It will be a Texas Christmas

A couple of weeks ago we told Alyosha that we are going to Texas for Christmas. He is very excited about that, but I have to share the very first question and the resulting thought process he had after realizing that we are going to be away from home on Christmas morn. The obvious question is how will Santa Claus know where we are. That is easy, just write a letter, right? But, think about it, if we don’t write a letter and Santa leaves our Christmas wished presents at our home in Portland, then he sees some extra kids in Texas, he will have to leave presents there too—as long as there are cookies and milk set out— we will all get double presents! So, Alyosha asked if we could make cookies before we leave for Texas and put them in the window.

Although, he informed me today that he has way too many toys and he does not want any for Christmas. He only wants real science equipment-like a tele-microscope to look at fossils and he wants a dinosaur claw and/or tooth (real). Alyosha made sure that we know that LUKA wants a racecar with a track and extra train tracks. But, no toys for Alyosha. In fact he wants to go ask the homeless people who have built a camp a couple of blocks away if they have any kids so he can give his extra toys to them. (We ride our bikes by the camp every day-no kids though)

Other than just scheming for Christmas presents we have been busy little bees. Luka and Niki and I did the fall Polish the Pearl, picking up what little trash there was laying around our Tanner Springs and Jamison Parks. Roma and Alyosha were at Emanuel donating blood-we get the good citizen of the day award for that Saturday. (Alyosha doesn’t donate blood, by the way. He just goes with Roman once a month as support.)

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We also attended the Portland Art Museum’s free Family day that showcased the China Design Now exhibition. There was Chinese dance, music, food, art-making, and cultural activities. The kids really did have a good time, despite the looks on their face in the picture!

Luka and Claudia enjoying a walk on a beautiful Saturday morning. This was how we chose to wear the kids out before going to the Symphony in the evening. It worked for Luka, but Alyosha is too old for resting and naps now.

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Here we are walking to the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Yes, we walked all the way to the Schnitzer (basically across downtown) pushing the kids in strollers. Classy! I love living downtown! The kids earned the tickets from the library during summer reading—No parking, no problem! But, speaking of Luka’s nap earlier-he fell asleep during the performance. The sleeping part would have been ok, but he snores. Not just a cute baby snore; Luka snores a full blown hipposnore. Alyosha always tries to fall asleep first so he isn’t bothered by our little hippo. When Roma stepped out with Luka so we didn’t disturb the adagio, Alyosha said that it was ok because it was boring anyway. “Not the whole thing, just the music part” We thought about our time leading up to the symphony: reading this summer and talking the kids into taking symphony tickets rather than another water squirt gun as a prize; waking early for a full breakfast so we could hike just enough to wear them out for a good nap; cleaning up and dressing up for a fancy night out; walk across the whole town (in heels); patience waiting for the thing to start; snoring during the performance; the kids waiting in lines during intermission to try out each instrument (Alyosha has perfect ‘mouth pucker’ for the French horn and Luka rocks on the harp); 10 pm pizza because everyone is starving; bed at 11 only to still wake up at 7am the next day….is this cultural experience worth it? 110 percent.

We had a pre-visit from Cheryl. She is coming to have Thanksgiving with us next week, fun! She doesn’t give small kisses—only really, really big ones.

P.S. on this post….Roma has an interview! Yeah! I don’t believe in bad luck sharing this before it happens. In fact I believe in good luck because now all of you will pray and think positive things for Roma and if he is meant to get this job he will and if not, we will wait for the right one to come along! (Don’t bother him with questions though-it is an interview for a job he will like and that is enough for you nosey people. We will share more at the right time- patience is a virtue :-))

Soccer time

Alyosha is playing on his first organized team sport. Hillside Soccer Club has teams for kindergartners through Jr. High (5-13). The little kids only play scrimmages and they don't really keep score, but they play serious ball. I think the kids are having a great time...when they aren't breaking down because someone stole their ball. It is great to see the boys play together and tell secrets and work as a team.

Coach Roman and his team--pretending to be cheetahs

The crowd watching the soccer players in action

Coach Roman giving advice--"kick the ball and keep your tongue in your mouth"

Look who is about to get wet!

What a sport; Roma was dunked by his team.

