A New Champion!

Well Gloria and I had one of those "moments" yesterday...one that make you so proud of what your child has accomplished that it takes everything you have in you to keep it together. As many of you know we enrolled Kristina in Cheerleading this fall. Early in the season we got a note from the team asking if any of the girls were interested in being on the "Competition Squad" for this year. After thinking about it we decided that it would be a good way for Kristina to begin to transition her competitiveness that was a daily way of life for her in the Detski Dom into something that more fit her life as it should be moving forward. We asked Kristina what she thought and she said OK if I can win a trophy! Well after many long hours of practice, yesterday was competition. Competition was set up for squads in each grade Kindergarten through 5th grades in two categories; Cheer and Poms. Winners were chosen for each category in each age group and a Runner up and Grand Champion of all of the squads competing. In addition there were Overall Special Awards Given for teams displaying certain characteristics. Kristina's squad competed in the 2nd grade cheer category. After doing a great routine a little after 9 in the morning we had to watch all of the other squads performing through the morning. Then around 11:30 it was time for the awards ceremony. First the Special awards...The announcer says; For the award of the most Electrifying Transitions between stunts...The 2nd Grade New Lenox Mustangs Cheer Squad! We went nuts! Yelling and screaming and beaming with pride. After awarding the remainder of the special awards The Kindergarten and First grade winners were announced...Now it was our turn...the announcer picked up the microphone and announced; "In second place for 2nd grade cheer, The New Lenox Mustangs!" Kristina's squad...we went crazy (although slightly disappointed)...then the announcer said..."Wait, I made a mistake...they are written in the wrong order" (This of course only meant one thing! our girls had to have won right?) "In second place the Oak Forest Raiders and in FIRST PLACE the New Lenox Mustangs 2nd grade cheer! Now it was crazy, all the screaming and yelling! Gloria and I looked at each other and the tears started....Now we had to stay in the stands until after all of the squads were announced and then the Grand Champion was announced. We wanted to rush the podium and give Kristina the biggest hugs ever...we would have to wait, 6 more categories to announce...it was painful! The announcer finished announcing the 5th grade champs and started with runner up for the grand championship...we crossed our fingers...to no avail we did not make runner up...Gloria, Keegan, John and I began picking up our coats and walking down the stairs when we heard..."And the 2010 Grand Champions...The New Lenox Mustangs 2nd Grade Cheer!



Needless to say we lost it! From a 8 year old orphan who did not speak any English and never even knew what a cheerleader was to a 9 year old Member of the Grand Champion Team in a few days more than a year! Tears were flowing from both of us! We could not have been prouder! Next Sunday at her awards banquet Kristina will get that trophy she has been dreaming of for the last 10 weeks!

Halloween 2010

Kenny took the picture!

Kristina's pumpkin!

Keegan's pumpkin!

John's pumpkin!

Gloria's pumpkin! (Carved by Kenny)

Kenny's pumpkin!

John as a skeleton! (He actually wore the mask for a little while!)

John

Kristina as Tinkerbell!

Kristina

The kids!

The kids!

The kids had a blast trick or treating! They enjoyed this Halloween very much. Last year they went trick or treating but didn't quite understand it. They had only been home 3 days. So this year was so much fun for them. They enjoyed carving pumkins with Dad and Keegan. Mom does not carve pumpkins - cause I am no good at it. John had been wanting to carve them since we went to the pumpkin patch and picked them out. Try to explain to a five year old why you can't carve them until it is closer to Halloween. Not an easy task. Both kids had parties at school and were very excited to give their classmates treat bags. All in all it was a great Halloween. Now if we can just get them to all share their candy with their big brother. Just kidding - they share with him quite well. Happy Halloween Everyone from the Duda Family!

Home one year - 10/28/2010

Arriving at O'Hare Airport on 10/28/2009.
At Dollinger Farms on October 3, 2010.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES..........

The kids and I returned home one year ago on 10/28/2010. That is when we became a family of five. So many things have changed over the year. The kids have grown so much! Keegan has become an awesome big brother and we have all learned so much about eachother and could not be happier!

Kristina's 9th Birthday Weekend

Kristina turned 9 on October 25th. She had a very fun filled weekend. She had a party for school friends on Saturday and a family party on Sunday. Then on Monday she had a treat delivered to her class for all of her classmates. Here are a few of the pictures. She had a blast and was so excited that she stood by the front door on Sunday waiting for people to come. We aren't sure who she was looking for but she had lots of fun watching and then would get really excited when someone was coming to the door. We finally told her that everyone was here - go have fun!

Kristina and all of her presents!

The extra yummy birthday cake!

Party at the Jump Zone with her school friends. We had about 13 kids show up and they all had a blast.

The birthday girl and some of her friends at the party.