G-E-N-I-U-S

Jack and Charlie are becoming great readers.  Tonight, sounding out letters and their sounds seemed to just finally click for Jack.  The light bulb went on for Charlie about a week ago.  It was so much fun to see the joy in Jack's eyes as words started making sense.  After I complimented him on his skills he looked at me in all seriousness and said, "I'm a reading genius."

Goodnight my boys!

Bad Mom..Bad, Bad Mom

Today, we rushed to get out the door at 7:28...3 minutes later than usual but still in time to make it to school without any tardies.  We picked up Shari (so we could go spinning right after drop-off).  Then, about 4 minutes and a lot of traffic into the drive, I noticed Brad's car keys sitting in my seat next to me.  YIKES!

We had to turn around..The kids were so angry at me, knowing they were now going to be late for school.  I thought of everything to help them realize that things could be so much worse.  When we got back to the house I told Brad it may be time to find a different mother for the kids..ha ha.

We went on our way again to school.  I sang karaoke songs about being late and it's OK...what ever I could think of to try to make the kids smile, laugh and forgive me.  Charlie was quick...right away he said, "It's OK Mom."

The other 3 were stone cold!  Are these the compassionate, understanding children I am raising?  What if I had REALLY done SOMETHING UNFORGIVABLE? 

We got all the way to the school with nothing from Sam, Cairo and Jack.  They got out of the car and in spite of my well wishes for a great day walked straight ahead into the gate..

So, I got out of the car, as a joke of course, got down on my knees and started BEGGING FORGIVENESS.  Hoping for one last laugh before they went into school 12 minutes late.  I got nothing but strange, concerned smiles from the security guards.  

Then, I realized Charlie was still in the car, crying!  I went to him and asked what was wrong.  He hugged me so tight and begged me to pick him up from school...NOT A NEW MOM!  I felt awful.  He hadn't realized the joke.  After all that.  I walked him into class and assured him again and again that I would always be his Mom and that even if I really made a mistake that was unforgivable I hoped he would always want me to be his Mom.  

All was well by 3:10 when I arrived to pick up the kids.  They were all smiles.  After looking them over really closely, I commented that their teachers hadn't even beaten them or taken a limb as penance..What a day in the life.

Cairo the Student

Cairo studies so hard.  She is in the school play so on Sundays after school she has rehearsal until 5 then comes right home to do her reading, spelling and math homework.  She is such a committed student.  Today, as she was writing her reading summaries I decided I needed to remember her this way.  She enjoys studying with me.  She likes the one-on-one time..So do I.

Fox in Socks

This has to be one of the cutest drawings Jack has ever done.  I saw it today in his school bag and had to scan it in to be saved forever.  I love the spiky hair on the fox, the smiling face and the blue socks.  It looks a lot like Jack.

Legish, Anu and Alan Pay Us a Visit

My favorite Spinney's buddy, Legish has his wife and baby in town for a month to see him.  Shari, Cairo and I were thrilled they came over to visit us.  Is this a cute family, or what?

Tribute to Charlie

He is just so cute in these photos I had to blog them..All the kids are getting big so fast.  And they are all so adorable...Charlie just happened to be friends with the Nikon this week.

2 Friends...2 Birthdays..2 Much Fun!

Molly's birthday is today, February 19th..Jenn West hosted a great lunch for a group of Molly fans.  We had good laughs..fabulous food and great company.  Molly has improved all of our lives in one way or another.  I have to pay tribute to her for helping me to LOVE spinning.  I had done it before but NOBODY teaches or motivates like Molly does.  She is my dear friend, my inspiration in the gym and I aspire to learn to bake like she does!  Making the dessert for her luncheon today was as intimidating as teaching a spin class to the same people who are used to Molly's instruction, DAUNTING!

Dana's birthday was earlier in the month.  We had a day at the spa getting mani's and pedi's then had a great lunch at the mall.  It was so much fun to fill up the entire salon with friends.  I owe my peace of mind to Dana.  After moving here less than 2 years ago between her two children she has experienced 3 broken bones.  When Charlie broke his leg I knew Dana would be a great source of information and suggestions.  Thanks Dana.

