Halloween Parade

The kids had their Halloween Parade at school, today! (Thomas was sad, that he didn't bring his costume) Here are some photos from that:

Uniontown

We were extremely blessed with the opportunity to attend the pilgrimage at Mount St. Macrina (Uniontown, Pennsylvania) this year. We haven’t been since 2004, for various reasons (babies, unreliable vans…). It is quite an experience, to pray with so many people, and be there for all the different services. (For Jim’s family, this might be similar to the “conferences” you attended.) Jim and I were so thankful to be there. It was good for us, and really good for the kids. Besides just being there, they got to spend a lot of time with all the uncles, aunts, Godfathers, Godmothers, grandparents, and cousins who were also participating. And now they know there is more to Uniontown, than just the place where Medovniki comes from. Peter carried St. Nick’s cross in the procession to the cemetery. That was a big deal, and his cousin, Luke, was with him, carrying Holy Ghost’s cross. I could write a novel about the weekend, if I had time … Unfortunately, I better get going. I need to make the kids some lunch. Thomas is so sweet: He keeps trying to set plates out for Margie, Peter, and George. He keeps forgetting that they aren’t home. Here are some pictures from the weekend (And that IS Uncle Joe and Aunt Anna's bench they're sitting on):

Fred

Good morning! We've been really busy, but, I wanted to try and catch up. Fred turned five, last week. He had a nice birthday. Even though we were packing to go to Pennsylvania, we had people come over to celebrate with him. He loved it! Everyone is so nice to him, and bought him presents he really really liked. (The tough part for him was, he hardly got to play with his new toys until we came back. ) He even got gifts when we were out of town. We are so blessed with people who love our kids.

On Tuesday, it was his first day of Kindergarten. He was so cute: he explained to Thomas that Thomas could play with his toys while he was at school. Fred was very excited, but, then shy when it actually came to going in the classroom and sitting down. I have been walking them all to and from school, to make sure they all know where to go, and where to meet, after school. They are all supposed to meet at the Kindergarten room. Yesterday, I went to George's room, because it is the furthest away. We rounded the corner, and Margie was waiting by the Kindergarten room, but, no Fred! Peter showed up, and Margie went to find Fred. He was sitting under a slide on the playground. Apparently, he just ran out the door and fell, so he hid under the slide. Of course, he was told 100 times he is supposed to wait at his door. We are going to have to work on this...

And, this morning, he went to the dentist, and his teeth are very healthy! Good job, Fred!

Here he is on his birthday:

Happy Birthday Thomas

He had a great day!

Zoo Zoo Zoo

I never thought I would be able to handle this. But, with the cooler weather and the double stroller (and a few prayers), it was a piece of cake!

Our Zoo Pass is expiring on Friday. So far this week, I, by myself, have taken all six kids to the zoo; not once, but twice, and we are going again tomorrow. I had to use the double stroller because Thomas, though he is a huge two year old and could have easily walked, isn't very trustworthy. The two times I have taken them to the library, with only Nicholas in the normal stroller, Thomas thinks he can go off and do whatever he wants. You'll blink your eye and he's gone. The older kids are willing to hold his hand and help watch him, but, they can get distracted. Locking him down in a stroller solved that problem. Of course we made sure he could see things, and let him out if there was something neat the older kids were climbing on. Little Nicholas mostly slept the whole time. And, the older 4 were fine. Both trips were very pleasant, even for me. :)

We didn't stay all day, which is why we went multiple days. By making them shorter visits, we made sure Nicholas was content, we didn't have to buy any food or drinks, and no one had to use the bathroom. (A concern, since I was the only adult.) Tomorrow, we are going because they wanted a chance to play on the playground. Why not?

Summer is Here!

Wow, so much has happened since we last posted! Let's see. There was Mother's Day. The kids gave me hanging flower baskets. And, Margie waters them, every day. Nicholas got baptized at the end of May. Then there was my birthday. Amongst other things, I received Mario Kart Wii, including the steering wheel. That has been very popular in our household! My birthday was followed by the ECF picnic at church.

The kids' last day of school was last Friday. That night we had storms, which made us go in the basement and lose power. We had two flashlights, but, the kids were pretty scared. After it was safe to go back upstairs, we ended up having the kids camp out on the family room floor, since the upstairs was so hot (without the fans). On Saturday, Nana moved back. Sunday was Father's Day. We had a breakfast at church, went home, then spent the afternoon seeing my dad.

