Jack was talking to his good friend, Josiah, who just started reception (kindergarten).
JACK: Hey Jos. How was school today? Did you do any sport?
JOS: No Jack. We did PE.
JACK (laughing hysterically): You peed at school today. On yourself?
Erin (starting to laugh too): No, Jack it is physical education class where they play sports. They shorten it to just the initials so PE (which is actually hard since physical is actually more of an F sound - silly English!).
Jack is never going to want to start school if he thinks it involves PE - ing on yourself. Maybe the English are onto something using the word 'WEE' instead of 'PEE'.
Thursday, 30 September 2010
Monday, 27 September 2010
Done!
So we finally did it yesterday. After weeks of meeting on Saturday morning for practice runs E (will call my friend that for privacy!) and I ran our half-marathon together. It was good fun but even better fun to be done with it. The best part for me was getting to train together. E has done amazingly well - she just starting running for the first time in her life this time last year and started by running two minutes and walking one minute. And then she went out yesterday and RAN the entire way. She truly could be an inspirational story, but I will leave that for her to tell when she wants to!
In fact it was E who was giving me the motivational speech at mile 12! I didn't feel great during the run, but was happy to finish - seven months after having Addie. I made a goal that I would run a half-marathon after each child as a way of getting back in shape. After Jack I ran the Peterborough Half-Marathon when he was ten months and then ran in London yesterday at seven months after having Addie. Ed Note: I didn't manage one between Addie and Theo.
For the record, we finished in a whooping 2 hours and 33 minutes which was place 9,716 and 9,718 out of 15,000 runners. We aren't sure who finished at 9,717 since we were right next to each other but I guess someone did! As Jack pointed out, there were a lot of runners in front of us. (Ed Note: Kids are good for your humility) I would like to point out that there were a decent amount behind us too!
The best part of the race was having all of our family there to cheer us on. E's parents were there as were our husbands and all nine kids. It was really fun to see the kids waving at us at three different point throughout the race. As Charles and E's husband pointed out they may really deserve the medal for venturing London's public transportation and race with all of the kids. I think they might be right...because of course 13.1 miles was just a cake walk for us!
In fact it was E who was giving me the motivational speech at mile 12! I didn't feel great during the run, but was happy to finish - seven months after having Addie. I made a goal that I would run a half-marathon after each child as a way of getting back in shape. After Jack I ran the Peterborough Half-Marathon when he was ten months and then ran in London yesterday at seven months after having Addie. Ed Note: I didn't manage one between Addie and Theo.
For the record, we finished in a whooping 2 hours and 33 minutes which was place 9,716 and 9,718 out of 15,000 runners. We aren't sure who finished at 9,717 since we were right next to each other but I guess someone did! As Jack pointed out, there were a lot of runners in front of us. (Ed Note: Kids are good for your humility) I would like to point out that there were a decent amount behind us too!
The best part of the race was having all of our family there to cheer us on. E's parents were there as were our husbands and all nine kids. It was really fun to see the kids waving at us at three different point throughout the race. As Charles and E's husband pointed out they may really deserve the medal for venturing London's public transportation and race with all of the kids. I think they might be right...because of course 13.1 miles was just a cake walk for us!
Monday, 20 September 2010
Just Call me Erin Radcliffe
Tonight Charles was reading Jack a book about a race. Jack piped up and said, 'Mom might win her race next week. I think she might.'
It was at that moment that Charles and I realized that we have not set proper expectations for next weekend. For the past ten-ish weeks I have been running and preparing for a half-marathon with my running buddy (a friend here at OH). Jack knows that he is going to get to go cheer me on next weekend. He is very excited about this. In fact, each time I get home from a run Charles has both boys chanting, 'Go Mommy. Go Mommy.' What we have not told Jack is that there are 15,000 people running this race and that Mommy is slow. These two facts alone mean I will not win the race.
Charles quickly told Jack that he didn't think Mommy would win the race next weekend. Jack asked why. And Charles diplomaticly told him that there would be lots of people and that the most important thing would be that Mommy did her best. He seemed decently content with that answer. Glad we got this one out of the way now and didn't have a four-year-old that was disappointed when some fast Kenyan flies past the finish line a few hours faster than his Mommy!
