Q&A Time

Anyone have any questions for us? It's been awhile since we've done a Q&A. (Actually, I have no idea when the last one was... it just FEELS like a long time.)

Put your Q's in the comments, and we'll get right back atcha with the A's. :)

Before I forget...

Yordi calls the Library, Libaby. It's very cute.

Sweet Release

Lee's birthday is Sunday, and so we wrangled his folks into keeping the kids over night last night. (We didn't have to wrangle - we asked, they said yes - it's just a fun word.)

I met Lee's mom half way for the "drop." The kids went willingly into Grandma's "fancy" car and waved and smiled as I threw the car in reverse, squealing tires, not looking back.

I drove straight to my Local Yarn Shop (LYS if you're a knitter) where they have Friday afternoon knitting. I used to be able to go more frequently, obviously, and this was the 1st time I've made it since the kids. (Oh, wait... I didn't drive STRAIGHT there, I stopped and got a smoothie 1st, because I COULD.)

The main reason for having Lee's folks take the kids was so that Lee and I could both go to Karaoke. I know, I know... living life on the EDGE, I tell you. A bunch of work peeps were there to celebrate Lee's birthday. It was pretty fun, considering how LATE it was. I did sing 2 songs, and did not completely disgrace myself. It's was nice having a table full of adoring fans to sing along. And I realized that while I do not miss work at all, I DO miss the people. Great to see you guys!

Now we're headed to Lee's sister's house for a birthday lunch, and if I know the Gardners, we'll all hang around until dark. Lee's folks are bringing the kids straight to Aunt Carrie and Uncle Paul's, and I'm sure there will be lots of stories to share. Shebala-shaying, as we like to say.

Spitting Distance

The other day, Habti claimed that Yordi spit on him. (I get tall tales all day, so I usually ask both parties what happened... if no concensus is reached on "truth," I have them both apologize to each other and sit apart for awhile. There's usually egging on by one or both parties, until someone's feelings get hurt, so I figure they're both probably at fault.) Anyway, I asked Yordi if she spit on him.

"Yep!" she said proudly, with a grin, then "Sorry!"

I said "Chair, 5 minutes, for spitting on someone."

"I said SORRY!"

"Chair, 5 minutes."

As if there wouldn't be any consequence for spitting on someone! She went to the chair and cried and gave a much more sullen (and I felt, more repentant) apology to Habtamu.

Answer to Yesterday's Word Scramble

For the 3 of you who were anxiously awaiting the answer... I apologize... I meant to get it out 1st thing this a.m.... ooops.

Anyway, what she was trying to say was

ELECTRIC. <----- highlight that white space to see. :)

ADDENDUM: She was looking at the power lines. I finally got it because it was the ONLY thing left that I hadn't said. We were driving through corn fields ... well, not THROUGH, but that was the only thing around other than the power lines.

Lost in Translation, Part 3,482

In the car today, Yordi lets out a "Mommy! Look! Red Leek!"

I said "Oh, uh-huh." This never works anymore... they are not fooled... they know I have no idea what they're talking about.

"NO, Mommy! Red Leek!"

"Red Leek?"

"NO, RED LEEK!!"

"Saying it louder is not really helping me." So then I resorted to I Spy Red...

Red... car? NO
Red... truck? NO
Red... stop sign? NO
Red... flower? NO

I was wracking my brains there, casting about... red, red... she can't mean that the drying corn stalks have taken on a gentle red color and look like a red lake? NO

Then she says "Red Leek zzzt". Then I got it. Guesses anyone? I'll post the answer tomorrow. :)

Just another morning at Ice Station Zebra

I missed my alarm this morning and found myself running about 20 minutes late. As soon as I started using the toilet, I heard shuffling and the 4 trademark Gah-JOONK's of H's chest of drawers rattling the wall between his room and his sister's. It's been a while since he, and subsequently his sister, have been awake when I'm getting ready for work. But today their shower kicked on before 7am. I sighed into my sink. I love my children, but that doesn't mean I want to see them first thing in the morning. Besides, I think it's a little early to scar them with visions of me grousing around in my underwear swearing at uncooperative socks.

So I did what any responsible adult would do and hid in the bathroom to dodge my children until I could at least see clearly out of one eye. (I can't usually see out of both until I'm at least 15 miles into my commute...) Anyway, I didn't come out until I was fully dressed and had my car keys in hand. I kissed Chris and told her I loved her and that I was on my way out. Overwhelmed by my morning affection, she grumbled something about the TV being too loud. I then walked to the living room where the kids were watching Pocahontas with it's soundtrack swelling to unholy levels at irritating intervals (yeah VHS!.) I walked up to the television, lowered the volume, turned around, and was met with this:


Note the look of unspoken gratefulness in Yordanos's pleasant smile. Note the glow of adoration that beams from Habtamu. Who wouldn't be motivated to go to work for these shining faces? I'm the luckiest man in America.

But the reason I took this picture isn't because I wanted capture the everlasting gratitude of my children. It's because of their chosen outfits. Yes, Yordi is wearing a sweater beneath her jacket and Habti is chilling under a fleece blanket. Um... It's still August kiddos. Admittedly, it's been a cool summer and last night the temperature dropped... are you ready for this... it dropped down to a unforgiving 60 degrees. That's right, I said 60! Any lower and we would be in the upper 50's, people! Time to break out the mukluks!

