Happy Mother's Day...late or early?

I think I mentioned earlier that Charles had given me some really nice side dishes for English Mother's Day. Well, they were great dishes, but he then had an even greater idea and that was to have our friends who were coming to visit from Turkey in April bring me some hand painted dishes. So we returned my nice side dishes to John Lewis and awaited the arrival of our new dishes. Our friends came last week and brought the dishes. They are absolutely amazing. After visiting them in Turkey a couple of years ago, I have often regretted not getting more dishes. I just was a bit overwhelmed with the bartering system and the vast quantity of beautiful things. So I am thrilled to have these four additional bowls to add to the one I already have.

It was a great Mother's Day present. I am just not sure if it is a late English Mother's Day present or if it is an early American Mother's Day present....or maybe both! :) Whatever the case, I am happy to have them. I have attached pictures for the sake of my mom and sister who I have already told about them.

Happy Birthday Charles

We celebrated Charles's 34th birthday today with 34 rolls at breakfast. Jack has gotten kind of confused about how old Daddy is today. Yesterday he told people he was going to be 64 which was what age Grandad just turned; today he is telling people that Charles is 84. He definitely is into the four - maybe because he knows he will be 4 on his next birthday. All in all, Jack was most interested in getting to blow out the candles.

A conversation between Josh and Jack

Our good friends are visiting us from Turkey. They have a three-year-old who is 3 weeks older than Jack, named Josh. Here is a conversation between the two of them today with a bit of mediation on my part:

Jack: Mommy, Josh just scratched me.
Erin: Oh, Jack, I am sure it was an accident. Just tell him that you don't like to be scratched, and I am sure he won't do it again.
Jack (towards Josh): Please don't scratch me. I don't like it.
Erin (towards Josh): It was just an accident. Wasn't it Josh? No big deal. Let's just move on.
Josh (a bit confused): No it wasn't an accident.
Erin (very surprised): It wasn't?
Josh (still a little unsure of what he wants to say): No, Yes, yes, it was an accident.
Jack (now in preaching mode): Yes, Josh. The Bible says (big pause) that if you aren't nice to people that you will be spanked.

I did correct Jack's theology (while I held back laughter).

Easter Pictures

We have had a great Easter. Charles arrived home just in time for our neighbourhood Easter Egg Hunt which I took the liberty of organizing. We had 48 egg plastic eggs hidden, all with jelly beans except one special egg that contained a stone which was to symbolize the stone that had been rolled away indicating that Jesus was risen.

The kids and parents had a great time hunting the eggs. We found 46.5 eggs. There are still 1.5 eggs somewhere in the orchard out in front of our house. I am sure they will be found by some happy kid sometime in the future (or by Carl the gardener!). After the eggs were found, we enjoyed cake (both an Easter bunny and a cross cake), and Charles read the Resurrection story to all the kids. It was a great day. He is risen, he is risen indeed! Enjoy the pictures.

Missing Daddy

Charles has been away this week on mission. We have missed him a lot and look forward to his return on Sunday. Here is a video Jack made to send to Charles.