His favorite shot is definitely the jumping fade from just outside the key. Yes, basketball is right up at the top of Jay’s priorities but not above spending time with people. He loves to learn, enjoy music (both listening and creating), play any sports that someone will do with him. But he can also make a mean chicken pot pie or debate any topic you’re interested in.
- A Different Kind of Summer
This summer is a special one for our family. We don’t usually come home for the summer after our year of home assignment, but with our kids reaching working age, it felt important to give them a chance to do something they can’t really do overseas: work, earn some money, and start saving for college and beyond.
Finding jobs from overseas isn’t easy. A foreign phone number on a resume doesn’t exactly inspire employers to call back. So we’re incredibly grateful for the people who’ve helped open doors for our kids this summer.
One family from our church has a cabin a couple hours from Winnipeg, near Kenora, and they’re connected to a restaurant there. Last year they offered to have Cassie stay with them for the summer and help her get a serving job, even arranging transportation. It was a big opportunity, since Cassie only had a little café experience and this is a nicer restaurant than she’d normally have a shot at. But because the family vouched for her, and their own sons work there too, the restaurant took a chance on her. After four training shifts, she served her first table yesterday and earned her first tips. She’s loving it, and I think she’s also enjoying the independence of being a bit more on her own since graduating high school this past June.
Jay is working full time for a friend of ours whose husband owns a landscaping company. He’s been hired on for general labor, lawn mowing, laying sod, filling bags with gravel, and hopefully learning to drive a bobcat before the summer’s out. It’s good, hard work, and a great way for him to learn flexibility and pick up new skills. He’s also getting his learner’s permit this summer and practicing his driving in the evenings.
Kai is only fourteen, so his summer looks a little different, just enough work without too much. He’s helping a neighbor two doors down who’s recovering from surgery, mowing her lawn, trimming hedges, and weeding her garden. He could easily work full time at this point, but he’s chosen to keep it to about two hours a day. He’s also walking a friend’s dog once a week and picking up the occasional lawn job. A nice balance of earning and still having time to be fourteen.
All three kids will also get to go to camp this summer. Kai has a volleyball camp and a basketball camp on his calendar. Jay is headed to a basketball camp in Minnesota, a more serious one, since he’s hoping to play in college and wants to sharpen his game this year. And Cassie is off to a camp in Alberta for third-culture kids transitioning from high school into college life. Our church sponsored her for it, which has been such a gift.
And every day, Kai and I have been taking advantage of Planet Fitness’s free membership, getting our workouts in together, which has become a nice little routine of its own this summer.
It’s been a summer so far of hard work, new independence, and a lot of growing up for our kids, and we feel so thankful for the community that’s made it all possible.
- Gifts we want to give our children
We often tell our kids we’re on their team. Every choice we make is considering them. These are the gifts we’re working to give them — not wrapped in paper, but built into their lives.
Gift 01
The ability to create music
Music is a language of its own. We want our kids to know how to make it — not just listen to it.
Gift 02
A strong work ethic and ambition
We want them to show up, to try hard, and to care about doing things well — whatever they put their hands to.
Gift 03
The ability to communicate in more than one language
Language opens doors — to people, cultures, and places. Exposure to more than one is a gift that keeps giving.
Gift 04
Wisdom in using financial resources
Not just how to earn money, but how to steward it well — with generosity, patience, and good judgment.
Gift 05
A sense of adventure and love for beautiful places
We want them to get outside, explore, and develop a real sense of wonder for the world God made.
Gift 06
A desire to love God and love others
Above everything else on this list, this is what we want their lives to be shaped by.
Gift 07
The ability to think well
Discerning truth from deception — especially in news, media, and the arts. We want them to be thoughtful, not just informed.
Gift 08
Self-discipline in screens, food, and sleep
The basics matter more than we often admit. We’re trying to help them build healthy rhythms that will serve them for life.
Gift 09
Strong family roots and ties
We want them to know where they come from and to feel deeply connected — to us, to each other, and to the story they’re part of.
Gift 10
The opportunity to study what they love
We want to provide for them the opportunity to learn something they would love to do for a vocation that has meaning and blesses the world they live in, this often includes college and we want them prepared for that.
