What every boy needs

Dawson didn't really get presents yesterday since we are having his party at my parents' house next weekend but he did get a few things- a movie my sister sent and a coloring book with pencils that a friend gave him. We asked him at the end of the day what his favorite gift was and he said "all of them" which I thought was quite sweet, then finally he said, "...oh the pig. I forgot about that one."

Yep, my friends, he got a pig. Piglet to be exact. A still nursing piglet. Brett and I were visiting friends yesterday afternoon and their neighbor had a bunch of little pigs. We always think they look cute but obviously never really needed one (esp since the adults are HUGE and UGLY). Well, Brett was overcome (mostly because we leave in 2 days for the States and the kids will forget about the pig by the time we return) and bought Dawson a pig. On the way home as Brett is holding the thing in the back of the car and it is squealing with every bump, which are many here, I kept thinking, how am I going to feed this thing? I have to find a bottle, what does it drink, etc... We got online and found out you can do cow's milk with egg yolk, cod oil and citric acid. Didn't have the last two but our little pig has thankfully started drinking the milk with egg in it. (and before animal rights people come and get us, he probably is old enough to survive without his mother's milk...maybe).

Here's our little piggy. One guess of his name....Batman....or sometimes Spiderman.

Here he is with our turtle, Robin. I was hoping they would be friends- kind of like a new Charlotte's Web- the pig and the turtle- but somehow Robin got away today and we can't find him. (we've had him since Aug, we lost Batman the turtle a long time ago). I guess it doesn't matter too much, since Batman the pig will be leaving our home when we leave. We are giving him to our house guy to take care of and keep (and eventually eat). Hopefully he can find another nursing pig who can take this one on as well. So our little Batman will only stay a few short days with us but unfortunately, he is making his way into my heart. Pathetic, I know. He only drinks when I go out there and grunt to him. Yes, grunt. Pigs don't really oink like we say they do. It really is a grunt. (right under his nose is the turtle)

Silas is playing with the turtle like it is a car. They hurt that poor thing, it's probably good he got away. Silas can say "tortue" (turtle in french) now quite well. I'm amazed at how many words he is picking up lately. Too bad half of it is Bambara which he will forget in the next three months.

I think a pig will go down as one of the weirdest gifts my kids will ever get...at least I hope.

Happy Birthday Dawson!

I can't believe my Dawson is five years old! He changed our life forever when he was born and I am thankful. I cannot imagine life without his smile, his beautiful eyes, his sense of humor, and his determination. We have said since he was young that he will accomplish anything he sets his mind to. He takes wonderful care of his brothers. He is so loving. Even today as he blew out his candles, he let Kenan blow with him and encouraged him to help. He gave Silas the first slice of cake (though he mentioned later it was because that piece was smaller, but still.) He is a big helper. I love his willingness to go to school and try to learn Bambara and French. I know that it is challenging for him but he does it and it amazes me everyday. I love that now he mixes all three languages when he speaks and he willingly greets Malians now. I love his inquisitive nature. I love seeing his heart and how he is learning more and more about Jesus and wants to know Him. I love his hugs and his kisses. I love how he always wants to be a super hero. I could go on and on. I LOVE THIS BOY!!

5 years ago on Easter morning (4:30am)

I started singing "You are my sunshine" to him on one of his first days of life and still sing it to him.

I am amazed at how much he has grown in 5 years. And all the places he has been. He is our trooper. As I write I am overwhelmed with my love for this boy. He brings joy and excitement to life. In "you are my sunshine" it says "you'll never know dear how much I love you" and that is true. Words can't express it. I love my Dawson Cooper MacLean!! Happy Birthday!

Today

I have old glass medical bottles in my kitchen with colored water in them. The boys saw them today for some reason and said they wanted to play with them. I told them we could play with colored water. I had just happened to be looking on kid blogs this morning and saw this idea on one of them. I THINK it was off this one. http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/ I found it through the prayer of Hannah website. (Just to say this was not my idea).

So we started with water colored red, yellow and blue. Then we mixed them to make the orange, green and purple (and then black). We talked about the rainbow and the story of Noah.

This is right before Silas proceeds and knocks over two of the waters.

This was a failed experiment. Tried getting stuff to float when you add oil and water. I had to go look it up on the internet and realized the objects had to be able to float to begin with. Not really understanding what was so cool about that.

Then we made Easter bunnies.

He drew his face, but I must say it looks a bit scary.

Up close of the tail. I didn't have a bag of cotton balls. I just happened to find three white ones in a drawer so that worked nicely.

After the water spill, Silas was banned from the table. So he then overturned his own container of water...

Walked off with some shoes...

Sat awhile after playing in the mud...

Then entertained himself with containers and rocks in them. I am always reminded when I do stuff like this that the boys don't need nice stuff. I mean, he was totally happy with an old baby food container and rocks.

Dawson's last day of school

I know I've just recently posted on Dawson's school, but Friday was his last day for the year so I want to document. I took cake and popcorn for the class (both preschool classes so 64 kids). I got to stay for the morning, watch them sing and do an activity. All the kids put their hand prints on paper and they gave it to Dawson at the end of the day. It was sweet, too, because the kids prayed for Dawson and his vacation.

Here are the cakes. The one on top is the flag of Mali (though Brett laughs at this since it is pink on the cake- it is supposed to be red, but it was as dark as I could get it). The other two were decorated based on Dawson's choice- even the sizes of the lines.

This is his class. His teacher is Rachelle and the helper is Erin, who is beside him. We are so thankful for this year. He has learned a lot. It was such an added blessing to have Erin because she could "speak like we do" as D says. It made him much more comfortable to have her there.

Singing in the morning.

the classroom

Dawson and Hannah

Up close of Erin, D, and Rachelle.

Update in pictures

Just wanted to post some pictures of what we've been up to lately...

After church last week...he actually made it home and stayed dressed a little bit. :)

trying to kill flies. this thing zaps and kills them.

I can honestly say I have no idea when this happened. this was all Brett!

The boys wanted spider balls the other day, which I'm not sure what they are, so I made spider cookies instead. I am not creative and rarely do fun projects with the boys so when I actually do, I have to document it! ha! :)

I just made chocolate no bake cookies, then we put pretzels on for legs and m&m's for the eyes.

Just hanging out

Poor buddy got hurt today while I was at work today. The nanny says Kenan pushed him off the porch (thus down two stairs) while he was on a riding toy. Kenan and Dawson insist that he did it himself. Regardless, he now looks like this.

But being the third boy, he knows just to laugh at it all. (he really did scream so much that the nanny called me home to see him, but obviously he was better hours later).

They wanted to take pictures tonight.