Happy 8th Birthday, Nikita!

Look really close at this chair. . . . see the little boy sitting there? That's Nikita sitting in this huge rocking chair at The Big Texas steakhouse in Amarillo. Elena's mom & dad came to Texas from Kiev to visit in 2002 and spent one week with us. We took them to eat there and Elena's dad, Pyotr, was just thrilled. That was what Texas was supposed to be about to him. Nikita was a little tyke then. Now he is 8 years old and is no longer little! He can tell you all there is to know about racing cars----on the computer, that is. Happy birthday, Nikita! We love you!

Gone to the Dogs

Tony & Elena & Ana & Nikita & Kowboy came up to visit this weekend. We all had a great time--but I think the two Golden Retrievers had an even better time! Sandy has been asleep ever since they left this morning. Kowboy had a big time with all of Sandy's toys, but he especially liked the stuffed goose and duck. He even managed to carry both of them around in his mouth so Sandy couldn't get them from him.


We took them both to the lake yesterday morning for a swim and then to the park to run a while. They both love the water and jumped in and out and chased sticks like crazy. Here they are---both bringing in the same stick to shore! Once Kowboy just dunked Sandy's head under the water so he could get the stick. They were fun to watch. It was hard to tell which one was which with the wet hair. Sandy has been tuckered out since Kowboy left. David even took him outside, just so he could see that Kowboy wasn't in the backyard, that he was really gone. He misses his buddy.


I had to take some pictures while we were at the park.

Happy Birthday, Nikita!

Nikita was born on April 26, 7 years ago in Louisville, Kentucky. I flew there and stayed for 2 weeks helping out with this new little boy. You would never know now that Nikita is the same boy as that baby! He didn't like much of anything. He cried over everything. He HATED the car seat. He would scream bloody-murder when he was put into it.

But now Nikita is very good-natured and doesn't cry over anything and pretty much likes anything. We called Nikita tonight for his birthday. They even put the phone on speaker and I joined in with them singing "Happy Birthday" to him.

Here he is in his soccer gear. Happy 7th birthday, Nikita!