Shots all around

As fun as it is to go to Russia there's just a few things that zap all our time and energy. We finally finished our trip to the Naval Hospital to visit the travel clinic. Four hours later we headed home with a bag full of medicinal goodies and sore pin cushion arms and legs. I have a feeling that pretty soon the kids are going to picket against the whole "Russian" thing... Well, I thought it would be momentous to get a before and after shots picture.

-Before- We were smart enough to bring the dvd player!

And -After- Goes to show how well they all did! I was shocked to see no tears to report. Obviously not as momentous an occasion as I expected. Maybe we will survive the whole "Russian" thing!

Sunbeam Girl

Bradly's big day! Moving up to the primary... hard to believe our "angel" girl is old enough for sunbeams. And would you believe she can write her name all by herself! I can take no credit... Lorenzo taught her a couple months ago and she's been working hard on it, and now can write it in the right order and everything... too many milestones.

The power of the V.S.

At our weekly Saturday night games and dinner last weekend we happened to branch out in the game category and play a little bit of "The Newlywed Game." Quite hilarious (especially with three mormon couples). Anyway, one question that came up was, "What is one bill you want your wife to keep away from you?" I believe two of the three husbands voted for a clothing bill- they don't wanna know how much was spent! So, just a couple days later I go shopping... well, I began telling Chris how much I spent and then proceed to tell him the store it was spent at--- Victoria Secret --- and suddenly he could care less what the numbers were! Thus dubbed 'The power of the V.S.'

Unfortunately, I didn't get anything real "fun", but with this sorta power, I can return anytime.

In some sorta nutshell

Alas! We are now home and still alive and still preparing for our move to Russia. Our life in a nutshell.

Christmas was fabulous with both families- though we can't wait for my brothers to have children so that we aren't the only two that stay up till a.m. hours playing, but then hafta turn around during same a.m. hours to tend little ones! I think we finally realized how old we now are... it was a very sad realization by the way. Gotta face the music sometime. So, coming home- while always wonderful- just was the final start to our preparation period. Moscow here we come. I recently started having my Russian "preschool" (as the kids call it) with a new teacher. Unfortunately my previous one wasn't of much help, so now I am aware of just how much I don't know, and how much I won't understand once we get there! But, on the flip side, I am NOW learning Russian. Chris just mentioned tonight that he thinks he really needs to learn the language now- as we are getting closer to having to live there. WHAT? He's such a lunatic. Spends hours a day studying, is like a phenomenon at the language school, blah, blah, blah... he's brilliant! He already can speak Russian, don't let him fool ya. We just got called to work in the nursery- a week after Brads moved out of it. Not many callings that can be found for such temporary members- we've repeatedly learned :). But, Chris is way excited as he gets to have snack time during church again! Ah, busy days, lots of laundry, hours of studying, south beach dieting (who's dumb idea was that?), Lorenzo rhyming, Biggest Loser 'Rigby', "tip toe, tip toe," the office back this week, sneaking cheetos while Chris is at basketball, Jamus laughing, eating a few chocolate chips, Guitar Hero songs stuck in your head, buying more ricotta (any south beachers?), being asked to talk on sunday, so definitely sneaking more cheetos, Bradly going from way happy to crazy tantrum in .002 seconds, double passport protection, uh, the beat goes on, uh, the beat goes on...

...in a nutshell.

It's Christmas time, it's Christmas time

I honestly have no idea where September, October and November went... and here it's time for Christmas!

We got to have Grandpa visit for a couple days at the beginning of December. The kids of course were way excited. Poor Grandpa gets run to the ground with them. He happened to come on a stock full weekend. Breakfast with Santa, ward Christmas party, dinner at the Russian Lounge (where children clearly don't often go, as they only owned one high chair. So, we were set downstairs all by ourselves!). Always an adventure. After Gramps left we had to buy a little tree for the kids to decorate. It's hard when all our holiday things are in storage- luckily Chris was able to dig out our stockings, tho. And if you ever get a chance to see the DC temple during the holidays, you must go see the 'Festival of Lights' there.

Alas, we are now getting ready to head to Utah and visit with family. Probley the last visit for a few years, so a bittersweet... but, we do hope everyone has a fabulous holiday season!

Rosetta never lies

As most of you know we are moving to Russia in a few months. Upon preparing for this extremely crazy adventure we purchased the Rosetta Stone to help us with the language. We've been doing it for about eight months now. The other night Chris was working on it (on his new Mac) and across the room I could hear him repeating the same word over and over and over... If you know Rosetta at all than you know that it has you repeat until it hears you say it right. I had this same thing happen to me months ago, and just couldn't hit the pronunciation. Anyway, we've just come to face the fact that Chris will never be able to say the number twenty, and I will never be able to order a sandwich!

T-Day

It's our favorite! Maybe cause we like to eat. Whatever the reason it was a fabulous weekend. The kids made pie crust shapes- unfortunately the only ones that aren't in storage are Christmas ones :) Lorenzo lounged on the couch and watched football. Bradly ate an entire bowl of cheeseball. Chris made an amazing pecan pie- only his second time trying (he's pretty proud of himself). Mommy made a turkey tv dinner- outta cupcakes!. And Jamus slept and ate through it all. What a holiday. We got to have some new friends from the ward over, too... who'd have thought little Adna people would meet up clear across the country! Gotta love having fam away from fam. And, thanks to Jana and Joe, the game 'Ticket to Ride' is on the top of our Christmas list.
Can't have Turkey day without capturing a moment with the gravy boat. You know you missed it Montanos.
A Wii showdown. The guys had to throw it in the three-year olds faces when they won.
Lo watching the game.
Brads doing the baking.
Should have stopped cooking here. It's got it all. Mashed potatoes, pudding...
All hopped up on jello.