Coolest Present Ever

Okay so we knew that leaving Oak Hill would be hard for various reasons, one of the most noteworthy reasons being giving up so many lovely neighbours. Little did we know what God would have in store in our new neighbourhood.

Unfortunately, there are not loads of little kids running around (although we are trying to change this by getting friends to move in!). However, we have been blessed by having Bernie as a next door neighbour. Bernie is a retired man with two golden retriever puppies. His wife still works so he spends much of his time outside with his pups...and my kids - especially Jack. Jack loves to go out and chat with Bernie. He has told Bernie everything he knows about the Revolutionary War (which anyone who knows Jack will know is a lot!). Jack was using a stick as an imaginary rifle - Bernie added some duct tape and string to the stick making a home made sling for the stick. We were all impressed.

But today Bernie really outdid himself. Bernie called Charles over to his garage. We all assumed that he needed help moving something. Well, this wasn't the case. Bernie wanted to show Charles what he had made for Jack before giving it to him - in other words to get our approval. Then Bernie came out with a handmade wooden rifle. It is absolutely amazing. Jack was ecstatic about it and has played non-stop with it the rest of the day. Bernie was very creative and used various old things he had to make the rifle (i.e. old broom stick, old woven belt). We were really touched by his generosity. We couldn't ask for a better neighbor!


Bernie, Jack, and the rifle

Jack with his rifle:

Happy Belated 7th Birthday Jack

We recently had Jack's seventh birthday party. Wait, isn't Jack's birthday in December? Why yes it is, but this year December was a little crazy for us. After realising that our shipment from London was to arrive on Jack's actual birthday, December 7th, we decided it was best to postpone Jack's friend birthday party until the New Year. We still had a little family party for him on the actual day among the unpacking of boxes. Jack was really mature about this decision, and we even joked that in the midst of moving we lost his birthday in one of the boxes and that we would 'unpack' it in January. Funny to a seven-year-old, and his Mom! :)

So on a cold (and snowy) January Saturday we had five little boys and two little girls over for pizza and games. Will, Reese, Josiah, Owen, Andrew, Aubrey, and Ella along with Theo, Addie, and Eliot made for a great party. I made a whole bunch of personalised-sized pizza crust the night before (think budget!) and then let the kids decorate them at the party. Charles was a true game genius and had the kids occupied playing games the rest of the time. Jack was really keen to play the game Empire, which were taught to play in our first adult small group in Cambridge. He loves this game and  playing it on family holidays when we have the extended family near. We weren't sure how this game would go over with a bunch of near seven-year-olds. We tried to manage Jack's expectations in case it was a flop and we needed to move on. Let's just say it wasn't. That game was for sure the hit of the party. They asked to play it again and again. They did need some help (i.e. the list of people to be read again in the middle of the game!) but all in all they were very good at it. In fact, I have heard from one family that they spent all day Sunday playing a version of the game in their immediate family.

It was a great birthday party. I was particularly grateful for the help of one of my college girlfriends, Christina whose son Reese was invited to the party. She offered to come help with the pizza part and was very helpful. It was fun to see us at our kid's birthday party. Who would have ever dreamt that we would be here 15 years after meeting. :)

Overall, though the best part for me was to see Jack with new friends. We did really well while we lived at my parents' house. I think, however, that there was a part of me that was kind of sad because Jack did lots of stuff by himself without a lot of other playmates (of course, he always has his sidekick Theo around). This was a big change from the hoards of kids at Oak Hill. So to see him sitting around the table with a new group of friends was really special for me. Slowly we are settling in here, and this party was significant to me in that process.

Happy 7th Birthday Jack! You are such a joy to us.

Ella and Jack playing Empire

 The crew

Owen and Reese

Will and Josiah

Ready to make our pizzas:

Christina helping with pizzas

Erin assisting Aubrey and Josiah with their pizza

The Anderson men making pizza

Ella, Will, and Andrew

Pizzas now cooked...

The Cake

The Life of the Party

Starting them young...

I kept asking Eliot what he learned at church today - just as his sticker prompted me to; and all I got was this smile. I think he has his big brother Theo to blame for the sharing of this sticker:

Wild and Crazy Hair

The other day I was talking to Addie (who is quite the talker now) and had the following conversation:

Erin: Addie, do you think you look more like me or Daddy?
Addie: Mommy.
Erin: Why do you think that?
Addie: My hair look more like Mommy.
Pause.
Addie: More like Grandmother. Her hair wild and crazy. Like me.

There you have it. And even my mother would agree, Addie's right!  And the similar-hair ladies:

Lunch Time Pray-er

The other day Jack was really struggling. I climbed up on his top bunk to try to console and help him learn from his frustration (to ensure I don't sound like the perfect parent - it is worth noting that I climbed up after many minutes of anger and frustration with him!) . I offered to pray with him. At this point, Theo (who we didn't even know was in the room much less listening) piped up and offered to pray too:

Theo: Yes Jack. Mommy and I can pray for you.
Erin (a bit surprised): Jack, would you like Theo and me to pray for you.
Jack (really surprised with Theo's offer) - nods his head.
Erin (wanting to see how this play out): Theo, why don't you start the prayer.
Theo (long pause): Well, I only do lunch prayers.

Everyone laughs.

You see for a long time Theo has resisted praying out loud. Just recently he has agreed to pray before our lunchtime meal. Evidently, he only qualifies himself as a lunch time prayer.

Although it is worth noting, that comically, my dad asked Theo at dinner the next night if he could please do one of his 'lunch time prayers'. Theo though this was really funny and agreed. So we might be close to having a 'dinner time pray-er' as well!