No Excuse

Ok, I know that this page hasn't been updated in a while...and threre really isn't an excuse. I could find time once a week at least to jot down something so I can look back and remember what we did, what we looked like, how we played etc...

I am growing a baby! Inside my tummy--that takes some effort! And there are 3 other boys around here who are always expecting me to feed them! I do have an excuse!

Well, I did take the time to upload a few photos....I want to try and go back and put more--but here are some. Enjoy!

Click on the picture for more!

What a great week

We have had an exciting and busy week..After the great snow weekend, we had a house guest. Cheryl was able to stop by Portland on her whirlwind travels around the States before she goes back to Vladivostok to save the Tigers and leopards. Alyosha had many emotions while we had a house guest--from forgetting "that girl's" name to wanting to marry her--he finally settled with helping her find a quick fix to save those endangered big cats so she can just stay here in Portland with him. His idea for wild animal protection...build a big, tall, huge wall around the entire habitat and keep the dirty, polluting people out. Maybe Cheryl will make that her own
project and name the wall "Stena Alyosha Kultajev" We are really glad you came, Cheryl, and hope that we can visit you on some wild Zapovednik in Russia someday.

click on picture to enlarge

We surprised Cheryl with a Welcome to Portland Russian Christmas party. Our table isn't quite big enough for everyone, but at a Russian Party, you somehow end up in a circle around vodka and sala...

Cheryl and Alyosha carefully put a pizza together

Alyosha finally got his Spiderman gum...from Grandma in the mail. Oh, the excitement!

Friday night swim night at the SW Community center...Yes, Alyosha was there too, but he was moving too fast to catch on still photography. He went down the slide HIMSELF!! Video to come maybe..

Happy New Year

Hello to Everyone in 2008! We had a really nice celebration popping open a bottle of champagne for the Estonian New Year--then we quietly brought in the Portland New Year watching the fireworks explode under the bridge.

Romka is back to work, the kids are back to driving just Jen crazy (Oh, how I am counting the days until spring. I'm praying for a early start in February!!!)

Happy New Year everyone!!!
Thank you, Stacy, for the warm beautiful Christmas present.

The many faces of a pirate.

I just wanted to add a couple of Alyosha's sayings of late...

Alyosha: "Mama, Mama please sing me the virgin song!" Mama: "Silent Night, Holy Night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child....."

Alyosha playing with his horse and cowboy and spiderman and a pirate or two: Nee nah, nee nah, nee nah! Take the cowboy to the hostable! Take him to the hostable! The pirate pushed him off his horse and they need to give him a shot so his blood soldiers will work better to fix his boo boo!

Yes, we told him that he has blood soldiers (not a far stretch from the white blood cells, right?) and they fight the germs and build blood clot walls when he gets a cut. We'll see if he gets messed up or becomes a creative writer.

Lots of stuff...no time to speak!

Well, the end of 2007 is here. And it seems like the end of the year goes by faster than any other time--not that time is ever slow. I am trying to get pictures backed up and printed out and want to share some I found.

The snow pics are from Dec 26th--we braved Mt. Hood and it was beautiful.


Roma putting the chains on the tires so we don't fall off the mountain!

The attempt at skiing while sledding--didn't quite work.

But we all enjoyed the snow!
Stark contrast--hiking from last month--pictures I found.


AND--a couple more Christmas morning pictures

Aleks with his camera (he is a photographer) and Luka with the red tunnel
Men at work
It snowed on Christmas Day!

Just two handsome boys

Photo Ops

Merry Christmas....

Luka's First Birthday





Playing in the fountain in winter is a little different experience







And a Thanksgiving picture that was left out! We made the pecan and apple pies...

Salem World Beat and more

We went to the World Beat Festival this year--it was a lovely day. They were much better at providing shady areas because it sure was hot! but beautiful! We saw belly dancers, Mayan dancers and even a Scandanavian Wedding (a real one)
click for more pictures

There isa picture of Luka's first time in the fountain in that group of pictures...that reminded me that I had posted Aleks' first time in the fountain as well...two years ago... Here is the link for those pictues


Tomorrow is my Grandma's Birthday! She will be 82--we put a little happy birthday video together...click on the picture to see it...But don't let her see it until tomorrow! We will be shooting fireworks off for her tomorrow

Time is speedy!

I survived a week alone. A week alone with two boys--we not only successfully got through the week, but I managed to eat out only once (well, one and a half times—we treated ourselves to brunch at the Tea Zone on the way to the library) Romka also had a successful week filling his brain with how to make a good case for someone to give him money for a cause he finds important (a grant writing course). We are thinking that our children are a good cause—now if we could only find a foundation who provides funds for little boys who are adorable and energetic we would have it made.

All parents of children under 5 have conversations about poop and pee on a daily basis—so sorry for those of you who beyond this realm, but I wanted to make note of how Alyosha has found his own little how-to manual on bathroom etiquette. Well, the picture speaks for itself—every time I hear little feet running to the bathroom, soon after I hear “I’m ok Mama.” “I’m still ok Mama.” Then a jump off the potty—and the distinct sound of the little “kandoo” box opening and being spun around so Alyosha can make sure he is performing the operation properly (taught to him by Mr. Frog) I wonder if this means that when he grows old enough to put together his own boy toys, he will read the instructions before assembling?

The rest of the pictures are from different things we have been doing around town in the past few weeks. Playing at the river with Alex and Ben (and Heather too); Riding horses at the market; enjoying the summer street fairs; Enjoying Alyosha’s friend Sergi in town (to go with Romka to the grant seminar in Seattle); nature walks and visiting the old west.

Now the next three weeks will speed by and we are off on the adventure of 2007! Which, by the way, is the last year of my 20’s—I will start the year off with a camping trip at Trillium Lake on my birthday weekend, then the next Wednesday off to
Estonia.

click for more pictures