Gift 11
A love for God’s Word
Not just knowing it’s important, but actually wanting to read it. We hope it becomes something they reach for daily, on their own.
Gift 12
Independence and basic life skills
Cooking, cleaning, sewing, gardening, building — and more. We want them to be capable, confident people who can take care of themselves and others.
This list isn’t exhaustive — but it reflects what we hope to pass on. We are on our kids’ team, every single day.
- Our Family Traditions
Every family has a rhythm — those little rituals and recurring moments that, when you look back, end up defining your life together more than almost anything else. Here’s a peek at ours, season by season.
🌱 Spring
Spring starts indoors for us — we plant seeds inside first and watch them sprout on the windowsill before eventually moving them outside to the garden. It’s a slow, hopeful kind of tradition. Spring is also when most of the kids’ birthdays fall, so it’s a season full of celebrations, birthday parties, and a lot of cake.
☀️ Summer
Summer is full. We do the Rollkuchen, slice into watermelon, and follow the Winnipeg Bombers (even from overseas). And camping at Blue Lake and Five Cabins is one of those anchoring summer traditions we come back to year after year.
🍂 Fall
First day of school photos — every year, no exceptions. Then Thanksgiving, which we love to share with Canadians (or really anyone who needs a table if there are no Canadians nearby). Pumpkin pie is non-negotiable. And when the mood strikes, we’ve been known to make a batch of homemade applesauce.
❄️ Winter
Hockey season means following the Winnipeg Jets. Come Christmas, the house smells like cinnamon buns — we make them every year. And New Year’s Eve? Fondue and a murder mystery envelope. It’s become one of those traditions that everyone looks forward to more than they probably admit.
🔄 All year long
Reading before bed. Reading the Bible at dinner — we did this more faithfully when the kids were younger, but it still shows up. Weekend adventures: hiking, biking, exploring wherever the road takes us. Weekend breakfasts like waffles, and an open-door policy for brunch. We love having people over. And every birthday, we sign each other’s birthday books — a small thing that adds up to something really meaningful over the years.
- Jay plays in his first Winter Classic 2026
Jay made the varsity team this year. This is a pretty big deal since he is only a sophomore (grade 10) but an even bigger deal is all the playing time he got at Winter Classic. This is a tournament that our school hosts every year and invites schools from Austria, Croatia, Turkey, Albania and a few other countries. It is a really fun time with lots of external things like dance teams, pep band, American candy, food trucks, social events and more! But of course the basketball is the highlight, and our girls team took 2nd place and our boys team took 1st! These parents are so proud!
- How to welcome home missionary kids
1) Ask for parents’ insight about how to relate with their kids
Parents know their kids best! If you can, talk with the missionary parents before they come to church on Sunday, or before you meet up with them, and ask them how you can best support their kids while you are together.
Some kids genuinely enjoy standing with their parents and listening to the adults talk and have conversations (that was me as a kid!). Other kids love making new friends and want to jump into the Sunday morning programs. They might prefer to blend in and make friends, or simply observe the world around them.
Ask parents about each of their kids specifically, since every kid has different needs. Then, see how you can help!2) Introduce yourself like it’s the first time you’re meeting
MKs often hear something like, “Hi, I’m Barbara, do you remember me? I used to babysit you!” or “Oh, it’s so good to see you! Wow, you’ve grown so tall!” While these are warm and well intentioned comments, this can put MKs in an awkward position. They may feel guilty for not remembering you, or they may want to act like they do indeed remember you (even if they don’t). If MKs are back in their passport country for the first time in three years, it may be really hard for them to recall a lot of names and faces from previous years. Help them out by introducing yourself!
If you introduce yourself in the same way you would if you were meeting for the first time, or if you remind them how you’re connected to their family, it will give them more freedom to be themselves. And, who knows, maybe one day they will actually say, “Oh yeah, I remember you!! You’re the one who picked us up from the airport a few years ago and told the story about the alligators!”3) Ask specific, open-ended, simple questions
“Which country do you like living in better?” or “Do you have any friends there?” can feel like a lot of pressure for MKs. These are specific, yet very closed-ended questions. On the other hand, questions that are open but too broad or abstract can also feel intimidating. “How can we be praying for you?” or “What’s it like living in Hungary?” might be great questions for adults, but MKs are often at a loss for words to answer these questions on the spot.
