Just FYI...

My computer is down (still) and my husband and son will be leaving to go to a summer camp many hours away (taking his computer)....so I may not be able to get online for a week. And THEN...we have some visitors from across the pond (your side) who will be here for another week and THEN we will be vacationing. So...don't worry about me. Good times are ahead. I'll stop in when I can. I'll miss you. :)

Just a slip of the tongue...

OK....so at 7 the Princess is beyond the cute little mispronounced words... like "Scusty" for disgusting...and "Nassy B" for nasty.

But we're still in the "I'm going to say what I heard (or read)" phase...

1.) So...yesterday she asked, "Can I watch that Princess Diarrhea Movie?"
YES.
We laughed out loud! Then we told her what the correct word was...her response was "OHHH...I didn't know."

2.) The other day she came out of the bathroom after having just been in there for a length of time and her Dad, worried that something might be wrong, asked her about it. She said, "Oh. My stomach had a crap, but I'm OK now."
Dad said, "what?"
She then realized she has misspoken and said, "nothing."
Dad inquired, "Did you mean 'cramp'?"
"Oh. Yeah, that's it, a cramp. But I'm OK now."

3.) While the King was playing Wii golf with the Prince she hollered out, "Go Dad, get a Boogie!" She meant Bogey. LOL.

4.) While I was doing dishes in the kitchen, she was playing Wii fish...she was sitting prim and proper on a chair in front of the TV trying DESPARATELY to get the bonus fish...the next thing I heard was, "BITE ME! BITE ME!" I came QUICKLY into the room to see what she was doing. Naturally, that's not something we say, but she was so innocent of it that I let it go. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me. :)

5.) There is one more that I can recall but it might offend...so I won't share. If you think you can handle it and still want to know...email me. Her innocence is priceless.

There are others that I can't recall right now, but we get an almost daily dose. Because she is reading chapter books and learning new words all the time, she tries out some of the words she's reading. Some words are correct and some are just hilarious!

...just thought I'd share. BTW, if my kids ever become faithful readers of my blog...I'll be out of stuff to write!

Here's a funny about the Prince...
As his mom, I don't want him slouching..it's bad posture and bad for him. Anyway. I'm always telling him to sit up or stand up straight. Well...the other day when I said it...I noticed his pectoral muscles begin to stand out...SOOOO...I told him. "When you stand up straight your pecs are more pronounced"....Yep. That's ALL it took. I saw it register on his face and I watched him stand EVEN straighter. Naturally, I couldn't help but point out to him that he only took my motherly advice when the benefit was looking more macho. LOL. Then, later when I was telling the King about it, he naturally laughed and said, "you mean his 'pequenos'(pay cane yos-Spanish for little)." Poor kid...can't catch a break! Another chuckle at his expense. What will we do if he goes to boarding school? What did we do for entertainment before he/they came along?!! Life must have been boring.

Just for fun...

We recently purchased a new appliance and this was the BONUS gift. I really didn't know what I thought about it at first...now I think it's funny. In the states, I probably would have politely declined it. But here...it's a specialty item proudly displayed. Gotta love it.

A glimpse at this week

The poor Prince has been sick...so sick that he doesn't realize he's wrapped in a PINK blanket. He would never!!! We've been pumping him full of liquids...which includes Gatorade we recently found.


In the middle of the week a care package arrived containing lots of goodies for all.
This Reader's Digest DVD series is right up our alley. The Prince used to love watching the History Channel. Also, notice in the above pics...he's holding SOUR SKITTLES. His first day of being able to swallow without pain and he asked for them. Luckily they came in the package!

The Princess received this darling purse and the necklace which has multiple charms to change with your mood.

She had to model...of course.


The Prince is on the mend. Care package gratefully received. Lots of piano being played at our house. You should come visit!

Are YOU smarter than a 5th grader!?

A family dear to us sent this game to us to help facilitate family time. Have you ever played it? I've taught every grade from 2-7 and I've taught advanced classes...some of the questions that said they were 1st grade really blew me away! We discovered this game is a SURE FIRE way to humble ourselves AND each other! But we love it. It's not easy to find things that both a 7 year old and a 14 year old enjoy. But this is one. Thanks D family! We love it!

BTW...I'm not in the pic, obviously, because I'm taking it...but thanks to those of you remembering that I have a tripod and remote control to my camera. I will TRY to be in more pics. Nice to know I'm missed. No promises, though. There is much to this camera I haven't figured out, yet. But I love summer because I make huge lists of things to accomplish while school is out and...maybe 3 things get done! Maybe this will be one of them!

Sesil.

Sesil needed a bath and we don't have dryers, remember?

