Vadim vists

On that SAME weekend that we had hockey finals....Vadim stopped by to say hello!! Vadim is the Ukrainian young man who was adopted from Orphanage #4 that we used to have have our ministry with. He was adopted when he was 18 or so...and attended Millard South. He graduated from Millard South this past summer at the age of 20 (Ukrainian school laws are different from the USA), and he is now going to college to be an Electrician. He will be done with his current program this summer. Anyway, he stopped by to visit us which was SO nice because we haven't seem him in probably 6 months or so! Here is a picture. Jeff and his parents had run up to Des Moines to see Jake's mid day game before Cam's late night game...so they weren't home at the time.

Cam's Final Hockey Tournament of the Season

Cam's final tournament was up in Fremont...which is only about 30 minutes from here. Jake's final tournament was the same weekend in Des Moines. Jeff's mom and dad came to visit that same weekend...so my sister took Jake to Des Moines since her kids also played in the tournament and I stayed here in Omaha with Jeffs mom and dad and the little people. Here are some pictures from that weekend. Cam is number 91.

This is how Major spent most of the weekend at the ice rink. The little boy is a little brother of one of the players and he has an iPad which Major found VERY appealing!

Cam's team finished 5th in the midwest and Jake's team placed 2nd. They were in the championship game and they tied it...so it went into a shoot out. Unfortunately, the other teams goalie was significantly bigger and blocked many more goals....so sadly, Jake's team lost and took 2nd place.

They both had an INCREDIBLE season though! Jake's team has already had their year end party....tonight is Cam's year end party...then we are DONE for the season!! I love hockey...but YIPPEE!!!!!!

Jake's 10th birthday!

Wow! I have two kids in the double digits for age now!! How....WHEN did that happen?????? Jake turned 10 February 17th....he has not had his friend party yet...but soon.....we did have a family party though....

Snow...snow...and more snow....

The kids love that the plows leave the bulk of the snow from the culdesac in front of our house. They use it to make tunnels and caves...they have a great time with it. Here MaKenna and Jake were playing in it.... This is a great one of MaKenna jumping off....

Then they decided to make little snow people! Such artists!

My MaKenna girl.....

This kid can sleep anywhere....

Cam is 12!!!!!!

Yes...that is correct...I was a mere 12 when I had him...making me only 24. Don't I look 24? HEY! IT'S POSSIBLE!!!!! His favorite gift for his birthday was this silly "Chest Buster" from the movie Aliens. I know....weird....he has this really strange and creepy fascination with Aliens and Predators. Should I be nervous???? Aunt Holly was the cool person to get this for him. Here it is, in the flesh...or cotton...whatever....

Dad and Jan were gone to Arizona for Spring Training from January through March....so we had their dog Sadie. She is a GREAT dog. Anyway...here is Sadie being introduced to the "Chest Buster".

He also got this University of Florida Locker board. Yes...University of Florida. Don't ask...I have NO idea. He is surrounded by Texas and Nebraska stuff...and he likes Florida. Go figure.

And...since his favorite past time is hunting...like father like son...I made him this camo blankie to have in the wild.

He also had a party with some friends. He had 4 boys over. 2 out of the 4 boys had a rough family life. One is an athiest with an alcoholic single mother who expects him to do everything for her...and one who is the son of two moms and they attend the one homosexual church here in Omaha. Didn't even know that existed in the midwest. Anyhoo....it was a Saturday night sleep over party and we asked the kids' mom's if they could attend church with us the next day. They said, "no". We told them to pick up their kids at 8 then...and they said, "Well...I guess they can go to church with you." :-) So...they all went to church...we piled into two different vehicles. The next day at school one of the boys (the atheist with a single alcoholic mother) started asking Cam some questions. He asked a few questions every so often until one day, two weeks later, he accepted Christ. Cam was so excited...and that is when we heard about the Dominican Parent/Child trip at our church...we were all powered up to go...and we are half way done funraising! :-)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FIRST BORN!! I am SO proud of you!

SLEDDING!

I am SO behind on blogging....as usual. So....here we are on a post that should have been posted back in January...and it is what...almost April! Oh well...better late then never!! So...we had quite a bit of snow over Christmas Break and here are the kids having a GREAT time sledding with their cousins and a couple of their friends!!

This is Cam in the blue hoodie (Thanks Aunt Holly) face planting into the snow on his snowboard with a couple of high schoolers looking on...and laughing no doubt.

Here is Jake getting ready to do something stupid on the sled I am sure...in the pink behind him is Brooke and behind her in the blue Hoodie (thanks Aunt Holly) is Cam.

MaKenna and Jake...about to do something that was monumental and great in theory...but of course...didn't work.....

Brooke, MaKenna and Kayla.

Kayla

Cam in blue hoodie (thanks Aunt Holly) FLYING out of his snowboard straps...with high schoolers looking on....

Cam...starting down the hill....

Jake sledding down....

Shawn, Jake and Cam...

Jake, Cam, Nikoli, Kayla and Shawn...

Jake.....don't ask.....

Princess MaKenna....

Shawn laughin' it up....