School and other matters

Two months after our last entry, it is impossible to fully enumerate the incredible leaps forward that both boys have taken. Lonya's English is remarkably good now--you can carry on a conversation with him. And Sergey's receptive English is also great.

The boys had developmental screenings in late February and were found to be right up at their age levels in everything but Sergey's spoken language. Now in the beginning of April, Sergey is starting to say lots more words. Though it is hard to get a word in edgewise when older brother is around! They started pre-school in the beginning of March. Sergey wanted no part of it at first, while Lonya loved it from the start. We suspect that is an age-related thing. But now they are both doing well, and their teachers have good reports.

The boys have had so many firsts--at the end of Spring Break we headed over to Seattle to the Woodland Park Zoo. The looks on the boys' faces as they beheld their first giraffe (a particularly big one, and it was walking toward them, no less) were priceless. And though the lions and tigers were disappointingly sleepy and kind of far away, the monkeys and penguins were up and full of action. The petting zoo we went to some weeks before was also very satisfying, and Lonya in particular was taken with a turkey named Otis, who would let you pet him. Of course now we don't mention in front of him what we're having for dinner.

Speaking of which, both boys have great appetites. They eat very well--nearly everything we put in front of them, with a preference for casseroles and/or hotdogs. Especially casseroles containing hot dogs.

And we have had lots of "parent moments"...for example, when bathtime was interrupted and the tub had to be completely scrubbed when Sery violated his promise not to do anything in the tub. Or when Lonya had to get his hair almost shaved off after he got hold of scissors and decided to help Momma Sue cut his hair. They keep us on our toes! But they've also turned our pleasant Sunday drives to exciting events, filled with magical fields full of horses and cows and each little turn opening up some wondrous view of a big tractor or a little dog on the farmhouse doorstep or a cat in the field catching mice.

The dogs and the boys are now firm friends. We thought you might enjoy these pictures of the boys and dogs in the car and the boys in their suits.