embassy annual report

We are mailing in the annual report that is required by the Ukrainian Embassy in San Fran for Vitaliy and Spencer. I thought that it was a good time to record some of the things that they are doing well with and some of the things that they struggle with.

School
Both boys seem to be able to understand the material in their age appropriate grades. The school wanted us to put them into 7th and 4th grade and they have risen to the challenge. Most of the problems they face are related to behavior instead of academic deficiencies. Vitaliy has pretty much been in trouble with every teacher because of his behavior. He has a hard time respecting adults (especially women) and he is learning slowly by surely that you have to do what the teacher says or else. His issues are not too serious (just blurting out comments and talking and throwing things in class etc.) We have had to take away things he likes and have him write papers and letters to the teachers to try to teach him about appropriate behavior. What I think it will take is a cute girl to tell him to shape up and stop being a jerk in class. I think that would do the trick. I keep hoping. Maybe I should have Alisa offer a reward or something.

We had the teachers do a pass fail grade for the first term at school so that Vitaliy cculd adjust to the classes and not be discouraged when he got a C or a D. Now the teachers are expecting more and not making as many "allowances" for him. If he can get his behavior under control, he should be in good shape.

Spencer is doing great and has only had a couple problems with pouting and being disrespectful in ESL. The teacher in that class is a female and his 4th grade teacher is a male. I really think that there is something to my theory that these boys respond better to male authority. It certainly is the case at home. When Dave says something it carries a lot more weight than what I say with the new boys The main problems with Vitaliy's behavior seem to happen with his female teachers.

Family

The boys are meshing better than ever at home now They get along with the other kids and are picking on Scott less now They really had some jealousy issues at first but now they are realizing that Scott is pretty fun and so they are mostly buddies instead of rivals like before. They both really love feel attached to Dave. He is the more lenient parent to them and they love to sit by him and talk to him and go on a "date" and get a shake etc. They are loving to everyone but they really do love Dave the most. Spencer will curl up next to him when we read as a family and they both want to sit by him all the time.

They have become accustomed to "the Drill" at home and help by doing their jobs and they hold their own with the other kids. There isn't any more special guest treatment going on from the other kids and Spencer and Vitaliy are just one of the gang now and that is what we were shooting for, (although we did enjoy the extra courteous behavior from our other kids at first.)

Church

The boys have been doing great with church. Both were baptized and Vitaliy is a deacon and enjoys passing the sacrament and doesn't complain about doing fast offerings (which is great.) Spencer bore his testimony last month and seemed to really enjoy the experience I think that they are growing in knowledge and developing like the rest of us. We hope to have them sealed to us and are thinking that we will do it when Bryan gets home from his mission in Ukraine. This will also give them a little longer to gain an understanding of what it means to have an eternal family. I want the sealing to be a really special anticipated experience for the whole family.

Other stuff

It has been almost a half year since we arrived home and although we still have frustrations, things are a lot better now. We don't have the constant tattling and smelliness and struggles with understanding each other. The boys speaking really great English and can still talk up a storm in Russian with each other and Tyler. Tyler is planning to go out East this summer to work and we are not even worried about being able to communicate without him here to translate. They seem to be able to find the words for everything now.

Spencer is pretty compliant with all of the family rules and it is probably due to his age (9) and his personality. Vitaliy questions everything and usually decides to follow suit eventually. He really wants to have a girlfriend (at 12) and he doesn't like us to tell him that he is too young. Some girls at school are ready and willing and one even kissed him on the cheek and texted him that she would kiss him for real the next day if he wanted. The older brothers found out and scared off the girl by calling her Dad. Oh the challenges of having cute boys :) Vitaliy also said that he wants to have a bunch of tattoos and get his ear pierced. He said that when he is 18 he is going right out to tattoo and pierce himself to death. I told him that what I want for Christmas is for him to promise me that he won't. He thought that was a pretty weird Christmas wish. It is a little hard to try to convince him that the things that are so cool and common in Ukraine are not really that smart. Our life is more interesting the more we learn about our children. We are experiencing things that we never expected before. It will be fun to see what the next 6 months bring :)