Again they tried to explain to me how cold they were. Again I listened and nodded, standing in my short-sleeved, business casual attire jingling my keys. I kissed their foreheads and headed out the door with a genuine smile.

Oh my children, what wonders await you in the next 90 days... how are your mother and I going to keep a straight face through it all?

It's probably also worth mentioning that the kids are really looking forward to getting bikes "next year" which, as far as they're concerned, is January first. Yeah... have fun with that.

1st Day of School

We started school today at home. I was going to ease into it, so I set the timer for 20 minutes per child. H and I worked on reading in this book, then I gave him a Grade 1 math workbook. We worked on it together until the buzzer went off, and then he kept going through the book... for the next 2 hours. Granted, the Grade 1 book was pretty easy for him, but there were some gaps that it filled in nicely. All told, he did 27 pages.

Y and I worked out of a Kindergarten Basics book, then K-1 math. Once I explained what to do, there was very little she had trouble with. But again, I think starting this way will fill in any missing pieces, plus it was a totally fun day because they mostly understood everything and were able to do it well. Y also finished 27 pages in the math book and 18 in the K basics. We weren't rushing or anything, and I didn't let them go on until I was sure they understood.

I was worried about the workbooks because a friend of mine who home-schools says her kids HATE workbooks. But, mine love them, just like I do... and always did.

I did a bunch of cooking for the food co-op my church has put together. Everyone makes x number of the same meal, then we all swap and give one or two meals to someone who needs meals. It's my first time and it's 15 meals for 4-6 people each. I've been cubing/cooking/bagging chicken for 2 days now... just finished all 30 pounds. I'm making Doro Wat, in bulk. Yikes.

Scientific Methods

So, I don't remember exactly which button the kids were pushing the other day, but it was one of those exercises where they attempt to exhaust all possibilities through the process of elimination. It was most likely the ever-irritating, "Who owns what" game that they like to throw out when they're feeling insecure. It's a control game. The rules are simple, just point at something and ask who owns it. Then challenge the response and ignore rebuttals. Repeat until you are denied something you deserve to own, then pitch a fit. Logic twisting and abusing the language barrier are fair game.

Sometimes this game is played for keeps. If a child is already in a bad mood, it's a great way to bring down someone else and/or create a 'real' reason to be angry. Other times, I'll find myself in a practice heat... I don't know why, maybe just to keep their game sharp.

Anyway, the last round happened in the kitchen, which is a terrible place because they never run out of freaking things to point at. I came home and disrupted a tournament between Chris and Y. I can imagine how it was playing out before I got there. Y would say, "Mommy's?" and point to a spoon. "We share spoons," would be the logical and therefore completely ignored reply. "Mommy's?" again. "Share. Everybody," it would start to break down. "Everybody's?" she'd question. "Yes. Everybody's." "Eheeeeverybody's?" Y would say pointing to the neighbors house. "Well, not their's but everyone in this family shares the..." "Mommy's?" she's start over, making YOU the jerk who's been caught lying because you don't know who owns the stupid spoon.

So at this point either you get really angry, or you laugh. When I walked in Chris was laughing, shaking her head. I asked what they were talking about (although I had a pretty good idea) and she just said that the children were being very scientific. "Really?" I said. "Yes, I think they're going to be scientists. They are very good at persistently approaching a problem from all different angles and possibilities," she said. "Oh," I replied, "So kinda like the velociraptors systematically attacking the electric fence in Jurassic Park?" "Yeah," she giggled. "And today I'm the fence." I knew exactly how she felt.

And speaking of electricity and learning experiences, H learned a valuable lesson about monkeying with outlets immediately after swimming. He was unplugging and re-plugging an extension cord and I told him after the second time to knock it off. Two ins and outs later he dropped the cord and stared at his hand making his 'horror of horrors- I'm too distraught to scream' face. "Yep," I said deadpan looking at his hand, "You're ok." "I am NOT OK!!!" he winced. (Note the perfect English...) I smiled and said, "The fact that you can tell me you are not ok, means you are ok." He fussed a little bit but made a remarkable recovery after a couple grueling, agonizing seconds.

Honestly though, I think the best part of his new found respect for voltage is that I think his sister, who watched the whole thing, caught onto the lesson. Generally she likes to follow in her brother's footsteps, but hopefully she won't have to repeat this one herself.

Art Work

I've wanted to show you all examples of the kids' drawings. When they first got here, they were very perfectionistic about their drawings, so they all got destroyed before I could save them. I'm not sure why they felt they were not up to snuff, because I thought they were totally charming.

Yesterday, Yordi was drawing and wouldn't let us see...























See? Charming. It's our family and our church. That big black square? It's the parking lot. ("Big asphalt.")

Side note: I was shocked the first time Yordanos pointed at a tar truck and said "New asphalt." Turns out it's the same word in Amharic.

After Yordi unveiled her drawing, Habtamu did this drawing.


Not to be outdone, he drew the street in front of the church.

Click on the images to embiggen.