Baking Breads...my new hobby...as if I needed another one

A Russian dish that I made

Homeade breadstick with parmesan and herbs

Homeade pasta~~~~

Landon thought this was the coolest experiment ever.

Sesame breadsticks

Pita Bread

Cobblestone Cheese Bread. It has a crunchy outside

and soft on the inside.

Pumpernickel (chorni kleb)

Cobblestone cheese bread.

Pancetta and olive loaves.

The top loaf is ciabatta bread.

Perozhkee (with different fillings)

I have started baking/making bread~~ It is such a fun hobby. I love it!! I have made many different types of bread. I have made~~~~italian breads, wheat breads, rye breads, and white breads. I have made bread sticks which are sooooooo yummy. This weekend I made pita bread and this morning I made English muffins (this was so cool). Last night Landon and I even made homeade pasta - linguine and spaghetti. I have taken some pictures. Hope you enjoy!

Finishing touches on the room...

Pantry from the boys' room!

The walls are a very pale blue with white ceiling and trim!

The boys' new room

This is the pantry before walls.

This is the side view of the pantry.

The laundry room is in the back by this ladder.

The windows are ready now we just had to put the siding.

More measuring

Framing for the new windows.

Taking down the garage door (I helped with this)

Ryan and I took the garage door down and the windows

up in one day :) Thanks to the Jacksons for watching

the kids.

The new door going to the garage from the sunroom.

New Year's Eve meal

New Year's Eve meal: Chicken Kiev, potato salad, rice,

mushroom gravy, green beans and tangerines. And Ryan's

homemade bread. YUMMY!!

Random pictures from the holidays

Christmas and New Years

Christmas was uneventful this year. Ryan and I started a project the Wednesday before Christmas and that took up most of our time this Christmas. It has been fun though a lot of work. We are in the process of closing in our garage and making it into a room for the boys!! They are excited and the room is HUGE!! The kids enjoyed opening all their presents Christmas morning. After Christmas we were able to visit with Katie and Luke who came from Texas. At New Years we visited with my family except Samuel who was able to come the day before Christmas. Overall, it was a relaxing Christmas and New Years which is nice every once in a blue moon;)

Family Christmas pictures because I didn't do Christmas cards this year

The pictures from my birthday party

Masha gave me a whistling teapot.

Masha, Jihene, me and Anastasiya

My wonderful family and the tasty cherry pie

that Mrs. Jackson made for me.

Susan painted this picture for me.

3 new Christmas dresses

Her ballet pose.

Bobcat Badge

Landon's scout group!


Putting on his bobcat badge :)

Big L and I after receiving the badge.

Christmastime adventures

Last Thursday night Bryce had a choral concert at school! The kids all did a wonderful job and it was a fun program to watch. They sang many new songs and some old ones too!! They divided the gym into sections based on the 12 days of Christmas. Then each section had to say their part. It ended up reminding me of the cheer "we've got spirit yes we do...we've got spirit how 'bout you". Everyone was yelling their part...it was so funny I had to substitute on Friday and on Monday so that always makes for a crazy day. It rained all day on Saturday so I sewed 3 dresses. The kids spent lots of time reading and were really good. Landon had his cub scout meeting on Sunday evening and received his bobcat badge. This week will be full of activities at their school because of Christmas. Friday is their last day.

We have started another building project. We are making an opening to the garage from our sunroom. Then we will finish the garage room to make another BIG room. Not sure whether we will move the boys out there or make it a playroom. It will be fun and adventurous, I am sure! I have pictures of all the above events and will post as I have time.

Katya :)

More of the princess

Parker Reid :)

Landon :)

Katya's pictures

Some Pre-Christmas pictures

Yesterday we went to Wild Adventures. It was only for a few hours because it was so cold. The kids had fun and it was not crowded at all. I also was able to get some really cute pictures of the kids before we left for church yesterday morning. I will share them if I can get them to upload.

Thanksgiving we went to Atlanta. We all enjoyed playing the wii. For some reason I have no pictures (guess I was too busy playing the wii). I think Summer took some so if I find any I will definately upload! We had lots of yummy food and even found some sales on Black Friday. The kids are back in school and all doing very well. Bryce is getting ready for a Christmas concert with chorus. He and Landon are reading so many books!! Parker Reid is improving on his sight words everyday. Sydney Katya is Sydney Katya, a princess and has developed a love for dancing. All is well and we are putting up our tree tonight!!! We are all excited about this (espcially Ryan :) ) The kids are ready for their elf to return. His name is Jackson. Hopefully he will make his appearance when our house looks a little more like we are in the Christmas spirit. I am trying to figure out how to upload more pictures but blogger is so slow. More to come...goodbye for now.

Katya's 3rd birthday (a little late)

Sydney Katya's birthday party!

Promised pictures

A few pictures from Disney World (sorry it took so long)

end of October activities.....

So for all (few of you) that are waiting for me to change this blog, this is for you!! We enjoyed our time at Disney World. It was VERY cool the day that we went so it was such a beautiful day. Thanks to my brother, Samuel for treating us to a wonderful time there. The kids really enjoyed seeing all the characters and riding the rides. It was cool to see everyone as a "kid" for the day! I loved watching my mom experience Disney World for the first time. We also enjoyed Summer being there with us. Thanks so much for the wonderful weekend, Samuel~(in case you even read my blog)

So after Disney, we have been going to lots of soccer games and practices. We also have been busy with homework. I am still working in the garden at school because we still have peppers (bell, jalepeno, and cowhorn) and LOTS of them. I have been able to sub one day so that was nice. We had a trunk or treat party with the church. Halloween we went to our friends' house for a party! It was a fun and she had planned lots of activities for the kids. Our family also celebrated two birthdays just 2 days apart. Ryan and Sydney Katya had birthdays at the end of October. They both had parties and cakes and we just finished off the cakes last night. I think that is about all for now but I will try to get pictures up soon.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E.....

My brother, Samuel has invited us to go to Disney World compliments of him. YEAH!!! The kids are sooooooooooo pumped. He told them today now we only have a few days of "when are we going to Disney World, mommy??" We are excited though. They can't remember ever going because Landon and Parker Reid were very young when we went last time. My mom and dad have NEVER been either so this will be so neat. Pass on any advise for those of you who have recently visited Disney. Thanks so much. Pictures and stories to come soon.

Picture updates

A chrysallis! They are this beautiful color.

Me with my boys!

We also went to Destin for Judah and Kim's wedding!

The caterpillars