Ukraine Election

On Sunday Kristen and I went with a friend to the polling station while she voted in the Ukrainian Presidential election. There was really no difference from voting back in the State's, except that they use paper ballots instead of electronic ballots. Because there were 18 candidate's on the ballot no one won a majority of the votes and so a runoff will be held between the top two on Feb. 7th. Viktor Yanukovich got 35% and Yulia Timoshenko got around 25%. Here's a good article about the election if you're interested.

In spite of all the disillusionment with this election it is encouraging that Ukraine, for the first time, held an election where all seemed to go smoothly and there weren't widespread reports of fraud. Hopefully Feb. 7th is the same.

Baby Stuff

So I've been thinking that now is the time for action. At 21/22 weeks I still have the ability to travel easily and comfortably, so I thought I should get out there and scout out all of the options for baby. Then I thought hmmm... maybe I should create some kind of master list of necessities before I just go out and look. So then I thought I should ask those who have gone before me what have been some of the things that have "saved you" in bringing up your own baby. What are some things you would suggest any first time mom have to make life a little easier? I've gotten some great feedback from my sisters and friends; boppy pillow, thermometer, humidifier, "booger sucker", finger nail clippers, receiving blankets. Do you have any suggestions? What made life easier for you after baby arrived?

Basket Weaving Extravaganza!

Our family and friends at Covenant Church in PA sent us a huge package for Christmas! A large part of the poundage of that package was basket weaving supplies! As I was singing for joy over such a treasure a couple of the ladies on our team asked if I could teach them how to make a basket. So the ladies on our team all got together one afternoon and had a basket weaving lesson.

Thank you Cindi Teti for the pattern for Pretzel Basket! There were 5 women and 2 girls who participated in the event. The 5 women tackled the Pretzel Basket and the 2 girls (Alison and Natalie Eide) made a Tea Bag Basket together. I was extremely impressed with outcome seeing as none of the ladies had ever made a basket before!

I marvel at the creativity that is inherent in each of us. It comes out so clearly in basket weaving (I'm sure in other things as well, but for now basket weaving is enough). 5 ladies were given the exact same supplies with the exact same instructions and 5 completely different baskets were created! One was square, from base to top, square, another square on the bottom and oval at the top, another square at the bottom and round at the top, another tightly woven bottom making the outcome much smaller, but still quite handy, and another made with a continuous weave (which made for it's own unique intricacies)!

I'm planning on posting pictures, but for some reason our blog has not been working to post pictures...
So if all else fails, I will post the pictures on Facebook.

Thank you to all who sent basket supplies! It was a wonderful day of fellowship and creativity. There is something very special about having a tangible thing to represent the love shown by others. Thank you!!!

With much love and gratitude,
Kristen

Christmas is Here!

With the arrival of almost 1 foot of snow has come much joy and delight. This joy and delight can not be rivaled by the joy and delight experienced upon the arrival of our 50 pound package from our home church Covenant and the purchase of a fresh pine smelling christmas tree! If all goes as planned pictures will be posted of us lugging our package home!!

Merry Christmas to all!
Kristen

All Things Christmas

With the Cookie Countdown has come a festive Christmas spirit. I get the urge to decorate and Garrett... well he gets the urge to build! His big project is a set of shelves for our kitchen. He drew up a nice sketch (Kenton would be proud!) and bought all the wood and borrowed a saw and he has set off! Here are some pictures of our various ways to indulge in the Christmas spirit!

Yum Yum

Since coming to Ukraine I have become an avid visiter to AllRecipes.com. It's a great website for finding a recipe for anything your little heart desires to cook up! Yesterday I found The Cookie Countdown!! They send you a different cookie recipe every day until Christmas, what a great idea!! So I of course signed up and started off our Cookie Countdown yesterday with a yummy but not so pretty Pumpkin Roll and today Pecan Sandies (made with walnuts since pecans are a special imported delicacy saved for those oh so special pecan pies at Thanksgiving and Christmas). One of my favorite parts of the Cookie Countdown is that you can't peak at what is coming tomorrow! I of course would like to know what the rest of the week holds, but I can't find out until the e-mail arrives in my in box!! I was at first concerned with the thought that I would feel tied into making the cookie recipes I was sent. But I have decided that since I do not have all ingredients readily available to me I can take liberties with the Countdown and switch out recipes I want to make with ones like Peanut Butter Cookies. (Just can't bear at this point to use up my precious peanut butter in a cookie batter!)
Any Christmas favorites you think I should try?

At Long Last

This is a day I have dreamed of for much of my teenage and adult life. I have always loved children and all things surrounding them. I can remember when I was 12 or 13 years old just LOVING to hold babies and Mrs. Hampton telling me that she hoped it would be at least 10 years until I was holding one of my own... Well that day is finally on the horizon and I am so excited, to say the least!

So today I made history for myself, I purchased my first official piece of maternity clothing!!! I know kind of ridiculous to be buying clothing I won't be able to wear for another couple of months, but oh well, I just couldn't resist. A beautiful pair of wool H&M Maternity pants with belt loops and pockets in the back, nicely lined... I didn't even try them on. Ok so that would have been way ridiculous! I am still wearing my favorite jeans and fitting nicely into all my normal clothes, I'm only 14 weeks you see. But the deal maker with these pants was they were only $1.35. Now who in their right mind can pass that up? I mean even a non-bargain shopper (unlike myself) could not pass that up!

So, I am the proud owner of a pair of pants that I may come to hate in the next months since they may be the only ones I can wear after a little while! I'm so excited it will be wonderful!

Dreaming of a big tummy,
Kristen