Free Will

After Church we went to the mall and were looking for dresses for Rose. Each one we passed, Naomi said "I want this one". She started getting upset when I said "no" every time! Eventually after picking some for Rose to try on we do get around to looking for one for Naomi too. The one I really liked she threw a strop about and said "It's not pretty enough". Steve started laughing. So we picked up the one she liked and the one I liked and, of course, when she tried them on she liked both!

So we had to find a bathroom for the girls to change into their new dresses. Naomi's has two pockets and she puts her hands in and swings and flounces her skirt around as we are walking.

We usually buy ice-creams from McD's for the kids when we have finished shopping if they've eaten all their lunch. So I ask what everyone wants and Rose and Naomi want vanilla cones and Josh wants a caramel sundae. So Rose and I go and get the ice creams and when we get to where the other three are waiting, Naomi puts her head on her arms on the table and weeps buckets because she wanted "the other one" - a sundae like Josh. After Steve has eaten most of Naomi's ice-cream, she decides she does want it and merrily eats the rest!

Lastly, as we are riding home in the car Naomi shouts "turn this music off!". We tell her we will not and when the next song comes on Naomi says "Turn this song off. This is a stupid song".

It makes me wonder how often I cause God to feel sad - or even fall about laughing - from my petulant exercise of free will. It also makes me realise what an amazing gift free will is.

Fire Hazard

Joshua found the candle surround he made at preschool today so we lit a candle and put it inside. He asked me if he could have it in his bedroom tonight and I said, "No way!" We have bars on every window and if there was a fire upstairs it would be difficult to escape. In fact, the US ambassador's daughter died in a house fire for that reason about 3 years ago.

It started me thinking though - do bars make us "safe"? They are there to deter burglars but I wonder if they don't, in fact, go some way to create the problem. Do they suggest we think we have something worth stealing? Do they create a sense of have and have-nots?

There is one house close to us that has a completely open access front - like a typical house in England - and it always makes me pause when I pass it on our walks with the kids. What kind of message is it sending? That the owners don't consider the property or occupants valuable or that at some point they got fed up of living behind tall gates and walls?

Vanilla

Today we were having a conversation about when we moved to this house because Josh claims he can remember "moving in the van". I say, "Well, you weren't actually born when we moved to this house so you probably mean when we arrived back from England and got in the van from the airport".

Josh: "No, I remember both"!! Then the conversation takes a turn when Rose asks, "Do you know where we are?"

Josh: "Brookside" (our subdivison).

Rose: "No."

Me: "Yes. Josh is right. This is Brookside."

Rose: "No. I mean what country."

Josh: "Vanilla".

Me: "You mean Manila. Vanilla is a flavour of ice-cream." (I didn't even follow up the fact that Manila is the city and not the country we live in!) There follows some practising by Rose and Joshua of saying Manila but more often than not it still comes out as Vanilla. Then Josh says, "There's a vanilla in the Bible." I can't wait for the explanation so I say "Really?"

Josh: "Yes. I know it. King Herod."

Me: "You mean villain."

Josh: "No. It's King Herod's second name." And then he tries to justify it by telling us it's a different King Herod that he knows about.

I have to tell you I managed to keep a straight face the whole conversation. I think I deserve an award!

The Perfectionist

Yesterday, at the pool I suggested Rose try star jumps off the diving board to give her a new challenge.

It took her a while to figure out how to do it - especially because she was concerned she wouldn't have enough time to make the star shape before getting her arms straight down to her sides before entering the water.

But, gradually, she gained confidence and relaxed and did some good star jumps. When I said to her "Well done, that was a good one". She said, "No, that was no good!"

I went shopping today while Steve took the children swimming and when I picked them up she told me she had been showing daddy her star jumps off the board but they weren't very good!! Steve said that she had done some good ones.

But, obviously our daughter is a perfectionist. She really does not get that from me! And, it's kind of hard to work out how to respond to her as that level of perfection is higher than my standard. I guess I'm going to have figure out a strategy if I want her to feel happy with life.

Father's Day

Well this kind of passed me by. Not sure how or why as I'm usually pretty good at these kind of things. So, I decided I would use the blog to honour the two men in my life who are brilliant fathers.

