What the hay?

Okay, so I just posted this great up beat entry.  Thrilled about the soccer team, and how well they are doing.  Basically on a high, thinking life ain't so bad.  It is amazing how it can turn so ugly!  Testing my abilities as a good Mother, are my wonderful teenage kids.  When Dad's away, the kids will play with Mom.  The game isn't always fair though.  

This morning was very good.  I took the boy's to their tutor, which normally turns out to be a big argument by the end of the session.  She told me that she was very proud of the boys, and that they really worked hard today.  I thought to myself, finally, now we are getting somewhere.   We had a great conversation on the drive back to school, laughing and joking all the way.  Then I got home. 

 

My oldest has moved back in, and it has been quite an adjustment for both of us.  She is used to doing what she wants, and I'm used to telling her what is best.  That never makes for good conversation at the end of the day.  I'm harsh, I'll admit, and I need to back off.  This always ends up with the volcano effect, and you mothers know exactly what I am talking about.  It's going to erupt sooner or later.  I opted for later, and kept myself busy getting a video done.

We had a nice dinner, and my two oldest went out.  Cat and the boys did what homework they had, and then a little free time.  At 9:00, they read.  Sound reasonable right.  Not to Sasha.   That is when the night went horribly wrong.  He sat in Cat's chair and made it his own.  Cat got mad, and I took her side.  She just got up for a drink.  He said that Cat can sit somewhere else!  "Really, your serious?"  I made him get up and find another spot to read.  He was bugged, but did it.  When he was done, he went to his room and found that his dresser was gone.  He came running down the stairs stating "Mom. my dresser, where?  

I reminded him that Maddie had asked both of them, if she could use it yesterday.  He and Artem, told her she could.  "Yeah, but that was just two drawers!"  Of course this is highly unfair, because you know, I am now favoring my girls again, and it's not fair to the boys that come from a different land.  I was telling him how we can work it out.  He just turned walked away from me.  I told him to come back.   Nothing. I heard him down the hall.  Again, Sasha come back here while I'm talking to you!  Nothing!  I hear him going up the stairs.  At this point I'm yelling, Sasha come back here!  I hear him upstairs heading towards his room.  (Remember that volcano that I so reasonably saved for later?  Yeah........

I let him have it (verbally, of course)  He sat there and took it.  Every word bouncing off him like a rubber ball banging against my forehead.   I told him the small about of underwear and PJ's that he kept in that dresser, can easily fit into his closet with no problem.  He jumps up and said good.  With that he went in his closet, took some box's out that were Maddie's, and some other stuff I had stored in there.  (They each have a big closet by the way, which isn't even nearly full)  He started handing me stuff, and I gladly took it out.  Then he handed me a shoe box.  I asked what was in it.  He said that it didn't matter, it wasn't his.  I opened it to find all of the letters we had written to them while they were in Ukraine.  Shocked, I asked him if he really wanted them thrown out?  "Yes, I don't need them anymore.  You see, no problem!"  Talk about a knife through your heart.  I calmly asked him again, if he was sure.  He said he was, and I said fine.  They are just papers.  Talk about being spiteful, but OUCH!  That hurt!  

Going to bed angry is not a good thing.  I just didn't know what else to do.  Of course, he is sleeping soundly, while I'm up at three o'clock in the morning surfing the internet!  I have been sick for more then a week, with little sleep at night.  I need sleep.  I have compared this adoption thing with having a baby.  I waited more then 9 months to get them here, and now I have to stay up at night with them.  The funny thing with Sasha is, that he will forget all about this in the morning, and I will carry it the rest of the week.  Mostly in the bags under my eyes. 

Oh, kids can do so many heinous things to you, but I guess that's what makes us who we are.  MOMS!       

  

Far From Over

Busy, Busy.  Kent had taken Sasha on a scout overnighter, with skiing the next day.  Artem opted not to go, to play soccer instead.  We had a big crowd there to watch them.  I guess I have been giving the team a lot of hype, and they wanted to see what the big deal was.  The team didn't fail to impress!  My family was debating weather or not to go.  It's all the way out in Bountiful for crying out loud!  Who has that kind of time?  By the end of the first game, my sister was saying, "We should go to the Real games!"  I replied "Are you kidding me?"  besides - not as much fun!

They won both of their games again.  But that is not really the point here.  Not for the parents anyway; for them it is.

