Days 25 & 26... I think. I've lost count.

So. Where to begin?

Vladik has 1 week left in America. 1 week left in our home.

We have 1 left week to love on him and include him in our family goings-on.
1 week left to stuff him full of fruit and ice cream.
1 week left to play games and work on English.
1 week left to touch him with the gospel through our words and actions.

7 days.

I imagine in many ways, he's ready to go home.
I'm sure he misses his friends and what is familiar and I think he'd be ready to not be surrounded by English-only speakers.
I can't really ask if he's enjoyed his time here. I'm assuming he has, but I don't want to put him on the spot.

Yesterday we were "talking" about some of the things I wanted to get done before he leaves.
I mentioned I wanted him to help me pick out some of the photos I've taken to put in an album so he can take it home with him.
I was surprised... and confused... and little hurt... when he responded verbally "no... photos... home."
So I typed... "You don't want to take any photos home?"

"no."

"ok."..... "you're sure?"

"no"  (I was starting to get a complex here.WHY would he not want to take pictures home? Has he not enjoyed his time here?? Did we do something wrong??"

"No, you're not sure, or no you do not want any pictures?"

 frustration...."no... photos... home."

"Ok. Thats fine. You don't have to take pictures home with you if you don't want to. I only asked because I'm told most kids want to."

After several back and forths... I *think* I figured out that he wants to take pictures home with him, he just doesn't want to help pick them out.... I think?

Sunday is usually our day to go out to eat, so for supper, we went to Friendly's. For my readers who don't know, Friendly's is like Denny's (kind of), only with AMAZING ice cream.
(It's not Blue Bell, but it's the closest we can get here in our little corner of the midwest.)

As Vladik would choose ice cream over breathing, we knew he'd love it!
Of course, whats *not* to love about ice cream?! We think the USDA should include it in the food pyramid as its own category.


Vladik had a bit of a revelation, yesterday.

School starts in about a month, so it's time to start thinking about school clothes, etc. I had gone down to the basement to get the tub full of Joe's old clothes that Kyle will be able to soon wear.  We were all in the kitchen and Kyle and I were sorting through the clothes. Evidently, when I packed up the clothes a couple of years ago, I wasn't as organized as I should have been as there were 3 different sizes in the tub. But anyway, with each item of clothing we pulled out, (it was a big tub) Vladik's eyes got bigger and bigger. He wanted to see everything-- feel it if it was textured, look at the designs etc....
And then it dawned on me... he thought these were all NEW clothes.

AS IF!

So after we sorted through them all, I explained to Vladik our term of "hand-me-downs;" and I said it was nice that I had 2 boys so that I could pass clothes on from one kid to the next.
He, of course, understands the concept of hand-me-downs. Most everything he owns is a hand-me-down.

He just didn't know American kids did it too.  I think he was a little surprised.

During our English lessons, we've been working with articles. When to use "a" when to use "an", plus the proper use of "this", "that", "these", "those" and plurals.  He's an eager student, which I appreciate; and I LOVE grammar, vocabulary... and the opportunity to "teach" what I know.

Of all the things we've done while Vladik has been here, I think our one-on-one time at night, working on English, ranks right at the top of my list of favorites.

Yesterday and Today, Days 23 & 24

New Horizons is doing their own version of cardboard testimonies. This is our submission.
Not familiar with cardboard testimonies? Check out this youtube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxojHiZoto&feature=related

When I was telling Vladik about the project, I asked if he had a favorite verse that he might want to use. He looked surprised, and then quickly shook his head. Oddly enough, it wasn't "surprised" like he hadn't expected me to ask. It was more of a shocked "surprised"... like having a favorite verse was inappropriate.

Anyway, we were supposed to pick a verse, and personalize/paraphrase it.  I had several picked out and Isaiah 40:11 is the one we chose.

We also looked at:

Jeremiah 24:6... I will always build you up, not pull you down.

Isaiah 49:16... You will not be forgotten. I have carved your name in the palm of My hands.

Psalm 24:0... I belong to Him!

Psalm 37:24... He holds my hand to keep me from falling.

