Change and more change!

I guess I am just going to have to realize that as much as I want to keep this blog more up to date there is just not enough time in my days right now to get it done.  So sorry to those who have faithfully followed our story from the beginning... I feel like I leave you hanging!

So many changes going on over here I really don't know where to start!

How about Christmas in March?  Yes we FINALLY celebrated our Christmas.  Since we were in Ukraine over the Christmas holiday our kids decided they wanted to wait til their sisters got home so that we could have Christmas together.  As it worked out March 30th was the first day that all of the family was available to gather together.  We had a GREAT time!  Lots of our traditional Christmas food (Ty's famous danishes, Mom's popular deviled eggs, Murry's Antipasta, Shell's Christmas chocolate) And some new treats like Mandy's southern cornbread pancakes.  We also had some AWESOME and competitive games of volleyball in the backyard.  We were so grateful to the rest of the fam to put off Christmas til March.

Shortly after our Christmas celebration we headed over to New Smyrna beach to visit with some great friends who are in the process of adopting a sweet boy from Father's House (you can check out their blog  http://drpnutmommd.blogspot.com/2012/04/braxton-hicks-and-a-word.html 
It was great spending time with them!

 

 We have been home with Katya and Mariana now for a little over two months.  We are still very much in the adjustment phase, but I am happy to say that we have more good days than not so good.  The girls are working hard to learn English.  Thanks to a good friend we came across a FREE English class being taught at the local library.  This class is put on by the Adult Literacy Campaign and they have graciously offered us a FREE tutor as well!  Praise God!  This was definitely an answer to my prayers as I have (being transparent here) felt like I am drowning almost every day.  We are also prayerfully considering enrolling the girls at the local high school for the ESL (English Speakers of another Language) class.  My heart is definitely for homeschooling as that is what we have done for the last 11 years but we also want to be open to what will work best for each of our kids and so we are praying about what that looks like... I will keep you posted on what we decide.

Recently a new milestone was reached by our "Kenzer"  She got her driving license!!!

 

For all of you with little ones... watch out!  This happens overnight!  Not really sure how my baby became 16 but she has and I love it!  She is like me but improved on by about 1000 times.  Whoever said that teenagers are difficult never met my Makenzie. 

On April 15th we celebrated a second Easter in recognition of the Ukrainian Easter (they go by the Eastern Orthodox calendar).  All the girls in the house spent the day preparing and cooking some traditional Easter dishes.  It was fun but a lot of work.  The girls actually got up at 6am to make the Paska! 

 

 Ok now for some more big news...

We have two more Americans in our home!

On Thursday April 19th Katya and Mariana officially took an oath and became American citizens.  They now have the privilege of being citizens of Ukraine AND America.

Well there are many more exciting things to report on but you will have to check back.  I promise to post more this week.  There is much going on this summer in the Wells' home!

Blessings!