So I don't tweet, but I do love the little hash tags that go with twitter. If I had one for today it would definitely be #littleboyswatching.
We have gotten quite a bit of snow and little did we know but Columbia does not make it their priority to clear cul de sacs. So in all honesty, we were stuck at the bottom of our street. We have helped many neighbours push their cars back to their driveways after attempting to get out and failing. We have wondered whether our van might make it out, but after watching many others fail, we thought it wasn't even worth trying our civic. So Charles hitched a ride to work with Keith, his 'boss'. We told Keith to call when he left his house and Charles would walk to the top of the street to avoid Keith getting stuck at the bottom with us and all of our neighbours.
Well Keith (like many men in snow storms) didn't listen. Before we knew it Jack was telling us Keith was in our driveway. Charles quickly ran out and jumped in Keith's 4x4 (little 4x4). Upon Charles's recommendation Keith did a six point turn in our driveway and turned around so he could get a run at the snowy hill. The kids and I all stood at the door watching as Keith gunned the motor, and he and our beloved husband and daddy went flying up the hill at a very high speed. Their tires were spinning, snow was flying, but they were moving...which is something others didn't quite accomplish. As we saw the car turn the corner onto the main road, I heard Jack say 'Wow, Keith is a really good driver.'
Thank you Keith for teaching my son that the faster you do things the better they go. I am sure Charles and I will have lots of opportunities in the future to fix that thinking! And thank you too for getting Charles safely to work today.
A good lesson for me today.... in this house little boys are always watching.
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Happy Birthday Adelaide
Our little misses is three! Where has the time gone. We had a great weekend celebrating her. PaPa, GG, Aunt Rebekah, Aunt Karen, Uncle Michael, Granddad and Grandmother all were able to come help us celebrate on Saturday. We had a great time with our family. It was fun as this was one of the first birthday celebrations we have had in the US and getting have extended family with us was a real treat.
We had two little friends (Sadie and Ashbee), their siblings, and mamas (two friends of mine from College) came over for cupcakes on Monday morning. That was especially fun for Addie because she got pink cupcakes which she has been asking about since she learnt to talk! Daddy came home from work and led us in Duck Duck Goose and a bean bag throw game which was really fun. That was pretty well the entire party - but it seemed to satisfy the three-year-olds which was the goal!
On Addie's actual birthday we went around as a family and said something we appreciated about Addie. The entries were as follows:
Daddy - appreciates how Addie is always willing to help get things (ed note: even when we don't ask!)
Mommy - appreciates how much Addie is talking now and how fun it is to see her personality come through in her language
Jack - appreciates how Addie now wears pants/underwear (we said it could be something that she accomplished during the year)
Theo - appreciates how Addie shares her toys (this was after a long pause - it felt a bit forced but we still were thankful for the entry! :) )
Eliot (via mommy) - appreciates how Addie talks to him and brings him toys when he is unhappy
It was fun to praise Addie and her character. It was most fun to see how chuffed she was at the compliments. We are very thankful for this little girl and the joy she brings to us.
Sadie gave Addie a pink tent - here is a picture of Addie and Brooke (Ashbee's older sis)
Theo, Brooke, and Ashbee in the tent
And preparing the pink cupcakes (and a few green ones for the boys):
And singing happy birthday:
We had two little friends (Sadie and Ashbee), their siblings, and mamas (two friends of mine from College) came over for cupcakes on Monday morning. That was especially fun for Addie because she got pink cupcakes which she has been asking about since she learnt to talk! Daddy came home from work and led us in Duck Duck Goose and a bean bag throw game which was really fun. That was pretty well the entire party - but it seemed to satisfy the three-year-olds which was the goal!
On Addie's actual birthday we went around as a family and said something we appreciated about Addie. The entries were as follows:
Daddy - appreciates how Addie is always willing to help get things (ed note: even when we don't ask!)
Mommy - appreciates how much Addie is talking now and how fun it is to see her personality come through in her language
Jack - appreciates how Addie now wears pants/underwear (we said it could be something that she accomplished during the year)
Theo - appreciates how Addie shares her toys (this was after a long pause - it felt a bit forced but we still were thankful for the entry! :) )
Eliot (via mommy) - appreciates how Addie talks to him and brings him toys when he is unhappy
It was fun to praise Addie and her character. It was most fun to see how chuffed she was at the compliments. We are very thankful for this little girl and the joy she brings to us.
Sadie gave Addie a pink tent - here is a picture of Addie and Brooke (Ashbee's older sis)
Theo, Brooke, and Ashbee in the tent
And preparing the pink cupcakes (and a few green ones for the boys):
And singing happy birthday:
Friday, 15 February 2013
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:
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:
Friday, 8 February 2013
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.
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
Thursday, 31 January 2013
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:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)