the Aquarium on the special homeschool day. We watched a squid dissection! At first, everyone was interested, then the smell hit them! Jacob and Losha had to go outside for a walk, they couldn't stomach the smell. They said "no understand, crazy America!" We explained, in America we dissect things to learn more about them. We all enjoyed touching the sting rays, star fish and the bamboo sharks!
We've now been home from Russia with our whole family together for 2 & 1/2 months. We've had some adjustments, but all in all it gets better each week!

Tulsa zoo

We decided to go to the Tulsa zoo, so the boys could see the difference between the Moscow and the Tulsa zoos. The really enjoyed the chimps. They were quite entertaining!

A few funnies

Here's a comical moment - Losha was trying to explain to Gavin that he wanted his leftover chicken chimichanga and he was saying "chicken mommymonga" We were rolling!
Jacob scraped his leg roller blading and was bleeding pretty good. I said "come on, let's clean it up", he replied "it's okay Mom" and continued to say that. I explained that it was not okay, we need to clean it! He kept saying something that I didn't understand and I kept saying "tell me in English please". He repeated the same thing. Finally, one of our friends said he's saying terminator. I laughed and replied "I'll be back", he pipes up "Hasta la vista, Baby".
We discovered they will not eat refried beans due to the way they look.
Losha gags at the sight of runny eggs! We have our ups and downs and I just wanted to share a few comical moments.

I went to chemo with my Mom today and was able to share a wonderful thing that is being done for her. Take a look at www.acutagainstcancer.com

My only little girl will be 9 years old tomorrow.

Much Excitement

We have much to be excited about!

As I sit with my Mom at chemo, I'm thankful we only have 2 more to go! October 22nd is the last treatment! I'm so glad she will not have to be put through this again!

Tomorrow is our first day of Foundations class for Classical Conversations. The children & I really enjoy it! You may or may not know: I have my teaching degree. Our oldest is a Sr. this year, we've homeschooled since he was in 5th grade. I tutor a foundations class on Fridays and teach a supplemental Biology class in the afternoons. Losha and Jacob are learning the History & Timeline, Science, Grammar, Math, Geography, Latin and Fine Arts facts right alongside the other children. They write the facts in English at least twice a week. Their penmanship is amazing! I love seeing kid's minds soak facts up like a sponge!

Our only little girl's birthday is less than a month away!

Wow! Excitement and thankfulness go hand in hand!

Snakes

SNAKES! I do not like snakes! Jacob and Losha are entertained that Mom hates snakes! Last week the four oldest boys went hiking to their "camp spot". Jacob and Losha asked Garrett and Gavin if there were snakes at the camp spot. They responded "there are snakes out and about, but we've not seen them at our camp spot". Moments later, Losha picked up a piece of tin and there was a snake! He dropped it immediately! The boys picked it up, Garrett pinned the snakes head to the ground and saw that it was a rattlesnake. They killed it, so it would not cause anyone an undue hospital visit. I was not thrilled at the sight of a snake with 7 rattles at the end of it's tail. This week, as Jacky was mowing, they found a cornsnake "non-poisonous", brought it in the house in a mug with a lid. I still do not like snakes, of any kind!!!! They failed to secure the lid properly! Eeeek, the snake was lose in my house! We could not find the snake ANYWHERE! I found it yesterday! The boys thought my response was hilarious! They had to tell one of our friends at Church about Mom screaming! I pray, I'm done with snakes!

It's getting easier

The past few weeks have been a difficult adjustment! As of Saturday things seem to have become easier. Saturday, we met with other families that have or are in the process of adopting children from Russia. An interpreter was available and the children had a wonderful time. The communication problem is getting better as they pick up more English and we pick up more Russian. I know soon, this will all be behind us and we'll laugh to think of the things we did to get our points across to one another. Oh, the faces we must make!

I'm catching up

As I sit with Mom during chemo, I'm catching up on the blog.
My Dad brought her first thing this a.m. and the children and I drove up later in the a.m. After the Oncologist appointment, Dad & I traded places (I get to stay with Mom and he took all the kids).
My Mom did not have to have a blood transfusion today! YAY!!! She thinks she's made the decision to NOT take herceptin treatments. Herceptin treatments were supposed to start today along with chemo. Her final chemo would have been in October, but the herceptin would have taken an additional 12 months. She feels the negative research concerning the herceptin outweighs the positive outcome. The biggest side effect of herceptin is heart damage. She said "God has been so good to me this far, I just know He'll take care of me, if I don't take this." The Oncologist told her they wouldn't start today, but for her to think about the treatment.
My Mom never ceases to amaze me!!!! One brave women, whom I admire much!

Silver Dollar City

I'm so glad we went!





We made it to Branson and the children had a blast at Silver dollar City! I think they enjoyed swimming with Papa at the hotel, almost as much!
They enjoyed the time with three of their cousins also!

Birthday Bash

An amazing birthday bash was planned one and a half days after our return! Aunt Sheila and Nana & Papa, did a bang up job! The kids enjoyed jousting, swimming, a water slide, bubbles, hotdogs, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy, friends and family!








