Pajama day!

The office (along with the roads when I came in this morning) are looking a little bare. So here in our Division it was dubbed Pajama Day! And where there are pajamas-onesies will follow!! Here are two of my favorite people, Byron and Jacki sporting the footie pj's.

Merry Merry!!



I work for a great company...

CompHealth-a Division of CHG who I work for has an office in CT very close to the tragedy at the elementary school. We as a company were asked to make snowflakes and send to the CT company for the school to hang.  I have a friend in the CT office who's sister was the trauma nurse at the local ER during the shooting and she let me know that the entire state is in mourning...so strong that she can only listen as she cries thinking of the tragedy.

This morning, a fellow CHG associate sent over this email.

A week ago today our family and community was changed forever.  I have been meaning to send this email for some time but can not see past the tears that fall ever time I try to compose it.  But through the support and comfort of my neighbors, community and CHG we are starting to emerge from the darkness. 

My 7 year old son was present at the time of this unimaginable tragedy.  He did not have the comfort of his teacher as she was in the front office attending a meeting.  A floating substitute, was with them.  His teacher called to say how sorry and guilty she was that she was not there for them.  But Yesterday I got to meet the woman (girl really) who saved the lives of my son and his classmates.  Her name is Ms. Reynolds.  I hugged her until she finally asked me to let go.  She insisted she did nothing special.  But she did.  The doors in that school open out into the hall and have no locks on them.  She but the kids against the interior classroom wall, where just on the other side stomped the footsteps of a monster.  She held the door closed with everything she had, all the time she must have know she would be the first to parish if he had chosen that room.  She told me that she if that time came, she hoped sheer adrenaline would save them.  She is my hero.

The past few days our small quaint New England town has venn filled with sorrow, tears, and back to back funerals.  But the love that is pulsing through our community is something that continues to astonish me.  Every second of our children's lives now are filled with events that shower them with compassion to make sure they know they are SAFE and loved.

 As I heard the 26 bells ring outside my window this morning, I knew it was time to tell everyone how thankful I am for your thoughts, prayers, emails, books, and even snowflakes.

Thank You from the bottom of our hearts

-Melissa Horan

I won't even try to comprehend what those families went through, are going through, and will go through. Sofia is 6. My heart continues to ache for the families and thier loved ones.

I only ask that we be good to one another this holiday season and try to be year round. May we show other people that we CAN be good to one another. That we CAN rise above the hate of the world, that we CAN respect.

Merry Christmas.

Nothing like a bunch of 6 year olds singing!

Maka has been telling me JUST how much I was going to love her singing at her kindergarten music program that was coming up. She refused to tell me what song(s) she would be singing, but said I was going to love it...Well she was right. I did! I must admit that when I was sitting there and watching her class, I got teary eyed. Not only due to the cuteness factor, but remembering the kids of the tragedy that happened at another elementary school in Connecticut. I hugged her a bit tighter that day.

They looked adorable and sang Ruduloph the Red nosed Reindeer and We wish you a Merry Christmas. She waved and smiled and sang so great! It was a pretty proud parent moment for Artyom and I. Ella sat on my lap again as she is in somewhat of a shy stage as of late. She did, however, clap her little hands out for not only her big sister, but each of the performances after they had finished. Then, they got to have cookies and juice from Mrs. Merrill, Sofia's teacher and watch Frosty the Snowman as they waited for the rest of the grades to perform. So fun! It definitely helped bring in the true spirit of Christmas into my heart...and since mine has been a bit heavy lately, I needed it!

Merry, Merry pictures with Santa!

I took the girls to go get pics with Santa since we got a screaming deal and paid $12 for all these cute ones (and these are just a few!!) that we can print how we want. LOVE  THAT. So here are our two American/Russian cuties Sofia Hope and Ella Diane wishing you a Merry Merry Holiday Season!

Good stock

I gotta admit. I have some of the greatest extended family that a person could ask for. I constantly tell Artyom that if he had any doubts about moving here to the States and marrying me, it all must have dissolved the minue he met my immediate and extended family. They are amazing.
My cousin Jessica married a guy named Scott and he has simply "fit in" to our family like a glove. So I was not at all surprised when we asked him to come and help that he rearranged his schedule to help out. Our basement has been "post-broken pipe turned flood" for months and were trying to get it done as soon as we can.

Scott came out and helped Artyom put up sheetrock (which did not look fun at all...) and entertained my girls wanting to be downstairs, in the way, where all the action was. We love you Scott! Thank you for being in our family and adding to the many "Cuncles" that the girls know and adore!

 I could not believe how much quiter it was downstairs after Artyom put up the insulation.

 I must admit...I love a man in a toolbelt! It means your "honey to do list" actually has a chance at getting done!

 Artyom is going to build me shelves here. Cannot wait!

