Olympic Torch

We had the chance to see the olympic torch go through our neighbourhood. It was a very fun memory and one I hope the kids will remember.

A bus before the torchbearer getting us excited: 

We were waiting happily:

Addie too!

Eliot was anticipating the arrival of the torch as well:

Jack talking about what we were up to:

And the actual torch: 

Friends

There are loads of things we have learned from living overseas for eight years. I would love to write a post about all those things but in the meantime I will share one.

 When you have a baby overseas the first friends who come to visit you in the hospital, loving you like family would, will forever hold a special place in your heart. Thanks to Jonathan and Stacey for being such good friends to us then in 2005 and now in 2012. Your friendship has made us better people. Thank you.


In 2005 with Jack:

And in 2012 with Jack:

I've got hands!

Now that Mom doesn't swaddle me completely I have to figure out what do do with my hands. This seems to work well!

Last Day of Work

I had my last day of work before maternity leave started back in March but was slow to record this post - only now getting around to it when Eliot is 2 months old!  Apologies. 

My last day of work was a little bittersweet as I did really enjoy my job. It was made a little easier as the traffic home from Cambridge that day was awful taking me almost 2 hours instead of the usual one. I thought that this was God's way of reassuring me that I didn't want to make that drive weekly anymore!  Our good friends the Byuns had arranged a pizza party between the two families to celebrate my last day and I just barely made it to my own party before it was time to put the kids to bed!  When I finally did get home I was greeted by this sign from Jack. I really appreciated the sign but had to chuckle; this was hardly my 'last day of work' - as any mother knows my workload was just about to pick up dramatically. That said, I wouldn't change it for anything, and was very appreciative of Jack's drawing of Mom on the Hway (highway). 

Jack's Notes

Lately Jack has gotten into writing us notes. We find notes everywhere - under our pillow, on the refrigerator, on the front door, etc. I took pictures of a couple of notes he had written a few months back that were still on the refrigerator (and then through them away without guilt!). Here are the letters (with Jack's own phonetic spelling) and the stories behind them. 

This first note dates back to March when I was still working. I told Charles to make sure that the kids got some yogurt for lunch the day I was at work primarily because they were about to reach their expiration date. Yogurt is a treat for the kids and Jack wanted to make sure that Charles did not forget so when I came down for breakfast the next morning this sign was prominently displayed on the front of the refrigerator. I  am fairly sure Charles would have sussed out that that note was from Jack not me.

This second note dates back to February or March. Periodically we have Pathfinder Parties at our house (the 11-14s group at church that we lead). The kids love it when we host these parties because they adore the Pathfinders. We have struck a deal with the kids that they are allowed to stay up a bit late and greet the Pathfinders provided that they then go to bed happily when we say it is time. Every time is it a challenge for the kids to go upstairs and go to bed when there are 10-15 pre-teens downstairs being loud and crazy. For the most part, they have taken to the challenge and responded well. One particular night I was very impressed with their 'going to bed' so I decided I would leave them a note on their bedroom floor thanking them for going to bed so well. I thought Jack in particular would like this since he is so into letter writing. I thought he would really like getting up in the morning, finding the letter, and then reading it to Theo. And it appears by the following letter that he slipped under our bedroom door the next morning that I was right!