It was at that moment that Charles and I realized that we have not set proper expectations for next weekend. For the past ten-ish weeks I have been running and preparing for a half-marathon with my running buddy (a friend here at OH). Jack knows that he is going to get to go cheer me on next weekend. He is very excited about this. In fact, each time I get home from a run Charles has both boys chanting, 'Go Mommy. Go Mommy.' What we have not told Jack is that there are 15,000 people running this race and that Mommy is slow. These two facts alone mean I will not win the race.
Charles quickly told Jack that he didn't think Mommy would win the race next weekend. Jack asked why. And Charles diplomaticly told him that there would be lots of people and that the most important thing would be that Mommy did her best. He seemed decently content with that answer. Glad we got this one out of the way now and didn't have a four-year-old that was disappointed when some fast Kenyan flies past the finish line a few hours faster than his Mommy!
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Come on Mom, you should know better!
Today Jack and I were both looking in the mirror while getting ready for church:
Erin: Jack, do you think you look like Mommy?
Jack: Um, no I think I look more like Daddy and Theo.
Erin: Is that just because you are a boy?
Jack: Yes, but Addie looks more like you.
Erin: It doesn't always work like that. Sometimes you can look more like a girl even when you are a boy.
Jack: Well, Mom we really shouldn't compare ourselves to other people. You know...we should just be okay with the way God made us.
What do you say to that?? You got me there kid.
Erin: Jack, do you think you look like Mommy?
Jack: Um, no I think I look more like Daddy and Theo.
Erin: Is that just because you are a boy?
Jack: Yes, but Addie looks more like you.
Erin: It doesn't always work like that. Sometimes you can look more like a girl even when you are a boy.
Jack: Well, Mom we really shouldn't compare ourselves to other people. You know...we should just be okay with the way God made us.
What do you say to that?? You got me there kid.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Where the kids at?
Our family loves the swagger wagon video - about 'cool' adults who drive minivans. I think the two main reasons we love it are (1) because both of Erin's older siblings have succumbed not only to minivan life, but to the Toyota sienna so they all exemplify these 'cool' middle age people in this video, and (2) because we haven't succumbed to the minivan yet so of course that makes us REALLY cool (ed note specifically aimed at Lauren/Barry and Jason/Natalie: we are SO cool we don't even need a rap. No we still squeeze our three kids into the back of a Honda civic like sardines!). Here is the video for any of you who have not seen it:
We have watched the video enough that Jack and Theo have memorized parts of it. Their favourite part is the chant 'where my kids at, where my kids at' and then when the man stops and says 'honey, where are the kids?' and the wife answers 'they are right there honey'. We joke with this line any time we get the chance in our family. Jack and Theo are often the initiators. So a normal interaction might go something like this:
Erin (talking in a completely serious tone out loud to herself): Where have I put my keys?
Jack (in a rapping four year old voice): Where my keys at? Where my keys at?
We tried to get it on video tonight so we could record this joke that has taken over our family. Enjoy!
P.S. And we are happy to report that we know right where our kids are - happily in bed for the night! Awesome.
We have watched the video enough that Jack and Theo have memorized parts of it. Their favourite part is the chant 'where my kids at, where my kids at' and then when the man stops and says 'honey, where are the kids?' and the wife answers 'they are right there honey'. We joke with this line any time we get the chance in our family. Jack and Theo are often the initiators. So a normal interaction might go something like this:
Erin (talking in a completely serious tone out loud to herself): Where have I put my keys?
Jack (in a rapping four year old voice): Where my keys at? Where my keys at?
We tried to get it on video tonight so we could record this joke that has taken over our family. Enjoy!
P.S. And we are happy to report that we know right where our kids are - happily in bed for the night! Awesome.
Friday, 17 September 2010
Pictures of Addie and Mommy by Jack
Sometimes I worry that there are going to be no pictures taken of Addie and me together. So I decided that I would ask Jack to take some pictures today. Here are the pictures we got from our beloved four-year-old:
Based on the above pictures, I think I will have to keep worrying that there are going to be no pictures of Addie and me. And then finally we came up with one where we were both looking at the camera. Hallelujah!
But still for a GOOD pictures, I will have to wait for Charles to come home!
Based on the above pictures, I think I will have to keep worrying that there are going to be no pictures of Addie and me. And then finally we came up with one where we were both looking at the camera. Hallelujah!
But still for a GOOD pictures, I will have to wait for Charles to come home!
