Two new daughters

We were Blessed with an awesome opportunity to host two children from Rio Vistas sister city Tobishima Japan. One might ask how do you get a chance to do something like this, well fortunately for us my brother in law and nephew got the chance to go visit tobishima. Zachery who is my nephew just finished his eighth grade year and was involved in this program and my brother in law got to be one of the chaperones and is now a pretty big part of this program. So we were asked if we would like to be a host family and after we all talked as a family, of course our answer was yes!!!!! We then decided we would host two girls, the main reason for that was Myla has a trundle bed so thats where they would sleep and I just couldn't make two boys sleep in a pink girly room.

The time of them coming came quickly we were scrambling to get our house in tip top shape while getting back into the routine of school and work being crazy busy, whew I was tired and they hadn't even arrived yet. Friday morning came and I felt my self start to worry, I was so afraid things would be awkward and they would be uncomfortable and how in the world are we going to communicate with them, so I just had to Pray and give it to God and have Faith everything would be ok. So after a cram packed day of feeling rushed at work I had to run to the school to get the kiddos out early so we could go to the assembly they were having at River view for the Tobishima students. After the assembly each host family was to be introduced to their kids and then to bring them home and get settled in.

So it was our turn to meet our girls I found myself not being nervous but excited, we now were introduced to honoka, hono for short and momoka, momo for short. The kids of course took to them right away and loved them like they were really their sisters. So off to the house we went, showed them to mylas room and had gifts for them, gifts are a big thing in their culture so I wanted to make sure I had something to give them. After they got settled in we talked for a bit and I think then they discovered how crazy mike was but seemed to Love him like most people do. We were then invited out to my sisters for a big bbq for all the host families and the kiddos. We all had a great time and kuddos to my sis and brother in law for taking on such a big operation, mind you they were hosting eight boys Yikes!!!!!!

It was getting late so back home we went, the girls showered then we tried to chat a little more then off to bed we went. Saturday morning came and we had the whole day to get to do pretty much whatever the girls wanted to do, so we had decided the night before to go bowling and then shopping. So we got up early started making breakfast and miss hono woke up and joined us she ate and hung out for a bit and then started to fall back asleep, so I told her go ahead and go back to sleep. Those poor girls must have been exhausted because they slept until 11:30, so then we had to choose bowling or shopping and of course shopping it was!!!

We took them to the mall and walked around, bought a couple things and asked them what they would like to eat and they said Mcdonalds, mike and I thought that was too cute oh and they Love sprite. After eating we headed back home, the girls went to the room and brought out gifts for us, hono got each of us fans and chopsticks and momo got the kiddos an origami book, paper, some neat paper balls and us some authentic foods. So the girls decided to do some origami with the kiddos, it was really neat to see them learn things about their culture. After that we decided to go hang outside and got a surprise visit from mikes mom, they all wanted to meet the girls and I know the girls enjoyed their company especially since mikes little brother is their age and really connected with them.

That eve we went out to my sis house for pizza, the kids had a great time running around and playing volleyball and just being teenagers. I felt myself starting to feel sad because I knew this experience was coming to an end too fast! After my sis we went back to the house, we were all tired myla fell asleep on my lap the girls got ready for bed,I asked them if they were tired they said yes so I told them its ok to go to sleep not knowing really if they wanted to hang out and talk more. Morning came and I fixed them breakfast, they were all ready to go but I wasn't ready for them to go, we had to have them at the school no later then 9. They went outside with the kids a played with sidewalk chalk, got to meet my dad because he was on his daily walk with his doggie which was cool, and then the time came.

Mikie packed their things into the van and off to the school we went. walking up to the buses I could feel tears start to build up and my heart began to feel heavy because I know we will prob never get to see them again which was so very sad to me. We gave hugs took pictures and gave probably five more hugs, I just felt like I couldn't leave them. After one more hug and wave goodbye it was time to go, as soon as we got in the van the kiddos started to cry which broke my heart, I told them we will write them letters and send pictures as often as possible. This experience has been a Blessing in every way and if you ever get the opportunity to do it I recommend it, I know we will again next year. Praying this program continues on for our kids to experience!

