We've now been in the US for about a month. We've had a great time seeing family and friends, thus the absence in posting.
One of my favorite things of coming back is getting to see America in the eyes of the boys. To Brett and I, America is home and we know how things work. It's not the case for the boys. This is a different world with lots of fun things, for example...
Escalators! The boys love them. and elevators. Yes, we were the parents who let our kids go up and down the escalators in the Belgium airport.
Squirrels! The boys are fascinated with squirrels. They will sit and watch them for long periods of time and call the others over to see these new and exciting animals.
Mailmen! Every mailman is pointed out. A white truck is presumed to be a mailman until proven otherwise. They think the mailman is the coolest thing.
Water fountains! You'd think that they were pouring out chocolate for how much the kids like them. Not only is it a contraption that shoots out water- it is DRINKABLE water! Score!
Electric toilets/sinks/ hand dryers! I mean, what's not cool about a dirty rest stop bathroom? On our way to Florida we stopped at a rest area after Kenan had asked, "Why can't we just stop on the side of the road?" since that is our "rest stop" in Mali. We just pull over by a tree which serves as our shade and our bathroom. We explained that you can't pull over on the side of the highway in America and we told them that there would be a stop soon with a bathroom. "How do you know it will have a bathroom?" Dawson asked. Because it is America. And you can find a bathroom on basically every exit on the interstate. Sweet. So we were in that dirty rest area bathroom and the kids were thrilled. "It's a robot bathroom!" they yelled. And as Dawson dried his hands with the electric dryer that had a blue light as its sensor, he looked at me with complete sincerity and said, "This is so cool!"
One day an ambulance passed by our house with the lights off. The boys asked if that was a mailman (like I said, white truck equals mailman until proven otherwise). I told them no, that it was an ambulance to which they asked what that was. I told them if you got sick at your house or hurt they would come and get you and take you to the hospital. Kenan piped up, "That is SO nice of them. I think they know God because God tells us to be nice to each other."
The first few days home every time we arrived where we were going, Dawson and Kenan would say to one another (in complete seriousness), "Don't unbuckle your seat belt. Wait until the car has come to a full and complete stop."
When I gave my credit card to a lady at the register D asked why I had to show my passport.
On seeing trash on the road after being in the country a month, D says, "oh-they do liter in America."
Several times while playing with something or using a gadget D has asked, "Why is everything made in China?"
I love it!! I remember my kids around that time. Not only did we let our kids ride the escalator, but they loved the moving walkway-thingy. We still, if we're not running to catch our next plane, have at least one kid who tries to go the wrong way on one--as long as no one else is coming. What have they said about going shopping? Or is that strictly a girl thing?
ReplyDeleteCaden has been asking for awhile now to go and visit China. When asked why, he says, "Because that's where all the toys are made." ;)
ReplyDeleteKathy- the boys love to go to Target, unfortunately as they now think a toy is in order with each visit. They've learned that this isn't the case, however, they aren't happy about it.
ReplyDeleteApril-that's too funny!