I think Zach is going to be a scientist. He's always testing things, looking at them from other angles, trying to find new uses for things. For example, he was hanging out with me in the bathroom while I put make-up on when he found Tim's old contact case. It's one with lids that separate completely from the case itself, and he took them both off and started running water in the case where the contacts belong. He twirled it around over the sink, letting bits slosh out. He did this for awhile, wordlessly and with great concentration. Then he filled both containers again and, without hesitation, drank the water from one. At my exclamation, he spit it out, filled both sides again and put the lids back on.

Yesterday I went into the guest half-bath on the first floor, which is more like The Boys' bathroom than it is for guests, as they use it more than anyone else. On the shelf is one of those Renuzit cone-shaped air fresheners that is filled with the scented gel that slowly evaporates; this one is white peony scent (though the stuff is red). I noticed it was sitting on the edge of the sink, closed. "Who closed this?" I asked as The Boys looked on and I opened it back up. Out gushed water and the liquefied guts of the air freshener. "I did it," Zach piped up. "I wanted to see what would happen."

Of course you did.

I also found a 4 Him Christmas cassette tape, unraveled and tucked way back on the bottom of the entertainment center. After some investigation I found that Zach had pulled the tape out, then vacuumed it up. When that didn't work as he'd planned, he pulled it free from the vacuum cleaner and pulled more tape out-- just for good measure.

There's a bunch to be said of life with boys, and the first is that it's never dull!


BTW, I've now done my 2nd show as a Pampered Chef consultant and it's going pretty well. I have 2 more shows this week and 3 more scheduled for October so far. It's a nice change of pace for me and I'm enjoying making money for the first time in years (other than on eBay but that doesn't really count).

Have you taken a look at my reading list for the year? I'm very excited to be close to on-track for my 50 book yearly goal. I'm at 31 books so far and I've calculated I should be at 39, so I do have some catching up to do, but I think I'll make it! Yay! I should reward myself if I make it, huh? Any suggestions?

Rasing a Man

Another first day of school and all is well. What more could I ask for?

Today was Ian's first day of Reception (Kindergarten). The way it works here is the kid starts Nursery (Preschool) in the school year they turn four-years-old. Then when they start Reception, the ones who turned 4 later in the school year- like Ian did in June- they go half days until January. It gives them a few months to age a bit before jumping in full time. So though it was the first day, he knew most of the kids from Nursery last year, plus he has the same teacher Zach had last year so he feels like he already knows her, and it's only a few hours a day anyway.

Ian is a sort of enigma: clingy and attached to me like a last born should be, yet very independent and unruffled when it comes to leaving me in times like the first day of school. He's shy, yet bold. Whiny and brave. Try to detach him from my leg while I make dinner and you might as well catch the Loch Ness Monster and make hors d'ouerves out of him. But when I walked him to his classroom this morning- past the hordes of thrashing children screaming "Mum, don't leave me!"- he walked calmly to the board, found his name, dropped it in the box and waved a silent good-bye to me. He could have lived without the kiss I planted on his cheek and he didn't even notice that I stood on one side of the room and watched him looking lost and brave and confident for a few minutes.

I was very curious about his day, so I peppered him with questions on the walk home.

Me: "Ian, what did you do at school today?"

Ian, calm and happy as can be: "I don't know."

M: "Okay. What did Miss G say to you?"

I: "I don't know. I forgott-ed."

M: "Did you play games? What did you play?"

I: "I don't know."

M: "Who did you play with?"

I: "I don't know."

M: "Are there kids in your class from last year? Which ones?"

I: "I don't know. I forgott-ed."

Is this a man in the making or what?! I've got to teach him the art of conversation or he's going to make some unsuspecting girl who fell for his huge puppy dog eyes really, really miserable! I did get 2 answers out of him:

Me: "What did you eat for snack?"

Ian: "Apples."

Me: "Did you eat your snot?"

Ian: "Yes."

At least he was honest...

Sometimes I Wish I Was Still Four-Years-Old!

Overheard this morning:

Zach: "Ian! Ian! Hold on! I'm not done saving the world!"

Teaching Our Kids About God

I've been thinking lately about how I tend to teach my kids about God almost as a second thought, or without really thinking about it. Sure, there are times we have specific discussions and there are concepts about Christianity I want them to learn and spend more time on, but for the most part I expect them to learn by watching me live. Certainly, it's not a bad thing to expect them to pick it up as they go, but I didn't have to think about teaching them-- or whether or not I should teach them about Jesus. It goes without question that I will teach them about the one true God.

