Summary of September.

This is a quick summary of September.

This happened in August,  My SOS team won 1st place! We had to Run 1.5 miles, swim 500 meters, and as many push-ups sit-ups and pull-ups that we could in 2 minutes. 

later that night we went out to celebrate.  this was Viktoriia's 1st time eating at a restaurant in Houston.  she was shocked by the portion size. 

I also won 3rd place for my age division in the  individual  competition. 

the next weekend we went to Surf side beach for Vikka's student orientation. 

we had fun trying to learn to skim board. 

It rained a lot during our trip but we still had a chance to play on the breach. 

our computer broke and so We had to take it to the Sony Store to get it fixed. Which meant going to the Galleria.   We finally found the red shoes that Vikka wanted.

and rocky got to see his favorite fountain. 

here is a cute picture of Rocklond  This was at my preschool when we did a photo prop booth.  

I started teaching preschool at the beginning of September and am now headed into my 6th week.  I teach 2x a week for 2 1/2 hours 

Vikka made us Vareniki for us. I loved it, the kids not so much.  

We went to a  High school football game.  

It was everyones first Texas football game. 

We ran into one of rocky's good friends at the game.  In a few years maybe these two may be playing in the game. 

Rocky was experimenting with a new way to wear shoes. 

Then we got the call that Valeire was going to have her baby. We drove the 3 hrs but it was a false alarm. 

We stayed around for the next few days  but decided to go home and wait it out.  

that night I was stung by a scorpion and then  I KNEW it was time to go home and wait it out. 

this was really good because then I got to be home for Rocky's Primary Program.  hH was SO SO SO Cute. JOhn and I were Both beaming  with pride as he read his little line clearly into the microphone. he didn't studder once!   He sang really well I don't think he ever broke eye contact with the chorister.  Although we were  trying to get his attention. 

Viktoriia got asked to homecoming. I had to explain  our strange customs for asking people to dances. 

we got the REAL call  to come up and help with Valeries new baby.  You can read more about that here   

We got to go back up and help take care of the kids while Val was in the hospital. 

Don't they grow up fast

we came back home and it was time for Homecoming weekend at the Highschool.   Viktoriia went the game and John and I went and volunteered at the peanut butter factory here. 

The next morning we went to Surfside beach again and volunteered at a beach cleanup. 

Well Viktoriia Volunteered. We just played. 

that night Viktoriia went to homecomeing with a boy from our ward. 

then this last weekend we FINALLY painted out living room.  John says I pulled a Tom Sawyer on everyone because I painted only two small 2ft walls and I somehow roped Him, Viktoriia, and the sister missionaries into painting the rest of the room for me.  

I really did appreciate the help and we got it all done in time for my sister, val, to come to my house so I can help her out while her husband is at a week long training. 

Well that is my September Summary.   I now have some very important   

moustache making to get to . 

Viktoriia

We Love our Foreign exchange student.

We picked up our foreign Exchange student, Viktoriia from the airport last Tuesday.  She came all the way from Ukraine.   Did you know that Ukraine and Texas are about the same size?    I had no idea that it was that big.  

We really like her fun and energetic attitude about everything. It is so fun to rediscover Houston with her. We took her to Texas road house. She was shocked at how large the portions were. 

  I think I will learn a little Ukrainian while she is here. She has cooked for us and cleaned for us. 

  On Monday was her first day of school.

  She had a great time and was happy that she understood people.   

We are so happy that we decided to host a student this year.    And that we picked such an amazing girl.  

Greeley

There is nothing like a summer road trip.  We set off on our trip to Greeley, CO at about 2:00pm We drove up to Valeries and had dinner with her and her family and picked up my dad who had flown to Austin a few days earlier. then my dad, Rocklond, Knoxx and I all drove in my Toyota Sequioa for the next 18 hrs.  

We drove all night so that the kids would sleep. they did this and we were able to make it to Greeley at about 2:00pm the next day. 

 We went to a little beach in a neighboring  town that was really cute and fun.

I got a lot of good pictures of the kids. 

we all had fun building in the sand

My dad and Knoxx chose to sit in the shade most of the time. 

Another day we went to Chuck-e-cheese.   Rocklond, Asher and Bridger had worked hard over the last few weeks to fill up their achievement cards to earn free tokens. 

 the boys had a great time. 

Asher and Rocklond got along Super well. Here they are building a train they put the blankets on there all by themselves. 

My dad had learned several songs to sing for his grandchildren just for this trip here he is entertaining them all one night. 

On Saturday we got to go to Bridgers 2nd birthday. no birthday would be complete without my parachute making an appearance. 

the kids also played other games as well

Then the kids made little boats and raced them down a stream. 

next was the pinata. Emily had filled it so full of candy. I don't think Bridger was too happy about his fire truck getting smashed to pieces by hungry children. 

then opening presents

and finally the CAKE.  I made this one very simple with just regular frosting and a cake mix cake. it turned out really good and almost all of it was eaten at the party.  

I probably have about ten pictures of this cake. sorry I downloaded the one that is sideways. 

the boys all had so much fun doing everything together

It was so much fun to get to see how the cousins all interacted with each other.   our heavenly care free trip came to a frustrating end when Knoxx was inconsolable at church on Sunday.   we let him sleep off some of his pains once church was over but it soon became quite clear that we needed to get home.  with the help of some Tylenol he slept most of the way home and then went to the Dr. the next morning to discover that he had two bad ear infections.  

The drive home was really long.  I didn't have my dad's help to keep me awake all night but I did ok and we made it home.   

the boys had been fairly good travelers the whole time.  and we made it home just in time to pick up Viktoriia from the Airport.  

Viktoriia is our foreign Exchange student form Ukraine. she will be living with us this school year. more to come about her later.