You could call it a coincidence...but I know better

"It's all in a name" or so I have heard. And I know alot of people would call it a coincidence, or the fact that it was a popular name at that time, especially here in Utah it seems, but we have been blessed with some of the most amazing "Linda's" in our life. The top on the girls's list of course being Grandma Pederson. However there have been a few others that I know without a doubt that have been put in my path by the Linda I call mom.

I remember when I lived in downtown Salt Lake-shortly after my mom passed away. I had a rude awakening one morning to discover my car, as well as my roommates had been broken into. I didnt have much in the car, but I happened to leave my backpack there the night before and it had all my VERY expensive textbooks in it. That was what I was most upset about. I prayed for some peace of mind, knowing that my info. was on some paperwork in the car and just wanted to feel safe. A little later that morning, I got a call asking if I had lost a backpack. When I explained why yes, in a round about way that I had, she said her name was "Linda" and she was walking that morning and found some textbooks and a backpack scattered in the road and bushes and decided to pick it up and take it home. I was so grateful to get it back and just started crying on the phone to her when she told me her name. I know it was my mom doing a little something that she could do from the other side, to let me know she was near.

We also have our neighbor who's granddaughter that lives with her is our go to babysitter. She is so cute with the girls and loves them. She not only let's them come and sit by here at church somtimes, but when Sofia was fascinated with Indians, she had her over to tell her all about it. She even gave her a dreamcatcher and some postcards to take home. Her name? Linda.

Then there is our other "Friend Grandma" as the girls call her- Linda. It is Betsy's mother in law whom she lives with and the girls adore her. She is amazing! She is going to nursing school which is a perfect occupation for her. When Ella got sick last week, I got to Betsy's to find Ella on Linda's lap just snuggling till I got there. I am very blessed to have such people in our lives. The other day, while Betsy and I were trying to figure out the printer at her house, Linda pulled out a game and started to play it with the kids...yeah...she's just like that.

7 and counting...

It is just a date on the calendar, but a pretty special one in my book. Our story is by no means "typical" but then again, our lives have not been either! We have had some hard times and some great times, we have faced challenges, and heartache, blessings and births and we have been given 2 beautiful girls to raise the right way. Were still here. were still together. And will be for the long haul.

Seven years ago today I went here...

 

 

And was married  to this guy for time and all eternity...

 

 

And since then we have been blessed with these two (so far)...

Man...how did I get so lucky?! Red Flame, I know it has not always been easy. I know I am head strong, and stubborn and moody and sometimes a bit opinionated, but I love you. And I'm so grateful to have found one another again those 14 years ago.

 Here is to many more...kids and years together!



I guess I kinda asked for it...

We have had "the sickness" at our house the last month or so. Artyom, then Sofia, next Ella then back to Artyom...I thought I had by-passed it. I guess I should not be too surprised though. I have had sick with a cold Ella sleeping with me to "quarantine" her from everyone else. But last night BAM. It smacked me in the face with all the usual cold symptoms. Thank goodness it's Friday and I can sleep in an hour or so tomorrow. Sigh. These are the days where my emotional intelligence runs low, so I will tie my hands to keep from typing more about how unfair it is not only being sick, but sick and a working mom... And will focus on getting to take THIS in just a few hours and meeting my much needed bed for a visit.

Being sick sucks.

ZOO Lights

We found a daily deal and grabbed it to go and see the Zoo lights. This was a first for us as we usually just go to Temple Square (come on-it's free!) but we got double booked on the day we planned so this was a great (and very cheap) alternative. It is safe to say that the girls loved it! There were a few animals out-most of them were sleeping, but Sofia did get to see the bats which she let me know would be awake since the sleep during the day. Then went on to tell me the difference between the fruit bats (the nice ones) and the meat bats (the scary ones). Hilarious! And Grandpa, Sofia wanted me to mention that she actually DID have another had and gloves on, but she did not want to wear that one, she wanted her Russian one! She definitely loves that hat.

 This was a tunnel of sorts that lit up at different times. It took me at least 3 times to get the pic right with the amount of light that I needed! Love those 3!

 We had a punch card with a few "punches" left in it, so we even got to ride the carousel! It was a bit chilly, but who doesnt love a carousel?! Ella a la' Twilight on the wolf and Sofia had to jump on a spotted seal last minute since she couldnt find the monkey!

 

There was a group of carolers in costume ( I LOVE this!) and they asked Sofia to come up and shake the jingle bells while they sung. Well, Sofia was MORE than willing to oblige and loved it. Ella took one step forward and ran behind my legs. ") She was NOT interested in being in front of all those people. Sofia didnt seem to mind all that much.

I should have taken a pic, but didnt. We went and got hot chocolate for the girls and saw this adorable older couple with one hot chocolate that they shared between them. We stopped to talk to them for a few minutes. He was wearing a cowboy hat, which of course in Ella's eyes means- hes a cowboy. So she let him know what she thought and this cute man tipped his hat and said, Howdy little lady. Then as we left, like the true gentleman he was, tipped it once again and said, you take care now-ya hear? He made my two little girls night.