I didn't even notice it at the time but this pic shows Ross from Friends even phoned in a Birthday wish to Dana as she enjoyed her latte.

100 Days of School

Pancake Wishes and Maple Syrup Dreams...

A family favorite is pancakes with homemade maple syrup.  The pancakes we all love are easily made with Red Rose Flour.  The difficult part is getting the flour.  It comes from my home town of Logan, Utah.  Even when we lived in Utah we would have to remember to ask Bobbi to bring some to us in Provo whenever we were running low.  A tradition whenever we stay at Bobbi's house is to have wonderful buttermilk pancakes for breakfast in the mornings.  Living here makes getting the flour nearly impossible.  I always bring back one bag after each summer so we really use it sparingly...I have to admit, I even forget about it.

The other day Jack asked if we could have pancakes for breakfast the next morning.  When I said we could if I had time to make them he suggested I just make them while I am still in my jammies because that's what Bobbi does.  He made it sound so easy I thought I would even wear my jammies that remind him of Bobbi and make sure I woke early enough to make his pancake wishes come true.  He was thrilled..and he even noticed I had my "Bobbi jammies" on.

Sam even included his Commander Cody in the pancake breakfast..I think he looooved the special breakfast too.

Valentine's Day 2009

Field Day at ACS

6 Weeks to Recovery

6 weeks after his accident Charlie finally got his cast removed.  He still walks with quite a limp but we are hoping all is normal and he will soon be running around again.  He got the cast off the same day as field day at school so he didn't really participate but had lots of fun watching the other kids.

It felt so good for him to get into a bath and get his leg scrubbed.  He has never been so excited to get into the tub.

100 Days and Counting

Tomorrow is the 100th day of this school year at ACS. It is hard to believe the kids have helped pack their lunches and backpacks, brushed their teeth and spiked their hair 100 times since summer ended. They have laughed, argued and listened to their favorite songs in Big Red as we have made our way across the island we call home: Abu Dhabi.
The school will celebrate by having the kids enter the gate through a big 100 with one of the "0's" serving as the opening. The kids are each supposed to bring 100 pieces of something to class. This is a BIG DEAL.
Cairo is taking 100 m&m's and Jack and Charlie are each taking 100 Craisins. Sam's 4th grade class must have outgrown the 100 items thing because he isn't taking anything but his spaghetti sandwich (his lunch everyday) and his homework, like always.
I've been slacking on the blog lately in spite of the many things that have happened in our lives since the last post on February 1st..Charlie's cast is off. He is wearing his Heely's (without the wheels for two more weeks!). The kids had field day at school. It is held in February here, before the weather gets too hot. We had a great Valentine's day dinner as a family and I received the best gift I could ask for from my valentine, a love letter. All is good here...The camels are training for the big final races that begin on the 22nd of March..Come one, come all. This day will be one to remember...AND that same week...ColdPlay, in concert at the Emirate's Palace outside on the beach..We do lead a great life. I'm happy everyday and couldn't ask for more fun, better friends or a more incredible family..

Oh, AND SHARI IS FINALLY BACK FROM HER CHRISTMAS BREAK.  (What month is it???)

Just kidding, she has been freezing in Montana, taking care of her ailing mother.  We are so happy she was able to come back and spend some time in the sun, having fun with us!

Salalah

Brad returned with some great photos and good memories of Salalah, Oman.  

Charlie Graduates to a Short Cast

Charlie's leg is getting better all the time.  We went 2 weeks between appointments this time and the bones had made progress.  He had too.  Charlie had nearly worn holes in the bottom of his cast because he was walking all over the place in that thigh-high green monster.  Two weeks was pushing the limit on foot odor for a cast so we were happy to get it off, have and x-ray and move into a shorter, walking cast.  They also threw in a boot to protect the bottom of the cast this time.

Jack has been such a great helper for Charlie.  He is anxious to help push him around the school in the borrowed stroller that takes him from building to building.  As a celebration for the new walking cast we went to the mall and got Charlie the Heely's he has been longing for.  He still cannot wear them but he can now look and them and dream of weeks to come.  He has returned Jack's kindness by allowing Jack to wear the NEW Heely's, even before he gets to break them in.  What a generous guy!  He wins the award in the family this week for being SELFLESS.