Bike Blues or Story of how I got my bike-groove back…

I have a big milestone in my life -I got my bike-groove back…When I was about 17 years old I got into the bad bike accident. I was riding my bike from the hill and at the point when you need put a little break on the wheels, I got confused...really confused..and forgot where the breaks are. I ending up hitting a wooded fence with my face...and brings myself a full stop. I did not feel paint at first, just heard "smack".

After my dad and my friends retrieve me from the scene, I could not stop laughing! Now I know it was just one of the side affects of my shock...Well after that I never went back on a bike, I totally scratched that option from my life. No more two-wheeled bike. Three-wheeled- please, I do not mind but not two-wheeled.

I was begging Dragon Fighter to buy me one, three-wheeled bike, but he refused to do that. He was determined for me to make a peace with my two-wheel ex-friend.

This past weekend we went shopping for my two-wheeled bike. I tryed several ones with no luck, it gave me such an anxiety that my hands were begging to sweet and I got my tension-headache. Then as Dragon Fighter was almost gave up on me...he brought me a very simple bike with out any fancy gadgets on it. I took a suspicious look at it...tried it...and deep down in my gut realised that this bike could be and one, which will make my bike-anxiety go away. It did not intimidate me...it looked like a fiend :).



We bought that bike along with a bike for Dragon Fighter and a new bike for Melanie because she out-grew the one that she got on her birthday two-years before.

The next day I tryed my bike

Here I am facing my bike-anxiety head-on

Look..I won...I won...No more anxiety (well may be just a very little) and I am smiling! I can ride again!

Ah...the sweet victory.

Ok..enough for today...I am exhausted!

Now Dragon Fighter 's dream of us riding together as a family into a sunset got little bit closer to the reality.

Camping at Detroit Lake- Summer'08

As we do every year, we went camping at the Detroit lake, just before Melanie school started this year, for 3 days. This time, Lesha, Natasha's fiance went to camp, with us, for the first time in his life! As always, we had fun together, and Lesha being a great photographer, got us some very beautiful pictures of our girls and campsite. Thank you Lesha!



Our campsite


The Detroit Lake was calm and warm..Our grandpa "Papa" is enjoying some alone time on the water

Our Bro, Jekka, went with us as well, we always love his company

But what happened here? It is all battle on the water!

Dragon Fighter with Melanie and Alina are getting ready to get their feet wet.


Just in time for Lunch...Ukrainian soup "galushki"..very tasty outdoors, cooked on the real fire!
After lunch, Melanie enjoys some craft time, while it is still light outside...Look how tan she is here..also she just lost her lower front teeth...




Later, Alinka went to the playground and enjoyed herself there. A beautiful picture!

*Here is Natasha and Lesha, looking cosy together, eating their lunch. Their wedding is set on May 2, 2009

And last...family (minus mom, who is cooking someplace over the fire) portrait on a playground!I love my family!

1st day at 1st Grade/Начинается школа

This year Melanie went to 1st Grade to Adventist Rivergate Academy in Gladstone Area. This is her picture first day of school 2008-2009 year, look how she changed from last year 2007-2008 year, when she first went to kindergarten.

She loves school, her good friend Elizabeth is going there too,


A little performance in front of parents, to show what they learned first week of school.