Happy New Year!

Click on the picture to read the card!

The kids were troopers and made it to midnight! Then John asked, "Can I go to bed now?"

Christmas 2010

Where to begin......

We celebrated Christmas not once, not twice, but six different times. Yes, you read that correctly. Six times....

The first party was the weekend before Christmas - this party was with my mother's side of the family, so my Aunt and Uncles and Cousins and their kids. We have not been able to make this party in a few years so it was really nice to get to attend this year. The kids had a blast and even got to see Santa.

The next party was the following night....that was at our good friends house. We do not have any pictures because we left the camera in the car and when I did take pictures, they were all foggy. But again the kids had a blast and got to see Santa again.

The next party was the following night. This party is hosted my my mother in law and step father in law. We got an extra special gift this year.....Kenny's sister, brother in law, and their three kids were able to travel to the states from Germany to celebrate with us this year. My brother in law Don is a Lt. Colonel in the Army and they have been stationed there for the past year and a half. Their youngest, Grace was born in July 2009, so this is the first time we have gotten to see her since she was 3 weeks old. So it was very exciting for everyone. The kids had a blast and again Santa made an appearance. This time Santa talked to the kids and knew what they wanted for Christmas, so they were very intrigued by the man in the red suit. They wanted to know where he parked the reindeer. Oh to be young again!!!!

Keegan & Santa Claus

John & Santa Claus (He is even smiling) What an accomplishment!

Kristina & Santa - this is when Santa told her that he knows she wants an i-pod for Christmas!
Thanks Santa!

The next party was on Christmas Eve with Kenny's family. As usual we had a blast. Mom spoils all of us - not just the kids. We love her for it! The kids got lots of toys, clothes and things. Even the big kid got everything he wanted.

Our family picture

Next party......Christmas morning.........

Look at all the loot.......

Someone is very spoiled......


Keegan & his snuggie!

John & Kristina with their ride on scooters.

They love them and have been riding them around the house since.

The dogs are not real fond of this gift from Santa.

The afternoon of Christmas Day, my family comes to celebrate Christmas. This year we have new family members, our great niece Erika, our great niece Caitlyn and our great nephew Zachary. We were blessed that almost the whole family was able to attend this year's celebration. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and wish everyone the happiest of New Year's. We pray that everyone's dreams come true! So until next year.......Merry Christmas from the Duda Family of Five!!!!

Kenny, Gloria, Keegan, Kristina & John

Now he is 6...

The cake for his friend's party on Saturday!
A Group Shot on Saturday with some of his classmates and his sister!

Waiting for everyone to sing to him!

The cake for Sunday's celebration with family and friends!

I love this present!

I love Transformers!

Kristina, John & Keegan
Our Babies!

Are you guys gonna sing soon?

John turned 6 on the 13th and we had two parties the weekend before. One party for his classmates from school and second party for family and friends. Great times were had by all. On Saturday, we had the kids from school come over. John had a great time showing his school friends his room and his toys. Everything went well and we played a few games. We played pin the tail on the donkey, clothespins in the bottle and hot potato. The kids had a blast. On Sunday, we had the family party and again everyone had a great time. The kids are getting use to being around everyone now so we really do not have any more shy children. On Monday, getting ready for school he asked "Is it my birthday again today?" We told him yes today is your birthday and you are finally six! He put on one of his new outfits and said to me, is this my new outfit from my birthday? So I guess he is getting it! Now that his birthday is over.....we get to move on to Christmas. According to John, Christmas is his favorite!!!

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.