Monday, December 3, 2007

Lenin (for Shelley)

In the center of Artemovsk there is a statue of Lenin. We walk past this statue every time we go to the grocery store or the market, and for some reason, every time we walk past the statue we feel the burning need to take a picture! We have joked that we have more pictures of Lenin than we do of Evan (not true of course, but funny nonetheless). So, it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Lenin, our ever reliable friend, always showing us the way we should go. . .



Evan continues to amaze us with his progress. . .particularly with his English! He has learned a handful of new words and we are very impressed with how quickly he is learning. His favorite word, of course, is "cookie" and he uses it quite often. We have come to feel as if he is using us for our cookies (and we are okay with that)!! We have taught him to say "please" (although he still prefers to say it in Russian) and "more" (which is a very important word where cookies are concerned) and he has quickly caught on to the fact that he must "perform" for his cookies (and he does so willingly and eagerly). Richard managed to snap the following picture during one of our visits today and I just had to laugh when I saw it. In a "cookie stupor" with remnants of the yummy morsel still on his face, I think we will be seeing a lot of this Evan in the coming days and weeks:

5 comments:

liesel said...

That's funny. He is using you for cookies. May Be.....But who cares. He is absolutely adorable. I am so jealous that you are there and I'm not!!

Jennifer said...

It's funny - I couldn't help bu think how much Joshua looks like you when I first saw his pictures. And now- is it just me, or do I see a little of your husband in this picture?!

Glad you guys are doing so well, Valerie! Jennifer

Anonymous said...

News of Evan's language development is exciting. I wonder if you are also teaching him some sign language at the same time?

richard, wish you had Lenin's Tomb there with you (excellent book - Pulitzer prize author David Remnick) -- collapse of USSR -- so well written --

Good night!

adoptedthree said...

He has such beautiful eyes and a gentle way about him!!!

Shelley said...

Thank you for posting the pictures of Lenin :) We too thought there was something about that statue that jusdt draws a person to it....maybe it's just the way he's positioned in the town....reminds me a lot of the Washington Monument in DC...as long as you can see it, you aren't lost!
I love seeing all the smiling pictures of Evan too!