Sweet Friends

I started to title this post 'good-bye sweet friends' but then deleted the 'good-bye' part.

Last week we sent our good friends, The Tuckwells, back to Cambridge. We had the great chance to know them in Cambridge and then get to be neighbours with them here at Oak Hill. It has been such a great experience to get to spend so much of our time in England near them. I have lived in England for nearly seven years and six of it has been near them. They are definitely some of the first people we call when we have a problem here (everything from the mundane: something is broken, I need something out of the loft and Charles is out of town, we need to borrow something to the more serious of asking for honest feedback and advice). They are very much our English Family.

They are very dear friends to us and we will miss them very much. We are very excited that they get the opportunity to go back and minister at Christ Church Cambridge. We are excited for them and those at Christ Church, and we are happy for us that they are only an hour away!

One of my favourite things about Jon coming to train at Oak Hill has been getting to see our boys become such good friends as they have now known each other outside of the baby/toddler years. Jack and Theo both adore them. In fact, Theo, a bit confused by all the moving vans that keep showing up at Oak Hill, keeps asking when we will get to move next to the Tuckwells (as well as when we get to go bowling with the Tuckwells!).

Our time in England would not be the same without Jon, Ruth, Joshua, Noah and Esther! Thanks for being some of our 'first English friends' - it is clearly from friendships like yours that we have 'learned to love the English!'

Cutie Pie

Here are some really fun pictures I got of Addie recently:

Sunday in the Pool with Friends

Sunday was really really hot. We were wondering what to do with the last couple of hours of day. Then we thought what better than to invite ourselves over to some of our favourite people's house? A few texts later and we were on our way to a pool party across campus with the Byuns. I don't know what it is about the Byuns but I always feel at home when I am with them.

Perhaps it is because our kids get along well?
Perhaps it is because they talk like us (with American accents)?
Perhaps it is because they are Americans (well kind of - but we'll claim them!)?
Perhaps it is because Charis looks like one of my best friends from college?
Perhaps it is because they have gone through many similar stages (i.e. seminary, moving to Cambridge, working on PhD, going to Christ Church, moving to Oak Hill, etc.)?
Perhaps it is because Seulgi likes food as much (if not more!) than Charles?
Perhaps it is because they love Costco as well?

Maybe it is all of these and more, but I know I am very thankful for their friendship!

Here are some pictures from our afternoon:

Clearout

I did a little organizing and clearing out this past weekend. I have such a sense of accomplishment. I love sorting (and getting rid of things!!!!). I knew there was a lot of junk in our attic, but now I can happily say, 'There is LESS junk in our attic'.

There were two things that were hard for me to get rid of though. They were these two pairs of shoes:





















The white ones were Jack's second pair of shoes (actual wearing and walking in shoes). The red ones were Theo's second pair of shoes (actual wearing and walking in shoes). I have kept both of their first shoes in a keepsake box. I truly think it is right to get rid of these shoes, but I just remember putting each one of these pairs of shoes on their little feet like it was yesterday. It was hard enough to get rid of them that I made Charles take them to the bin and throw them away but not before I took the above pictures. Such fun memories!

Boy Band - Like No Other

A few weeks back we had our 'fellowship group' over for a end of year barbecue. During our time together, we had the pleasure of listening to Levi's improved singing -- thanks to Pete's vocal lessons. After this once in a lifetime experience (as anyone there will testify), Pete and Levi got the urge to start a 'boy band'. Well, they managed to recruit Phil (another FG member), Rosanne on back-up (which in itself is hilarious), and JACK! Since Jack was the last recruited member, they needed to sing songs that he knew which is how they arrived at this favourite. You better sit down for this one:

Happy Birthday Grandmother!

Happy Birthday MOM!



PS - Jack just got his new guitar today. He hasn't yet mastered happy birthday but still insisted on playing. Maybe by next year he will have it down! :)

Rhyming Rhyming Bo Byming...

It seems like just yesterday that Jack was really into rhyming. But now it is totally Theo's game. He loves that song 'Theo Theo bo Beo, Banana Fanana, etc'. He does it with just about every one's name and everything (i.e. napkin napkin bo bapkin etc). You get the point.

Well today at lunch, he told Charles that 'tortilla wrap and tortilla chip' rhyme. So proof that we still have a ways to go with mastering rhyming!

Amelia's Helper

Today I was reading Amelia Bedelia to Theo:

ERIN: And please draw the drapes at noon, Amelia.
THEO: She doesn't mean draw the drapes. She means close the curtains. She should just say that.

If only Amelia had had Theo as a helper, think of all the mess she would have avoided...although he would have ruined a good book!

Theo's theology

Today while we were reading a book. Theo announced the following:

'Jesus is God. [pause] I think God is his middle name.'

Trooping the Colour

We went to Trooping the Colour a few weekends back (in early June) and had a great time. For those of you who may not know (which I didn't before this weekend!), this is the official celebration of the Queen's birthday. Here is some background and below I outline our experience.

Background:
The custom of Trooping the Colour dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th. Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle and were therefore trooped in front of the soldiers every day to make sure that every man could recognise those of his own regiment. In London, the Foot Guards used to do this as part of their daily Guard Mounting on Horse Guards and the ceremonial of the modern Trooping the Colour parade is along similar lines. The first traceable mention of The Sovereign's Birthday being 'kept' by the Grenadier Guards is in 1748 and again, after George III became King in 1760, it was ordered that parades should mark the King's Birthday. From the accession of George IV they became, with a few exceptions and notably the two World Wars, an annual event.

