Our Family

A little more baseball

I am so loving this whole baseball thing.  The games crack me up!  They are really cute.  I love the seriousness yet fun of it all.

 

Putting this wind to use

Ilya has finally found something good about all this wind---kite flying.  He's really good!  Learning to do a few tricks, turns and loops with dad.

  

Mother's Day at Preschool

How cute is Mother's Day at Preschool?  Adorable!!!

Ilya loved showing me his work.  Started off showing me the plants in order from the sun.

 

Then on to a game of planet bingo!

 

Next, a little water work.

 

And finally, some songs, a cookie and a hug!

 

Diggin it'

Picture says it all!

 

Baseball season!!!

 

Have you ever seen anything this cute!  I love the mini jersey's! Rounding third and headed home during practice.

Air museum

Last weekend the Kenny Grandparents were in town and we found ourselves headed to the air museum.  So cool and only a few minutes from the house.  It was a ton of fun.  Ilya loved that he got to take home a toy version of the plane in the lobby.  We also finally found the glow-in-the-dark stickers we wanted to complete his bedroom motif!

 

  

Dinner Train

This weekend was definitely all about the planes, trains and automobiles.  This past weekend, we also ventured out to the dinner train.  For anyone in and around Omaha, it was a ton of fun!  We really enjoyed the train.  Ilya was mesmerized that he was riding in a train for dinner!  They have a really fun 1940's theme on the train, complete with big band music throughout the entire dinner.  Really fun!

  

 

Painting and airplanes

Ilya's room was needing a little color so we set out to improve the room.  We went to the paint store and brought home tons of the little paper samples and taped them to the wall.  After living with that for a few weeks, we narrowed it down and Ilya picked his favorite--a dusty blue.  He was a great help in painting the room.  He rolled everything from 4 feet down!  Loving the final product! 

 

Dusting off the breadmaker

Lately, we've been dusting off the bread maker and trying our hand at a few recipes from white to wheat and rosemary/herb to cinnamon raisin.  Ilya LOVES helping measuring and adding all the ingredients.  He loves it so much that he requested a picture next to the bread maker.  We are off to make a fresh loaf for the morning!

 

Train show

I wish I could have captured in picture the excitement upon entering this train show.  Ilya was thrilled to think of this entire room filled with trains and more trains.  He kept saying, "Look there.  No wait, look over there."  For the first hour, we jetted from display to display. Absolutely amazed at the layouts.  Then we spend another hour or so playing with all the different wooden sets on display for kids to try their hand at.

 

Then we took a little ride on Annie (pulled by Thomas).

 

Then picked out a piece to add to the wooden set we have at home.  Ilya found this train crossing and thought it would be good because, "Now McQueen will know when to stop when Thomas is coming.  They won't crash now."  Apparently, that had been a problem!

 

And...while Ilya wasn't looking, Eric picked up this starter electric set.  We were going to save it for birthday or some other special time....but well....we kinda wanted to play with it too.  This has captivated Ilya for the last hour!  He is thrilled that it is, "THE SAME AS PAPA'S TRAINS!!!!!"  (said while jumping up and down).  Too cute!

 

Snow day!!!

Ilya was so excited about the snow.  We had such a great time outside.  Ilya loves shoveling (hope he remembers this in about 10 years)!

 

Coming in for a nice warm cup of Ghiradelli hot chocolate can't be beat...oh wait...yes it can...

When you have it with a brownie (made with caramel and Ghirardelli chocolate) and play a little Chutes and Ladders.

 

What to do...

So far Ilya has asked to play soccer, baseball, football, swimming, golf and go back to tumble class this summer.  I told him that was great, he could play all of those things here at the house...but for joining a team or taking lessons he really needed to pick one.  The following ten minutes were mixed with rambling off a sport, thinking and saying, "Wait...wait...not that one..." then naming another.  Decisions, decisions, decisions....

Rockets

If I close my eyes, I still feel like I'm going in circles.  No joke.  We rode this rocket ride soooo many times that I still feel like I'm spinning.  Ilya got everyone to take him on this ride at least once if not 50 or 60 times. It clearly deserves a post of it's own.   I wonder what the record is for this ride.  At one point, the park was empty (we were there early---see the post about candy canes) that we didn't even have to get off to ride again.  There wasn't anyone waiting in line--lucky us!

