Oh the things they say

The boys keep us laughing. I know this is funnier to us than the rest of the world, but alas, I want their thoughts recorded so bear with me.

We were talking about money and I asked them where it came from.
D: Doesn't it come from the president? (He did clarify that the government printed the money eventually)

me: How do we get the money?
D: Doesn't he (president) just give it to you?

me: No, you have to work for it.
D: WHAT? You have to EARN it??


Kenan has been in this phase that he says he never sleeps. I don't know why but he truly believes that he only blinks, he never falls sleep. We were talking about how he also drools at night to which he responded, "I don't schwober because I don't schweep!"

My dad took Dawson and Zachary to a Mudcats game. The other two boys were sad that they were left behind. We decided to have our own fun so we let them eat m&m's and chocolate chips. They eat chocolate on a regular basis so it wasn't as if this was a great treat but we let them eat more than normal so they enjoyed the experience. The next morning my dad was talking to Kenan and said that maybe next time he could with them. Kenan responded rather emphatically, "I don't want to go because if I go I don't get treats." A little while later while they were still talking he looked at my dad and said, "Grandpa, do you have all your teeth?"

We were leaving a party at a park and, as always, Dawson was way ahead and Kenan was about 50 ft behind us, trying to walk and eat a sucker all while holding his party bag. Doesn't sound like a lot but it really looked like a struggle for him. I told him that he marched to the beat of his own drum. I said Dawson's drumbeat sounds like, "bom bom bom bom" in rapid succession. Before I could make his drumbeat (one bom with 5 seconds in between the next), Kenan perked up and said, "What's my drumbeat? Is it naner naner neh na?" Imagine it the sound of an electric guitar. Yes, Kenan, that is your drumbeat. One that sounds nothing like a drum. I love that kid.

The boys have enjoyed the show Wild Kratts which is about two brothers who learn about animals and their special traits. Kenan was sitting with my mom and asking her why she had extra skin on her hands and arms. "It's because I'm old," she said.
K: "It's good you have the extra skin because then you can glide!"
Grandma: "What?"
K: "You can glide like the flying squirrel!"

iPod picture overview of the last few weeks

I now have an iPod that takes pictures. We got it this summer so that I can take pictures and videos of hospital patients in Mali.  I've tried to use it some to get used to it here. I now feel like a "real" American mom, snapping pictures on my iPod. I mean, otherwise, I'd have to use a camera. Oh the hassle. :) Not trying to say iPads, Pods, phones are bad- they are really awesome. It is just interesting to be away from America and then come back and see everyone on their phones and such. I just laughed one day at Monkey Joe's as every parent had a i-something in hand capturing their child's activities. So here are some of my shots...

Silas, enjoying his brothers and cousins playing some Wii game while supporting Mario. And of course, only in his underwear.

The boys wanted to ride the bus so Grandpa took them on a ride around town. They even got to switch buses to make it back to our street.

Shelby joined Jen and I on a girls' trip to get pedicures. Shelby accidentally walked in the yogurt shop instead of the nail place so we just "had" to eat some before we got our feet done. She just looked cute wearing her leotard with her mom's sunglasses on eating ice cream.

Getting her toes painted. This is when she finally believed it wouldn't hurt. A few days earlier we took her to get her ears pierced. She had no idea what was going to happen until the piercing took place so I think she was afraid that we were bringing her to another "fun" experience.

                                              Showing off her earrings and her pretty toes.

Saying goodbye to the Pinhos. They all lined up for a photo and happened to put themselves in birth order without any discussion of it.

Kenan's Sunday school drawing, complete with the angry bird (top left-note the red eyes) and then green pig to go with it. The drawing is of the story they heard about a raccoon who wasn't cautious and got his leg stuck in a log or something.

Dawson's thoughts

I've wondered some how this long stay in the US will change our kids' views on home and where that is. They have enjoyed America, no doubt, but still Mali is home.

Yesterday Dawson was wearing an Italian soccer shirt. He asked if the Olympics were still on and I said yes.   He said he would be cheering for "Italia" even if they were playing the US. Then he added, " but if Italia plays Mali, I'll have to cheer for Mali because we are always for Mali." It makes my heart feel so good to know that Mali is their home. The struggles we have of leaving friends and things behind here aren't the same for them. They leave all that is comfortable and known in Mali to come and visit the US.

How will they ever leave grandma's?

Why would the kids want to leave grandma and papa's house when they get a 9 ft water slide here? My mom picked it up on a super sale and the kids have had a blast. 

 

The big kids enjoyed it as well. Seems the two dads couldn't help themselves. :) ok, neither could one mom but she was taking pictures so there's no evidence. :)

The Lake

And yet another place that pours forth memories and brings great peace and joy is the lake. My grandparents built the house room by room as they had means/time to do so. So it isn't the most beautiful home architecturally but it is full of great memories and love. I love this place. When I'm there, I just want to stay forever. It is so peaceful. It truly is one of my most favorite places on earth.

