More pictures

OK, I am not sure what has happened to my pictures??  It is weird because on my computer and my husband's laptop, we cannot view the pics, but on my mom's computer, they are still on here.  Will you do me a favor and either comment on here or e-mail to let me know if you still see all of the pictures we posted while we were still in Ukraine?  If most of you can't I may change to blogspot.com soon.  If I change, I'll put a link to our new blog on this site. 

So, here are pictures that we had made a few weeks ago. 

I'll go ahead and write a little update while I am logged on.  The kids are doing so good!!!  They are learning English so fast.  Especially Brayden, He is even saying sentences sometimes!  That is great for only being home 1.5 months.  Abby is a little slower at learning English, but she'll catch on soon :)  They are both VERY smart and bright kids.  They started school a few weeks ago and love that a lot!  Brayden is excelling in Math (I guess because Math is pretty much Universal).  He is in 3rd grade where he is supposed to be for his age.  I figured they would have held him back to 1st or 2nd because of the language barrier and maybe maturity level, but he fit right in his 3rd grade class and is doing wonderfully!  Abby is in Kindergarten.  She just loves it and the teachers love her :)  Although Abby can be a little stubborn at times, her little grin will just melt your heart :)  She is definatesly my little fireball!! 

Abby and Brayden are so excited about Christmas.  Brayden keeps telling me "Christmas......too much days" Abby keeps saying when I tuck her in bed "Christmas......zaftra?" (tomorrow)  And I tell her "No, not tomorrow"  I need to make a red ane green construction paper chain like I did for Ukraine so they can get a better idea of when it is. 

Alyssa, well she thinks she is the "big sister" and likes to tell Abby and Brayden "how it is".  She is doing much better, but after the first week home, I think she realized that her brother and sister were really here to stay and then it wasn't all hunky dory anymore :(  She was VERY jealous and acted out in ways that were definately not in her nature.  We had a rough time for a few weeks, but she has calmed down A LOT and is starting to turn back into that sweet little angel that we used to know. 

Abby, Alyssa and Brayden are in gymnastics.  Abby and Brayden LOVE it!!!  I think Abby may have a natural talent at it.  She is so tiny and will attempt anything (which is scary).  SHe has little muscles in her legs and arms and lots of core stregnth which helps.  Brayden is taking it while waiting on baseball to start up.  He is so excited aout playing baseball.  I was sortof hoping he would play soccer, but he probably got sick of it in Ukraine since that was the ONLY thing he and the other boys got to do in thier spare time.  He calls soccer "Ukrainski football" and our football "Americanski football" which he is obsessed with as well.    Alyssa on the other hand seems to be getting really bored with gymnastics and wants to do dance or cheerleading.  The place that they take gymnastics at has a hip hop/jazz/ballet class, so i think I will put her in that.  SHe has tried just Ballet in the past adn didin't like it, but maybe since there is jazz and hip hop in it she will like it better.  I think she will do good at it because Alyssa can dance better than I could even think about dancing, she is just really shy and only lets her true dancing come out around us.  Maybe she'll get over that soon. 

Well, I've gotta go through my second carpool of the morning.  I have already taken Abby adn Brayden to school and now it is time to take Alyssa to Pre-K. 

I am glad I finally got the chance to update and I promise that I will try to more often.  I am getting a wireless card and a laptop for chrismas, so it will be much easier to get online without dial-up. 

Love to you all,

Chris, Julie, Brayden, Abby and Alyssa