Ilya with Papa...

 

Ilya with dad...

 

Ilya with uncle Scott

 

Dylan ahead of Ilya (I'm behind the camera)

 

We have a million more pictures of each co-pilot...but I think you get the idea.  The kid loves rockets (see prior posts about living in rocket pj's...and yes, he asked if he could wear the pj's on the ride).

 

Our creativity doesn't stop with cookies...

After our successful attempt and Christmas cookies, I thought we should try a little something new.  I had huge goals of making a gingerbread house.  I even download templates, planned out my candy decorations and found the perfect dough (according to a few hundred people on foodnetwork's site).  After taking just one step back to think about what I was going to attempt...and looking at the cost for the monstrosity.  This handy gingerbread train kit for $9.99 looked pretty appealing.  I'd already heard from a few friends that they tried their hand at it successfully.  I figured, start with the train and if it looks good...then build the coordinating house...or station...or town!!!  As you will notice in the pictures.  We have a fabulous train...but no coordinating quaint house and hardly a gingerbread town is in sight.  And trust me....they aren't going to show up anytime soon!  While the kit was relatively simple.  The blasted thing wouldn't stay stuck together! The directions of "hold together for just a minute" does need a slight bit of rewording.  "Hold together for 20-30 minutes with four...no wait five hands," would be more accurate and help align expectations.  But all-in-all it was totally worth it!  Once I got it to stay together, Ilya had a blast decorating it!  He took nearly an hour to meticulously dab frosting on each piece of candy and place it in the precise predetermined spot.  While he was waiting for me to get the train together, he thought through the placement of all the candy.  The result a nice mix of matching the picture on the box and his own creativity in placement.  Voila!

   

  


 

Christmas cookie project

I came across a great little kit from Crayola that I thought would be a fun twist on cookie decorating.  The kit came with edible "paint".  Ilya enjoys painting with a brush so I thought why not try it on a cookie.  What a great project!  Ilya did it all.  From making the dough, rolling it out, cutting the cookies, baking and finally icing and painting.  They turned out great (and taste really good)!

 

 

 

The t-shirt says it all....

 
You Are Handsome!  T-shirts don't lie...we'll at least not this one.

Stickers and Jammies--what a pair

 

What do you do when grandma sends you a package of stickers?  Thankfully, they don't go on the walls.  Nope...you put them on your favorite pair of jammies.  So proud of his accomplishment.  Sidenote not visible in the picture.  Most of them are upside down.  I should not have asked why because he responded...."So I can see them."  Well duh mom.

 

Lovin' the snow

Ilya was loving the snow we had.  He was thrilled to head outside and play.  Too bad it disappeared so fast.  We reassured him it would definitely be back!

 

Hot air balloon festival

A few weeks ago we headed out from the house (a whole 2 miles) and attended the Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival.  Just genius!  Combine something the kids love (hot air balloons) with something mom and dad like (wine tasting)--what a great night.  We had so much fun. Ilya was amazed that at first there wasn't anything but a big "blanket" on the ground, then a balloon and THEN it FLEW! 

 

Mr. Brave used all his tickets on the gigantic slide. 

He desperately wanted something that glowed and was thrilled to pick out the sword/light saber.

 

Later we hung out and listened to a few of the bands.  Ilya had a great time dancing to the music.  I think he was stealing a bit of the attention from the band.  People were lovin' the dance moves.
 

Preschool

Wow- I really am behind on posting! 

All ready for his first official day of Preschool!  We are loving Montessori. 

Not the only inhabitants of this house

Ilya was thrilled to learn that we are not the only things living in this house.  About a 1/2 dozen frogs are calling the egress window in the basement home (they stay outside---much to Ilya's disappointment).

