A Roller Coaster Ride!!!!

Mouse our Cat..see below! The high free fall from Valley Fair that Katya & Sophia rode!



Katya's been busy making a beautiful scarf! Brothers, Andri & James sleeping in the van!

A very wet ride at Valley Fair today, and later a lot of rain! Jaclyn with our new friend Katrina.

Papa pays us $1 if we drink water instead of pop. Photo with the kids at Valley Fair..we're missing Sophia (see blog below).

I'm on the phone with someone making me smile! The kids after they got soaked at the Valley Fair ride. A few of them went twice!

A Roller Coaster Ride! That is how I'd explain this last week. And today we're on top thank-God!

These issues generally belong to only one or two children, but I'd rather not name anyone in particular. Some are having a really hard time sharing me. They can't handle it if someone is next to me or holding my hand so sharing my time. Some have offered to "go" if they can't get their way. Some have said they want to hurt others or themselves, which really scares me. One night I called a friend to see if it was really possible to be hurt one way, and my friends walked over, but at the time all that was happening was big tears. I can't tell the difference between "talk" and serious desire to be harmful.

Katya is pretty balanced, and I can tell she is trying to understand when things can get a little crazy in a household with 7 children. She cooked the best stuffed peppers ever, and did it completely different than how I learned. Natasha seems to be very patient with me as well, and ever so often, showers me with kisses and hugs that almost hurt.

Sometimes there is too much "physical" correction and it can really make the recipient sad. I pray that it will stop, without too much lecture and discipline.

Jonathan tends to "bug" as many as he can, which seems to be normal behavior for him. James gets mad, and puts a fist in his back. Jaclyn cries if she has to do too many chores, so you can see that we did have somewhat of a roller coaster ride last week!

Chris' photo with the dollar is how he handles the desire to order pop at a restaurant. We went out for Father's day. He offers the kids $1 for not ordering pop and $10 for letting us trim their hair instead of going to a barber.

We are looking forward to having families over on Sunday at 6pm for CHAI and excited to share our message despite the roller coaster ride.

We had a nice nice time today at Valley Fair, and every day I feel more trust toward my children, and love their presence. I wish that I could give them all the attention they so desperately need, but I pray that between Chris & I, and God, we will meet their needs. My only concerns is that they don't hurt each other or themselves, and learn to be kind to each other. They generally have a lot of fun together.

Chris does all the night nights now and that has helped our evenings go much smoother. They all get hugs, and prayers, and books, and I can get the dog walked, or this or that done. He has been very supportive this week, and relaxed about the house, and kind. I really appreciate his help.

I need to get kids into the family doctor next week. Sophia has head-aches alot. Their eyesight is all great, although Natasha has a bit of a lazy eye and might need more correction in it. They said we could wait until after Christmas. Sophia needs a crown on her tooth, and that can wait as well. They had cavities repaired, and are doing well. Natasha lost a tooth and the tooth fairy came to visit!

They want to put Katya in 9th grade due to age, but we want her to go to 8th to get one year of school and English first.

Cats..they are bugging me so Jaclyn is under strict rules on how to take care of them, or they are getting the boot. So far so good. Pray that we can clean her room up nice.

I'm bushed from a fun day at Valley Fair. Thanks for all your encouragement & prayers. It has been a roller coaster ride this week, and I knew I'd have rough days, but somehow knowing doesn't make them any easier. We are well now, except I am concerned about Sophia's headaches.

Love from Alesia & Chris

This & That...June 18th

Night Night's....Chris takes one floor and I take another and we switch off day in and day out. Katya and the boys are upstairs, and Jaclyn, Sophia & Natasha are downstairs.

Sophia did this artwork at Jaclyn's Girly Raspberry Party.

Katya & Sophia like to help the babies ice skating. Andri is in the back. We still enjoy braiding hair as well, as you can see from the picture.

Jaclyn had a birthday party with her girlfriends. Eleven of them all in all. It started out with a quiet dinner, with very little talking, and ending up with lots of laughter and giddiness, crafts, popcorn, and fingernail polish.

The pool has been a little bit of fun, but now there are a few bugs in it and some are afraid to swim. It looks pretty good to me.



Alesia had a girls weekend holiday with her Mom, Aunt, Sis 'n law, and cousin. It was a much needed holiday and Chris did great with the kids. They "Did great" without Mama!

Sophia swimming. Sophia got an owie at track and fitness class. She was running to jump onto the high jump platform just to learn how it feels and run on it, and somehow tripped and fell onto the pavement on her face. I was walking the dog so I missed it, but Katya brought her to me. It's quite the "Raspberry" so to speak. James is above. He is upset with Mama for something at iceskating. I think at one time I had at least 4 children upset with me. Say no does bring some problems, but we need to keep doing it.

Chris and I are ok, better than before, but a lot like 2 ships passing in the night. I'm pretty exhausted at night, but we are all still sleeping good.

