Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the Offners.  We have had a tough time since moving here to Pittsburgh and I will be positive on  this day.  All you need is your health, family, and love for Jesus's Birthday.  The pictures will tell the rest, but Mason said it best.  "This is the best day ever."
Presents were wrapped and the boys were happy as they opened presents for most of the day.  We have one tradition so far in this family and that is we open a present and play with it for a while before opening up the next one.
Thank you for all the gifts and well wishes that everyone sent.

In between the boys opening up presents I painted and changed out door knobs while Stacey unpacked boxes. 

I know next year's Christmas will be better.

 

New School - Bon Meade Elementary

The boys started a new school at Bon Meade Elementary.  This is a big change from a school of 50 to over 550 students.  You would think it would be difficult, but the boys are pros winning over the teachers with their brains and their fellow student too. Cameron's teacher, Mrs. Koter, even told us that she heard other students saying they like the new Cameron.  We are very proud of our boys for working hard and it shows when they start school during a review week and get As on their tests even without being there all semester. 
Getting to school is also different.  I used to open the door and tell the boys to go to school.  Now I walk them to the bus stop so they can ride the bus.  We told the boys to stay on the sidewalk and to not sit in the back of the bus.  They do their best.  The first day they got off at the wrong bus stop and I ran around the block and the bus driver, Mr. Alan, swung around to pick them up.  The boys did not mind at all, but I can't say the same for me. 

Got to support the home teams

All Smiles

Big Smiles

At Bon Meade Elementary

The Move to the USA

What a stressful thing moving.  I was just glad that time did not stop and eventually we would be in our new home of Pittsburgh.

True to the Kazakh service I had to lug all 12 bags each step of the way from weighing the bags to scanning the bags.  This is in the CIP (or VIP) area which you just pay money to be in an area away from other people.  By the end I was spent and we had just begun.  All the work we did for Pepe' worked and I think I could get any dog on an in cabin flight knowing that they don't look at documentation very closely.  It was off to first class on the first of three legs to our new home.  Having the extra room and attention in first class is nice and even nicer when the company is paying for it.  Pepe had extra room and the boys were eating the entertainment up.  We had a quick transfer in Amsterdam and that went well.  Then when we got to JFK we found a place for Pepe' to use the bathroom.  Then we had to wait for about 5 hours.  We were all very tired and the Delta lounge helped, but then a quick flight and we were at our new home.

The next day we closed on our house and moved in.  No furniture so air mattress filled in and I understand why people buy furniture.  Next up washer/dryer, then car, then mattress.  I hope our stuff gets here soon.

Winter Pics and Christmas Play

We have had a steady amount of snow the last week we are here and Cameron has been taking full advantage of it.  Mason and Cameron are enjoying their last few days with friends.  They even received a message from Santa Claus.  Then there was the school play.  It is always entertaining to see them on stage and their true personalities come out.  If you can't guess Cameron was silly and Mason was shy and looking all around.

Frosty

Listening to Santa's Message

Santa Claus

The Sweet Knight

Our Little Actors

Happy Thanksgiving

This was our last Thanksgiving in Kazakhstan.  It was the best food yet.

Have to have a Turkey!

All Packed Up

All the items are packed the boxes have left.  The only thing left to do is get on the plane and say dasvidania to Kazakhstan and hello Pittsburgh.  That is if the truck makes it.  Check out how many men it takes to push the truck together and with that flat tire.  I don't know.  We made it here with 7,500 lbs and because we are not taking any food back we are leaving with 4,500 lbs.  Moving makes me want to become a minimalist.

Cameron's 9th Birthday Party

Cameron had a great party today.  He decided to have a swim party and do water balloons both frozen and extra large.  The indoor pool was very loud and I know that spells F - U - N.  After the swimming it was time for pizza and cake.  I even put lots of candy on the tables and all the kids must have had several each because it was almost gone before the end of the party.  Cameron opened up his gifts and I think Mason was more surprised by the gifts than Cameron (check the picture below).  The only negative is that the packers come in the morning and Cameron will not be able to play with his new gifts for a while.  Cameron is very understanding and used to the seeing the gifts now and play with it later due to the shipments we do each year at Christmas.  Happy 9th Birthday Cameron!!!