The Boys Perform

Last week the boys had an end of the semester performance at school. I want to tell you about Josiah's performance but first I need to make a confession. On Wednesday Caleb came home from school in tears saying that Ted and I missed his performance. At first I tried to talk to him about whether it may have been a dress rehearsal. We received a note from the school saying the performance was on Thursday. He assured me that it was not a dress rehearsal because the school theater was full of parents with their cameras. My heart dropped! After re-reading a note that Caleb brought home the day before I realized that I had not completely understood the message - it was in another language! Ted and I felt terrible and we apologized again and again. I was upset that we had missed it and that Caleb was so heartbroken. From now on I will read and reread his notes to assure that nothing important gets lost in translation. The next day we went to the school for Josiah's performance. I think the teacher also felt bad that we had missed Caleb's performance because they were going to let Caleb perform with Josiah's class. Caleb said he would rather stay with his friends. I think that he has forgiven us. All the kids were dressed in costumes and the boys did a lot of marching and clapping. I have attached a few pictures, but you will not see the best part of the show. As the class was performing I noticed that Josiah was the only one with a red piece of material hanging from his belt. I jokingly said to Ted that they probably had the only foreign kid carry the country flag. Sure enough, at the end of the performance Josiah walked to center stage, the other boys encircled him, then he was lifted up on a teachers shoulders and unrolled the country flag to the applause of everyone in the audience. Too funny! The boys will have another performance this year and I will be sure to be there for both of them.

Six Months Later

Caleb enjoys a spoonful of JIF -
a precious treat from the states!

We have officially been in the country for six months! Time really has flown by. It seems like we just arrived - and not just when we try to speak the national language! We are all picking up the language little by little. I have caught the boys exchanging the typical national "greetings" on several occasions. In the last week or so I have noticed that the boys are not only understanding more but also trying to use what they know. At a friends house recently I overheard Caleb answering a question in the national language and I was convinced that he made up a few of the words just to sound like a national. Well, not only did the boy understand what he said but so did the boys parents. I, on the other hand, recognized just a few of the words. Oh, to be able to learn a new language as fast as a child! Our language tutor asked me what I missed most about living in America - I very honestly answered that I missed being able to talk and function as a normal adult. As I think back over the last six months I know that there are other times when we have missed being "home". More and more I have tried not to refer to America as our home - not because we don't miss it and the family- but as a reminder that this is where our home is now and these are the people we have been allowed to live among. The boys are still doing well, although Caleb still misses his grandparents and wants to see them "right now". Josiah is happy as long as he has gum and Lucas is content as long as he can sit in Daddy's lap and listen to music. More and more we want to be content with what we have access to here - though we are grateful for the few care packages that have allowed the boys to color superheroes and a very pregnant lady to have JIF!!!! I'll end by relating a humorous, though untrue, dialogue between Caleb and Josiah.
J:Caleb do you like chocolate bars?
C: Yes
J: Do you want to go to the store and get a chocolate bar?
C: Yes
J: I'm sorry Caleb, but in this country they don't have candy bars at the store, only food for dinner.

Our First Christmas

Being in a new country (where only foreigners celebrate Christmas) definitely has a different feel to it. We were able to get a Christmas tree and a few other decorations, but once you leave our apartment there are no reminders of the Christmas season. Admittedly the change in atmosphere left me longing for the way things used to be. Walking into a store and hearing Christmas music or having trouble deciding what Christmas wrapping paper I like best. The day before Christmas I walked around looking for matching pajamas for the boys. For the last few years I have bought the boys matching pajamas for Christmas (though its more a present for myself than for them I guess) and I was having trouble finding some. Most children in this country do not wear pajamas, but sweat suits or something similar. I have resigned myself to buying sweat suits instead and found some I was willing to settle on - only to find that my credit card wouldn't work! As I walked back to our apartment I was a little upset. I was reminded of a shopping experience a few weeks prior, when I couldn't find anything affordable that I thought the boys would like. Again I was thankful that our reason for celebrating the Christmas season would never change. No matter where we live or what we have access to we still have a reason to rejoice and to celebrate.