Tomorrow Jonathan has a chess tournament that I will be bringing him to in Minneapolis. It is a nice vacation for me with a book and computer.

We hear that some of our children's friends are coming from Ukraine, and we look forward to seeing them. We went to a contact spot and saw a lot of photos from their home in Ukraine and it was a lot of fun.

I need to work on more boundaries with the computer. I asked yesterday that everyone practice their instruments before skype or computer. I'm making a little headway.

We are taking turns sharing stories from our past which is good and hard at the same time. I look forward to just moving forward into a normal family life.

Some of us have more tears than others. Some of us have more patience than others. Some of us have more humor than others. Some of us have more love than others. Some of us have more boundaries than others. I guess we are a family! We still pray at dinner, and at night nights. We have read some Bible, and Katya has read out loud Narnia one night. We keep a little too busy for now, but we do read to the kids each day wholesome and funny books, and keep moving in the right direction.

THANKS for all your prayers. We have not had any big accidents this week, except Pasha's ouie on her face.

More next week! Love from Chris & Alesia

Pray for Protection!

We've had stitches and fender benders since the last blog, and appreciate your prayers of protection over our family. We cherish your prayers.

Andri in Hockey Gear. Katya & Andri at an Ice Cream Social.

Andri kicking back on a convertible. Katya with Papa.

Katya's new car (just kidding!). Our Track Stars!
James, Sophia, Katya, Jaclyn, Jonathan, Natasha, Andri.

James trying to get into a photo with Katya. Natasha with her friend Kasey who she loves to see. She lives near us and comes over often and entertains our family! We saw her at ice skating.

Katya & Mama in Katya's room. Kids at a Willy Wonka play on the day Jonathan hurt his foot.

911: A big boy sliced Jonathan's foot open playing hockey on Friday with his skate. It was a freak thing, as it was cut below the skate, and he had all his gear on. 6 stitches, and not too much blood loss, only shock for me!

Track: All the kids are in track and some apply themselves more than others!

Ice Skating: Katya, Pasha & Natasha all have lessons, and sometimes their feet hurt. Everyone skates MWF when we get a chance to go.

Car Problems: I rammed into someone when the kids were loud and she stopped abruptly. I am driving the big van now and that is interesting. No problems and quieter children now.

Chess: Besides my finally check-mating Jonathan, we have found a chess club for him, James, & Jaclyn. When the others improve their game, they are welcome as well. James (7) played a 14 year old and beat him 1/2 the time!

This Weekend: I am going to spend a girly weekend with my mom and lady family members. Chris will have all the kids for the weekend. We have been preparing the kids for this for a few days and I think all will be fine. It's my mom's 60th birthday.

Music Lessons: Today, Jaclyn, Katya & Jonathan had guitar. Jaclyn, Natasha & Katya had voice, Jonathan had piano, and Natasha had violin group lesson!!!! While the kids were at voice/guitar, the others were at the nearby library (I walked back and forth 1 block). It all went great!

Rosetta Stone: Chris got us up and running with the English version, and all but Katya have tried it. I realized I can put English subtitles on our movies and that helps as well.

Chris and I: We are doing good, I run to him when I need some space from 7 children needing something, and he is trying not to fill me up with all the things I could do better. We're keeping the lawn mowed, and yard in order. We have trimmed the kids hair to keep it healthy and looking nice. Our home is "presentable" but I would like it a little cleaner.

It's 11:13 And I'm fading fast! Love from Alesia & Chris

Our Week, part 2

Melenki Dom..(Camper), and big Machina (Sprinter Van).


Andri showing off the sun fish that he caught and being "serious" in the photo with Mama.

Natasha & Chance by our wood pile. Alesia at the lake.

Update on Everyone...

Alesia: We started a ROUTINE this week, so that has been a little bit harder and better. The first day, after 7 children complaining about their work load, and my own emotions, I pretty much lost it. I think that day everyone cried except Papa. Of course Papa doesn't understand. Anyway, that was day one of our routine.

I manage to drive the kids here and there, get in some skating, swimming, walking the dog, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and a phone call here and there. I am pretty tired at night when my head hits the pillow. Kids get frustrated at night if I can't lay with them for a half hour (even my children). So I think I'll just read stories to all or do movies and do tuck-ins twice a week or something with singing. Otherwise it's a 2 hour affair. It's important though as it's the time all can really tell me about what's going on.

Chris: He has been taking the Sprinter this week and hopes to get it ready for us with speakers in the back. He did all the camping prep, and set up our pool on Monday after the holiday weekend. He has managed to visit his mom after her surgery and heart attack a few times and continues his usual work week at 3M. He doesn't undestand my stress, or know how to handle it, and I realize that know and will handle it with friends or just find ways to let it go. All the kids have bad memories of their Papa, so they carry that over to Chris, which is not a good way to get things started.

