The little guy turns 5

Our little man turned five on Sunday. We had a party at the house and had a good crowd there to celebrate with us. He got lots of toys, clothes, puzzles, cars, and trucks. He loved every minute of it. We believe he really likes all this party and present stuff. He is like an old pro now - opening gifts. We are a little worried that after Christmas, it might be a let down for the kids when the presents and parties aren't as often. We were a little concerned how Kristina would react to just John getting gifts, but it wasn't a problem, she just helped him open his. We are very lucky to have such great families and friends to celebrate with us. So until later............

Adoption Shower

All we can say is ...............Thank you Robin! It was a blast!

The cake was not only pretty, but it tasted really really good! There were about 55 people in attendance and it was a really good time! The kids made a haul and had a lot of fun meeting some people that they had not met yet. Thanks everyone! It means the world to us that we have so many people who care about us! So until later................

Kristina's School Christmas Program

Kristina before her school program!

John checking out the Christmas tree!

Kristina in one of her Christmas dresses. This was taken right before we walked out the door to go to her program. When she was trying this dress on she said "Just like Santa Claus". She looked beautiful. She sang with her group as if she had been with them since the beginning of the year. She also played a xylophone during one of the songs. She did a great job and the program was very nice. So until later............

Life as a Duda.......

John by our Christmas Tree!

Kristina by the Christmas tree!

Keegan and Kristina!

John just after dinner!

Kristina just after dinner!

This past weekend we went to the cemetery to put down grave blankets for my mother, my father and my sister. After putting them down, we decorate them. We were not sure if the kids would take part or not. Kristina did but John just stood back and watched. In the end, the grave blankets looked beautiful as always. After having breakfast with family, we headed out to do a little shopping. We got the kids their Christmas outfits (pictures will be posted when they actually wear them). After that, we headed home to decorate for Christmas. On Saturday, we got all the house decorations up other than the tree. On Sunday, Kenny, Keegan and Kristina put up the outside decorations. Kristina had a blast. John stayed in with me and helped me make hot chocolate and dinner. Sunday evening, Kenny and Keegan put up our tree. We did not get to start decorating it because it was too late. The decorating happened on Tuesday night. This year the theme of the tree is Disney. The kids had a blast and the tree looks great. Tonight we put some candy canes on it and the kids thought that was really cool. Kenny and I will finish up the tree by putting on the tinsel. We have a big weekend ahead of us, our friend Robin is hosting an adoption shower for us on Saturday afternoon and our little guy turns five on Sunday. We will be having a "construction equipment" themed party on Sunday with family and friends in attendance. Before the weekend even gets here, Kristina's school is having their annual Christmas Program on Thursday evening. We will be going to hear her and her classmates sing. She will be getting all dressed up and we will take pictures and get them posted. So until later..............

The results are in...............

Blood work and chest x-ray: Doc says the kids are perfect! No need for any shots or medicine!

John & The Dentist: Off to a slow start, a few tears but in the end...........no cavities and his teeth look great!

Thanksgiving: We travelled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a youth football tournament (the team Kenny coaches) and the team won the national championship! The kids did very well on the long bus ride. They got to do a lot of swimming and I think it is safe to say, they LOVE to swim.

Football: The kids watched the games and really enjoyed them. Kristina even turned off a cartoon and turned on a college game and looked at the screen and said "Papa". She made her dad really proud.

School: Kristina is liking it very much. She is learning new English words every day. She is even enjoying the homework!

John's English: A little slow but he is learning new words. Every once in a while a word will come out and surprise us all.

This weekend: We are putting up our Christmas decorations. Kristina and Keegan have been putting up decorations for all the previous holidays and she has been very excited. Can't wait to see their faces when we pull out ALL of our Christmas decorations.

So until later..................

Some updates.........

Kristina got her glasses and is loving wearing them.

No news from the doctor about blood work or x-ray results yet.

Kristina is loving school and is even starting to eat her lunch. She is learning new words every day and will try and say every word we ask her to. Keegan helps her with her new words everyday. He goes over them with her and makes sure her homework is done. He is a great big brother!

John still loves anything with wheels and is slowing saying some English words - but being a little stubborn about it. He understands English very well, just doesn't want to speak it. Keegan and John have become such good buddies that we rarely see one without the other.

Kristina was at the dentist last evening and had two cavities filled. The dentist said she did great - she didn't even want me to be in the room with her. Our little independent one!

This past weekend we had a family wedding in Bloomington, so the five of us packed up Saturday morning and off we went. The first thing we did when we got to the hotel was get into our swimming suits. We had bought the kids the ones with the life jackets built right in. Kristina loved it and by the end of the swimming session, she was going into the deep end of the pool and swimming back to us. Not perfect form but we will work on that. John on the other hand, would rather just splash around and stay close to the edge of the pool holding on to the sides. That's okay at least we didn't have any screams! There was a point when he let Kenny and Keegan toss him back and forth in the pool (as long as his head didn't get wet). Remember we believe this was their first experience in a pool.

We went to the wedding and the kids did an awesome job in church. At one point, after the congregation all said "Amen" there was this little voice (John) saying AMEN! I teared up immediately and thought of my mother who has been gone for nineteen years and how proud she would have been at that point. I knew she was looking down right then and smiling from ear to ear.

During the reception, the three kids stayed at the hotel and mom and dad had an evening out. When we got back all three kids were sleeping and the hotel room had no damage. I knew Keegan would do a great job!