 Ha Ha!  I don't know what it is about seeing these kids play as a team together.  I absolutely love to watch their intensity.  You can feel the connection they all have to one another.  Even the ones that didn't know each other in Ukraine.   I thought it was just the parents, but it was the others as well that made comments about it.  

I have entitled this video "Far From Over" because even though they have their last game this Saturday, their connection with each other is far from over!

What a kick!

This past Saturday, team Ukraine had a double header in soccer.  They won both games!  The first game was 18 to 0.  The second game was 5 to 3.  They had a blast.  There was a set back though.  One of the boys broke his pelvis, while trying to make a goal.  The moment is captured on this video.  I hope it isn't too up setting for some to see.  It doesn't really look like much.  It is the only clip that is in slow motion.  I debated about putting it in, but in the end, I thought that he would like to see it!  These kids are so tuff.  I talked with him after the game, and asked if he was in much pain.  He said he was, but he didn't seem too bothered by it.  I thought that he might have just pulled a hamstring.  

Just so you know, my Sasha had 4 goals!  He told me that the 4th one didn't count because it was really Ruslan's kick that bounced off his leg though the goal.  He is giving that one to him, so it was really 3 goals.  My Artem had some really great blocks too, so I was a very proud Mom! 

  

                               

While I was going through my video's, I found this one.  It is of the hosting families for 2008.  I thought that some of you may like to see it.  I have a lot more footage, but I will post it at a later time.  This was right before they came down the escalators to meet their hosting families.  They were all so darling, it made me want to do it all again!      

  

They never said anything about the tuff times!

First off, let me say how much I love Artem and Sasha!  I don't mean to be negative at all, but they can be so hard.  School is very tedious to them.  I just had an ESL meeting with all of their teachers today, and it wasn't pretty.  What it all comes down to, is that they are getting lazy with the work they have to do in class.  They say they don't understand, when they do, just to get out of doing it.  I know, typical teenager.  Well, after the meeting, when we got home, I put them to work on getting caught up.  It was very overwhelming for all of us.  We took away their computer hour, until they get caught up.  (That is what these boys live for.)  I asked them where they would rather be right now, here or Ukraine?  They replied, here!  I told them that from the beginning we have been giving them everything, love, family, home, clothes, food.  I was going on, and on.  I even have them watch me, when I pay cash for their tutor!  I want them to appreciate not only the time and love we give them, but what it costs us to have them tutored.  Everything cost money, and they need to learn how to earn money, so when the time comes, they can take care of their own families.  They aren't thinking that far ahead, but they did say that they are just going to live with us forever!  LOL!  We have been trying so hard to help in the transition of coming to America.  I know it's hard.  I can't imagine what it is like for them, but come on, they have to want it too.  I told them, it will be a lot of hard work.  They can complain all they want, but it won't change the fact that they have to learn.  I'm so frustrated right now, but it's okay.  They are good kids, and their teachers really like them.  They didn't like me up until an hour ago.  Artem came into my office, with a big smile, and that just melted my heart.  We played Wii, which in my opinion, is a great bonding tool.  Bottom line; I think they want us to be tuff on them.  It shows them how much we care about them.  They are getting English, and are speaking it more everyday.  They are happy, well adjusted kids. 

Thanks for all of your comments.  I was just reading them tonight.  It really helps keep my spirits up, when things get a little ugly.  When they weren't with us, I mostly thought of the good times we would have.  I knew that this wouldn't be easy, I just didn't know that it would be so tuff.  Their ours, and they were meant to be with us.  I will take the good with the bad, and stop complaining.  I'm so grateful that they are here, and they have really blessed all of our lives.          

Here is the video of team Ukraine.  If you have trouble viewing the video go to my you-tube site.  Search "cutetallgirl."  (No, I did not come up with that name, but I don't want to change it at this point)  

I have removed this video to make room for the latest one.  You can still view it on You-tube.   It has a much better picture at that site. 

A Double Day

The boy's had a soccer game, and Cat had a cheer competition.  I was able to make both.  I had my video camera this time!  The boy's did well.  They won there game 3 to 1.  I have footage that I will post soon.  I have to cut and paste that together, so as to just get in all the high lights!

Cat did very well on her cheer as well.  They had some bopples and dropped one flyer, but overall they did really good.  Cat stuck all of her double back hand springs, and caught her flyer.  Go Ignite!   

View the video on You tube.