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Jack Drumming to My God is A Great Big God
My mom made Jack a stocking when he was a few months old of a little drummer boy. We never knew how fitting this picture would be. Jack absolutely loves to drum - things he is suppose to and things he isn't suppose to! Here he is on the new bongo drum we secured from the auction. Enjoy!
Monday, 13 September 2010
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Twinkle Twinkle Adelaide
I was so pleased that my mom was able to come help when Addie was born. I looked forward to her helping me settle into life with three, but also to the way she creatively entertains us all.
In a way unique to my mother she made up a very sweet little song for Addie (sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). It has become a family favourite and the boys still sing it to her regularly. In fact, I think Theo is more familiar with this version than he is the original involving 'little star'. If you prompt Theo by saying, 'Twinkle Twinkle' and then wait for him to finish the line, he will say 'Adelaide' instead of 'little star'. It is really cute. Here is the song courtesy of Grandmother:
Twinkle, twinkle Adelaide
What a pretty girl God made
Dainty fingers, pearly toes,
Pretty eyes, mouth and nose,
Twinkle, twinkle Adelaide
What a pretty girl God made.
In a way unique to my mother she made up a very sweet little song for Addie (sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). It has become a family favourite and the boys still sing it to her regularly. In fact, I think Theo is more familiar with this version than he is the original involving 'little star'. If you prompt Theo by saying, 'Twinkle Twinkle' and then wait for him to finish the line, he will say 'Adelaide' instead of 'little star'. It is really cute. Here is the song courtesy of Grandmother:
Twinkle, twinkle Adelaide
What a pretty girl God made
Dainty fingers, pearly toes,
Pretty eyes, mouth and nose,
Twinkle, twinkle Adelaide
What a pretty girl God made.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
History Lesson 101
The other day Jack and I were getting ready to read a history book. I wanted to get him excited about history and help him understand how we learn history and make sure he even knew what 'history' was. The following happened during this teaching attempt on my part:
ERIN: Jack so how do you think we find out about things a long time ago? Like if you wanted to know something about yourself as a baby you would ask me, right? Because you couldn't remember. And if you wanted to know something about Mommy or Daddy as a baby you would ask ...?
JACK: Grandmother or Grandma?
ERIN: That's right. But if we want to know something about life a really long time ago and no one is still alive to tell us about it, then what would we do?
Long Pause....
ERIN [deciding she should help]: Well we could maybe find a letter that someone had written from a long time ago or find a piece of jewellery from a long time ago. Those would all give us clues into what life was like a long time ago, right?
JACK [very thoughtfully and matter-of-fact-ly]: Yeah maybe so. Or we could just wait and ask Jesus when he returns cause he knows everything.
ERIN (thinking to herself) - Okay then, wish I hadn't wasted the money on this book! :)
ERIN: Jack so how do you think we find out about things a long time ago? Like if you wanted to know something about yourself as a baby you would ask me, right? Because you couldn't remember. And if you wanted to know something about Mommy or Daddy as a baby you would ask ...?
JACK: Grandmother or Grandma?
ERIN: That's right. But if we want to know something about life a really long time ago and no one is still alive to tell us about it, then what would we do?
Long Pause....
ERIN [deciding she should help]: Well we could maybe find a letter that someone had written from a long time ago or find a piece of jewellery from a long time ago. Those would all give us clues into what life was like a long time ago, right?
JACK [very thoughtfully and matter-of-fact-ly]: Yeah maybe so. Or we could just wait and ask Jesus when he returns cause he knows everything.
ERIN (thinking to herself) - Okay then, wish I hadn't wasted the money on this book! :)
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Lions, and tigers, and wasps oh my!
We were fortunate enough to get to go to the ZSL Whipsnade zoo today as a family (Thank you Tesco!). It was the first time our boys (and of course, Addie) have been to a zoo. They loved it and we have many stories to tell of our outing. Tell me about them I hear you ask???
Okay then here I go...
On the way to the zoo, Theo piped up from the back seat and said 'Lion eat Addie?' We reassured Theo that the lion would not eat Addie and that we would not take any of them to a zoo where we thought that they would be in danger. Who does this kid think we are????? The mind of a two year old is priceless! [Editor note: see the part on trust below when training an elephant we might want to implement the same in rearing a child apparently.]