Great start to Friday

This morning I realized that it was Ilya's turn to bring snacks to school but I forgot to buy them!  I knew this day would come eventually.  I've watched many parents get to school, turn, look at the board, realize that it's their name by today's date and hurry to the store, returning minutes later with a snack.  It's not a surprise that our name is up there...they do post the entire month of names well in advance.  But it's easy to forget amongst everything else.  Thankful that I remembered while still at home, I quickly assessed the pantry in hopes that maybe...just maybe I had something that would work as two snacks for 30 kids (morning and afternoon).  Sure, if I had an hour to make cookies or want to cut up this gigantic watermelon I could have had options.  Instead, I opted for stopping at the store on the way to school.  We worked our way to smooth and timely exit from the house, it was feeling almost like we planned to leave a little early.  Definitely different than our normal hurried approach to getting out the door on time.  After a quick stop to grab the snack I realized that what I thought would take longer only took 2-3 minutes.  Leaving 20+ minutes until the start of school (1/2 mile down the street).  So we took advantage of the time, grabbed a donut, Ilya a steamer, me a latte, watched the rain and enjoyed our Friday leisurelymorning!  Ilya's parting words, "I do that again before school...tomorrow."  Maybe someday but thankfully...tomorrow is Saturday!

F-teen jet

In all his fascination with airplanes, Ilya is not satisfied if you simple call a plane "a plane".  He knows there is more to it.  It might be a prop plane, bi-plane, Air Force One (yes, we occasionally see it fly overhead on it's way to the base), etc.  His latest toy plane is a replica of an F-15.  This one is inseparable from Ilya.  He sleeps with it, plays with it, eats with it parked nearby and even takes it everytime he gets in the car.  The problem with it....is in the pronunciation of the words F-fifteen jet.  In three year old speak, F-fifteen jet some times is pronounced, F-teen jet and others...times it's pronounced...f-ing jet.  Hum..., that's precisely what I called it last time I stepped on those sharp wings!  

What I want to be when I grow up

Ilya has announced that he wants to be a police office.  "Great," we replied.  And then asked, "What made you decide to be a police officer?"  Ilya's response, "You have to be a police office to turn on the siren and go zum, zum, zum fast in the police car.  I want to go zum, zum, zum in police car (said complete with hand motions showing how the car drives), I be a police office."  There you have it...

Take Gram Shopping

This week we enjoyed a visit with Gram and Papa Souders.  Papa spent most of the time with Eric working on installing the wood floor at the new house.  Ilya took the opportunity to swim with Gram and go shopping.  Look at the fun stuff you get when you take Gram shopping...just the two of you!

Dream Breakfast!

Is this not a dream breakfast???  A donut with a blue icing design (he picked it out of the case), chocolate milk and then a side of Trix cereal!  Yum!  This and some cartoons made our Saturday morning complete!

Safety 1st

As Eric was unpacking his bag, Ilya found all the gear amazing.  He wanted to try it all on.  I think I see a Halloween costume in the making!!!

 
 
 

Slip 'n Slide

We love unexpected deliveries with fun stuff.  Uncle Kevin sent an awesome surprise...a slip 'n slide.  Perfect in so many ways!  This has been a great way for Ilya to cool off a little in the scorching heat!  Ilya decided to combine it with his slide for an even faster take off!

Uncle Kevin also threw in a squirt gun.  Water the plants was fun before...but now it's extra fun!!!

 

Hot air balloons!

Not exactly sure why but we regularly get to see a great hot air balloon show...from our patio.  I love watching these float through the air--so peaceful!

Ilya gets pretty excited about them too...

 

 

Yummy

Eric and Ilya made a little creation with the Play-doh.  Pretty creative!

National gummi worm day

According to the Candy USA (wonder if I can become a member), today is National Gummi Worm Day.  http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2009/07/15/4378246-happy-national-gummi-worms-day Yeah!  Who knew there was such a national day?  We couldn't let this one pass us by!  So, we made "dirt" cups.  Ilya had a blast turning a box of powder (pudding mix) into chocolate with just a little milk and whisking.  He was amazed that chocolate could just appear before your eyes!  I would share but these disappeared quickly after dinner. 

Tumble Class #2

In a perfect world for Ilya, he would go to tumble class every day!  Most mornings he asks, "How many more sleeps until the next tumble class?"

Learned how to do chin-ups this week.

Corn

It's a really good thing we live in the corn husker state...this kid LOVES corn on the cob.  Ah..summertime!

