May 14, 08
Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 1:59pm.
Mother's Day was a real trip. Roland did his best to explain what exactly Mother's Day is... Like a Happy Birthday to all the Moms. The kids brought me breakfast in bed while I was no longer in bed... it's so about the traditions around here. It was funny because I don't really eat much breakfast - so it was actually more the thought the counts, and a wonderful photo, and for the kids to devour while I did my hair for church.
The kids exclaimed all day "Mommy - Happy!!" They meant to say that it was like Happy Birthday Mommy but it sounded like they were telling everyone that I was just really happy.
Yesterday after we finished our schoolwork I started a painting project. I sent them all to the backyard to play. One thing about Gertie and Ollie is they react by screaming. I cannot stand screaming. So, Simon who is a bit of a tease -- more than I recall from pre- G & O, hauls out a worm and dangles it in Gertie's face. You would have thought someone got their arm cut off. So, they all got a corner in the Dining Room and "book-time" for 15 minutes. I find if I need to discipline it should serve me. So, silence and early bed-times are working beautifully. : )
I got really sick of a tree in the back yard. It drops mullberries and makes a big mess. So, I I told Simon to use his hatchet and go at it if he wanted to. So, yesterday I come out and Gertie is pushing and Simon is hanging on a trunk of a tree that is at a 45 degree angle. I say that is an accident on it's way - and sure enough - crash.
Gertie is communicating really well and we are learning quite a bit about her life in Ababa. There is a lot that is hard to hear - heartbreaking, but has been so good for her to talk about. One load of bull that she tried to feed us was that she never went to school - only dance class.
There is a tree in the front yard that Simon loves to climb. Well, Ollie like to do what Simon does so he got two crates from the garage and stacked them on top of each other and got up in the tree. He climbed so high the kids called me and I had to tell him to come back down. So, Simon and I both are in the tree guiding him back down until he starts shouting "no help, Yabi do it,"
