how come they sound the same

So we've discovered a lunch place that we all love, mainly because they hand out toys to the kids to keep them occupied through the meal. An additional plus, J polished off all his pizza and E her pasta carbonara.

At the end of the meal, we were give some vouchers to use on our next visit. J was listening to us talk about the vouchers, and piped in with great alarm in his voice, "Vultures? Like the big bird?"

the things my firstborn says

I am so CONFUSED, Dad!
As K slows down almost to a stop at a red light, and then picks up speed again because light changes to green.

I am covered all over with fleas!!
After we explain that fleas make cats and dogs itch. (It's a daily battle with eczema since moving back home.)

Emma, that was a big fart!
When they're in separate cubicles in a public restroom. And it wasn't even her!

funny faces

good news

Noah's CT scan came back with no abnormalities! His pediatrician says that's good news!

We are past one hurdle. Next week, we have his hearing and vision test scheduled. One hurdle at a time.

Otherwise he seems to be doing really well. His doctor says that he's a little on the small side, but he's feeding okay. He puts up with rough displays of affection from his two older siblings - quite the trooper.

In other news, J came back home from school singing an S Club 7 song yesterday: "... individuality... Don't stop, never give up, hold your head high and reach for the top". Complete with dance moves. Cracked us up. Over and over again. Once again, I am reminded on how fast he's growing up.

This morning he declared, "I'm okay with school." There's an answer to prayer right there!

chamomile tea

There are conversations that happen every once in a while that need to be recorded for posterity. I just had one of these conversations.

J: What did you just say, Mom?

Me: I asked dad to make some chamomile tea.

Pause.

J: You're drinking MRTs?

Me: Huh? No, I'm not drinking MRTs. Cha-mo-mile tea.

J: Oh. There are camels on the MRT going underground?

monster story

God blessed the kids at school today with a birthday party. They were fit to burst when I picked them up. J had barely stepped out of the door before he started ripping into his backpack for the birthday goodie bag to show me. They went on and on about their goodie bags and the birthday cake!

I was happy to see them happy.

Later, J told me that he did "monster story work" in school today. It took me more than a few minutes to understand that he meant montessori work.

bug a-crawling

We saw a bug a-crawling on our evening walk yesterday, which led to a little debate over what kind of bug it was.

K: It's a worm.

J: No, dad! It has legs... Worms don't have legs...

We think now that it was a little caterpillar.

daily bread

For a few weeks now, we have been saying the Lord's prayer with our kids just before bed. Long enough for E to ask to say it and for J to remember key phrases like our daily bread.

This morning the kids had Sunshine bread's chocolate cream roll for breakfast. Naturally it was a hit.

J turned to me and said, "Mom, this is my daily bread."

LOL.

learning chinese

I've been really lousy about exposing J and E to Chinese. It's been so convenient being able to speak it to K when we don't want them to understand what we're talking about! But gradually, J's picking up some of the language.

At bedtime just now:

J: Mom, how to say no in chinese?

Me: Bu yao.

J: Mom, bu yao... (points to his bedroom...)

Four years on, he still fights his bedtime.