Slip N' Slide

We are having a beautiful time in Texas, even though the heat index is 110 degrees. Yes, you read right-with the humidity and storms and heat-- 110, 43 celsius!! BUT, we are having a nice time. Tomorrow, Sunday, we are packing up to go camping for the week at Possum Kingdom State Park-so no pictures or updates for the week. Today we had a wonderful party with many friends, check back for the pictures. For now, enjoy Roma and the kids and their Slip N' Slide adventure.

Nature School Tuesdays

Sellwood park again for Tuesday Nature School. This past Tuesday was the most beautiful Tuesday of the year. Roma studied in the park while everyone else attended their own duties, then we had a picnic lunch and stayed the rest of the day, lured in by the sun to forget any other responsibilites we may have.

Luka likes the see-saw, but I get a work out doing squats so he can go up and down. I noticed that in all newer parks that have see-saws, they have springs so the kids can do it themselves--I'm not sure which ones I like better.

Alyosha is a good tree-climber. We will work on this all summer so we can go apple pickng in the fall. Now he just climbs to shake the flowers down from the tree. Thank goodness it wasn't an apple tree--even the flowers fall pretty hard. That's gravity for ya.

The boys climb on Papa whenever they get a chance. It is great that he has the chance to spend so much time with them--but, even school takes up a lot of time so they take advantage of every minute.

Papa running with 2 boys. Look how long their hair is--tomorrow it will be all gone. :-(

Foot in Mouth Syndrome

The Tasty Salad
We had a great meal at our friends home yesterday. The same friend who cooked dinner for us is also taking care of our fish (6 of them) and our plants (5 of them) AND her dad is staying in our apartment while we are gone (a HUGE help to us financially!) AND she is letting me borrow a car seat—no questions asked (hopefully the checked baggage people won’t destroy it)—and to top it all off, her little boy and Alyosha are what seems to be best friends.

She invited us as well as two other friends who are expecting a baby in the next 5 weeks over to her home to have a nice dinner and drop off the aquarium. Rome, the kids and I spent the morning lazing around at Krueger Farm on Sauvie Island—having lunch, picking berries and buying produce for the salad that I was supposed to bring. We got over to Heathers at a normal time for us, only 10 minutes late, but the salad was not thrown together yet. So I spent the first 15 minutes busily putting together the salad while chatting with the girls and the boys were having their boy talks. Naturally, Heather had everything else already prepared—so when late me finished our salad we sat down to eat. Roma was in the middle of telling some story about medical bills and the health insurance company devils while having bites of his salad in between—when he gave a compliment. The conversation went something like this:

Roman: It is 7 months later and we are still receiving bills for Luka’s delivery! You had better get it in writing that your wife doesn’t want an epidural now so you can pull it out when she asks for one…those are expensive. (He turns to Heather) Heather this salad is delicious! Steve, you are lucky, but I bet your wife doesn’t cook this every day for you.

Silence and heads turning in all directions looking at each other trying to figure out what to say next…

Heather: Oh, is the salad your WIFE made good?

Silence as Roma’s face turns beet red…

Jen whispering: Not to mention the chicken, garlic potatoes and green beans are good too….!

Heather: Can you pass the salad, I haven’t had any yet.

Everything was topped off with blueberry cobbler baked by Heather and ice cream. I would say an almost perfect Sunday.


Menu Choices
Romka doesn’t like choices. Menus are full of choices. He has been known to go into a restaurant, close his eyes, point to a dish and ask for “that, please.” It has gotten him into trouble a few times—like the time we paid $15 a glass for some wine. Or the time that he ordered a plate of raw meat. At least the waitress was kind enough to say try again on that one. Last Thursday we went out for dinner at a little tea shop called the Tea Zone. They have an amazing variety of teas and really delicious savory snacks. I read through the tea menu—there are about 75 teas—and chose exactly the one I wanted. It was perfect…it was #47. When the waiter came up for our order, I asked for # 47 and Roma blurted out #25. The barista asked if he would like milk with that. Roma wavered for a moment and agreed. We had a lovely evening-the weather was beautiful, the atmosphere was First Thursday (summery excitement) and we were enjoying our moments without kids. When we got home, Roma drove Danielle, who babysat for us, home. When he came back the tea had set in—he was shaking and his mind was moving a million miles a minute. I will just add that Roma went to bed that evening at 4 in the morning, woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7am and started his day. Will this teach him a lesson? I think not.