This impressive display of pageantry is now held on the occasion of the Queen's Official Birthday. It takes place in June each year to celebrate the official Birthday of the Sovereign and is carried out by her personal troops, the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with the Queen herself attending and taking the salute.

Since 1987, The Queen has attended in a carriage rather than riding, which she did before that on 36 occasions, riding side-saddle and wearing the uniform of the regiment whose Colour was being trooped. The regiments take their turn for this honour in rotation as operational commitments permit.

Over 1400 officers and men are on parade, together with two hundred horses; over four hundred musicians from ten bands and corps of drums march and play as one. Some 113 words of command are given by the Officer in Command of the Parade. The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again.

Precisely as the clock on the Horse Guards Building strikes eleven, the Royal Procession arrives and The Queen takes the Royal Salute. The parade begins with the Inspection, The Queen driving slowly down the ranks of all eight Guards and then past the Household Cavalry. After the event, the Royal Family gathers on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch an RAF flypast.

Our experience:
We were asked by some of our good friends to go with them (Susie's husband was away for the weekend and she was going to meet her mum down there). We waited until the last minute to decide to see what the weather was going to do. Much to our surprise, it appeared to be a good weather day so we thought, 'sure why not?'. We headed down on the underground to Central London - three adults and six kids under the age of 5. We got lots of looks on the underground of people trying to figure out how we all fit together!

Once we got off the underground in Green Park we were met by mobs of people. We managed to make our way slowly through the crowds and down to the Royal Mile. We decided after a few minutes that it would be good to try to get to the other side of the street as it looked less crowded and had a prettier side of the park. This was easier said then done. They only had a few places that you were able to cross the road.

We waited patiently for the parade and Queen. Susie's mum saved a great place right up in front so the kids could sneak through when we heard the procession coming. In the mean time, they ran back and forth and played in the grassy area right behind. We finally heard the band coming so the kids quickly ran through the rows of people right up to Elizabeth, Susie's mum. I took my position a little further down (where there were shorted people in front of me) and Charles stayed more in the back by our picnic blanket and pushchair while holding Addie.

About two minutes later, I turn around to see how Charles is doing. He then says to me, 'Do you have Theo?'. My heart stopped. No! I didn't have Theo. I quickly ran back to Charles and said he went up to Elizabeth with the other kids. Charles said that Elizabeth had just inquired where he was because she didn't have him. I am trying not to panic but I am also thinking 'time matters'.
Don't panic.
Time matters.
Don't panic.
Time matters.

Charles and I went up and down the row for about a minute looking intently for Theo (who we were thinking was likely in the front row - but the crowds were at least three or four rows deep). There was absolutely no way to yell for him because the band was playing so loudly. Elizabeth, quickly left the other kids with Susie and came back to help (although wrongly, I think she may have felt somewhat responsible!). Any parent who has ever lost a child in a crowd knows that one minute is a long time. Two minutes is even longer. Two minutes went by. I looked at Charles and said should I get the police to help (there were loads around)?

At that moment Susie yelled I see him. He was down about 100 yards at the front of the crowd just watching the parade go by very intently. He certainly had the best view of us all. I ran over to him, pushed my way through the crowds, and then did what only a parent can do - hugged and disciplined him at the same time! Thankfully, he never knew he was lost.

About twenty seconds after finding him, we had a plain clothed police officer walk up to us, show us his badge, and then ask us if that 'stuff' was ours, pointing to our pushchair, picnic basket and blanket. I said, Yes. He then started to rebuke us for leaving it unattended. I firmly, but respectfully, told him that 'we had just lost our son and we had prioritized finding him over that 'stuff'. He then could see the look in this mother's eyes, to say 'I understand. Thank you, mam.'

It was a really fun experience and I am glad we got to take part. At the end of the day, we all answered the question what was our favourite part of the event. We all had good answers, but then Charles rightfully said 'Finding Theo' To which, we all said 'Quite Right!'.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh


The Whole Crew minus Susie


Red Arrows


Red Arrows


Jack and Jos (with matching shirts)


Our family

Addie Scooting

Addie's scooting has really progressed. One of her favourite activities is to scoot down the hill in the orchard. After getting to the bottom, she usually looks longingly at any adult to bring her back up so she can do it all over again. It is like her own personal slide. I like to think of it is as 'down-hill skiing'.

Enjoy!

A New Rule for our Family

The other week my good friend Ruth took Jack to swimming lessons for me. Ruth has two boys - one 7 and one nearly 5. Jack is much closer in age to the 5 year old, but really gets on and looks up to the 7 year old. Well, the 7 year old is a very good swimmer and the 5 year is on Jack's level - still learning.

Ruth's 7 year old left the changing room and went on out to the pool by himself. So once Jack was finished getting ready, he asked Ruth if he could go on out to the pool. Ruth said 'No, he would need to wait until she was ready with the other kids to go out'. Jack asked why? Ruth replied with 'Well, Joshua can swim so if he falls in I know that he can swim whereas you and Noah are still learning so if you fell in I would need to help you so that is why you need to wait for me'.

Jack told me this whole story above and then he said, 'Isn't that a great rule Mom? I mean it totally makes sense. I think we should make that rule for our family too'.

There you have it! A new rule for our family and a great example of how people are much happier to follow rules when you see the reasoning/logic/benefit of it.

Mr. 'Daddy and Papa' Potato Head

Jack came down from his rest today with these two Mr. Potato Heads. He proudly exclaimed, 'This one is Daddy (one on the left with glasses), and this one is Papa (one on the right with a moustache)'. Not bad. Not bad at all.