Here are some other tips on tweaking questions to help MK’s feel more loved…
- Instead of, “Do you have friends there?” ask, “Who are some people you enjoy spending time with at home in Budapest?”
- Instead of, “Which country do you like living in better Hungary or Ukraine?” ask, “What’s something you think is cool about Hungary?” or “What’s something you miss from Ukraine when you’re home in Budapest (or Canada)?”
- Instead of, “How can I be praying for you?” (which can sometimes be a tough question for kids to answer!) you could ask, “What’s something kind of stressful or challenging that you experience here in Canada?” Listen to their answers, and ask follow-up questions if they want to talk about it. After listening to their stories, you can say, “Wow, yeah, that does sound tough! I’d love to be praying for you for ________ .“ Here you could insert that area of their life—e.g. for new friends, for kind teachers, for school in their second language, etc.).
4) Invite them to join you in what you’re doing
If you’re welcoming MK’s into your home, share your hobbies and interests with them. I still remember the time one of our family’s supporters taught me how to knit. Knitting became my new favorite pastime on long car rides during that home assignment. I’m actually not much of a knitter today, but I still feel loved when I remember the woman who once took the time to teach me how to knit while we were in their home!
Think about some of the things you enjoy doing. Ask MKs if they’d like to join you and try something new. Do you make the best homemade kettle corn? Invite the kids to learn how to make it with you! Do you love building birdhouses? Do you play baseball in your free time? Let them paint a birdhouse you made, or coach them in pitching a baseball. You’ll not only teach them valuable skills, but they’ll feel so loved that you’d care enough to spend that time with them.
On Sundays, this may look a little different, but the same idea goes a long way. Are you teaching Sunday School? Ask them if they’d like to come with you and introduce them to other kids their age. Are you setting up chairs for the service? Invite them to join in and have a fun conversation as you go (and ask their parents first, of course!). Are you the same age as the MK? Invite them to play in the church gym with you and your friends after the service. You can even introduce them to other teenagers from the youth group and find out what you all have in common together.
5) Welcome them into the fold, rather than asking them to perform
In general, MKs long to belong wherever they go. They spend much of their lives observing and adapting to the world around them, and they are skilled at figuring out how to fit in. Give them the chance to feel at home in your church or community whenever they visit.
If you’d like for an MK to share something about life as a missionary kid in Sunday school or youth group, ask them beforehand. Then, give them the chance to say “sure!” or “I’d rather not.”
In conversations, ask them about their lives in their countries, and be intentional about getting to know them for who they are. At the same time, give them space to belong and feel like they are welcomed to belong (and not stand out so much!), even if they’re only at church for a day or in town for a week. Treat them “as your own,” and remind them that they matter to you.
Thank you for investing in missionary kids! We are like sponges, constantly observing and taking in the world around us. When you spend time with us and take time to see our needs, it really means a lot. Your words of encouragement, and your actions of love and care, help us feel less alone, and point us to the kindness of God. Sometimes it’s the littlest things that make the biggest difference in our lives.
Article Taken from 5 Ways to Care for Missionary Kids on Home Assignment | Josiah Venture Written by Claire Patty
- Update Video with the kids
It has been two years since the war began – here is our family update!
- Birthdays, Musicals and Volleyball
Every year we begin to prepare for the new season. Not spring, or winter or even summer or fall… but birthday season! From April 15-May 25 we celebrate all of the kid’s birthdays. We sit down with each child and ask, “What do you want for your birthday breakfast and dinner? Is there a special dessert? Do you want a party with lots of people, or just a small one with a few friends?” Each of the kids always choose different things, but we hope that each knows that they are loved and celebrated. Of course, throw into the crazy birthday month an exciting volleyball season, a high school musical ‘The music man’, awards ceremonies, and let’s not forget mothers day…oh and… well let’s just say that it has been a full month!
- What is going on with that hair?
If you saw Jay a few years ago, he had straight hair. Now, with that crazy introduction of being a teenager with new hormones, his hair has gone curly, and his biceps are growing, and he even has a little mustache!
He has been playing basketball for the past few months and it is always fun to watch him take the ball down the court, go in for a lay-up, or shoot from the top of the key. He is really growing up in so many ways, but especially in his maturity. He is learning to love those who are more challenging to get along with, and he is finding ways to be himself (silly and fun!) while still showing respect to teachers and classmates.