Firstly, my husband. What a privilege it is for me to share parenting with this godly man. He is engaged, hands-on, caring, loving, fun, loves spending time with our kids, thinks of them when he's out and buys them presents, plays anything the kids want to play, gives them his time when he gets home from work despite having put in a full day, lets me have lie-ins to catch up on my sleep and looks after the kids so I can do fun things. I couldn't ask for more.

Secondly, my dad. My dad is also a godly man and has been amazingly consistent over our lifetime. He provided a model for the man I wanted to marry and he still obviously loves my mum after 36 years. He has always been a present father (as opposed to so many absent fathers) and I appreciate the way that he knows me as an individual and spent time with me doing things I liked so that he could know me.

Thank-you both of you. You have brought stability and love into my life and the life of my children.

Library Time

On Fridays the library at school has been open to exchange books during the summer. So we went up with another family this morning. I wish I had taken my camera. When I came in, the kids were already finding books and sat on the circle of seats looking at them. Rose was sat by her friend who is the year above her and he was reading "Mr Fly" to her. It was so cool.

Later, we met the new girl in her class (Rose had already met her when she came in for a day before school finished) and within minutes the two of them were sat looking at a big book together discussing the pictures and enjoying each others' company.

I felt a warm glow.

A Day Out

We chose to join the group going to "rocky beach" (our kids' name) to dive. We were going to go for the day and left our house at 5 a.m. after waking the kids and putting them straight in the car - via using the toilet, of course! We made good time but the weather was pretty rainy. It had rained all day the previous day and we knew it was a bit of a gamble but felt the day out of Manila was worth it.

The rain had mostly dried up by the time we arrived at the banca (type of outrigger boat) that we use to cross to the dive place. However, I think the waves were the biggest I have ever seen there and we bounced our way over to the resort - thankfully only a few minutes.

By 9:30 we were "suiting up", planning to dive at 10. The kids were very pleased as the swimming pool had been filled so they could swim there. Rose said the sea was too salty to swim in. I pointed out that the pool is also filled with sea water.

We had a good dive and the sun came out to light up underwater, which was beautiful. We were looking forward to our next dive at a new location with sunshine. However, after lunch we watched a huge bank of dark cloud and wind begin to drive over the horizon towards us. As the wind and rain lashed us Steve and I began to wonder if we shouldn't just pack up and go with a break in the weather so we didn't get stranded overnight! Our dive had to be postponed anyway, so we made the decision to leave.

We had a great journey for the first 2 hours back and then hit the traffic heading into Manila. We inched forward for about an hour and then cleared the worst of the traffic and made reasonable time the rest of the way. The children did really well although we were all hungry by the time we stopped!

Overall, despite the change in plans, it was a good day. I got another dive in, the kids and Steve collected shells and swam and played with their toy animals in the coral.

Despite spending 7 hours in the car altogether it is always worth it to spend time by the sea, in the quiet, in fresh air.

I Know Everything

Josh turned on his light sabre and took out Naomi in the process. I told him he couldn't point it at people when putting it on.

Josh: I know. I know everything.

Rose: No, you don't. Nobody knows everything.

Josh: I do. I know that I shouldn't hit people with my light sabre, I know sticking, I know fighting. I know things when mummy tells me. Cool, huh?

Rose: What's cool?

Josh: That I know light sabres, I know sticking. I know what mummy tells me.

Rose: Oh.

As my brothers can probably tell you, it takes a lot to impress an older sister.

Absent Friends

Josh is having a hard time getting to grips with his friend leaving for the year. He keeps talking about him and about inviting him over and to his birthday party. I patiently try to explain that his friend has left for the year and so he will not be at Josh's birthday party or be able to play with him.

On the way back from the pool Josh asks if his friend will be doing something with us. I say, "No, he is away for the whole year". Josh says, "I know that. You told me!" I say, "I know I told you but I'm telling you again because I don't think you understand that he is away for a long, long time." I try to explain by talking about our year in England but realise Josh has no concept of how long that year was.

I guess we're going to be having the same conversation all year!

Little Miss Pout

Naomi has been asserting her views more vociferously, lately. Steve says she has the best pouty face of all three of them and I agree. (I will take a photo sometime).

