Monday, 3 May 2010

Quotes from the boys

So the boys have said some funny things in route to America and since we've been home. I guess I didn't realize how many things they wouldn't recognize or know about. So here are a few of the comments or situations we've laughed about...

On the plane we were served our meal with a piece of cake that was cold. Kenan looks at Brett and says, " Me want it warm. Them have a microwave?"

Once we arrived in Dulles airport, we were walking toward Customs. We had to go down escalators. I went with Silas without thinking and then hear Dawson screaming bloody murder. Both he and Kenan were terrified of the escalators and would only go up and down the stairs.

As we were about to board our last flight to Raleigh, Dawson was standing beside a quite buff man with earrings. He loudly asks Brett, "why does that man have those girl's things in his ears?" A few days later he saw a guy with long hair and proceeded to ask, again in front of the person, why he had long hair like a girl.

On arriving in Raleigh, Dawson hugs Grandma and proceeds to tell her with extreme excitement that everyone on the planes "talked like we do!" (Most of the time we take French airlines so they speak French, not English.)

Dawson also was excited when he went to my mom's preschool one day and there was an African American girl in the class. He came home saying, "there was a black girl in the class but she spoke like we did. I'm REALLY serious. I'm not lying."

The first time we tried to give Dawson water to drink from the sink, he yelled, "That's not for drinking!" (We can't drink from our sink in Mali, it has to go through a filter)

Kenan was scared to death of the toilet at my parent's house. He said it had too much water in it. He had several accidents the first few days home because he was so afraid of it. They also didn't know how to flush the toilet since in Mali, you pull the lever up in the center of the top part of the toilet, not push down on the side.

Kenan has enjoyed eating many new things while home. He didn't know what bacon, celery, or grapes were.

Dawson wanted popcorn. We told him it was on the table in the bag to which he replied- "No Reeaaalll popcorn." (meaning, popped on the stove) Another time they asked when they saw the popcorn bag "it's in a popping bag??"

On seeing snow on the tv, D commented "Oh, it's cold season" and was unable to come up with the word winter. He later said after a short rain one afternoon, "it's the end of rainy season!" (we call it hot season, rainy season, and cold season in Mali)

We are now down in Florida visiting Brett's mom. We went to the beach with the boys. When he saw the beach he said, "wow, it's big." Kenan said, "the water is all soapy!"

We were admiring worms that were crawling on the ground. Both boys got really scared. We told them that worms can't hurt you. Dawson looks up and says, "yes they can. they can get in your belly and eat you." We told him that they weren't those kind of worms to which he insisted "well then they can crawl into your skin." We have to teach them that parasite worms are so small you can't see them.

This one is actually from last home assignment when we taught the boys what a pine cone was. Later we passed a mushroom and asked, what's this? To which Dawson replied, "I don't know...maybe a pine cone or something."

And then two which aren't really related to the transition but to Dawson's desire to not wear clothes. When we got our pig right before leaving, our friend Jake was over. D looked at him and said, "I think I need to take off all my clothes so that the pig will come to me."

While home playing Frisbee with Brett, he said he was tired. Then he proceeded to take off his clothes and reported, "ok, I'm not tired anymore. We can still play."

And one sweet comment from Kenan.... the other day I was singing the song with the lines "I am thirsty for more of you, I am thirsty, O Jesus, I am thirsty for more of you." Kenan looks at me and says, "I'll share my water with you." I said no thanks. He looks at me and says "But you thirsty."







Sunday, 2 May 2010

We are back in the States

We are back in the States and have been for a month now. We are here until July. It's been great to be back and see family. Thought I should post some pictures since it has been awhile.


Our night guard gave Silas this outfit the day we left Mali. So he wore it with pride. It's crazy to look at these pictures now because everything looks so dry and dirty. Somehow we don't see it (as much) when we are there but a few weeks away and the difference is amazing. I keep telling Brett I don't know why I give the boys baths here because I can't see any dirt come off and the water is always clear when they are done. In Mali, the water is brown by the end- usually after only one boy is in it. You see the difference a bath makes. Anyway...

On our way home, our flights went through Dakar, Senegal. We got to see friends there that we were in language school, which was quite fun. Aaron was Dawson's best bud in France. They have three boys as well so it was a fun time.


The night after our flight. The boys were worn out.

They enjoyed the next morning and all the fun things to eat at breakfast.

Everyone loves toast! (We can't get loaf bread there so toast is a treat)


Dawson is actually eating grits on his toast!

Dawson's birthday was right before we left but he wanted his party at Grandma's. We had a Spiderman party. Our friend, Becky, made the cake. Isn't it amazing?

My FIVE year old!

The pinata.




More pictures to come!

Sunday, 28 March 2010

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.

Saturday, 27 March 2010

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!

Sunday, 21 March 2010

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.


Monday, 8 March 2010

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.