the Life of Olena

Sorry it has been so long since I have updated but life happens, things get busy and either I forget or I just don't have the motivation.  I have a few spare minutes tonight so I figured I would at least enlighten everyone with an Olena update! She is growing like a weed. Haven't weighed her lately but she surely is getting much much taller! I have decided once again to try and grow out her hair...hopefully this time we can make it happen.  And just so that you blogger friends know, this is not all my decision.  She, just as much, finds her hair frustrating.  She cannot stand her hair to be in her face but she has a double crown so everything on top of head naturally falls forward...into her face.  It drives her batty! In addition to that, she does not have a particular liking to rubber bands and barrettes, regardless of what I get to easy the discomfort.   Lately she has been a bit more relaxed about it so we have managed to get her in a pig ...

I have been pretty busy but I will have some free computer time in the next few days...watch for updates!!!

We just returned from a family trip - just the three of us - from Mackinac Island.  According to Olena we went to the "very tippy top of Michigan , the lower half" and then we "went over the longest bridge to the upper half of Micigan and we stayed at the bottom!"  Translation: We camped in Mackinac City and even took the Mackinac Bridge over to St Ignace for a car show. Some fun facts: The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere. The total length of the Mackinac Bridge is 26,372 feet. The length of the suspension bridge (including anchorages) is 8,614 feet. The length from cable bent pier to cable bent pier is 7,400 feet. Length of main span (between towers) is 3,800 feet. All suspension bridges are designed to move to accommodate wind, change in temperature, and weight. It is possible that the deck at center span could move as much as 35 fe...

Now missing 2 teeth! Could she be any cuter??  

 

 

 

 

Olena asked if she could use the camera the other day to take a few pictures.  She wanted to play "photographer Olena" .  She had a good time and spent about an hour running around the house snapping away.  148 pictures later here is what we have...believe it or the not the pictures I did take out were all of Gus and yes there were still this many left.  Can you tell who her favorite is? and yes, he does usually keep his tongue in his mouth but apparently being the #1 model for world famous Photographer Olena was hard work.  So thought I would share... "An hour of my day" by Olena Warchol  :)

A little accessory for her Aunt Rickie's wedding.  She kept telling us she wanted long hair like us for the wedding but we just never grew it out.  So voila! instant long hair! I do plan to make it look a lot nicer for the wedding.  Literally she walked in from playing in the sprinkler and I shoved it on her head.  Once her real hair is curled it will blend and look more uniform. I am proud at how well I matched the color, I was worried because I ordered it off line.  

Olena and Amira Spring Session 2012 

Shark teeth...which to a 7 year old, is pretty darn cool!

Things are somewhat back to normal around here.  While busy, life is not chaotic or stressful these days and I am just perfectly happy with that.  Jason has been busy with little house hold projects now that spring has sprung and we can see all the junk we have!! and all the stuff that needs repair!  I seem to finally be coming out of my winter funk and have been on an organizing kick the last couple of days.  I tackled cleaning my basement, threw away 2 garbage bags of broken, worn and or plain useless junk, cleaned my dresser and Olena's as well as my closet...all in the last 2 days! I feel accomplished, I even found time to cut the grass tonight and all my laundry is washed, cleaned and put away.  Hooray!! Updates: Olena can now ride a two wheeler with no problem.  She is a motorized scooter junkie. Her top two teeth are slightly wiggly. Her bottom two big teeth have started coming in....but the babies are still hanging on for dear ...

 

My very good friend April Brown was finally successful in starting her dream...she opened and is running a local food bank.  Open Cupboard!   A few weeks ago we called the Ronald McDonald House at our Detroit Children's Hospital to inquire about what needs they currently have.  They called her back today and said that they are in desperate need of help and they asked her if she would be able to donate all of her food to them for the Month of May which would hopefully get them through the summer! This is amazing and we are so excited! I am SO EXCITED for her.  In addition to that United Way has asked her to participate in their distribution program.  They would give her food, and she delivers it weekly to the "charity" of her choice, in this case for the month of May, it would be the RMH.  What a rewarding experience this has been and I look forward to sharing this with her! With that being said, if anyone is interested in donati...

So while weeping over the fact that my daughter is no longer my "baby" I browsed my usual sites over the weekend and begged God to help me find a way.  $30-40K! it is absurd.  I know they say it is necessary but I find that hard to believe, especially when we managed to bring Olena home at $19k.  If my prayers are ever answered, you better believe that one of these beauties (or any other ones) are coming home!! DO B: 2009/2010 HIV+/HIV- The brother "Jonah" was born June 2009. The sister "Lila" was born November 2010. The children must be adopted together. The siblings were born to an HIV-positive birthmother and we believe the brother is positive and the sister is not. Additional photos available. In-country travel is easy. Experienced agency with HIV adoptions from RU. Married couples or single women can apply. 3 trips. Trip 1, both parents travel 5-7 days. Return home for 2-3 months. Both parents travel about 7 days on trip 2 for the court hearin...

One day a two wheeler, the next day a motorized scooter...next thing you know she will be driving a car, getting married and starting her own family.  I will post more soon about the weekend Olena aged 2 years, but some of the family is anxious to see this new video.  Back story: Olena seen that Lyra had a scooter and all she talked about is how badly she wanted one.  My mom, the grandma who spoils, went and got one for her for Easter.  I really didn't think she would be able to ride it but being that the day before she jumped on the two wheeler, I figured she would prove me wrong.  And boy did she ever.  This video is her in the school parking lot.  On our way home from my grandparents, J and I decided to stop here and see what she could do.  This video is her within a few minutes of getting on. Since Sunday, she has spent every free second riding this thing.   She has now progressed onto "cool tight ...

We have been trying to teach her how to ride a 2 wheeler for weeks now.   Today, Jason and I go to the grocery store while Rickie and Olena hang out back at home.  As we are coming back, I was focused on the neighbors cat in the street while warning J when I looked over and seen this tiny little girl zooming along.  I had to double take when I realized it was MY DAUGHTER!! I started yelling to Jason OH MY GOSH....Look it is Olena she is riding her bike. We pulled up in the drive way and Rickie, while smiling ear to ear, said 5 minutes after we left O came into the house, told her to come watch her and she was riding without an issue.  Just yesterday the 3 of us ran up and down the street with her and wasn't too successful! guess today was the day! :)

Here she is practicing the two-point position.  I do love the way the picture came out! Two-point position is the position that a rider takes as they are approaching a horse jump As a rider is preparing to go over a jump with their horse, the rider will move forward and into two point position- they will be riding with two points in connection with a horse. The two points are referring to the contact on each leg on each side of the saddle.   Two-point takes considerable balance and muscle strength.  In two-point the rider doesn't just lean forward over the horse's neck, but balances their weight farther back over the seat of the saddle. In this way the rider isn't off balancing the horse, but is centered over the horses body in a slightly crouched position

She comes down the hallway dressed in this lovely outfit.  I can't help it, but I bust out laughing.  She looks at me with this serious face and says "what?......too much pink? you think this is too much pink dont cha?"  I almost peed my pants I started laughing even harder.  Honey...the pink should be the last of your concern!