Naomi: What are we having for dinner?

Me: I don't know.

N: But what are we having for dinner?

Me; I don't know.

N: Will you listen to me. (Oh dear, that echo again!) What are we having for dinner? (enunicated very clearly for her slow mother's benefit!)

Me: I am listening to you but I don't know what we are having for dinner tonight.

N: FINE (stomps off with hands on hips).

Landmark Moment

Last night Naomi moved out of her cot into a full bed. She has always enjoyed her cot - possibly because it's the only space that is truly hers! And has never attempted to climb out of it - in fact we have kept the sides down on it for a long time. But last night we made the switch and Naomi was very excited about it. It is not just a landmark occasion for her but for me too because now that baby stage of life is complete - no more cots! And my baby is becoming a little girl.

Swimming in the Rain

By the time we got to the pool yesterday the skies were pretty black and the odd rumble of thunder was rolling overhead but we decided to go for whatever time we could squeeze. I say we, but I opted to take photos and avoid getting in the pool! :)

So, here are the photos:

Before it started raining.

Josh in his new-found joy of the diving board!

So you can see the rain!

Here Comes the Sun

Today we had our first day without rain in over a week. I like the sun!

Steve bought some new stabilisers for Rose and Joshua's bikes and fixed them on so we took the bikes up to the playground at school for them to ride. Then we went swimming. Josh has now decided that he can jump off the diving board. Steve coaxed him into it on Friday and now, of course, he has no clue why he thought it would be so hard!

On the downside, Steve forgot to pick up a bag from the "baggage area" (you are supposed to leave bags from other shops at a specific desk in whatever shop you are currently in) when we had finished in Toy Kingdom so has had to go back tonight to get it. What a faff! It could take him over an hour and a half travel for 5 minutes to pick up a bag. He took Rose and Josh with him, hoping they will sleep on the way home. Naomi was upset "I don't like staying".

Thunder all through the Night

Last night we had a lot of thunder. Rose really doesn't like thunder and while the other two slept right through it she woke instantly. The first thunder was about 7:30 and we put her back to bed about 8 but the real thunderstorm came about 12. It came in waves and lasted altogether till about 2. Rose spent all that time in our bed. Sometimes it was really loud - it woke me up and I jumped out of bed to see if the neighbouring house had been hit because it sounded like a building falling (until I realised how foolish I was) and other times it just rumbled like a hungry tummy for a long time.

The good news is, it seems to have moved whatever Tropical Depression has been sat over us the last few days as we can actually see the sun today! Hopefully the pool has been re-opened today too so we are planning to go before the afternoon rains.

words

Joshua's turn of phrase makes me smile sometimes.

He asked me if I knew where his Ernie book was. The one with the snails in. I said, "I don't know what book you mean." He said, "yes, you know, of course you do." I protested that I didn't but he tutted and walked off. However, as I continued preparing the veggies, I realised I did know what book he was talking about - Hermie the worm. I was right. Josh was right - I did know.

But the classic today was: "Can you make me that great big round square thing that's a rectangle?". Not sure what that says about my teaching him shapes?! He was referring to the fort I made from the blocks.

He also told me that even though we call them plasters, some people call them band aids. I agreed. He said, "but we can call them bandages if we like". I said, "well, bandages are different, but yes, we could say band aids".

holidays and rain

Playing hopscotch out the front.

Well, finally, the "summer" holidays are here. Actually summer has been and gone and the Filipino schools are all heading back for the start of their new year as we begin our holidays. Which has its definite benefits - less people at our favourite play area, cheaper prices for the beach (with the risk of rain or worse, typhoon). And rainy season has most definitely arrived. It, too, has its benefits. Cooler temperatures being the main one. Although it can get quite sticky with the humidity when the rain stops for a while.

Unfortunately the pool has been closed for repairs this week which has narrowed our options as Steve is in charge at school this week so has to be on campus for a few hours each day. Having said that, we've had so much rain the last two days I don't think we could have found a gap to swim anyway! On top of that, the playground is being re-painted so most of the apparatus has been wet from paint or rain. So not much chance for Josh, in particular, to run off steam.