We celebrated all our August birthdays together at Nana & Papa's house! Trisha (my niece) turned 17 August 10th, Jacob turned 15 in May (we celebrated his too, since he wasn't with us in May), Gavin my charmer-was 14 on August 9th, Losha became a bouncing boy of 13 on August 12th and our youngest "Jared" is now 7, as of August 3rd. I was informed 7 is not a baby anymore! That part breaks my heart!

Almost 2 weeks

Tonight will be two weeks, since we've returned to America! I have to show you some of the pictures of my house when we walked in that night! Balloons, groceries and goodies on the counter were all a part of the welcome home from our local homeschool group! Thank you so much, my dear friends!!!
I also wanted to share the photo of our family and the Vincent family at the airport. Two families together that have adopted from Russia, through the Russian orphan lighthouse project. The Duncan family returned with their children this past Friday!

Adventure

We've had quite the eventful week! Within the first 5 minutes of being home Jacob had locked himself in handcuffs. Jacky & I had not even made it upstairs yet! By the way, the key to the handcuffs was long gone! Jacky had to cut the cuffs off. We were afraid we would have to take him to the police station his first night in America! The 8th we had a 5 child birthday bash - swimming party, with a water slide and jousting game. All the children were elated!! Jacob and Losha want to be on anything motorized! 7 a.m. Saturday morning, they were on the lawnmower (the blades were not engaged)! My Dad and cousin both have 4-wheelers. They were ecstatic!!!! My Dad let Losha drive and when we returned home, he started the old farm truck- Jacky ran, it was hilarious!!!! We now keep all vehicles locked and keys hidden! Losha loves electronics! He locked my cell phone and I couldn't use it until I called the cell store and found out how to unlock it! Whew, we are in the adventure of our lives! We share so much laughter!!! My parents bought tickets for our family and my brother's family and asked if we would go to Silver dollar City this weekend. Are we crazy??? We're going, and going to have a blast watching the faces of our new additions!!!!

Huge Welcome

We arrived at Tulsa International at 10:23 p.m. the 6th! There was a wonderful surprise awaiting us! Many wonderful friends and family came to welcome our new additions to America! My friend Stacey (that I'd ask you to pray for) was there, hospital bracelet and all. She'd only been released from the hospital hours ago! A few friends had driven to the airport directly from their vacation. Even the DeNooy family (the Lighthouse coordinator, from Michigan) was there! Members from our Classical community came bearing huge smiles, hugs and gifts. I was overwhelmed! Several families of our H.O.P. group came to show support! Friends from our Russian adoption group came. This was such and awesome, humbling experience! Something we never expected!

Moscow zoo

Wow! Moscow zoo is huge! Garrett enjoyed the camels. They were very gentle! Gavin liked watching the ring tails, like the ones on Madagascar. Jacob and Losha were thrilled with the crocodiles and snakes, uuuugh!

Red Square McDonalds

Jacob and Losha wanted to go to McDonalds. I told them "you have to tell Dad, I would like to go to McDonalds". Losha said the entire sentece immediately! Jacob was a little apprehensive, so we said one word at a time. We chose the McDonalds at Red Square.

Christ the Saviour Cathedral

This Cathedral is amazing! The museum portion was closed today so the boys have not seen the gorgeous inside. Jacky and I toured this beautiful Church, the first week we were in Russia. I purchased a book and postcards that the boys may know about the history and beauty of this awesome cathedral. The book is in Russian and English.

Horse stables and grilling at the lake

Dima took us to Hyper Market (like our wal-mart)before heading to the lake and stables. We needed grilling items and watermelon. Hyper was an appropriate name for it! I've never been in a Wal-Mart that busy!
He has horses from the Ural Mountains at the lake stables. The boys didn't ride. I think Losha is intimidated, however Jacob and Gavin befriended many of the Equine by giving them watermelon.
Dimi grilled shish-K-bobs for us, they were wonderful! The boys gobbled it up, after their day of swimming!

Swimming today

The boys have really wanted to go swimming! What a nice day it was to go to a spring fed lake in NW Moscow. People bring their water bottles to get water from the spring that feeds this small lake. The water is cold, Mom opted to stay on the side and take photos. Losha is a little fish, climbing all over jacky, Garrett and Gavin, while Jacob is an amazing acrobat! He flipped from the bank into the water and everytime I tried to get a picture, I was never fast enough to get the action! I think they enjoyed their day of swimming!

Russian History Museum

With Moscow having over 80 museums to choose from, The History Museum in Red Square is what we chose to see Friday. The boys seemed to enjoy it! Garrett liked the armour and swords. Gavin took interest in all the weapons. Jacob followed his brothers and seemed very interested in the carriages, while Losha relished the fact of being the photographer. I was fascinated with the contraption that they used to make salt from salt water. Jacky really wanted to see inside one of the carriages! I have to say, that would have been fabulous!

Gum Mall

Gum Mall, (pronounced gume) is another beautiful piece of architecture in Red Square.