Jeremiah 29:11... His plan for my future is filled with hope.

Psalm 121:3... He watches over me day and night.

Psalm 94:14... God will not abandon me.

Psalm 5:3... He hears my voice when I call to him.

Hebrews 2:11... Jesus is not ashamed to be called my big brother.

I Corinthians 2:9... He has prepared amazing things for me.

Vladik's mouth seems to be better and he's back to his normal eating routine. Yesterday for breakfast he ate 6 eggs, 3 slices of banana bread, and a small container of yogurt. And then a couple hours later, he was ready for a snack.

It's been hot the last couple of days.
REALLY, REALLY hot.
At 10 o'clock last night, the heat index was still
hovering around 100. YIKES!  So after I finished mowing, we went swimming.

Vladik LOVES LOVES LOVES to swim!

Today, Friday, we went to Mansfield.

Our first stop was at Dick's. Vladik left with

new soccer cleats, shin guards and socks. Kyle left 

with a new ball glove.

Vladik was funny while he was picking out his

cleats. Naturally, he gravitated to the $148 pair.

But I nipped that in the bud pretty fast.

After Dick's we headed to the movie

theater to watch Cars 2. It was Kyle's

1st movie theater experience. Rick and

I didn't think it was as good as the first

one, but it was certainly worth the 

matinee price.

We ate supper at Golden Corral.

It was pretty crowded, but Vladik seemed 

to take it all in stride...until I showed him the 

dessert bar.  I think the ice cream was 

probably his favorite part of the evening.

                                                                                   

Day 22

Well, it's been an interesting day.

Vladik and the boys were supposed to have their pictures taken this morning.
In hindsight, it probably wasn't the best idea to schedule the pictures for the day after Vladik's dentist appointment; but at the time, I didn't know how bad his mouth was going to be.

He woke up at about 8:20 this morning... sick.
Feverish (temp of 101.3), clammy, and a stomach ache.
To be honest, I think a lot of it had to do with the 2 tooth extractions yesterday.

A little TLC, Tylenol, watching a couple movies on the laptop, a Gatorade and a bit of yogurt, and things were looking up.

By lunchtime, he was downstairs and feeling better. His mouth is still sore... but he ate 6 scrambled eggs for breakfast.. and then took some ibuprofen. Obviously his appetite is back.

I told him we were all going to take it easy today, especially with the episode this morning. I think it really scared him... and understandably so.  I reminded him this afternoon that the dentist appt. on Monday wouldn't be nearly as traumatic... or painful. Lets hope I'm right, or he'll NEVER trust me again.

He's feeling better... but he REALLY needs to take a shower!

Day 20 & 21

Monday morning, we took a few steers to the auction in Creston.
Actually, we hired a guy from church to do it. But Rick and all 3 boys went along for the ride.

Vladik's first reaction when they got home? He plugged his nose and fanned himself.

The animals stunk, and it's hot outside.

I had an appointment last night, so Rick stayed home with Vladik, Joe and Kyle. They played Old Maid (using Joe's rules... which means they changed every couple of minutes,) Go Fish, and a treehouse board game we have. Other than baling, it's the first Rick has been with Vladik without me in close proximity.

Vladik had his dentist appointment this morning. They took x-rays and upon seeing the inside of his mouth the dental hygienist asked "Has he complained about any pain?" Which, he hadn't. Then she asked "Have you seen in here?"  Well, actually, I had. But what I glimpsed was not a pretty sight, so it was a quick look.

As it turns out, Vladik had 2 cavities, 2 teeth that were completely rotten/decayed and needed extracted and a broken tooth than needs a root canal and a partial crown.  The dentist said, all things considered, the rest of his teeth were in pretty good shape!

We went back later this afternoon to have the cavities filled, and while we were there, Dr. G went ahead and extracted the 2 teeth. The first extraction went pretty well, the 2nd one was stubborn and took more work and quite a bit of discomfort on Vladik's part. Not pain... but discomfort. I won't go into all the gory details, but cracking/splitting teeth has a sound all it's own.

