Beijing?

Thought we would give a little update on our not so little family (that is compared to all of you-the third child has made all the difference). I guess I wanted to do it today because we went to James kindergarten class today to have him ‘assessed.’ They get to spend 20 minutes alone with the teacher before next week when they get on the bus and drive away only to leave their moms completely devastated in their absence. James tries to comfort me when I’m feeling blue about the big event by saying, “its only 20 years mom!” Well anyway, Mrs. Cullimore took us into the room and started to explain the cubbyhole/coats and backpack business. As she explained she kept stopping to ask James to please pay attention! “Now James—right here—James! This is important!” She ended her 5 minute speech with a sigh as if to say “Here is another ADD child, they just put too many in class this year.” Now the whole room just took James by surprise (he hasn’t been to any preschools or anywhere really decorated for a child like this) and he just had to read every sign, and name and bulletin board he could get his eyes on. If you didn’t know this is what he was doing, I suppose you would think him a little, well, slow. So she gets to the ‘test’ part where she asks him questions about colors, and shapes, and finally letters. As he gave her the letters and sounds (and in some cases, like G, both sounds). She started to change her opinion about him. So she asked if he could read some words. “Oh, easy. I read a level 2.” Now she was starting to chuckle. She gave him a simple book and pointed to every word so he read slow and choppy. Then she asked him about what happened in the book. She went to a harder book and again pointed out every word. He comprehended again. She got a longer book and this time asked if he could read it himself, which he did quickly. “So, where did they look for the hat?” “In the closet, the drawer, under the stove, and by the couch, I think those four.” (it was in fact these places) “So James, where did they find the hat?” “Didn’t I already say under the stove?” She took a deep breath and said “Well James! Very good. Now I guess do you have any questions for me? “ James thought, “hmm….yes! What is the capitol of China?” It was said so earnestly his teacher and I just busted up laughing. “Okay,” I thought, “now she’s really met James”. To James disappointment neither Mrs. Cullimore nor his mom knows the capitol of China. She sent him to check out the classroom stations and told me she tested him as reading on a level 8 which means little to me except I’m glad James didn’t hear her say it or he would have to correct himself for all the people he told he reads on level 2 (which is bad enough!). I’m just going to miss him. The other day I asked if he wanted to go on a bike ride with us. “Cant. I have a flat tire.” “Oh, you could ride your scooter or something!” He brightened up immediately, “Oh! You mean a mixed traffic ride? Sure!”

Sam is a whole different story. We often refer to him (lovingly) as our dumb jock. His questions go something more along the lines of “Mommy? Where is the TOY in TOILET?” Luke doesn’t have a hard time answering that one. Sam has a recent obsession with (I’m sorry to say) Satan. The good side of it is, he is always trying to find ways of killing him. Whether it be by chasing him down with a gun and blasting him, or not telling Satan (although he swears he would tell all his friends) not to touch the furnace in the basement so he would get electrocuted-there is a way to kill him. Last week as I was baking pizza he told us “when Satan comes I just going push him in the oven and let him BURN UP!” James snickers, “Yea right Sam, except Satan doesn’t even have a body.” “Yea, he doesn’t have a body, only feet and a head!” Generally at the end of the night Sam will say, “Mommy, I love you. I love everyone in the whole world…except Satan. I HATE him.” That’s the other thing about Sam now, he moved into a brief time period around the age of 4 when he is head over heals for his mommy. This is my favorite, naturally, who wouldn’t want to be constantly showered with love? James was a bit more poetic at this stage, but Sam is so sweet when we have the “I love you wars” at Walmart the other night, after loving each other to as high as he can count, maybe 6, I said “I love you infinity” He says “I love you all over! Everywhere!” He will often express his love with songs. After serenading me with a primary song something like “l like to look for rainbows” and granted, he misses a few lines and a lot of notes, I will say “Oh Sam that was so cute!” Sam grins widely and James says under his breath “It may be cute, but not necessarily RIGHT!”

Luke is walking this week and also taking only one short nap. For this reason I don’t want to dwell on him as I don’t have the kindest things to say. I will say that if you haven’t been around him all day he looks, and acts, adorable.

I am at present getting used to being in Young Womens, hanging out with beehives once a week. I have had just the right amount of photography business this month and am quickly getting booked for the fall. I garden when the boys are outside now, and I now have a hollyhock in bloom, and some forget-me-nots and bells of Ireland just bloomed from seed in my garden. These are the things that keep me happy. Since I can’t keep a house clean, I can always go outside where things look in order.

Josh has been training for a triathlon he’s competing in September. I keep telling him if he would train as much as he reads on the internet about training he would for sure have a chance at the win. James asked him the other day if he shaves the sides of his head. No. Oh, has it always been like that? No. “Well dad, I think it looks very….professional. You look like a triathlete.” At least Josh will have one fan.

Sorry this was so long, and I know I can’t spell or punctuate correctly. Have a great day! Alisa