Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day picnic with Jeff's Family.

Chandler desperately trying to finish his book before school on Tuesday.

Sara making a flower wreath out of dandelions.

The cousins were all very impressed with her skills.

Lena wondered why I was taking her picture. I told her, "Honey not very many American kids would be sweeping the picnic area with a broom they made from branches. I don't want you ever to forget that cute Ukrainian girl in you." She laughed and posed for me.

Parker and Lena helping their little cousins build a waterfall.

The Garden

The girls asked me a few months ago for a garden. I told them we would, but they had to help. I thought they would be excited for a few days and then leave all the work for me. I was wrong. They moved the sod, helped me build garden boxes, hauled three truck loads of dirt and one truck load of gravel all without a word of complaint.

They both wanted their own box and insisted on doing the work themselves. I showed them U-tube videos on building garden boxes and we went to work. They sawed the wood for their boxes and drilled all the holes. I was very impressed. At the nursery, they insisted on buying their own plants and seeds, I tried to pay for it but they wouldn't let me. I am constantly surprised and amazed by these two girls. We had the best time building our garden. When they would get tired of working and needed a rest they would ask me to read to them and we would lay in the shade with our latest book. I really do love being their mom.

English- Who is winning the war?

Yesterday, I went to the store to buy something for my sprinklers. When the guy asked if I needed help I said, "Yes, can you show me where I can find a plastic thing to cap my Sprinkles."

The man pointed me in the right direction and my friend who was with me started laughing really hard.

I asked her what she was laughing at and she said, "You want a cap for your Sprinkles?" I was so embarrassed I had used my girl's word for Sprinklers. Everyone is constantly correcting the funny things I say in English. The scary thing is that it is subconscious and I don't even notice. I am supposed to be teaching them English but instead they are messing up mine.