"Am I a papa now?"

     Our Ike is now officially a preschooler!  We had originally thought we'd wait until fall until he started, but he's been asking to go to "school" ever since he saw Ella's class program for Women's Day (and the kids got to dance with their moms). We've seen that it's been hard on him to be around Russian speakers and to not know how to speak.  So we decided to start him 2 mornings a week to hopefully jump-start the process.  Each classroom has a little "dressing room" when you first enter with cubbies for each child.  The kids wear shorts and slippers inside, as it's really hot.  I think it's funny/cute how the kids all tuck their shirts into their shorts.  =)

I told Ike to pose on the stairs for a school picture, and this was his "pose".

    He's been there two days now and has enjoyed his time, especially the singing and dancing in music class.  He told us that some of the kids in his class scream, but he himself doesn't cry.  =) And even after those 2 days, I now hear him babbling with Russian-type sounds while he plays with his toys.  When Ike came home after the first day, he asked me, "Am I a papa now?"  I asked him if he felt big enough to be a papa now that he's in school.  "Yes, I do", he replied. 

       Now that the weather is getting warmer, we get to stop at the playground on the way home.  All of our kids are loving playing outside!



     We enjoyed a monster cookie with candles to commemorate Ike's first day.  He thought this was just delightful.

Ike, getting his eyes examined

     Before Ike could get into preschool, we had to make the circuits to billions of doctors (well, really just 12 or so) with lab tests for his official medical card.  BUT this time instead of it taking over a month to complete, our friend told us about a new private clinic that makes appointments for all of the doctors back-to-back.  We did it in three different days, but still, I kept thanking God for how much easier this was than with the girls! 

getting checked out by the ear, nose, and throat doctor

     One separate trip we needed to make was to the dentist to get 2 cavities filled.  I was so impressed with this dentist!  He was really gentle and kind and FAST!  And for both cavities, it cost us less than $30.  Ike was a superstar, too.

     Even though Ike feels big enough to be a papa, he's still just a little guy.  I love looking at him when he's in a deep sleep.  So sweet.  And kissable.  As a side note, Ike has certain locations where he will and won't accept kisses.  He'll always accept kisses in the kitchen, but never outside (unless he forgets his rule, of course).  Sometimes he'll allow it in the living room.  Funny guy.  On another side note, we have the heaters in our bedrooms covered with blankets and our windows open, and we still don't need blankets on us because it's so hot in our apartment right now!

... and one more sleeping picture!  We went to the Buryat Partnership with Leif a few weeks ago, and Ike fell asleep in the van just a few minutes before we arrived.  We layed him on a bench in the back, and he slept through the whole meeting.