It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Inspired to strike a pose

Everyone's a ballerina

Thanks Auntie Holly

Nutcracker is the one that played on the 26

Zoya and I enjoyed The Nutcracker on her first visit to the opera house.

Que Dios le bendiga

Miss Zoya Grace

Sunday, December 11 was Zoya's dedication at church.  We were blessed by all who joined us--almost 30 people came when Pastor Paul asked for all who felt like family to come up front.  What a great community we have here, we're overwhelmed with the support and love of our school and church. We're happy we're staying for another year, though we're far from family, our kids have so many "aunties, uncles and cousins"!

Living Thanks

Fall is and since college has been my most favorite time of year.  The first day of fall is my decorate the house day.  I love getting out gourds, leaves, and this year a mini scarecrow.  In college I picked up or someone gave me a little harvest angel, with a corncob dress and acorn leaves for wings; it has been one of my favorite decorations to set out, but silly (trying to be minimalist) me didn't think to pack it to Ukraine, so she's somewhere stuck in storage like sleeping beauty just waiting for the perfect fall day when we decide that it's finally time to come home.
This year I tried making a Thanksgiving countdown on our door "Live Thanks"--I found the idea on a blog somewhere.  I had all these cut out leaves and my intent was to write one thing we were Thankful for each day, unfortunately double-sided tape stuck up my plans.  We made it as far as Rawly, Zoya, Dad, Mum, and Sani (our nanny Oksana) perhaps next year we'll be able to display our thanks better. 
But what Ken and I love most is Thanksgiving...Thanksgiving is family, food, and for lack of a better word--plain fun.  Our family's tradition in to gather with most of my mom's side at my aunt and uncle's in Kennewick.  There's ping pong, Cougar Gold cheese, card games, the annual Freddy's sock shopping on Black Friday, and just hanging out (the list could go on and on, but I don't want to bore you as walk down memory lane).  When asked to draw something about fall in elementary school it was Jim and Judy's house full of so many good memories.

It's a tie, I don't know who like whipped cream more, Rawly or Ken after he fills Rawly's mouth

So serious Nyellie and Rawly

Our Idaho friends

Carving and tasting one of the two turkeys

The Kerchers have arrived

We celebrated Rawls' birthday with this bunch

Nick can always get Rawly to eat, even when there's a bunch of commotion

Aunt Shell (Michelle) and Auntie Holly

Aunt Lyss and Kynslee

So although we haven't been home for the holiday in the past three years, we do a pretty good job of Thanksgiving with our extended "family" here.  We even busted out the Cougar Gold this year (thanks Mom!)

A day set aside for her

Our friends from school hosted an excellent shower for Zoya the other afternoon.  Here are some highlights.

A toast from Betty

Smachna food

Zoya staring intently at Cassie

Soon-to-be friends Ellie and Kynslee

Traditional embroidered shirt and a silver spoon from the Ukrainian staff

Amazing pinwheel quilt with bright fall colors

Also from a collection of staff members and a local artist

Some of my favorite things:
1) Holly was so proud of herself and went to great lengths to make sure that she found a brown and pink outfit this summer because Ken once mentioned how silly he thinks that color combination trend is.
2) Silver spoon = no cavities
3) Not related to the shower, but a couple days later we learned a Ukrainian saying that if a child pees or poops on you, you're invited to the wedding!

A unique birthday party

Saturday marked Rawly's second birthday and Zoya's first month.  With slumber still in our eyes, Ken and I went in to Rawly's room singing "Happy Birthday" (there's a tradition in Mexico were the birthday person gets woken up to "Las Mananitas", so we modified the idea, maybe we'll make our own song one day too.  Then Ken and Rawly made special number "2" pancakes for us.  Rawly loved his "happys" (candles) and kept wanting to put them in his food all day long.

The birthday boy dressing himself

Our friends Johnny and Ira go down to orphanages in a mining town called Krivoi Rog about every other weekend.  They really wanted to give some of the kids something special--coming to Kyiv.  Most of the children have never left the orphanage grounds (unless it was to transfer to a different orphanage.)  So they raised funds to bring twenty kids for the trip of a lifetime.  They came by overnight train and went sightseeing, to the zoo, ate lunch at McDonald's, played soccer at the new stadium where the EuroCup will be held this summer, and then split up to have "family dinners."

Anton, Artyom, Sergey thought that Sloppy Joe's were hilarious

Banana split sundaes

A masterpiece in the making

Our neighbors (from Idaho too!) on the left and Peter (from church) translated for us.  

Watching the festivities

Not sure who was more excited, Ken or the boys

Happies for everyone

С Днем Рождения!  Happy Birthday!

Too stuffed to finish

Big boy bed and other firsts

The "men" (from school) brought over Rawly's new bed during naptime, so when he woke up he and Dad were able to set it up--everyone approved of the new addition, even Zoya.  He's now had two sleeps and two naps in it--hurray!

Rawly driving Zoya on the first of their many adventures

First snow--so good she's sticking out her tongue to taste it

Rubber ducky

Ah shucks, do I have to bathe?

Getting help from Dad and Brother

Not so thrilled

In Dad's arms

Much better

PB and Jam

Our household has been ablaze with new things...Here are some of the latest:

First PB and J--Duzhe Smachno (Super Tasty!)

Dad and Rawly's impromptu "jam" session...(sorry, not too exciting--the video won't load, boo hiss!)

Life together

Tucking her in with "Don Quijote"

Homecoming

Who turned out the lights?

Dr. Victor assured me that he will be happily awaiting our return in another year and a half!

A walk in the park

Making sure that she didn't go anywhere

Grandmas on excursion

Cuddle time

Our quest for pumpkins eventually brought us these two bad boys!

Tummy time

Kisses for Jack, his first pumpkin

It's difficult to remember Rawly at this age.  Ken and I remember leaving the hospital completely clueless as to what our life as parents would entail, this time around was a little different.  Now don't get me wrong, at each new phase we feel exactly the same--"OH NO! How are we going to handle this?"  But it always works out.  We are super grateful for the families here that share their little parenting tidbits with us and for our friends and families back home for your love and support across the distance.