We visited the penguins, bears, apes, and a few others before making our way over to the giraffes where we decided we would eat our packed lunch.
A bear that we got to feed:
We found a nice picnic bench under a few shady trees. The picnic was going very smoothly (which happens when you pack exactly what the kids like to eat and leave the broccoli and other greens at home!) until a family of bees/wasps (bees for the Americans and wasps for the British) decided to join us.
I kind of freaked out because I really don't want Addie to get stung so young.
[Editor note: I read some where that you should really try not to get stung before one year of age. I remember thinking well that is a dumb thing to write. Shouldn't you try to never get stung. It is not like you turn a year and then think okay I am old enough to get stung. I am sure there was some medical reason, but I don't remember it, but I do remember that I should try to protect my kids under one year.]
So while Charles was exhorting me to 'stay calm, stay calm' I pushed Addie in the pushchair a short distance away. The boys and Charles stayed at the picnic bench and we carried on our conversation across this short distance. A few minutes later I hear Charles shouting. I thought about yelling 'stay calm, stay calm', but I held my tongue and went and checked on him. Sure enough he was stung...in his armpit of all places! After ensuring that he was alright, I then mimicked him with a cheeky little 'stay calm stay calm'. Because he is a Godly man, he smiled and shook his head at me.
The boys were really excited to see the lions so we made our way to the lion area. There was a little glass room where you could walk up and peer into the lion area so we walked right up. Unfortunately, the bees struck again and Jack got stung by a bee/wasp. Of course he started to cry, some awkward pre-adolescent boy stared at him and we took him outside to calm down. We were able to get him calm fairly quickly and had some anti-itch medicine with us so we rubbed that on and ventured back in.
We agreed that Jack could ride in the stroller since he was still recovering. It was really exciting because two of the lions were walking right by the glass window so Charles pushed Jack right up to the window. Well, something scared the lion right when he walked past Jack and he lashed out with one paw and roared really loudly. Of course, even with the thick glass wall, this would make any kid jump, but it really frightened a four year old boy who was recovering from a recent bee sting. Jack jumped back in the stroller and screamed. Jack's actions made Theo think that the lion had gotten Jack so that sent Theo into a small tizzy. Needless to say we had had our share of the lion house by this time and headed out.
The lion that was going to 'eat Addie' and 'got Jack' according to Theo:
Our favourite (or at least my favourite part) was the elephant show. The show was amazing. The trainers got the elephants to do absolutely amazing things (push down a make-shift house, pull a tree trunk out of the ground, even lie down on one of the trainers but not crush him to show that trust goes both ways when training an animal). Jack really liked it too because they asked one boy from the audience to come down and feed the elephant a banana. He is really hoping that someday we can go back and that he can be the boy chosen. We shall see. We shall see.
To top the day off as we were leaving the elephant show, Charles got stung by another bee. Yes, I am TOTALLY telling the truth. No kidding here. This time on the hand. Again, he yelled really loudly, and a lady nearby came up and offered him a spray that is meant for bee stings. At this point, our family declared war on the bees. Charles was so angry he started swinging his hand at any bee nearby. We decided to empty our stroller of anything remotely edible which might be attracting them. I am happy to report that we made it the rest of our time without another bee sting.
Another highlight of the day was the little steam train that went through the park. It had a sign that said largely 'KIDS RIDE FREE'. A bit lower and in smaller print it said 'adults £6'. We didn't ride the train, but I was very tempted to put Jack and Theo on and just wait for them at the end. Somehow I am pretty sure that wouldn't have gone over very well with the conductor. We were able though to stand over a bridge and have the steam train go under us which was really fun for the boys especially when the conductor blew the steam up at us.
Here is a long video (sorry!) of Theo and Jack telling you pretty much all of the above. Theo's language is pretty good, but I am sure that some of it needs a bit of translating so hopefully the above narratives makes it intelligible for those who are not around him often. Notice how Jack waits patiently for a while and then asks for his camera time, but little brother Theo isn't so little anymore and keeps piping in from the background - even if it isn't true!
Addie was a complete rock star the entire day. She is the coolest little sister Jack and Theo have ever had:
Okay then here I go...