Little monkey goes to tumble class

I finally thought, the kid loves to climb, hang, tumble....so why not try a gymnastics class.  If he's going to be tumbling down the hall, I'd like him to know how to do it correctly (read: safely). The first class was a huge success!  He loved it.  The teacher would show him how to do something once and from there on he was doing it.  Once she showed him how to rotate around the bar, she watched that he did it correctly a few times, slightly guiding him.  After that, he went on to do it without help another dozen times or more.  He asked if we could go back again tomorrow--I think we'll be going back next week :)

College World Series

Ilya loved the College World Series.  It was nearly impossible to get a picture of him facing the camera because that would have required taking his eyes off the field.  Ilya cheered without team loyalty.  He cheered when anyone hit the ball, caught the ball or the inning ended and the crowd cheered.  I was able to sneak a shot when he looked back at the screen to see the replay!

Here he is on the way to the game (so excited)!

With a heat index of over 100--frozen lemonade with dad was a must!

 

Sand in the City

As part of a local fundraiser, Eric joined a team from work to build a sculpture of sand.  The ship was amazing!  The pictures don't do justice to the detail like woodgrain on the ship or the hair on the captain!

Ilya had fun in the kids sand area with his buddy Wes!

 

Characters (part 1)

Remember in the last post when I mentioned we were a little early to the park in anticipation of breakfast?  Well, cool surprise...the characters were right inside the park with SHORT lines (5-10 minutes each).  Ilya was able to meet a few before breakfast!  In this grouping, Tigger was the clear favorite!!!

 

  
 
 

Hats, hats and more hats

Day 2 at Disney includes a breakfast with the Little Einsteins.  We couldn't hardly control ourselves with the excitement for breakfast!  We were up, dressed and ready in no time.  We even got there BEFORE the park opened.  We tried on a few hats to spend the time.  Ilya is definitely a boy of many hats.  He thought he was hilarious (he was!)!!

Disney Day #1- Magic Kingdom

We didn't get the customary family picture by the castle upon entrance because as soon as Ilya saw the train at the front gate that circles the park...well...we couldn't handle the excitement and had to get on immediately!  (we'll get the castle picture later).  Ilya can't even look at the camera to take a quick shot on the train...there are WAY too many other things to look at!

After a few great rides, a little lunch we stepped out of the restaurant at precisely3:00...guess what happens at 3:00...yea..you got it the 3:00 parade!  Look at the character who stopped to shake hands--it's STITCH!! Ilya watched him walk away until he was completely out of site!

What trip to Disney is complete without the LARGEST popsicle you could possible purchase (note: he's already had about a 1/2).  What a great way to cool off!

 

With so many gift shops and things to buy, Ilya really wanted a stuffed item.  We figured this would be the choice.  He thought all day stopping at many stores and carts to check out the wares.  From the first time we asked to the time we actually found one...Ilya said he wanted a Leo doll.  He checked out many others (including Stitch) with a hug and a chose visual examination but he stayed admit that he wanted to find a Leo doll.  We finally found one and quickly purchased.  Through the next few days we would be stopped by several frantic parents wondering where we found Leo (apparently they were in short supply).

Ilya was thrilled that there was Mickey Mouse all over the park.  He was so excited to point out each time he saw a Mickey.  However, he was floored when he realized that this line was to ACTUALLY MEET MICKEY!  Look at that smile!!! (you can click on the pictures to make them larger)
 

Side note: our night should have ended at this point.  Instead, we decided to stay for fireworks...mistake.  Ilya does not like fireworks.  Should have know.  He doesn't like anything loud...including fireworks. 

  
 

Downtown Disney

Our first night at Disney started off with this crazy character:  Stitch!  At  Downtown Disney Stitch watches for the unsuspecting guest to "spit on them".

Well..unsuspecting at least the first time...but not once you stand there for 20 minutes trying to get "spit" on :)  Ilya thought this was hilarious!

After an awesome dinner at Wolfgang Puck's (yum!!!) Ilya found some more water to play in!  This one has small amounts that pop up from the sidewalk.

 

Ilya could have stayed for days just playing here.  All this fun...and think...we haven't even bought a ticket yet!

Ilya saw this display and wanted his picture by it...I think it's for future reference come December 1. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  

Gifford Farm

A few weekends ago, a local farm had "Family Days".  We headed over to see what it was all about.  So simple, yet so much fun!