Their uniforms were adorable

myla being crazy while waiting

on our way to the house!

out at my siss house

momo and mymy

hono and mymy

my sis pallet project, pretty awesome!

so fun!

arcade

teacups

the girls did not want to do that

Origami

Learning

Myla trying a japanese pickled plum

she did not like it

new friends

First day of school

Well today was a big day, Our conrad is now a 5th grader!!!!!!! I just can not believe it myself, that means next year he is off to Riverview YIKES!!! Our myla started kindergarten, such a bitter sweet day, this will be the only time they will be in school together their whole lives which is so sad, and my babies are growing too fast, but mom held it together because I had to for her, I could see that she was nervous as she would kinda tug at the bottom of her shirt but the teacher said she did great which was very reassuring to hear. Now what to do with myself now that my both of our babies are in school, I def plan on volunteering as much as I can at school and maybe start working out but we will see about that one lol!

had to get a pic of them together before conrad took off :(

Good Big Brother

Mylas new Bff

A little nervous

At her seat, looking a little more comfortable

The journey to braces

            Im going to tell you about conrads journey to braces and let me tell you it was not an easy task. Conrad recently started seeing my dentist and of course recommended we started thinking about getting some braces on him due to no room for his adult teeth. In order to get started he needed some work done and my conrad is a lot like me and suffers from extreme anxiety especially when it comes to dentistry. So the work was major and they were baby teeth so he recommended to have him put to sleep and pulled, one of the most terrifying moments in my life but i couldnt let him see that. We both made it through that but not without a fight, he did not want to get put to sleep and honestly I probably didn't want it more then he did, I was truly Praying the whole time he was in there which was prob no more then ten min which was awesome and so was his oral surgeon. It was a success and with a day of recovery he was as good as new, now it was time for the ortho visit! 

         

           First visit to ortho went well, he new there were no needles and didnt show any sign of anxiety or fear until.......... the lovely mouth mold. I remember having to do that and boy I did not like it either, after a few trys they finally got it done. He wasnt very happy about that but got through it not knowing at the next visit he would have to take another one and yikes!!!!! That was difficult especially on the sweet lady who had to do it but eventually they got through it.

           The big day was getting closer and closer and I could soon see the anxiety and fear of the unknown creep in. The morning of his appointment he was not excited at all but got in the car as I kept reassuring him that it does not hurt, but no matter how many times I told him he would not believe it. So we pull up and mind you his ortho is in lodi, and he refuses to get out of the car, my heart broke i found my self feeling many different emotions. I pleaded, I begged, I bribed, I cried,  and I hate to admit this but I yelled, nothing was getting him out of that car. So back home we went.

              Attempt number two did not come so easy I ended up rescheduling his appt on a day that his daddy could bring him. Mikie is a lot stronger then I am he let conrad know that morning that he was getting them on and there was no other option and he meant it. So they get there and once again he refused to get out of the car but dad got him to and then got him inside and then they got called back and as they did conrad went out of the side door. They finally got him in the chair his appt was at 10:15 I think it was 10:30 when they got him to sit down and after talking to him for more then an hour they finally got his braces on. 

First attempt

              I recieved the phone call from conrad after it was all said and done and asked him how it went and the first thing he says mom it didnt hurt at all!!!! I was so proud of him and so thankful to have a husband who isnt afraid to push our children. He now knows that he can get through things it might not be easy but the fear and the worry is def not worth it!

as handsom as can be even with braces

Blessed with a trip to Tahoe

We were Blessed with a trip to Lake Tahoe,  growing up I had several second parents and to this day I still do. My friends parents have been and probably will always be like mine, and most of my friends probably feel the same way about mine. So we were offered by one of them to stay at their condo in South Lake Tahoe, I had a hard time accepting the very generous offer because if you know me you know that I always feel bad unless Im the one giving, but I did end up saying ok and so glad I did we had a blast with just our little family, Lots of fun!

Beach first thing in the morning

Think it might be still a little cold

Always a good model, he hates the camera

cheese

handsome boy

Now time for the pool

myla found a friend

yumm

thats a big bike

my monkey

cutie

Breakfast

view from our table

Love

too cool

mini golf

photo booth

three milestones

2013 was a big year for milestones in the vosefski house, conrad turned 10, myla turned 5 and mom well I turned 30!!! Im not one that freaks out with age but I can't help but feel well weird almost twilight zoneish, thats the only way to describe it. I see everyone around me growing and becoming older but I don't feel it which is a good thing I guess just strange. So here is a pic of the three of us on my Birthday, thanks to my niece jessie for her photography skills.

Pre school graduation

After two years of preschool its time for myna to say goodbye. She had a lot of fun and made alot of friends, and of course made some great memories. She spent three weeks this summer at kindergarten camp, its such a neat program to get the kids comfortable with their new school, she had a couple hard days leaving mommy but I have Faith she will be ok once school starts, just hope mom can keep it together, anyway here are a few pics of her graduation.

Myla Plays dress up!

So one day myna decided to play dress up, but not on herself she wanted to dress up her brothers friend anthony, and what a sweet boy he totally allowed her to do so. Conrad saw that his friend was being such a good sport he allowed his sis to dress him up too. As you can see from the pictures I think they also had fun!!!