We are so proud!
- Jay’s 8th Birthday
Well, it is official! He is now 8, and he wanted to have a big party with his friends playing lazer tag. We negotiated a little and decided he could do the big party if he was not expecting any gifts from us. It was a bit of a struggle, but the lazer party won out over a gift, and a great time was had by all! It was hard to get photos in the dark, but we tried :)
- Jay gets glasses!
One day we were in the shopping mall and I wanted to test Jay’s ability to read Russian cyrillic. I pointed to a sign and asked Jay- “Can you read that?” He said, “No, the words are too blurry Mom”… and that is when I knew.
After a few tests at the eye doctor it was confirmed, Jay has Myopia :( Sad but at least he found some cool glasses to wear, and it is so nice for him to be able to see clearly!
- Grade 2
Jay is 7 and loves to watch CFL football! He always has a plan and loves to make that plan happen! Smarter than the average bear, he reads like a 14 year old and is doing math problems way beyond his age. But like he says, with much privilege comes much responsibility. Don’t worry though, he loves to run around with his dog Midnight, race around remote control cars and play with his latest hotwheel cars just like any 7 year old boy!
- Strong
Jay and I read through this verse the other day and talked about strength, inner strength and outer strength. I really pray he grows up to be a trustworthy man, who is honest, hates bribes and stands against injustice. Later that day he decided he wants to be strong on the outside too and wants to do 20 pushups every night. Then he wanted to measure his biceps. 19 centimeters around- both the left and the right.
- Consequences for actions
As we live our lives, every action we take has some sort of result…good and bad. For example, if I stay up too late every night and then wake up early each morning, the result is a grumpy mom and wife- which in turns affects everyone else!
Someone gave us the parenting advice once that it is important to teach your kids there are consequences for actions before the age of 14, when their choices can really have long-term consequences for their future. Well, this last week we had the opportunity to teach consequences for actions!
One day we were standing by our car and looked down at the hood. It had letters and faces scratched right into the paint! We thought it had been vandalized when we had been grocery shopping that day. Our kids would never do that! Well, after chatting with Jay we discovered he had thrown a rock and it had flown through the air, turned around and ‘somehow’ scratched the car. :)
After thinking for awhile we came up with a plan where he would have to ‘work off’ the money he owed to fix the car. Each day he had a pretty difficult chore to do. At the end he had to write a sorry card to mom and dad. Hopefully he learned through the whole experience, and now we have a nicely decorated car!
- Birthday Season
April and May become birthday season around here, are three kids celebrating within 35 days. That means cakes and presents and parties, all things we love – and our kids too!
This years birthdays included a day at the park with close friends, a superman party and a day at the zoo, also with friends.
- Lego Art
Often this website is a way for us to communicate all of the things that we are doing, to share the excitement with family and friends far away. BUT sometimes it is good to share what is happening with our kids since many of our readers love them too
Jay and Cassie are really growing up, and like most kids, they love to be creative. Lego is one way they express their creativity! Jay loves to invent new vehicles and Cassie likes to build anything, from scenes to animal shows.
Kai’s creativity comes out when he plays pretend by himself with little animals or figurines. He also has a favourite spot next to the bookshelf where he will sit for a whole hour just looking at books.
Cassie is still loving school, she is on Spring break now, and just last weekend had a big sleepover with 6 girls.
Jay’s buddy Egan is back from America and the three boys have all sorts of fun together during the day.
So the kids are growing up healthy and have lots of fun with their friends- but often talk of their family and friends in Canada. Soon we will be printing out pictures to put up in their room so they don’t forget :)
Thanks for all of you who love and pray for our kids!
- The Builder
Wooden train tracks with bridges and switches, lego blocks forming garages and cars and transporters, and many little hot wheels racing down those orange roads.
Jay is becoming an expert builder since this summer when his boy cousins really expanded his ability to create new things. We’ve even figured out a way to use the orange hot wheels roads to be the downhill start for the little wooden trains that can then go through all sorts of crazy courses.
