Family Portraits
Posted on July 29, 2010 - Filed Under Homeschool, Kids | 3 International Amigos Said
Dorian got a little distracted during school today and turned out four family portraits.
L-R Top: Papa, Mama
Bottom: Dorian, Dante
He then decided the artist should be included in the shot with his work.
And then we went back to school. Dorian insisted on doing three reading lessons today. “I need more words, Mama!” He said. It seemed to finally click today, he was reading his new words off faster and faster and was SO excited that he was able to do it and do it well. 
Back to School
Posted on July 28, 2010 - Filed Under Homeschool, Kids | 2 International Amigos Said
We’ve had a bit of a break from school, mainly because of some serious issues with clients that have sent me scrambling to find work, any work, to pay the bills. But on Monday, we plunged back in full force.
It was fun. I don’t spend nearly enough time with my kids, and when I do, I’m usually stressing out about work still. School is guilt-free time because it’s time invested in their education, not just hanging out or something. Maybe that shouldn’t make a difference, but in my addled mind, it does.
We started out with a singalong and the boys actually sang with me! They usually request songs at bedtime, but they just listen to me sing . . . this time they got right into it and I discovered that they knew most of the words. Time to dredge up a few more childhood tunes.
After that, we did a body parts game to recap what we were learning when Mama got too stressed out to deal with anything but writing and they both did great. Then we settled in and did some workbook stuff, colors and shapes, which is a bit simple for Dorian, but he enjoyed helping Dante figure things out. We looked around the room for circles and found plenty of them! Locks, the laundry basket, my lip balm, all circles!
After stringing some foam beads and doing some sorting stuff, we finished up with a reading lesson. It wasn’t a long school day, but we all enjoyed it.
Market Day
Posted on July 27, 2010 - Filed Under Fun, Kids | 3 International Amigos Said
Cuddles and Kisses
Posted on July 25, 2010 - Filed Under Kids, Simple Life | 1 International Amigo Said
Before I had kids, I was never very touchy feely. I kept people pretty much at arm’s length most of the time and was pretty uncomfortable with hugs and stuff. Of course, here they kiss you on the cheek to say hello, which was ever MORE uncomfortable!
After kids, though, something changed. I touch the boys all the time now, it’s maternal instinct, a quick rub of the back, a pat on the head or a kiss on their soft little cheeks that usually elicits cries of “EW! Disgusting, Mama!”
But I also realized that they need that touch as much as I do. When I’m buried up to my neck in stupid writing assignments, Dante comes and lies across the back of my chair, so he’s like my cushion. He lays there and rubs my back for a while, or he sits up and combs my hair (his new favorite pastime) or just runs his hand up and down my arm as I’m typing.
Dorian isn’t nearly as physical and never has been, but he still comes in and leans against me for a second or pretends he has to punish me for some invisible crime (“you blinked and I said not to!”) and the punishment for that crime is a bunch of rapidfire kisses all over my face.
And, when Dorian’s plumbing is acting up and he’s in pain, the first thing he asks for is a stomach massage to ease the bumps out and get things moving again. For him, touch is healing.
As stressful as it is to work at home, it’s also wonderful because I get these amazing kisses and cuddles all. day. long. Who could ask for more?
Quick and Easy Bean Bag Game for Rainy Days
Posted on July 23, 2010 - Filed Under Fun, Kids, Simple Life | 5 International Amigos Said
It’s been raining a lot lately. A LOT. Which means two little boys have been going a bit berserk in our teensy house. After about three days of almost solid rain, we were all in dire need of something to do that would burn off some energy. Sooooo . . . .
Enter a laundry tub and two milk tins.
And some socks stuffed with beans.
Then we played bean bag toss, which sounds tame, but really isn’t in our house.
If you believe that orbs are ghosts, apparently our house is full of them! (you’d never believe we have a maid AND it’s raining with all the dust in here!)
Warp speed, please!!
See? Told you this was no tame game of tossing . . . note the beans spilled all over the floor from a burst sock!
Oh, and we’re taking suggestions for rainy day activities! Leave a comment.
Big Imaginations
Posted on July 22, 2010 - Filed Under Fun, Kids | 2 International Amigos Said
I swear my kids live in their own world about 75% of the time. They race around the house, sparring with popsicle stick swords, yelling about dragons and Jaberwockies (Alice in Wonderland is their new favorite movie) and just generally living full on adventures in our living room.
