The boys continues to melt my heart even as the cold weather freezes us all. The boys don't seem to mind the cold and have often come home without their hats or gloves or jackets only to have to go find them outside somewhere. Boys! They did really enjoy the one snowfall we had that accumulated enough to make a snowman at the Rahns house. They had just returned from Ukraine with their wonderful daughter Yana who is 15. Their house is one of my boys favorite places to be. We often hear them plead with us to go see Giny (their dog). Rob thinks we should get a dog because they love them so much. My answer, "Family closed!" Taking care of the FOUR of them is enough for mama right now. The dog would probably learn how to say mama too and then I would be mama mama mama mama. Aghhhhh!
Yuri is doing very well in school and enjoys his time playing outside after school with the neighborhood kids. He tends to be a little shy at times and a little mischievous at times as well. He is usually the instigator of either of the others getting in trouble. We still have a way to go with some of the abandonment issues and his competition for our attention and love but he loves to help with anything and everything we are doing. He is very good at building things and is interested in cooking as well which is to the delight of papa. We are trying to get him to talk more and pronounce things correctly so he can express himself.
Victor (Veecha) is always (well, almost always) happy and smiling and is by far the most obedient one of the bunch at this point. He still has a stubborn streak about him but is so eager to please that it only takes a little prompting and a kind word for him to happily do whatever we ask of him. He is becoming much more accepting of giving and receiving affection. A kiss from him really means you have arrived because he is very selective about who gets them. He enjoys school but the learning is a little slow going. He gets frustrated easily when he doesn't understand but enjoys being able to accomplish things he does get.
Evan (Vanya) is just as funny as can be and frequently makes us laugh with his new phrases and actions. His "pink pinks" (pancakes) are one of his favorite breakfast foods and "pixie doo" (scooby doo) is a favorite video. I'll have to make sure to write down the other ones as they escape me right now. (Lots of things escape me right now). He loves preschool and is learning up a storm. He corrects his older brothers on many things which is not very well accepted by them. Unlike Yuri, Vanya talks ALL the time. He is speaking all English and loves to talk on the phone to anyone and everyone.
Mama has gotten the opportunity to get away for a night with a girlfriend and go to the Amish stores in Western VA. That was a blast but I did my miss little boys (and the big one) and their kisses at night. They did very well knowing that mama was coming back after only one "sleeping". Then to give papa a little break the rest of us went to Uncle Brian's house and explored Washington DC for a few days. What a hoot to watch them as they got on the Metro subway (the "choo choo train") and her them giggle with delight to look at the animals at the zoo. We also went up in the Washington monument thanks to Uncle Brian standing out in the cold at 7am to get us just the right timed tickets. They chased birds on the mall and saw a 3D movie at the air and space center. They enjoyed being able to sit in one of the planes and pretend to be flying it. It was also nice to come home to a boquet of flowers and welcome home balloons for the boys. I think papa missed us :)
School visits have been the highlight of mamas days recently as I have been able to go in and help with different projects in all the classes. It is great to see them with their friends but the best part for me is when they notice I have arrived and they light up with excitement. There is no better feeling than that! (other than the love of Christ that we carry in our hearts)
Mama Mama Mama
Yuri is doing very well in school and enjoys his time playing outside after school with the neighborhood kids. He tends to be a little shy at times and a little mischievous at times as well. He is usually the instigator of either of the others getting in trouble. We still have a way to go with some of the abandonment issues and his competition for our attention and love but he loves to help with anything and everything we are doing. He is very good at building things and is interested in cooking as well which is to the delight of papa. We are trying to get him to talk more and pronounce things correctly so he can express himself.
Victor (Veecha) is always (well, almost always) happy and smiling and is by far the most obedient one of the bunch at this point. He still has a stubborn streak about him but is so eager to please that it only takes a little prompting and a kind word for him to happily do whatever we ask of him. He is becoming much more accepting of giving and receiving affection. A kiss from him really means you have arrived because he is very selective about who gets them. He enjoys school but the learning is a little slow going. He gets frustrated easily when he doesn't understand but enjoys being able to accomplish things he does get.
Evan (Vanya) is just as funny as can be and frequently makes us laugh with his new phrases and actions. His "pink pinks" (pancakes) are one of his favorite breakfast foods and "pixie doo" (scooby doo) is a favorite video. I'll have to make sure to write down the other ones as they escape me right now. (Lots of things escape me right now). He loves preschool and is learning up a storm. He corrects his older brothers on many things which is not very well accepted by them. Unlike Yuri, Vanya talks ALL the time. He is speaking all English and loves to talk on the phone to anyone and everyone.
Mama has gotten the opportunity to get away for a night with a girlfriend and go to the Amish stores in Western VA. That was a blast but I did my miss little boys (and the big one) and their kisses at night. They did very well knowing that mama was coming back after only one "sleeping". Then to give papa a little break the rest of us went to Uncle Brian's house and explored Washington DC for a few days. What a hoot to watch them as they got on the Metro subway (the "choo choo train") and her them giggle with delight to look at the animals at the zoo. We also went up in the Washington monument thanks to Uncle Brian standing out in the cold at 7am to get us just the right timed tickets. They chased birds on the mall and saw a 3D movie at the air and space center. They enjoyed being able to sit in one of the planes and pretend to be flying it. It was also nice to come home to a boquet of flowers and welcome home balloons for the boys. I think papa missed us :)
School visits have been the highlight of mamas days recently as I have been able to go in and help with different projects in all the classes. It is great to see them with their friends but the best part for me is when they notice I have arrived and they light up with excitement. There is no better feeling than that! (other than the love of Christ that we carry in our hearts)
Mama Mama Mama
