Too Picky/Literal/Something Jacob

Jacob: Mom, can me and Anderson got swimming in the back yard?

Mom: Sure.

(they run off up the stairs to change clothes)

Jacob to Anderson: See, I told you she wouldn’t say yes.

Anderson: It’s still the same as a yes.

 

I guess when my kids complain that I never let them do “stuff” and I never say “yes” they might be correct? I just can’t please ‘em somedays.

 

Self Confident Kids

My house isn’t usually the favorite place to play. Most kids choose to play at their houses and my kids are happy to get outta jail here. Here is the conversation on the way home from Pre-K today with Jacob and his best friend Anderson.

 

Anderson, do you want to go home to Jacob’s house or to your own house with Susan?

Jacob’s house!

But mom, he came to my house yesterday.

I know but today he can still come play at our house if he wants.

That’s not fair.

Did you know that I’m the luckiest mom in the WHOOOOOOOLE country of Singapore today?

Why?
Because I get to have Anderson come to MY house two times in a row.

(giggles from Anderson)

Oh yeah, well Ms. Jennifer is the most luckiest one in the whole world. Do you know why?

Why?
Because she got to have ME come to her house FOUR DAYS IN A ROW!! She’s so lucky.

 

Dinner Discussion

There is a new Lego movie out in theaters and I had thought of taking the kids tomorrow night. Something else was already scheduled so Jacob was disappointed and yelled out, "Let's put it on the To Do list!" Brian and I are certifiable boring if we have kids saying stuff like that. 

Discussion turned to the medical exam everyone has to do before we go to Saudi and they weren't feeling so good about the idea of the shots they have to get. We asked Ashlyn if she wants shots and she said yes so we asked what else she wants in Saudi and she wants a banana. We promise if she will get her shots she can have a Saudi banana. 

Shopping for hand bags

Ashlyn found some handbags she really likes. Mom didn't have quite so much luck but it was fun shopping with my little side kick and her daddy.

Expat Living

Saw this quote today and it made me feel thoughtful and kind of introspective today with myself as we spend our last days with Brian and we anticipate our departure from this wonderful place we have carved a life out here in Singapore.

"You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness and of loving and knowing people in more than one place." www.Girlgi.com

Jacob Soccer

Thanks Coach Laura Goughnour and Coach Bailey Daynes for making soccer fun. Jacob is so excited he slept with his soccer socks on tonight so he would be ready in the morning. This from the kid that whined and whined and was very angry that I had even dared sign him up to play.

Saudi Culture Prep

Long story short, my Christmas tree is still up and decorated in the living room waiting for my attention. Brian is in Saudi now and we are essentially apart us until June / September. He will visit us Friday this week for a few weeks before he moves permanently and I thought it would be funny to take off the Christmas decor and decorate with red hearts and white snowflakes to surprise him for a wintery valentines say tree. The time and effort of cutting all that paper into fancy shapes had stopped me though. Then a friend told me to ask at school to use the die cutter. For a week I have put off doing it and today I decided was the day. I gathered the paper and got permission to do it and was told to help myself to the work room area.

I took Jacob and a neighbor I was picking up to the room and as I opened the door I startled one if the teaching aides dressed in all white, obviously preparing for prayers. Sita is a wonderful, sweet woman I have bumped shoulders with for three years nearly daily. She gave me a warm smile and asked if I needed the room. I told her I could come back later and she invited me to enter as long as her prayers wouldn't bother me. I felt awkward like I was intruding but came in and got the two kids set down at the table in the very small room and instantly my mind was seized by the opportunity placed before me.

Jacob is a very shy little guy and anything he hasn't seen before really does frighten him. Here we were with Sita and the chance to ask simple Jacob sized questions about Muslim worship and prayer time. I quickly explained to Sita that Jacob was moving to Saudi Arabia so I wanted to have him understand what she was doing and told him that she was going to do her prayers now. She asked a question or two of me and him and proceeded with her prayers. While I began silently working the die cut machine and the children observed her prayer time ritual. 

When she finished a few short minutes later the kids had been perfectly respectful and quiet which was a real surprise because those things are not what either of those two are known for. It was wonderful Jacob could see a friend doing the things he will be surrounded with in short order and I hope that it makes it seem just a little more normal to him knowing he has a friend that does the same thing five times a day in his very own school here in Singapore.

Ben and I had a nice time decorating the valentines tree one afternoon together.