Katya: She has started guitar, is a good help with the scheduled routine. She has started some art projects, and cooked some fish the other day. She likes to organize and keep things in order. She has not been frustrated or very angry since she has been here. She went with Jaclyn and Papa to a Teen party the other night. We couldn't tear her away from fishing up at Mom & Dad's on the lake. She keeps us laughing, enjoys ice skating, and started track yesterday. Ice Skating lessons start for her, Sophia, & Natasha on Monday. She has opened up to me some and we understand each other.

Jaclyn: She is still in violin, guitar, piano, and enjoys ice skating 3x per week at the St. Croix Rec Center with all of us on MWF. She enjoys her new sisters, and is adjusting well. She wishes I could tuck her in at night for a long time, and if I don't, she thinks I love others more than her, just like everyone else says, so I'm getting used to it. She started track as well yesterday (everyone did), and her knees really hurt, so I need to take her to a specialist and see what is going on.

Sophia: She enjoys ice skating, swimming in our pool or the Maplewood community center, and biking. She loves babies any time that she sees them. She loves to help cook or prepare meals. She has a little problem of leaving a trail here and there, but so do some of the other children as well. She also does not like to hear the word no as do some of our other children. She is fun and sweet to talk to.

Natasha: She is almost always the first one up and wants to sit with me and would like to do computer, but she has her list of chores to do first. She wants to cook a lot, and sometimes burns herself trying too hard. She started violin, and piano and loves them both. She loves track and joked about going to the doctor because her legs hurt (in the thigh muscle) from running. She loves swimming, biking, and doing her list of chores, even though she complains.

Jonathan: He wants to know when we will get him to a chess club and get him rated. He loves track that started and skating 3x a week, but doesn't want to skate with the big boys playing hockey, but I think he would do great. He doesn't like his chores and complains a lot about doing them. He helps with the dog, and has walked the dog with Natasha for 30 minutes the other day and that went well. He likes to read the encyclopedia and books.

Andri: He has taken off on the skates and will have absolutely no trouble at hockey. He's what I would call a natural. He works hard and sweats a lot, and is not afraid of the big boys skating. I think he will be fast. He loves everything, keeps his room in some order. He cries when his big brothers give him a hard time, and loves running around with them and squirting them with water.

James: Wants me for all love and affection, and seems overly sensitive to correction which is hard for me to handle as well. He loves tuck in songs, especially the Wise Man Built His House on the Rock. He loves his new math book even though I can't find my lesson guide. He loves to play chess with Jonathan, and giggles when Jonathan tickles him. He is quiet and shy around his new

sisters, but loves being with them.

All skate 3x a week, and all are in track.

Our biggest problems is me getting tired and finding time to talk to Chris. The toilet overflowing. Keeping the kids doing their chores. Me keeping encouraged. Chris' biggest problem is when I have problem, he doesn't know how to handle them, and tells me what to do to "fix" them. So basically adds to the pile of problems. So as I settle in, and draw up some boundaries, I will have less problems so he will as well.

All the kids have been reading Russian or English except James and doing a great job of reading. Pasha is reading Tom Sawyer in Russian, Katya is reading Girl Book Devorchek, Jaclyn is reading Scarlet Letter after Tom Sawyer & Robin Hood (unabridged). Jonathan is reading space and encyclopedia books, and Natasha is reading the children's bible and little books here and there. Andri is reading a little book from Novelselki. They are all writing words or paragraphs. All chores need to be done before computer time or film time. I think I'll ease up on reading or chess. I don't mind them playing games, or reading, but begging for computer time doesn't fly for me right now when the chores are not done.

We pray at dinner, laugh and cry. Sing praise songs in the car Russian and English, watch movies together, swim, walk, bike, and hang out together. We are doing well all in all. We all fight with one another at various times and most of us make us and say we are sorry.

Our next blog will be next Week sometime. Love from Chris & Alesia

Our Week...part 1

Katya & Natasha fishing off the dock. Sophia is fishing in the next photo.
Doesn't look windy, but it was. And 90F.
Katya caught most of the fish, and Andri caught a few. Grandpa O, cut them up for eating.

Andri & James enjoying the fish and the day. We spent about 3 hours fishing. Jaclyn liked laying in the lake, but later had swimmer's itch. A few us us had sunburn, so learned the hard way to use sunscreen next time.

Some beautiful artwork from Katya pictured here.

Mama & Natasha at Grandma & Grandpa's. A stop at McDonald's on Saturday after shopping, before swimming up north. Natasha & Jaclyn sharing an Orange Crush.

Natasha photo in our back yard. We needed photos for some documents we're filing, and I tossed Natasha's photo as it was so sad looking. She was serious and messy. So later when we needed one, I needed to take it with the camera! Also above Turkey dinner at Mom & Dad's up north.

Next Blog will have a few more photos & more story : ) Alesia & Chris