They start this from the very early morning and continue all day. I’ve actually written about this before, but the other day they did something so cute that I had to blog about it again!
They each came in with a laundry basket turned upside down and with a pen stuck in it and said, “Happy Birthday! It’s a giant birthday cake!”
Do They Have Bread in Canada?
Posted on July 21, 2010 - Filed Under Culture Clash, Kids, Travel | 8 International Amigos Said
It doesn’t surprise me that Dorian would have more interest in our upcoming journey. Dante is so laid back you could literally drop him in the middle of an African desert and he’d be totally cool with it and wouldn’t think anything of it.
Dorian, on the other hand, is like me. He needs information and lots of it. He wants to plan everything out ahead of time and since I know that, we make a point of telling him things ahead of time. He is very curious about Canada and here are just a few of the questions he’s asked recently.
“Do they have bread in Canada?” Answer: Yes! And your Gramma makes really yummy bread! (“Like in the bags? I’m gonna have to try that!”)
“Is Canada a city or a country?”
“Where are we gonna sleep? Do they have beds or do we sleep on the floor?”
“What color is the airplane? Can we go in a Ben 10 (green) airplane?”
“What if I get thirsty at Grampa’s house? Do they have water or juice? Or just milk?”
“Does Gramma know I can’t drink milk? Do they have soya?”
“How big is Canada?”
He’s also been corresponding with my dad via email and they’ve been planning out their treehouse and some sightseeing trips in my parents’ boat. Dorian is VERY excited about this. He recently asked my dad if they could put a flamethrower on top of the treehouse and told him that it was best if they didn’t put a trapdoor in it because he might fall through and hurt himself.
The other day, he said, “When we go to Canada, I’m gonna build a house like Bob the Builder, and we’re going to touch butterflies (taking them to Butterfly World) and see flowers and we’re gonna go in a boat on the WATER and see animals! And we’re gonna slide!” Then he turned to Dante and said, “So, Dante, are you gonna slide and touch butterflies and see animals?” in a very excited voice.
And in true Dante fashion, his little brother replied . . . “Yup.”
My New Favorite Photos
Posted on July 20, 2010 - Filed Under Fun, Kids, Personal | 4 International Amigos Said
The past week has been full of photo taking opportunities . . . so I took them! Here are my faves.
New Books!
Posted on July 19, 2010 - Filed Under Friends, Kids, Simple Life | 2 International Amigos Said
A sweet blog reader left these for us the other day:
The boys were enthralled!
(please excuse Dorian’s hair, he’d just bathed)
“Plethosaurawha….?”
Thanks, Caroline! You’ve kept my boys very busy on these rainy afternoons!
Travel Has Changed a Bit
Posted on July 16, 2010 - Filed Under Simple Life, Travel | 7 International Amigos Said
When I left Canada, I had a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, two changes of clothes in my pack (plus what I was wearing), a guidebook and about $2,000 CAN in the bank. I headed out for parts unknown, blissfully unworried about the possibility of running out of money because I knew I’d be in Spanish speaking territory by then and could teach English.
Fast forward 9 years and holy schmoly, travel is different. First, there’s the fact that airlines have gotten wonky in the years since I was last on one (over 10 years ago, since I came down in bus). I’ve been searching and searching for decent flights and they are ALL super expensive. At one point, I was super happy because I found a flight on Delta for $540 each. Awesome! It said “plus taxes and fees”, I figured that would be fifty bucks at the most, no? Uh, right. The flipping taxes are almost as much as the ticket! And, since we can’t buy tickets until Irving’s papers are done, I’ve had the joy of watching the prices inch up and up and up over the past few weeks.
Then there’s the fact that I’m a mom. You know, having kids changes EVERYTHING. Whereas I would be perfectly willing to hang out in an airport for 35 hours to get a cheaper flight, there is NO WAY I’m doing that with kids. I could easily handle two back to back flights without eating because, hello, airlines apparently don’t give you food anymore. Um, kids not eating for 11 hours? So not going to happen!
Add to this the extra worry that I’m taking a guy who looks like a terrorist/job stealer to anyone who has never traveled outside of North America and travel is suddenly very, very different.
However, provided I can actually manage to earn the money to do this trip (cue panic attack) and we survive the ear popping and racing from one terminal to another with small children in two, once Irving has been granted a visa to Canada, it will be easier to travel with him. Which means, when I’m rich and famous, we can go country hopping. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself.
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