It isn't like that for many parents around the world. To teach their kids about God will surely mean their persecution and/or death. I wonder sometimes if there is a moment's hesitation before they speak the first words of life to their kids. Or is the need to teach them yet more urgent, since their time on earth may be short due to the beliefs they hold? This truth we have is all the more precious and urgent when viewed through the eyes of the persecuted church.

I urge you to keep that in mind today as you interact with your kids.

Cheers!

School? No Thanks, I'm in Denial.

Heather emailed me yesterday and confessed to being unprepared for her kids' return to school. Seems she enjoys summer so much she tries to extend it by living in voluntary denial that it's coming to an end. But compared to me this year, she looks like Queen of Preparedness.

My oldest son Sean (who starts high school this year) came home from his friend's house and informed me (with a wild look in his eyes) that school starts on Monday. He told me this last night, Tuesday. I guess it would have paid off to have read all those emails from the school. I thought the BX was weird for having so many school supplies out for so long, and thought my neighbor- who was offering to help my kids find their bus stops- was insanely, overly prepared. In truth, it turns out everyone else is right on schedule and I'm worse than not prepared- I'm clueless.

Needless to say, I spent the day getting school supplies and taking care of other school-related business. I was out for more than 8 hours and now I'd like to fall asleep until it's time to drive the kids to school on Monday.

How about you all? Prepared for the return of school days?

(And in unrelated news, my rice pudding recipe and picture are up at Go Dairy Free!)

Sparkles Kicks the Proverbial Bucket

For Ian's birthday we bought him two goldfish, Plumpy and Googie, and a betta fish Sparkles. We were warned that they prefer warm water and to keep him as warm as possible. I didn't think it would be a problem, as we've had one before and he thrived. But... I kept that fish on top of the tv. Now we have a flat screen tv so keeping it on top is obviously not an option.

So, this morning poor Sparkles was found floating. He mananaged to stir himself a few times over the next few hour and all our attempts at recucitation failed. Don't worry, we didn't try mouth-to-mouth! But I put him near the stove to warm him up (and melted part of the container he was in!), Sean and I took turns poking him with a finger in order to shock him back to consciousness, and we swirled him around in his bowl. He would perk up for a second or two, then float back to the top or the bottom of the tank. Finally, I dumped him in the toilet. Just as he hit bottom, he stirred a bit and the guilt swept over me! But he stopped moving, and as Kristine, Ian and I stood over the toilet silently watching for more signs of life, Ian suddenly exclaimed gleefully, "I know! Let's flush it!"

Apparently he's not doing too badly with the death of his fish!

~Reese

Wynken, Blynken, & Nod

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
Sailed off in a wooden shoe---
Sailed on a river of crystal light,
Into a sea of dew.
"Where are you going, and what do you wish?"
The old moon asked the three.
"We have come to fish for the herring fish
That live in this beautiful sea;
Nets of silver and gold have we!"
Said Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

The old moon laughed and sang a song,
As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
And the wind that sped them all night long
Ruffled the waves of dew.
The little stars were the herring fish
That lived in that beautiful sea---
"Now cast your nets wherever you wish---
Never afeard are we";
So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

All night long their nets they threw
To the stars in the twinkling foam---
Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
Bringing the fishermen home;
'T was all so pretty a sail it seemed
As if it could not be,
And some folks thought 't was a dream they 'd dreamed
Of sailing that beautiful sea---
But I shall name you the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
And Nod is a little head,
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
Is a wee one's trundle-bed.
So shut your eyes while mother sings
Of wonderful sights that be,
And you shall see the beautiful things
As you rock in the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
Wynken,
Blynken,
And Nod.

~Reese, who used to have a record that recited this poem. She's always loved it and hadn't heard it for years until she came across it in a book at the library.

Zach's First Day of School

Moving to England has meant many changes for us, including an early start to school for Zach and Ian. Because of his late November birthday, in an American school Zach wouldn't be starting until fall 2009. In the UK, kids start preschool ("nursery") in the school year they turn 4, and kindergarten ("reception") the year they turn 5. That means Zach starts reception this fall, while Ian starts nursery at the same time.

When I went to the school last week to register them for this fall, I was told that Zach could start on Monday (yesterday), as the school year in England isn't over until July, and the half-day nursery schedule would give him a chance to experience school without putting in a full school day. He was thrilled! So yesterday I helped him on with his new school uniform and we met up with another American boy who was starting on the same day. You can see by the glow in his eyes that his anxiety level was a flat zero and his excitement was at an all-time high!

