March 3, 2009 -The Catholic Cow Visits Us

We received a surprise in our yard today! The cow from church decided to stop by 1216 Riley Avenue to check out the progress on the basement. The youth group sponsored a fundraiser to collect for Catholic Services. For a small donation, you can send the cow to a friend's yard. It has become quite a war, so you can pay a slightly higher fee and become immunized. We decided to go this route since we will be out of town. The only problem is that he was so cute we didn't want him to be sent onto the next family!

Polona with the cow and also modeling the adorable hat that Teta Melissa made for her.

Anamarija given a rare turn at pushing Polona's babies around the yard.

Janko hard at work.

Valentine's Day 2009!

It seems like forever since we have posted to the blog. Over the last month, we have mainly stayed here in Emporia on the weekends because Gregor began finishing the basement. Currently, we are at a bit of a standstill waiting on the heating and cooling, plumbing, and electrician before getting started on the dry walling. Gregor and the boys are down there working during any free time. The progress has been fast and we will be excited to finish it up this spring. The end result will add a large TV/family room [for the TV we don't have :)], a bathroom, a bedroom, and an office.

View from the west wall in the family room

The bar/kitchenette area on the north wall of the family room

The future bathroom

Polona is THREE!!

Cupcakes for her actual birthday!

Kisses for Žiga for the book he gave her.

The rainbow ice cream cake.

This picture was actually taken last week. This is what happens at 6:15pm when a nap doesn't happen at 2:00pm.

Polona had a fantastic Sunday afternoon when stara mama, star ata, stric Josk, Jurij, Melissa, Janez, Ali, Žiga, Zala, Jimmy and Teta all came to Emporia to help her celebrate her third birthday. Today, her actual birthday, was more low-key. Quinn gave her giant coloring pages and we had multi-colored cupcakes. She had just as much fun helping me make them as she did eating them.

Christmas 2008

This year on Christmas Eve, we decorated the Christmas tree in the afternoon and had a nice lunch of bison roast, potatoes and vegtables before heading to 5:30pm Mass at Sacred Heart in Emporia. In the morning, the kids checked out their stockings and at noon we left for Overland Park. There we had a wonderful dinner at Janez and Ali's. After the kids were in bed, we headed over to Talk of the Town for their Christmas party and stayed WAY too late but had a great time with Janez and Ali and Jurij and Mel and the other party-goers. On Friday, we were off to Pittsburg. Saturday found us at Teta and Jimmy's for brunch with everyone. After Mass, lunch and presents in Chicopee on Sunday, it was finally back to Emporia. It was really a great Christmas and we were so happy to spend so much time with our family.

Miklavz Visits!!

Miklavz found us on Riley Ave in Emporia!! This year, he even had enough time to actually come into the house instead of just taking his cookies and leaving the gifts. Polona was scared out of her mind. Janko was suspicious. Matevz was the bold spokesman with eyes wide open singing and showing off the prayers he knows. He even wanted to call his teacher and tell her about the visit. Miklavz even remembered chocolate for mommy. [Unfortunately, oci missed the visit because he was still stuck at work ;) ]

November 2008

Where does the time go? It is already December 1 and the kids are getting ready for Miklavz (St. Nick) to visit and then Christmas. We had a wonderful 4 days in Pittsburg for Thanksgiving and celebrating Star Ata's birthday. We were also glad to finally see where Teta Melissa lives and works in Neosho, Mo. We spent Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend checking out the fish hatchery, downtown Neosho, and went through the beautiful Christmas light display in Carthage, Mo. on the way back to Pittsburg. This month was also marked by Anamarija learning to walk and getting more and more teeth.

Polona helping Star Ata with his presents.

Storytime

Polona skating with her friend, Amelia.

Halloween 2008

We had a great time on Halloween. The boys had their parade at school. After school, we stopped by Hopkins to see oci. The kids always love to go see where oci works. They loaded up there by going to each department. Next, we came home and waited for Gregor to finish up some last minute things at work. He joined us around 6:30 and we hit the neighborhood. Then we went to Matevz's teacher's house and trick-or-treated there. Our last stop was the two retirement complexes. The older people loved handing out handfuls of candy to the kids. Matevz was in a really good mood, so when Gregor took pictures he got some really good ones of him. All in all, it was a very fun time and they have enough candy to last them until at least Easter-especially after I ration it :)

Our busy bee all tuckered out! (But still holding onto her PINK pumpkin for dear life!)