Here are a couple pictures from George's Kindergarten picnic on the last day of school:

One Month Already

Where has the time gone? Young Nicholas is one month old, already! He is doing well, except he seems all congested. (There is a cold going around the family. Peter and I are the only ones who haven't come down with it, yet.) I hate when the little babies get sick: there is so little you can do for them. Other than that, we're fine, and the family is handling the new baby with no problems. Peter and Margie brought home excellent report cards. Peter had all A's and A+'s. Margie doesn't get letter grades, but, she also had high marks. And they both performed in vocal music concerts, recently, which were really well done. I got to attend those, and Jim was able to spend some quality time with the baby. We were both happy. Now, if we could only get the baby to sleep through the night... I wouldn't feel like such a zombie! (and if I don't make sense, that is my excuse)

Here are some photos: Nicholas at one month old, and then a couple of my "helpers". Baba and Grandpa have been helping take George to Kindergarten in the afternoon, and getting Thomas in his nap (so I don't have to lift him). That is Grandpa walking home after taking George. He has Fred, Thomas, and Dorothy with him. She was visiting that time, which Fred absolutely loved. Speaking of Fred, that is he, holding Nicholas. Nicholas was wearing his Red Wings suit, because we were watching them play, that day.

He is so TINY (Compared to everyone else)

Hello! We are all doing fine. Here are a couple photos. One is from baby Nicholas's first night home. He looked so small, in that large crib! And the other is of George holding him. Every day, George asks to hold baby Nicholas. They all love their baby brother, very much, and are very intrigued by him.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He has Risen!

Well, we made it through Easter! I only say, "we made it", because we all were wondering if the baby would decided to come early. He hasn't, so far. But, you never know! The kids had Good Friday off from school, so that is when we began our Easter preparation. And, between Good Friday and Holy Saturday, we did everything: we made all the special foods, fasted, all the kids got haircuts and baths, and we went to church. It was tough for me, going to church on Good Friday (evening), but, I am glad I went. It seems like if we didn't do all the prep. and services leading up to Easter, it would be all too easy to let Good Friday become just another day. The children are old enough, now, that they ask questions, like, "Why do we have to fast?" "Why can't we play games?" "Why can't we watch TV between noon and 3pm?" "Why do we light a holy candle between 12 and 3?" "Why do we have to go to church at night?"

Easter morning, we woke up to find the Easter Bunny did, indeed, visit us! (This year, it is Thomas who can't resist getting into his basket at all times...) We then went to church for Resurrection Matins, Liturgy, and Basket Blessing. Afterwards, we were invited to go to several households, but, we opted to go home, because I needed to get off my feet. It was a little strange, to "just go home", but, it was also nice. Here are some photos from church:

Here we all are with our basket, before church: Processing around the church:
Basket Blessing. Note Peter's grin. The priest always blesses the kids, too. Margie, George, and Fred are all in his direct line of fire.
Our basket is on the right. My brother, George, and his fiancee, Laura's, is on the left. They impressed everyone by making their own. Laura even made her own pysanki (eggs) and they were really pretty and looked like she had been doing them for years (it was her first time, ever).

St. Peter's Basilica

I have been meaning to post this for a month... Peter received this 3D puzzle for Christmas, and he and I put it together, together.

Snow Day At Last

Well, they finally got their Snow Day! It is nowhere near what our cousins got last week, in Pennsylvania. The children have already shoveled. It was all Margie's idea, much to Peter's chagrin. He cracked me up, because he didn't want to shovel, but, he immediately took total charge, out there. (Barking orders at everyone else, like oldest children do. ha ha ) Thomas was extremely jealous, to say the least. Now, Peter's in, and the middle three are playing in the back yard. They've already had a change of mittens.

Number 6

George celebrated his 6th birthday a couple weeks ago. He had a blast! His Godfather brought pizza over for dinner. Others came to visit/celebrate, as well. People gave him gifts he absolutely loved. Plus he received some special gifts in the mail. (Packages are always fun to get!) He requested an American Flag cake, complete with the pole and ball, on top of the pole.

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Brrrrr It is Cold

This is how I found Fred, when he was supposed to be getting his clean clothes on and coming to eat breakfast. He managed to come downstairs, but, that is as far as he got. And this is how I found George playing Legos.

Carp Party Pictures

Pictures from the Carpatho Rusyn Pot Luck Dinner (AKA "The Carp. Party"), which was at the beginning of January:

Partners in crime: Dorothy, Fred, Thomas



(Dorothy), George, Margie, Peter


























Dorothy, Gabriel, Luke, Andrew, Isaiah



Margie and Grandpa

























Michael and Jim














Thomas


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Christmas Photos

Christmas was wonderful. I got a lot of good photos, and am limiting what I am posting to 2. (Though, I am tempted to upload a bunch of the cousin photos, because they are really cute, too.) Here are Our Five at church, Christmas morning (George forgot his glasses, in all the excitement):












This is Thomas, caught in the act. I don't know how many times we had to say, "Don't touch the tree!" And, it wasn't only directed at Thomas, either.