Second visit with Nicholai

Hi everyone! Thanks for all of the support! It helps to know that even though we're in this crazy place where no one understands us or our language, that there are people back home thinking of us. Sergei took us up Nicholai's summer camp today and we spent about 4 hours with him. It was great. He is such a sweet and intelligent boy! The summer camp director was nice enough to let us take him off of the official camp grounds. The area where the summer camp is located is sort of like a resort/camping type area. We took Nicholai and Sergei out to lunch at this fancy new Restaurant and Motel just a little ways a way. (Mom and Mary - it's sorta like a Russian Black Butte, you will see it in the pictures.) Nicholai is quite the eater! (Watch out Kailyn!) He has very good manners though and even tried to eat his french fries with a fork until we told him that he could just pick them up! We gave him some gifts and you would have thought we handed him the world on a silver platter. We just bought him a little construction truck set, bubbles and a Harry Potter ball. He loved the trucks and was holding them up in the air at the camp so everyone could see them. Every time he would finish playing with them he would carefully put them back in the plastic tray then back in the box. It is apparent that they have taught him to be very tidy in the orphanage. The camp director said he is very excited about us and coming to America. We let him keep a book and a picture of us from our first visit and she said he is showing it to everyone and telling them that he is going to be an American. I guess he understood our first visit a lot more than I thought he did! After lunch today we rented a bike for him to ride around the grounds. He hadn't ever been on a bike before so we had to hold him up, in the 100 degree weather...which was exhausting! He was thrilled though and he will catch-on to riding a bike quickly! He also played "Fudboll" with Papa. I think he will be quite an athlete. We needed to take a break so we pulled out the laptop and played "Toystory," for him. Even though it was in English, he loved it. He was rattling off about 100 Russian words per minute with utter excitement. We had no idea what he was saying but it was obvious he was happy. I am proud to say the he definetly loves his Dad. I thought maybe he would have more of an attachment to me since most of the orphanage workers are women but man was I wrong! He follows Jon everywhere saying, "Papa this and Papa that!" He keeps grabbing for Jon's hand and is very affectionate with him. It makes me so glad. We could not be more happy with this boy and the outcome of this adoption so far. We are hoping to go back and visit with him again on Tuesday if we don't have court. Until then we are just hanging around Donetsk and looking for some clothes for Nicholai. We miss everyone back home...ESPECIALLY OUR GIRLS!

Summer
(There are new pictures in the blog entry below this!)

Cousin Cindy - I got your email, Kailyn is more than welcome to go swimming! I'm sure she would love that!

SP

Russ- I asked about any openings at MF&R (Mariianka Fire and Rescue). They said that you would need to have a JATC card or proof of completion of a state approved apprentice program.....do you have either.....didn't think so. Probably better if you stay at the fightin' 72 house of EFR.

JP