Just hanging...the Princess thought this was cruel and unusual punishment...we had to change her perspective. This is the wind blowing you in the breeze...taking a nap while you're freshly washed...enjoying a little alone time. She bought it...but very slowly.

Then she took my hand towel and wrapped Sesil snuggly and placed him/her (depending on the day) in my fruit holder while she listened to her Daddy sing.



If Sesil didn't appear to have a smiling face...I'd think he was hollering to help him and get him out of there...he must not be claustrophobic!

Smile...

The Princess LOVES to wear her daddy's t-shirts...she asked him if she could sleep in this one. See how long it is? Those are capri Pj's peeking out the bottom. Also, on National Children's Day...she received this HUGE bunny which she promptly named "Chubby Bunny" after a game the Prince has told us about from Youth Group. This picture is taken from my right and the next one is from my left. A nice view from any angle...




We've joked about the crows feet that have appeared (can't even see them in this pic)...but all I see are SMILING EYES. Love those eyes. :)

Teamwork...

The King purchased this drafting table to use while studying since he doesn't have a desk...

...he had help putting it together....

...WHO is reading the directions and WHO has the Master's degree?...

Live entertainment...I'm afraid that was about all he contributed on this one...

For fun...

This is as close to one fluid motion as I could get. What will he do when she's too big to toss over his shoulder? I guess we'll see because it is quickly approaching.

Thanks Bev.

When we decided to take this journey around the world, there were those who wanted us to "count the cost" and be sure. We were. We are. These are some of the moments we knew would probably come and hoped we wouldn't have to deal with. When our hearts SO long for home...but can't be there.

My sweet friend emailed to tell us about the memorial service for which we would loved to have been in attendance. It was a packed church, of course. She was/is much loved. But one sweet surprise we didn't know about...the King sang (smile). One of the blessings of a digital age. (We've recorded many different things...some professionally done and others, for family and friends, not so professionally done. If you didn't know, we are a musical family...and the King is the MOST talented...so far...we'll see what about his offspring...smile.)
This one he sang with a quartet and it is one of my favorites and I'm sure my friend was singing it with the angels..."Oh, What a Savior!"

The song is " What a Savior".

Once I was straying in sin's dark valley,
No hope within could I see,
I searched Thru heaven and found a Savior,
To save a poor lost sould like me

Chorus
Oh what a Savior! Oh Hallelujah
His heart was broken on Calvary,
His hands we nail scared: His side was riven,
He gave his life blood for you and me

Death's chilly waters I'll soon be crossing,
His hands will lead me safe o're
I'll join the chorus in that great city,
And sing up there for ever more

Chorus
Oh what a Savior! Oh Hallelujah
His heart was broken on Calvary,
His hands we nail scared: His side was riven,
He gave his life blood for EVEN me



Amen.

Sad...

I know many of you are wondering where I am...

My dear friend lost her earthly battle with cancer and is now in the presence of our Lord and Savior. Although I would not wish her back, I'm terribly sad for the loss. She has two precious boys (11 and 15) that are like my own, and a dear husband. In her own special ways, she impacted many. The loss will be felt by many for a long time.

So, although there is much to say...I just don't want to say much right now.

Just lift up the family. The memorial service is Friday.

Miss you, true friend.

TKD...Green belt test

Not a great pic...but it's his silhouette in the middle of his test

The Princess patiently waiting...

MKRH watching...The King watching....um, TV...just briefly. :)

Push ups on his fists (he's in the middle of the pic). Impressive.

The test took 3 hours and he nearly passed out towards the end...heat and no water. We still have to prove that he was a yellow with green stripe in the states (paperwork we didn't bring), but he passed the test to green belt. Yeah, Prince!

The word for the week..."Wow."

We had a fabulous week :)

I was sad to see them leave, but have learned that a thankful heart is a happy heart(thanks VeggieTales!)and am focusing on that.

We teased her a little bit because with every new thing she saw she said, "Wow," and by the end of the week we were all saying, "Wow."

We took a ton of pictures on her camera and then realized that we didn't have capabilities to transfer them to my computer. So...until she gets home and can send them back to me...I have a few pics on my camera to share. The first ones are at the airport and the Prince took them...



This is for BOH who likes Napoleon Dynamite and because the King can't help himself...he's entertaining. We love that about him.


Here she is in my LIVING ROOM across the world!!!

And ED, too. Hi ED.


The Princess wanted to take pictures...

When jet lag kicked in the Princess would read her to sleep. How sweet. :)

A self portrait...

Bye, for now, sweet friend. Thanks for coming. You gave me sweet memories for those BCDays when I'm homesick. Love you more than you'll ever know.

Thank you Lord for these and for the fact that you created us as relational creatures. You are so good to me.