- Family Update
This last weekend friends of ours gave us a swing set for our backyard. This morning I was so blessed listening to our kids laughing and playing together outside. Our time at home in Canada truly has been awesome for our whole family. So here are some quick updates on the kids:
Cassie- lost her two front teeth this weekend, 2 days after she turned 6! She had a party with a bunch of her friends all around the theme ‘Frozen- the movie.’ My two cousins Teresa and Soumela were there and helped me lots, along with my nieces Suzanna and Elly.
Jay- Loves playing soccer on a team here in Winnipeg. He wants to wear his jersey to bed every night and of course leave it on all day! He still loves zooming cars down slides and race tracks. He does great on his reading lessons and remembers sounds really easily!
Kai- His vocabulary has really been expanding since he has turned two. ‘Lello’ is his favorite colour and he has to point out every yellow thing he sees. He sweetly says ‘soyee’ when he does something wrong, and ‘tank-oo’ when someone gives him something or helps him. But one difference with our other two children, he does NOT like bed time.
- It’s gotta be a remote control!
Jay’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. After asking him what he would like for his birthday he replied, “I only want remote control cars!” So I replied, “Really Jay? Only that? You can only play with one remote control car at a time, are you sure?” His response? “Well, I can tie them all together in a big line and drive them all together!” Well, at least he is creative, but I think we may ignore his request and perhaps get a few things that are not remote controlled :)
- Our big helper
Jay is really into helping right now. If we need to have someone take out the compost, he will jump up and offer. In fact, right now he is dusting the window sills and the tables. Let’s just hope that this can last until he turns… well, let’s just hope this can last!
- Jay on his bike!
Just over a year ago Jay was introduced to the bike with no pedals! Just the right size, he would scoot along with his legs, and then when he was going fast enough pick them up and glide. Well, a few weeks ago we put the pedals back on and when he picked up his legs to glide…he started pedaling! Riding a bike with no training wheels at age 3! Way to go Jay! And thanks Hopcrafts for the idea and the bike!
- Sunday Afternoon Fun
Jay was dressed up super cute on Sunday so we had some fun doing a shoot. Cas of course jumped right in too!
- Super Sonic
Right before we came to Turkey, Ben’s Dad came to visit and help the ‘Love Kiev’ team that came from our home church in Canada. He brought Jay a little model of a Concord plane and explained the concept of ‘super sonic.’ Well, Jay has decided that everything that goes fast is ‘Super Sonic’ and I think that is a great description of our little Jay! He is Super Sonic! He even decided that he wanted to swim without any arm floaties and wasn’t at all afraid of having his head go under water! He is our brave, super Sonic Jay!
- Potty Party
This week was Jay’s potty party! What a celebration it was – eating and drinking, salty snacks and sweet treats and every yummy drink you can think of. Oh baby!
Well, he’s done extremely well. What a great little guy growing up way too fast!
He makes us so proud every day. Being a great big brother to Kaiser when Mom has her hands full. Learning things from Cassers, playing imaginary games with her and racing around the trampoline, pushing each other on the bikes and digging in the mud with her (I think they were making cakes together). Who could ask for more? Not us! We love you Jay!
- Happy Easter
An exciting Easter surprise came in the mail: an activity book, chocolates, and a sticker album from Nanna and Grandpa! But the best part of all for Jay was the singing card! He wouldn’t stop pressing that button! Finally for bed we had to hide them away, only of course to be found the next morning! So much fun! Thanks Nanna and Grandpa!
- Keeping up to the big sister
The middle child, there are all sorts of books written about being one, but I’ve never been one, so it is interesting raising Jay. Now that Cassie is off at school it is tempting to be able to get a whole bunch of things done during the mornings while Kai is sleeping, but I’m resisting that temptation. 3 times a week I get the special privilege of playing with just Jay. We do puzzles, baking, trains, cars and reading books together. He is really fun and a very helpful little man. I really enjoy his personality. Next big job for him…potty training!
- Skyping with Grandma
Skyping with Grandma!
For many, sitting down and having a little chat with Grandma is no big deal. But our kids do most of that over skype, so it was quite impressive when Jay stopped flicking the light switches and running down the hallway long enough to put on the headphones and have a little conversation with Grandma! Not bad for this active little guy.