Before we left to go home, we took the kids swimming again. This time Kristina was like a little fish. Swimming from one end of the pool to the other. Peer pressure is a great thing. The first time in the pool it was just the five of us, this time there were about 7 other kids in the water. Those kids were jumping off the sides and Kristina was not going to allow them to show her up. So there she goes, jumping off the sides and swimming with her head under water and everything. John stayed on the side of the pool and did lots of splashing, but the good thing was he was doing it on his own and there was no "fear" on his face.

We got home in time to celebrate and early Thanksgiving with part of my family. We celebrate Thanksgiving early because Kenny and I go down to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for a youth football tournament (the kids Kenny coaches). The food was amazing, the company was awesome. So all in all we had a blast. Kristina loves turkey and John loves the mashed potatoes.

As a little tradition, we have everyone say what they are thankful for before we get to eat. The kids (my grown nieces and nephews) balk sometimes but always come thru in the end and I think actually enjoy doing it. I won't go into what I said, but I couldn't get thru it without tears flowing down my cheeks. Well this year the Duda Family has so much to be thankful for! So until later........Happy Thanksgiving! and Go Providence Celtics! (Keegan's high school is playing in the Class 6A State Championship game)

By Request...

Well some readers have wondered when a long, "Novelesque" entry will again be posted. Well here I go. Keegan, My mother, My Step-Father and I met Gloria and the kids at the international terminal (5) at O'Hare on October 28th. The kids were a bit over whelmed and shy during the initial meeting at the airport. Gloria and I had expected this and had requested that we be allowed a small welcome at the airport. We do appreciate all the family and friends that wanted to join us at the airport for the welcome home but we felt is better that we keep it small. After a few shy hugs we loaded up Mom and Harry's car and headed home. After sleeping for 9 and a half hours on the flight the kids were wide eyed with wonder on the trip home. In Russia they don't have interstate highways and tollways like the 8-10 lane wide ones near O'Hare. John spent a lot of time in awe of all the vehicles on the road (anything with wheels). We got home and the kids about broke down the van doors to get out and see the house! Of course they noticed the two bicycles in the garage before even getting in the house and had to spend their first 10 minutes at home riding them on the sidewalk (with training wheels). We put the bikes away and went in the house. Kristina immediately went to the back door to look at the dogs (Keegan put them out while we rode bikes) She pointed at Bruister and said "Eta Bruister". She had really studied the pictures hard while in Russia! Well the next hour or so was a blur! going through the house checking out all the rooms, it was obvious though that they recognized the surroundings from the Video that Keegan had made. Of course after about an hour Keegan pipes up with "whats for dinner mom?" and then we loaded up the car and went to our local restaurant Mr. B's for dinner as the cupboards were bare! So the first night at home went well, we found out that John does not like real warm baths that night. On Thursday, Keegan got up and went to school and the kids slept till about 11:30 am adjusting to the new time zone. It really only appeared to take them a couple of days to adjust to the time change. I unfortunately woke up on Thursday very sick with an upper respiratory infection that I had been fighting off. We did however make it to Sam's Club for the kids first trip to an American store. Needless to say they were shocked by Sam's. We went to pick up some Yogurt, Jello, juice and some fruit for the kids. We left with a ton of things. Of course the kids took turns pointing to about everything in the store and wanted us to buy them all! The one thing we did buy was a half gallon jar of Dill Gerkin pickles...these sat in the fridge for about 4-5 days until snack time one night...Kristina was telling us she wanted something for a snack and we did not know what she was saying so Gloria opened the fridge and she went right for the pickles. After about 8-10 of them each we had to put them away. Needless to say we finished the jar during last nights snack and Kristina has mastered her 5th English word...PICKLES! We are still trying to determine what foods the kids like, but so far we know Kristina likes Yogurt and oranges and John likes Jello (with fruit) and meatloaf. Of course you can throw Pizza, Scrambled Eggs and McDonald French Fries in there at the top of the list. Peas and Corn seem to be the favorite veggies (won't touch Broccoli). They are not much for Cookies and don't appear to care for Ice Cream. Kristina has taking a liking to Potato chips and John love his MnM's. Both kids have seen the Pediatrician and have a clean bill of health so far, we are waiting on the results of the Titers to determine if any Inoculations need to be given. Kristina's Glasses are ordered and we can't wait for them to come in so we can pull her back from the TV. They both love Disney Channel, cartoons and movies. Kristina started school on Friday the 6th of November and loves it. She is in first grade and has a teacher that is really excited about having her in class and is a great communicator with us. She is giving Kristina extra attention on her English skills and says that she is doing great so far. Kristina brings home a word list each Monday of 10 to 12 words (flash cards with pictures) and we review them each night and she is quizzed on them on Friday. She is concentrating on school words right now so that Kristina knows what words related to her school day, ie..pencil, markers, glue stick, scissors...Next week she will begin with "non-school" words. John has gone to work with Mom a few days and goes to a sitter on other days and this is working out great, Kristina goes home from school to the same sitter after school and I pick them up around 4:45 each day. We have jumped right back into our busy lifestyles and the kids appear to be handling it very well. We of course spend each night working with them on their English and playing. Last night Kristina was on the Internet at her learning site that the teacher has recommended and she loved it. This Friday the team of people I work with are throwing an adoption shower for us and Gloria is going to take John to work and then join us at the office for the shower. Life if good right now! We love the kids and they are showing signs of affection back to us...."My Papa!" with big hugs! So far the bonding is going great for all 5 of us and we are one happy family. We can't wait for the holidays to see how the kids react to Santa and the decorations and all that go along with it....and boy do we have something to be thankful for next week!

Kenny