The boys love early morning fishing with grandma (and me by default since one adult isn't sufficient to tackle three boys, three hooks, worms and fish). Now I'm not a fisherman like my mom or grandfather. I too quickly became bored by it all as I child but it is really enjoyable fishing with the kids. Until the hooking the worm part. After the first slice of the worm on the hook, the body stiffens with pain and then the other half wiggles with excitement in order to prevent the impending doom. Then there's the tearing the worm in half in order not to "waste" it. I'm not an overwhelming animal lover or anything, but man, fishing is a bit cruel. Slide the worm on the hook, throw it in the water to catch a fish by the mouth, pull the hook out of the fish's mouth and throw the fish back in the water so we can catch it all over again. 

But when you don't think about all that, it's kind of fun. :)

                                                        Showing off one of his prized fish.

                                                                Oops, I dropped it.

                                                                      Got it back again.

Kenan actually caught a small bass. He was so proud of himself. They know so much about fish from watching Wild Kratts so he told us all about the bass he caught.

                                                   

And who is out there on the lake all by himself?

That would be my 7 year old who is growing before my eyes and surprising me each day with all he can do.

After this he taught me how to dive. I kid you not. I had a lot of ear infections as a child so my mom kept my head out of water. I missed the age of becoming comfortable with water. I love water, just not the swimming part so much. I have taken lessons and know HOW to swim but I in no way love it. And the whole diving thing is difficult because, well, you have to use to hands and how can you do that when you need to hold your nose? Yes I can and do jump in the water without holding my nose but you better believe that if no one is looking, I pop my hand on my nose in a pretty little second. So I guess now that my secret is out I can hold my nose with pride in front of all to see. :) After much coaxing from my mom, aunt, and 7 yr old, I decided to try. After all, the Olympics are happening now and that just seems to give me motivation to try things I wouldn't and work harder at all things physical. Oh and my seven year old encouraged me, "Mom, it's really not that hard." So I did it. Not the beautiful jump in the air and gracefully enter the lake kind of dive but more of a bent over, knees bent so far that my hands were basically touching the water before I even jumped kind of dive. But I did it. Again and again. I think I made my boy proud.

Yum Yum Ice cream

We grew up going to Yum Yum's in Greensboro, NC. We went every time we went to see my grandparents. My mom grew up going there and went all through college while she was at UNCG. 

As an adult I rarely pass through Greensboro without stopping here. It is without a doubt the best ice cream ever. Even more than that, it is full of good memories and happy times. I walk into the restaurant which hasn't changed in years and I am taken back to sitting there with my grandparents. When older people walk in, which a lot do, it is as if part of my grandparents walk in with them. I love this place. Love it. 

Enjoying the ice cream. We had already eaten the bright red hot dogs.

 I love ice cream. I'll share most anything with my family, but not my ice cream. Brett learned this early in our marriage. I want my own ice cream and I want to enjoy every.single.bite. Thankfully, Brett has taken on his responsibility well. He looks after all the kids while they eat their ice cream so that I can enjoy mine in peace. :)

Our first camping trip

The other weekend we went camping with Brett's friend from med school and her family. Tory and Karl drove down from Va, planned where we were to camp, and brought a tent and all the sleeping bags for us as well as lots of food, cooking utensils, etc. So basically they did all the work and we just showed up. Since I'm not a camper and wouldn't have the slightest idea what all I even needed to bring, this was a huge help. We camped at Falls Lake which was nice. Our campsite was right on the water which made it even cooler.

The boys were thrilled to camp. At least the idea of it. :) Dawson said he liked the camping until we had to sleep in the tent. :) Amen to that. The boys actually slept incredibly well despite there being thunderstorms during the night. It was I who was up a lot, not because of the rain necessarily but because I was sleeping outside in a tent. It doesn't take much to make me a light sleeper. Regardless of that, we had a fun time and are truly grateful for Karl and Tory to have done all the work and allowed us to tag along.

First camping trip: Success!

                           Swimming right by our campsite, which Brett told me later we weren't supposed to do.

This beautiful butterfly was hanging around our campsite. It was huge. Amazing that it comes from a caterpillar.

Just my boy. Nothing to do with camping really except they were taken while we were there.

Chick-fil-a Cow day

We were around this year from the free meals if you dress like a cow day at Chick-fil-a. It was really so much fun. I didn't have a lot so we just made our stuff out of paper. I kind of think it made it cuter. :)

showing off their tails

here they look like the bad cows (in reality I think they are mooing)

on the way to Chick-fil-a. Yes, there are a lot of pictures but the boys were just so cute all dressed up, I couldn't resist.

This is all we got for free. We were dumbfounded. We kept asking, "what can we get?" and "you really mean anything?" It was amazing! We had a great time!

They wanted to be with the cow again before we left.

Kenan worked really hard on his outfit so that he could get a free milkshake. I never told him I paid for it because I got it at the end of the meal and it wasn't an entree but I couldn't resist since he was so intent on earning his milkshake. I think he only drank a few sips but I didn't care. It was precious (and then I got to enjoy the rest!) :)

 After Chick-fil-a we headed to Starbucks where they were giving out free refresher drinks in the afternoon. One is hibiscus which is what we call "da" in Mali. The kids LOVE this drink. Starbucks, however, was really weak compared to how we drink it in Mali. Regardless, it must have brought good memories for Silas because he drank a good bit of it.

America is a fun place, I tell you. Amazing all the things you can get for free!