- Reasoning and empathy skills
Jay loves to talk. It is so great because he has lots of interesting ideas and he is starting to reason really well. If we ask him “Jay, why do you keep banging the truck against the table?” a few weeks ago he would just answer, “Because I am.” Now he says, “Because I like the way it sounds.” It helps when we also use reason to explain why we say no to certain things. However, now we need to keep working on helping him understand how others feel. Another big challenge for parents. “Please don’t hit Cassie in the head, how do you think that makes her feel?” Ah…. siblings!!
- Why?
Yup, Jay is entering the why stage. It only started about two days ago but yesterday he really got on a kick. The interrogation began when I went to change his bum.
“Why Daddy?”
“Because when we eat we put food in your body, so we excrete what we don’t use, the waste.”
“Why?”
“Well we have to eat because we need energy to live.”
“Why?”
…When it finally did end, I was in the fetal position crying “mommy” repeatedly while he laughed at me. Ok, it didn’t happen quite that way, but there I was, changing my sons diaper while describing the meaning and purpose of life.
- Inukshuk
“Inukshuk Mommy, that’s a big inukshuk.”
A little context for you? About four days ago we built some inukshuk by the front gate of our house. They are small things, around the kids knees in size. But we had a lot of fun making them together. And of course, we used flat stones that balance together and they are piled up…
So what made him remember the inukshuk today? We were walking through a cemetery today and he noticed one monument that was like stacked stones piled up. It reminded him of the inukshuk we had made, a really really big inukshuk.
- Just Like Daddy
Anyone who knows Ben knows that he is the typical younger brother. He loves to bug people, tease them, and drive them a little crazy (especially if they have a good sense of humour). Well, Jay is just like his daddy. He loves to bug Cassie already. It causes many little squabbles, but underneath it all Cassie loves Jay’s attention!
He also loves being like his daddy as he kicks the soccer ball around and wears a big boy tie! Thanks cousin Noah for the tie!
- Uncle Mike’s Bike
I’m Lovin’ It! It’s true that those words usually refer to McDonald’s (which I can recognize from a long distance), but this time they refer to the joyride that Uncle Mike provided. Unbelievably, they took apart a little bike, packed it in a suitcase and flew all the way to Ukraine with it. So on day 3 I was pretty surprised to find my bum sitting on this little BMX, whippin’ around the YWAM property by the careful hands of Uncle Mike. Thanks uncle Mike!
- Mischevious? Definitely!
We love this little man. So cute, playful, happy, tagging along with his big sister, sharing, running, watching Daddy, he’s amazing! He’s also mischevious.
Well, maybe too curious is a better way to describe him. He loves playing with water. In the bath, he drives his cars through it, then fills the cups and then dumps the cups outside the bath. Outside, he finds the pails with water and splashes with them. He helps Daddy wash the car.
But the one thing he just can’t get over is his drinking cup or water bottle. No matter how many times we’ve told him, smacked his hand, taken away his cup, he still does it. Does what? Intentionally pours out his water. Onto his lap, his sister, his plate, the floor, you name it! Ahhh! But after all is said and done, what’s a little spilled
milkwater? - Favourite
“It’s my favorite!” Considering everything is his favourite, he doesn’t quite get the concept, but it sure is cute how he emphasizes the word favourite like nothing else will ever compare, until he finds the next toy, or type of food!
- First Question
Jay asked his first full question today. Ben was lying on the couch today and Jay asked him, “Are you reading the bible Daddy?” Totally grammatically correct! :) It was so cute. I love how he talks, even the mistakes he makes are cute. My precious children!
- Cars the Movie
Mater and Lightening the Queen (spelling purposely wrong). These are Jay’s favorite heroes. “Watch the cars movie” is a line that we hear all day long, but it is so sweet how he loves cars and trains and airplanes. He has a special ‘Trucks’ drawer for all of his vehicles and it is open all day long. In our new house we have a rule that all the toys stay in the bedroom, this is probably the best thing we have done in all of our parenting days :) So thankfully all of these little cars and trucks that we would constantly slip on are now contained into one room.
- Making Noise
Jay has discovered high heels. Yes, one day he might regret this is recorded in his blog, but for now it is so cute! He gets out Mommy’s shoes, or Cassie’s shoes and says ‘Hiheels’ (all one word of course), and then he stomps around the apartment! We move into a house in a week today, and we are sure our neighbours below our apartment will say, “Finally!”
