the Life of Olena

Christmas has come and gone and truthfully I am happy it is over. I hate to say that, but it turned out to be stressful and somewhat of a disappointment because I was unable to maintain the quite, calm and memorable holiday I was shooting for. It did end on a good note, and I am slowly recuperating but dreading the weeks ahead of taking down xmas decorations and reorganizing my storage in the basement. Olena had a great Christmas and as always she ended up with far more than she can deal with or ever need but she did get some wonderful gifts this year. Jason's dad got her a train table which she loves, my grandfather built her an amazing rocking horse, she got her own little tent, and even a bowling alley....yes I said alley. My parents got her a 7ft electronic bowling alley that even has a ball return. I must admit it is pretty sweet and I look forward to family bowling night at the Warchol's! :) At this point her favorite has been the Hot Wheels set . It has been the toy of c

The noise and the bustle began earlier than usual in the village. As night gave way to dawn, people were already on the streets. Vendors were positioning themselves on the corner of the most heavily traveled avenues. Store owners were unlocking the doors to their shops. Children were awakened by the excited barking of the street dogs and the complaints of donkeys pulling carts. The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. After all, the inn was full, all the beds taken. Every available mat or blanket had been put to use. Soon all the customers would be stirring and there would be a lot of work to do. One's imagination is kindled thinking about the conversation of the innkeeper and his family at the breakfast table. Did anyone mention the arrival of the young couple the night before? Did anyone ask about their welfare? Did anyone comment of the pregnancy of the girl on the donkey? Perhaps. Perhaps somebody raised the subject. But, at best, it was raised, not dis

We try to incorporate traditional Ukrainian dishes during the Holidays so that Olena can experience some of it. This is our 3rd year making a Ukrainian pirogi and this year I am going to attempt Borsch . I have done it in the past but I got the recipe off line and it didn't taste the same. Gene emailed me his family recipe earlier this week....thought I would share in case any of you are interested! Have fun translating! :) Borsch Ukrainian with meat. In boiling bone clear soup lay meat, cook him to readiness, take out and cut on portion. A beet is chopped by a straw, salt, splash by vinegar, mix and extinguish with addition of fat from meat-stock, tomato-puree, sugar to semireadiness. Onion is chopped a straw and slightly toast with fat. In a clear soup put the potato cut pieces, take to boiling.Add a slicing(cut) straw a fresh cabbage and cook 15 minutes, mortgage the stewed beet, and bow. Cut fresh tomatoes, Bulgarian pepper, slightly toasted flour and boil 5 m

Sorry for the lack of posts but the Holiday has made us a bit busy. Making lots of cookies, brownies, chocolates and pierogis. We had a Christmas party for Jason's side on Saturday. We have Xmas Eve Dinner here at our house and Xmas Day will be spent with my family and my parents. We are very much animal people and love our pets like they are our children...if it were up to me we would have a farm of them. I had to torture them a bit this year because since Olena has come into the family they don't get to take as many photo sessions...I am sure they miss it :) Here's a couple new pictures of others in the family besides just Olena :) Like the Red Nose?? Really he loves this...especially the xmas cookie he got afterward.

Twas the Night before Christmas--for the parentless.. ......... . Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land there are parentless children, with no toys in hand No stockings to be hung by the chimney with care No hopes for a family soon to be there Their beds are not snug--but cold and quite bare there are no goodnight kisses--no one to care While we in our homes, laughing in delight all settle down for a Merry Christmas Eve night When in some one's heart--there arises a clatter there are children in need--who's lives really DO matter! Away to the computer please go in a flashto see the sweet face with whom YOU could be matched! While a child you see--their beautiful face all aglowcould this be MY child--could I already know?? When in the dreams of the orphan--what always appearsis a family to love them, to care and hold dear As you stare at that child--your heart beats real quick--for you know in your heart that sweet face will stick More dreams sweet children ha

This past week and a half has been boot camp week. The behavior of our lovely daughter has been atrocious lately and so it was time to buckle down again and get her back from the land of naughty children. She is an extremely scheduled child. She functions much better, behaves a lot better and is much happier when she is on her routine. The month of November was very hectic and busy, and she spent a lot of time with some family while J and I worked so the constant change of the schedule each day was making for a very unpleasant child. We seem to be just about back to normal - the manners are back and there is a lot less whining so mom and dad are much happier. I am in the process of completing her annual report. When you adopt from Ukraine you agree to send a report once a year for 3 years and than every other year until they are 18. The report is basic questions about what type of child she is, medical conditions, and family lifestyle. And then they ask for 10-12 photos...which

Happy Holidays to everyone. Not to much to update around here. We have been busy getting ready for Christmas and doing some winter cleaning. We decided to even stay ahead of the game and took Olena to see Santa the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Our usual 3 hour ordeal was said and done in 15 minutes. It was like the Angels were singing :) Therefore we have just established our new Warchol Family Tradition...seeing Santa on Thanksgiving Eve! btw ...she is asking for race cars! OH and my $20 hair cut was well worth the deal! I kept it simple so we wouldn't have any mishaps and I managed to do well being "Kelly" for the evening. I wonder how long that deal is going on??? nothing else to post at this moment and I don't have any new pictures right now but I plan to take a few for the Christmas cards within the next couple of days so hopefully I will have something to show.