On the way to the zoo, Theo piped up from the back seat and said 'Lion eat Addie?' We reassured Theo that the lion would not eat Addie and that we would not take any of them to a zoo where we thought that they would be in danger. Who does this kid think we are????? The mind of a two year old is priceless! [Editor note: see the part on trust below when training an elephant we might want to implement the same in rearing a child apparently.]
We visited the penguins, bears, apes, and a few others before making our way over to the giraffes where we decided we would eat our packed lunch.
A bear that we got to feed:
We found a nice picnic bench under a few shady trees. The picnic was going very smoothly (which happens when you pack exactly what the kids like to eat and leave the broccoli and other greens at home!) until a family of bees/wasps (bees for the Americans and wasps for the British) decided to join us.
I kind of freaked out because I really don't want Addie to get stung so young.
[Editor note: I read some where that you should really try not to get stung before one year of age. I remember thinking well that is a dumb thing to write. Shouldn't you try to never get stung. It is not like you turn a year and then think okay I am old enough to get stung. I am sure there was some medical reason, but I don't remember it, but I do remember that I should try to protect my kids under one year.]
So while Charles was exhorting me to 'stay calm, stay calm' I pushed Addie in the pushchair a short distance away. The boys and Charles stayed at the picnic bench and we carried on our conversation across this short distance. A few minutes later I hear Charles shouting. I thought about yelling 'stay calm, stay calm', but I held my tongue and went and checked on him. Sure enough he was stung...in his armpit of all places! After ensuring that he was alright, I then mimicked him with a cheeky little 'stay calm stay calm'. Because he is a Godly man, he smiled and shook his head at me.
The boys were really excited to see the lions so we made our way to the lion area. There was a little glass room where you could walk up and peer into the lion area so we walked right up. Unfortunately, the bees struck again and Jack got stung by a bee/wasp. Of course he started to cry, some awkward pre-adolescent boy stared at him and we took him outside to calm down. We were able to get him calm fairly quickly and had some anti-itch medicine with us so we rubbed that on and ventured back in.
We agreed that Jack could ride in the stroller since he was still recovering. It was really exciting because two of the lions were walking right by the glass window so Charles pushed Jack right up to the window. Well, something scared the lion right when he walked past Jack and he lashed out with one paw and roared really loudly. Of course, even with the thick glass wall, this would make any kid jump, but it really frightened a four year old boy who was recovering from a recent bee sting. Jack jumped back in the stroller and screamed. Jack's actions made Theo think that the lion had gotten Jack so that sent Theo into a small tizzy. Needless to say we had had our share of the lion house by this time and headed out.
The lion that was going to 'eat Addie' and 'got Jack' according to Theo:
Our favourite (or at least my favourite part) was the elephant show. The show was amazing. The trainers got the elephants to do absolutely amazing things (push down a make-shift house, pull a tree trunk out of the ground, even lie down on one of the trainers but not crush him to show that trust goes both ways when training an animal). Jack really liked it too because they asked one boy from the audience to come down and feed the elephant a banana. He is really hoping that someday we can go back and that he can be the boy chosen. We shall see. We shall see.
To top the day off as we were leaving the elephant show, Charles got stung by another bee. Yes, I am TOTALLY telling the truth. No kidding here. This time on the hand. Again, he yelled really loudly, and a lady nearby came up and offered him a spray that is meant for bee stings. At this point, our family declared war on the bees. Charles was so angry he started swinging his hand at any bee nearby. We decided to empty our stroller of anything remotely edible which might be attracting them. I am happy to report that we made it the rest of our time without another bee sting.
Another highlight of the day was the little steam train that went through the park. It had a sign that said largely 'KIDS RIDE FREE'. A bit lower and in smaller print it said 'adults £6'. We didn't ride the train, but I was very tempted to put Jack and Theo on and just wait for them at the end. Somehow I am pretty sure that wouldn't have gone over very well with the conductor. We were able though to stand over a bridge and have the steam train go under us which was really fun for the boys especially when the conductor blew the steam up at us.
Here is a long video (sorry!) of Theo and Jack telling you pretty much all of the above. Theo's language is pretty good, but I am sure that some of it needs a bit of translating so hopefully the above narratives makes it intelligible for those who are not around him often. Notice how Jack waits patiently for a while and then asks for his camera time, but little brother Theo isn't so little anymore and keeps piping in from the background - even if it isn't true!
Addie was a complete rock star the entire day. She is the coolest little sister Jack and Theo have ever had:
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