- Sleep Please!
We have tried to miss Jay’s afternoon naptime a few days in a row. It is hard to stay home in the afternoons when you are on vacation and want to go exploring, but after two dinners of a screaming Jay we have decided that we will make afternoon naps a priority! Budapest will just have to be explored in the mornings and evenings.
- “Mommy, Boat…Daddy, Boat…”
I am beginning to think that the term ‘Verbal Processor’ is really just a way of describing someone who talks ALOT! But there is just no better way to describe Jay. Every thought he has is verbalized and repeated over and over until he is acknowledged. Right now he is on a boat kick. Because we have been driving down the coast of rCoatia, we see ALOT of boats, and Jay is fully aware of each one as they pass by. “Mommy, Boat…Daddy, Boat…Joshy (our friend on our road trip with us), Boat…Cassie…” Well you get the picture. But hey, maybe when he is a teenager and doesn’t want to talk as much we will be like “So Jay, what are you thinking?” “Nothing….” :)
- Talking, Talking, Talking
It is hard to believe that during this past month in Georgia he has learned an enormous amount of words. Please, Thank you (in French, English and Russian), Sorry, Careful, Airplane, Train…pretty much anything you ask him to repeat he will learn. The ability of a child to learn languages is amazing! He has also hit his independent streak so he completely refuses help to eat, until he gets to the very end and then he says ‘help…please!’ This means a great big mess every meal, but it is all a part of growing up! Sometimes he poops at night so he wakes up saying ‘Daddy, Mommy, Poop…Yucky…Stinky….Poop!’ Until we come and get him out of his bed. Ben and I had the great idea to cut Jay’s hair ourselves, we should have learned from Cassie that this is definitely not a talent we have (as you can see from this photo!)
- Talking
We wake up every morning to the screaming words, “Momma, Momma” coming from Jay’s playpen. If it takes us too long to get there, he moves on to “Dadda, Dadda”. And from there straight to freaking out – so we try to make it there before that happens…
After picking him up, he immediately begins asking for “bankie, bankie” and as we walk to the kitchen he tells us that he is “hungie, hungie”. He has just started eating his own breakfast, either oatmeal, muesli or cereal – but his favourite is definitely yogurt. He usually finishes breakfast with some “wata, wata” or “leau, leau”. Of course, if he threw some food on the floor, he might tell us what happened, “drop, drop”. It’s all pretty comical … except that its extremely tiring!
He’s not allowed, but he continually asks for “makas, makas” (markers) during the day. And if he sees someone on the computer, then he immediately calls out for “gampa, gampa”. He sure is growing up!
- Not Funny Jay!
One thing about living far away is that our family and friends haven’t seen Jay grow up in this first year, so I like to blog about his developments so everyone can get an idea of where he is at.
Jay loves to explore all over the house. Listening is not his strong point so once he sees something he wants to touch or hold he gets VERY determined! He makes all sorts of noises and seems to have conversations with everything (toys, us, Cassie, his food) He is also getting in his second molar. He is still a good sleeper, 2 two hour naps a day plus 12 hours or so at night. He likes to eat food and drink milk and water (especially in the bath, yuck!). We are working on getting him to not hit. He thinks it is funny when someone is holding him to smack them in the face. “No Jay, that is not funny, gentle.” But he is so cute with his smile and giggle. We love him so much!
- Side x Side Cassie in the Sand
Jay sure is enjoying spring over here. Digging in the sandbox, playing with the shovels and trucks, eating the rocks he finds, he’s into it all! But it sure is a pleasure to watch him run after his sister, climb the stairs for the slide when she does, sometimes even get on the swing with her. He’s got a great older sister to look up to his whole life long!
- His Smile Wins My Heart
Jay loves to get into everything. He opens every drawer and pulls everything out. It drives me crazy, clean freak that I am, and it drives his curiosity, child that he is. Just when I think I am going to get upset at putting the Tupperware away for the 15th time that day, he looks over and smiles at me with a big toothy grin. Awwww . Big hugs and kisses for Jay! By the way, he is signing now more, food and drink. Hopefully we can add a few more signs to the repertoire and get our little guy communicating!
Teaching Adventures 