Summer, Day 2

So, I forgot to post yesterday. But if I had, it would have been this picture, plus two boys, a couple pillows, some blankets, and snacks. Nathan and Joshua had a picnic yesterday. At first it just started with them and food on top of the table. The table was necessary to keep the dog away. But it started to get hot so they got down the canopy and started to but it up. They got pretty far by themselves; I was impressed. Then they wanted to be comfortable so out came the pillows and blankets. While getting down the canopy, they also got down the camp cot so they decided to set it up too. During all this we had a few accidents; Josh fell off the table and Nathan pinched his finger in the camp cot. But it was a fun way to spend an hour or so outside.

First Day of Summer (for Mama)

Let's see how long I can keep up with a picture and post a day for this summer. That's the idea at least. Yesterday was my last day of work so today is my first day of summer. My kids have been off for almost a week now and I've been jealous. Like every summer, I keep forgetting that today is Wednesday; it seems like a Saturday except that Richard is at work. It's been mostly quiet day yet I only got one think on my list accomplished. I'll get another thing accomplished if I want to go to sleep tonight. The pile of laundry on my bed is bigger than all three of my kids put together.
Nathan and Josh went swimming in Aunt Jessica's pool, while Rosie and I took a nap. I also wrote a letter of recommendation for a friend so I geuss I accomplished two things today. Yeah me.
While checking the sprinklers, Josh said he wanted to play in them so I left one on for a little while. They only played for a few minutes but it was enough to get this picture.
Have a happy summer!

Summertime, and the living is easy

Do you think that Josh has a future as a Jazz musician? Probably not, but you never know. By the way, did you know that my kids are growing up? I didn't, it surprised the heck out of me. They both seem entirely too tall. Nathan will be starting kindergarten in about two weeks. And Josh seems to be entirely potty trained. Jessica, Richard and I have been working on it for the past year and a half (mostly Jessica, thank you again for that sis) but it still feels like it was all too easy and happened very quickly. Nathan is even showing signs that he may be reading soon. All of it is great, but a little scary too.
On another topic, today I made one of my favorite childhood dinners for dinner tonight (corned beef casserole and cabbage for those that wanted to know). When I finished putting the cubed cheese on top I looked at it and realised what a 50's dinner it was. Half of the ingredients are canned, including the meat, and to quote celebrity chef, Gorden Ramsey, it "looked like a pile of s***t." But it sure was yummy.

Inches turn into milestones

I am always thrilled when I see all the little ways in which my boys are growing up. Today Nathan was watching Richard get ready for work when he decided that he wanted to wear a tie like daddy. Richard tried to talk him out of it but soon relented. Nathan ended up wearing that tie all day and even had it on when he fell asleep for his nap.

For Joshua the moment came when he asked for more food and it came out as a complete sentence, "I want rice." He has been doing this for a while but I still get a kick out of it because I don't always understand what he is saying. For example his "I want rice" actually sounded like "I wa wy" but I knew what he was saying.

Another Nathan story, I was correcting some student work tonight when Nathan came up to ask me what I was doing. I explained and he then decided that he wanted to my students' new teacher. He is going to teach them how to twirl a hula-hoop on their arms just like his teacher, Mr. Gan, taught him. It is fun to see Nathan wanting to emulate his parents so much.