Sending my little boys to school is taking a big adjustment for me. I wasn't mentally prepared to send them to school for another year. I'm grateful that they get to experience school in another culture; what an amazing thing for your average American kid! But it's still hard on mom!

~Reese

I Miss Her...Already

I put her on a plane yesterday. That was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Last time, it was me getting on that plane, and leaving for two weeks. This time, she did it. I felt bad, because instead of being strong for her as she boarded that plane, I broke down in tears. She was strong for me.

I like Amanda. I thought you weren't supposed to like your teenagers. I was a terrible teenager, I know my mom didn't like me very much. I was mouthy, rude, selfish...I could go on, but you get the picture. Amanda has her moments for those, but 99% of the time she is kind, compassionate, loving and extremely funny!

Friday while riding in the car with her, I realized that we really enjoy each other. I am definitely the mom, but part of me is her friend too. We love the same music, she makes me laugh constantly, we can talk and sometimes, she's the one encouraging me.

I am thankful for this relationship that we have. I am overwhelmed at the thought that she is now 13 and in 5 short years, she will go on to live her own life and dreams. For now, I will cherish her and the young woman she is becoming. I am in awe of the God who created her and chose her as my daughter. I cannot deny that she is perfect for me, and I, am hopefully perfect for her.

I am counting down the days, she will be home on the 28th!

On a little side note, I am using my pink zip it purse! Yes, it has my wallet, camera, keys and hand lotion in it! I am ashamed to say I have lost my keys about 4 times..and, they were in the purse. The sad part, I had looked in the purse. I guess the purse is not my solution to loosing my keys!

-Heather

Ian Turns Three

Ian turned three-years-old last week! He's such a joy to me- the kind of kid who I'd expect to wear rain boots with his jammies. He's full of happiness, curiosity and love, with a quirky little sense of humor and an already burning excitement to start preschool in the fall. I'm so blessed to be Ian's mum (as the Brits say)!



~Reese

Sleep

Some nights are harder than others when it comes to bedtime. There are times that the routines seem to take hours- about as long as it takes for The Boys to settle down after we've gone through the routines. This was not to case last night. Zach was at the end of a 2 day fever, and fell asleep in my arms before Tim was home from work. Ian had been at the table munching an apple when I turned and found him in a state of Lala Land Bliss. It's the kind of moment I can't help but capture. (The color isn't very good because the bright afternoon sun was shining right into the kitchen from behind the shade. I tried to correct the color, with only a small amount of improvement.)


I wish sleep would come that effortlessly to me! Though it probably wouldn't be best if I went to sleep for the night in the late afternoon while eating a snack. Oh, the joys of youth!

~Reese, who fell asleep closer to 11pm, with her current read by her side

My Boys ADORE This video!

~Reese

Ian Pulls Another Stunt!

Every night as I put Ian to bed, he begs me, "Mommy! Sleep with me!" I lay down with him, just until I think he's drowsy, then whisper, "'Night-night, Baby. I love you. See you in the morning." He murmurs a good-night and I leave the room. Some nights, though, he isn't ready to simmer down and as I lay there he wiggles, talks, jumps up, etc. On those nights I get up and say, "I'll check on you again later, when you've calmed down." Sometimes he calls me back in and tells me he's ready to be calm; other times it gets quiet in his room and I know he's fallen asleep.

That's what happened last night. There wasn't a sound from his room, and I drifted off to sleep while reading in bed. About three hours after I left his room, he started crying. I immediately got up and went to him.

But when I opened the door, he wasn't there. His bed was empty! He was crying from under his bed! I had to move a stuffed animal to get to him, and I found him curled up on a child's keyboard in need of batteries that was shoved under the bed and forgotten about. I felt guilt mixing with my giggles as I realized that he had crawled under there, waiting for me to come back to check on him, then he fell asleep! Poor kid slept under his bed for three hours!

When I asked him this morning, he remembers hiding under the bed, but not falling asleep there or crying. I'm glad; that leaves me to laugh about last night, while promising myself that I won't wait three hours next time before checking on him!

~Reese

The First Kiss

It's your First Kiss and several questions might come to mind:
Is it the right time?
Is anyone watching?
Does your partner even want to?
Is your breath fresh?
AND,---Should you use some tongue?
Then you say . . ..
'What the heck!' and just go for it!!!

(From an email)