Just so you know - it all worked out in the end - they boys had their matching pajamas and I still had my tradition! Despite the fact that all their friends were at school Christmas day the boys had a wonderful day - complete with matching pajamas, presents from grandparents, Christmas carols and the Christmas story.

Thanksgiving and the amoeba.

Though Caleb spent most of Thanksgiving resting in another room we still had a very enjoyable holiday. We are grateful to have been able to spend the holiday with a few other families. Are meal was complete with all the trimmings, though we did not have a big turkey. You can buy a turkey here for about $40 (15lb) but we were all satisfied to just have turkey breast. This Wal-Mart shopper could never bring myself to pay that. Unfortunately Caleb started to feel bad again that night and on Friday we had to take him to the doctor. Caleb was unable to keep anything down and had eaten very little for three days. We were all retested for the amoeba and Caleb, Lucas and I were still positive. By this doctor visit someone in the family had been sick for at least a month. Though Lucas will be retested tomorrow I am happy to report that the other boys are now amoeba free!!!!!! Though I am not taking medicine to fight the amoeba (because of the pregnancy) I feel 100 times better. We are now entering our second week without illness and we are very excited about that. We are so thankful for those who so faithfully pray for our family. I did take a few pictures of us at the doctor's office - maybe it will make the scrapbook.

Caleb makes an appearance on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving with friends = fun.

Lucas enjoys the festivities.

Passing time at the doctor's office.

Lucas waits for his test results.

Big Boy Lucas

Lucas has really been trying to talk a lot lately. It seems like he's trying to say something new everyday. He is doing a lot more "big boy" things like using silverware, drinking from a big boy cup and even trying to tie his own shoe laces. Now, if I could only get him to clean up the spills and put away all the shoes he takes out!

Josiah's 4th Birthday

Josiah celebrated his 4th birthday on the 16th - hard to believe. He was very excited, making sure that he told anyone who would listen that he was "four now". The morning of his birthday we took cake, cookies, and Sprite to his class - a requirement for all students on their birthday. The night before, Ted went to a bakery and asked for a cake that the baker thought the children would like. There were no Spiderman 3 cakes, much to Josiah's dismay. Ted bought a Tweety Bird cake that was coated with pistachios. I stayed in his class while all the kids were served and as Josiah bit into the cake. I've attached a picture of his expression - he was not a fan. The baker was right though, the other kids did like the cake. Those who know Josiah will not be surprised to find out that he received three costumes for his birthday. After opening the first one (a Batman costume from Grandma and Grandpa) he stopped opening the gifts to put it on. We encouraged him to open the other two - a black Spiderman costume from Uncle Rob and a Blue Power Ranger costume from Nana. He also stopped after opening those and wanted to put them on. He wore all three that night and Caleb was able to wear one as well so they could do their super hero fighting together. I made my first cake from scratch! The cake was pretty good, but the frosting was questionable. Josiah liked it so that is all that matters! I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Random Pictures and Stories

Both Lucas and I love this video. I'm a mom - telling stories about my kids and showing pictures is what I do.



Caleb and Lucas enjoy a banana shake - Lucas especially! Lucas decided to go for the banana shake goatee while Caleb opted for the mustache.
Last weekend we were able to take the boys to a large and well maintained park downtown. This very large mosque sits at the end of the walkway that runs through the park.

Josiah is very excited that his birthday is coming up in a few weeks. He will be four soon and looking at this picture reminds me of how big he is getting.

This is a perfect example of why we need a babysitter while we have language classes. One day Josiah came into the room with his arms and legs covered with pen marks. When asked why he would do that he responded, "I was only giving myself a tattoo".

Ted's friend the barber (Ralph) graciously came over to cut Ted's hair and Lucas'. Lucas did not appreciate the house call.

Lucas has developed a love for tools. He often "helps" Ted as he does things around the apartment. My favorite do-it-yourself job is the frequent attempts to get the bathroom door to actually open!