Needless to day, Vladik is pretty sore. I gave him some ibuprofen when we got home. As he can only eat soft things until he feels up to it, we all had home made ice cream for supper. NO ONE complained about that!

We go back Monday for the root canal and crown.

I can't forget to add, that Dr. G. is doing all this dental work free of charge.
I'm so grateful for his generosity and thankful that God, as always, provides for our every need.

One of the purposes in hosting, is to show Vladik not only the love of family, but the love of Christ.
Today, Dr. G showed Vladik... and me... the love of Christ.
Vladik may never recognize it for what it is; and for as sore as he is, he certainly isn't feeling any of that love right now.
But Dr. G was a part of the Lord's work today and I am blessed to have witnessed it.

Day 19.... part deux

 So yesterday... Sunday... I think it was a really good day for Vladik.

It started like any other Sunday... breakfast, church, lunch, etc.

We came home, but Kyle down for a nap and sat down to watch one of the videos we got from the library; the 1st Chronicles of Narnia... the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Vladik had already seen it- of course; and so had Rick and I, but Joe hadn't-- and Vladik indicated he wanted to see it again.

So, Narnia it was. I was SUPPOSED to be paying bills and doing book work, but after getting the movie started, I got sucked in and sat down and watched the whole darn thing.  It IS a good movie after all!

About halfway through the movie, Rick left to go help his BIL... they're building a shed.

Kyle woke up, we finished the movie, and then the 4 of us went swimming at my SIL's--- which is one of Vladik's FAVORITE things to do. Of course, I forgot my camera.

While we were there, it was decided we would go to my other SIL's for supper (where Rick was working on the shed.)  Building projects are kind of a family thing around here

Joe and Kyle were excited to go because "the girls" (which is the collective name we call 1 portion of their female cousins) were going to be there. Why so excited? I'm not sure-- we'd just spent the last hour and a half swimming with them.

Anyway, after supper the kids started playing keep away.. which of course, Vladik was best at.
We then did various races-- running, running backwards, bunny hop, crab walk, heel toe, and duck waddle.... which, of course, Vladik was best at.
So we tried freeze tag.... the "best" was kind of a toss up with this one.

All the kids had a really good time... but Vladik did especially, I think.

So many smiles!

Plus, he was the best- the fastest, the strongest, and the quickest... which I'm sure was a nice little ego-boost; something he may not often get.

Vladik goes home in 2 weeks. I wonder what his favorite memory will be?                

Getting ready to race...

Skipping...

Crab-walk...

Kyle crawled becuse he thought it would be
"SO much faster." Vladik still beat him!

This is what happens when an
almost 9 year old tries to crawl
through the legs of a 4 year old
while playing freeze tag.

This is what happens when a 4 year old
and then a 13 year old both crawl
through the legs of a 7 year old
while playing freeze tag.

Day 19

One would think that on Sunday....a day of rest... that I would have had PLENTY of time to update my blog during the day.

Yeahhh...... NO.

So, as it's nearly time for bed, this will be yet another short entry.

Actually... I think I'll write it up tomorrow.  Goodnight all.

Day 18

I'm sitting my my favorite chair and watching one of my favorite movies (Pretty Woman). All 3 boys are in bed and Rick isn't home yet (which is why I get to watch Pretty Woman.)

We went to a birthday party tonight to celebrate a nephew's 2nd birthday. Vladik's favorite, of course, was the cake and ice cream. He didn't say much/anything about the party when we got home. I wonder if it seemed totally extravagant to him?
There were a lot of people there.. several whom he'd never met.
 It has to be difficult being surrounded by people chattering away in a language of which you know very little.
 I think it would make my head hurt.

On a funny note... I think Vladik has a crush on one of Rick's nieces. The REALLY funny part.... I don't think it's one sided. They were playing footsie over cake and ice cream tonight. It made me smile.

As for English... I think we need to change tactics. Vladik is doing pretty well with his vocabulary, but now we need to work on using it in conversation. For example, he knows the English words "boy" and "girl" and what they mean, but he can't use them in a sentence, or understand when *I* use them in a sentence, no matter how simple.  Vocabulary is great... and important, but it's equally important to be able to use what you know.