They had a few animals out...we spent all of about 10 minutes here.  Ilya was not impressed...they were pigs, chickens, sheep...who cares...they don't do anything and they are behind a gate.

 

But...give the boy a wheel barrow and let him transport a few rocks and sticks.  Watch him go.  This is a picture that I zoomed in to take (note: this was the fourth picture...first three were blurry). 

Or place a few log slices on the ground and play a game of hopping from on to the next...that's a way to spend 30 minutes!

Or a magnify glass...all the cool things you can see with this thing!

Or...some plastic fish with a magnet attached.  Good times...

How big were the fish you ask...

 
Otherwise known as 4 inches... 
 

What a great way to spend an afternoon!  Fun times...
 
 
 
 
  
 

Raising a child in 2010

After Ilya got an organic granola bar from the cabinet and realized it was the last one in the box, he asked me if he should put the box in recycling.  I told him ,"yes".  After recycling the box, he brought me my reuseable shopping bag and told me we should go to Target and get more...

80 degree on the thermometer

80 degrees in April???  We don't know what to do...this is wonderful!  Oregon got snow the week this picture was take.  The weather in Omaha is wonderful (someone please remind me of this post in July).

  

Easter!!!!

What a great morning and even better day!!!  Ilya was up bright and early to see if that silly rabbit really did hide the eggs!  Notice how the blinds are open and it's still incredibly dark outside!

 

Not enough eggs to color!

When I decided how many eggs to cook for Easter egg coloring, I thought one little boy...12...no just in case 18.  Ilya thought we needed LOTS more.  It took about 15 minutes and he had them all colored!  With each one he oooh'd and aaah'd at the white becoming a color.  We made a HUGE mess but had a great time doing it!

If you ask Ilya who hides the eggs and brings a basket of goodies at Easter, he will tell you "The Pizza Bunny".  You might be asking---what did you have delivery or Digornio for Easter??  Nope, that's just how he pronounces Easter...Pizza. Hilarious!!! (I wish we could have caught it on video.)

  
 

Easter Egg Hunt at Arbor Day Farms

Arbor Day Farms is such a great place!  We headed over there for their Easter Egg hunt. Such a beautiful day to wander the trail and search for eggs.  This was a great way to enjoy the area and the visit with Papa and Gram Souders.  Ilya had a great time reading about each and every tree.  Seriously, I really mean each and every tree that had a plaque, Ilya asked for it to be read.  Think about how many plaques that is---it is ARBOR DAY FARMS.  I have no doubt that there are a hundred or more plaques describing the tree, the history of the tree, the uses historically and current for the tree...you get the idea.  Whew!  I say next time bring Papa Kenny too (for those that don't know my dad he owns a nursery full of trees)!

Easter eggs here we come!

  

Posing for a picture :)

 

Ilya being silly with Dad

Ilya being silly with Papa and Dad

 
  
 
 
 
 

March 8th---2 years home!!!

March 8th 2008 was the day we all came home from Russia as a family.  I can't believe two years has gone by!!  Time is flying!!!  Ilya is growing and expanding into his own.  I simply can't imagine life without him!  Love you bud!

2008

2010

Trains and more trains

We made the trek to the local train museum.  The museum is housed in the old train station.  What a beautiful building!  Ilya loved the actual train cars but most of all he could have watched the model trains go around all day!

Being silly with Dad!!!  Going over the waterfall and hangin' with  some friends.
  
  
 

What's better than being at a train museum.  Posing for a picture only to have a working train go by!
 

Being silly with Grandpa...notice a theme?   

A family picture!

 
 
 

Christmas in March!

This last week we had a great time with a visit from Grandma and Grandpa (Baba and Papa).  We started the visit with a few Christmas presents!!  Ilya loved that Santa came again...this guy is great!  I wish more of the pictures turned out...but...um...let's blame the camera.  A least we got a few of the main highlight---the blue truck from Uncle Kevin.  A favorite from the start!!  In the picture on the right, Ilya is giving a "tour" of the truck and all its features!

Warming up with a little hot chocolate!

What a better way to start off a cold saturday than with a little hot chocolate.  "I, Me make!  No Mommy help.  I, me cook!"