Less busy school

Joshua was asking me a question about something to do with Middle School and it made me realise how different school life is going to be for them next year.  Not only are they going to lose the status of being the principal's kids - which they all manage differently - but they will be just in a primary school.  I was telling them that their elementary school would be smaller in England and there would be no middle schoolers or high schoolers. They reflected on this for a while and Rose said, "So school will be less busy!"

Sunday Shopping

Today we divided to conquer.  Steve and the girls went to find guinea-pig food and bedding and Josh opted to come food shopping with me.  I am under no delusions - for him, it was the easier option: Less walking, sit in a trolley.
We walked around the supermarket and I gradually added more bits around Joshua until it began to have to go on top of him, too.  We got some odd stares but it worked for both of us - he didn't have to walk and I didn't have to keep removing items that may have been added!  It reached the point, though, where Josh began to feel trapped so it was like something out of an old-fashioned monster movie where this huge thing erupts out of the ground and everything falls to either side!
As we were walking round e spotted the biscuits Rose had decided she wanted and he congratulated himself on his "good eye".  Every so often I hear the Americanisms my children, and in all honesty, my husband and I come out with and I wonder... What will we sound like after 12 months learning English again? My kids were quite excited about the idea of learning English words when we talked about the fact they would not be learning Tagalog in England!!

Growing Up

Steve was OIC at school and I decided I had to start the quilt blocks that a group of us have agreed to make and share with each other.  It is a cool quilt made with applique blocks (my first real foray into that) of flip-flops.  How appropriate is that for us who live in flip-flops?!

Rose asked if she could help, so between us we cut the flip-flop shapes and then I showed her how to iron for the first time ever.  I was a little unsure but as she was keen and as I guess I have to start some time, I took the plunge!  She also helped me with the fusible web - which sticks material to each other.  I've obviously had it too long without using it as some of it had lost its stickiness but it worked enough to be able to then sew the pieces.  Rose also became the official photographer so here are a couple of pictures.

Naomi joins in the helping

When we went up to school for our Saturday afternoon exercise Steve helped Rose and Josh begin to hit the tennis ball. Sometimes I can't believe my kids are getting so big but it's cool.

One of the finished blocks

Sticker

While I was in the kitchen tonight, preparing to start dinner Naomi came in and offered me a big star sticker for "always making the dinner".

It was a cool moment - I mean how often do you get appreciated by your kids for doing the everyday things?

Celebrations

Today we celebrated the MacFarlane's 25th year at Faith Academy.  They are from NZ so we got the day started with everyone assembled at the flag pole. One of the other families from NZ raised the flag as the national anthem was played and the rugby boys' team then performed the haka.  They did an amazing job.  What a cause for celebration - commitment and dedication.

Presentation

I presented to the Admin Team at school this morning on the advantages of adopting the Pre-U course that has recently been brought out by Cambridge.  I have been working on this and polishing and getting feedback and adding for over a week.  After I was done, I was so tired.  It made me realise how much energy I had directed to doing this right and well.  I really do believe this is a good way forward for our school so I am hoping to see us begin to develop what we offer.

Guests

This week we have had a revolving combination of little children staying at our house as it was another mission's conference.  Rose has slept in our room to make sure she slept properly during a school week. One of Naomi's friends has stayed for 2 nights and has her last night tomorrow. However, I think Naomi is rapidly approaching the "I'm-done-with-the-whole-sharing-my-space-my-toys-and-mummy for 3 days" stage!  They have both done so well, though.  I've been really impressed at how well they have got on for so long.  The first night was the worst.  Josh, Rose and Josh's friend were asleep long before the 3 little girls were!!  They were giggling and running round and fussing with who was lying where for ages.  Like 12 year olds!  In the end I removed Naomi and they slept.

International Week 2011

Yay! One of our favourite weeks is here again.  Elem organised it slightly differently this year.  All the students stood by the flags they wanted to represent, which were organised into a circle representing the globe. Students were randomly picked to carry the flag.  As it was only the Taylors behind the Union Jack this year, it was a bit of a no-brainer who would be carrying it!  Rose was so excited to be the one chosen.  Each country parades around the inside of the circle while their national anthem is played.  Josh told me he nearly cried he was so happy and I must admit it always moves me as I see the diversity of countries represented by our students.

It was also Valentine's Day - which is celebrated far more widely amongst our American friend than in our culture.  Rose's class had to write a card to take in for each classmate today.  I gave Rose the box of cards and the list of people in her class and she wrote each card.  She did an amazing job with a personal message to each of her classmates.  I was so proud of her.
All three of the kids decided yesterday afternoon that they wanted to make cards for their teachers so we got the sticking box out and they went to town.  It was cool to see them want to do it for their teachers (with no prompting from me) and to see them take great pride in their work.

Walking on Water

Josh told me about the cool activity they did to visualise Jesus and Peter walking on the water.  They stood on one leg, looking at "Jesus" (I wasn't sure if this was a picture or a person!) and it was easy. Then they stood on one leg, with one eye closed to represent not looking at Jesus and he said it was very wobbly and difficult.
Don't think he'll forget that lesson.

Land of milk and honey

I find it fascinating that while we adults tend to think of our passport countries as the land of plenty, our children have no idea - at this stage anyway - of what is available there.  Our kids keep asking the funniest questions.  The other night at dinner Rose asked if there was ice-cream in England!  And Naomi keeps asking me "Do we have....... in England?"

Running Commentary

I took Rose to an ENT doctor with a friend, her son and another child who all had questionable results from their test at school.
My friend and I had to keep smiling at each other as Rose, and occasionally one of the others, gave us a running commentary on the lift's movements all the way to the 17th floor! I'm not sure what the other passengers made of it!
The doctor was an interesting guy (in the wrong sense!).  He managed to culturally offend me at a rate of about one comment per 30 seconds with his comments on Rose's "unladylike" behaviour. I rather suspect his daughters are not allowed to be anything other than be proper princesses with an ate each who dresses them, mollycoddles them and does everything for them.  I'd rather have my daughter with her spirit than one of his.

Parenting Options

I had a great day out with my friends Sarah and Sandra.  We decided to go to a mall right the other end of the city - just for the fun of it.  I think I have been exactly once before.
I saw the funniest book in National Bookstore and we all had a good laugh at its expense.  The main title was "Smart Parenting", the subtitle: A ya-ya manual.
A ya-ya is the Filipino version of nanny-servant.

Cultural Perspective

Lea had borrowed some of our films to watch and asked me if one was a war film.
Debs: Yes. It's about World War I.
Lea: Oh, the war in Europe.

Yes, a succinct commentary on the overblown egos of Europe that they considered it a World War.

No Toes

Sarah and I have planning to have a pedicure for weeks.  And I really mean, weeks!  It's difficult to carve out the amount of time we need with two different kiddy schedules.  So finally, we had the time to do it and a group of 4 of us headed out this evening after school.
On the way I asked Sarah if she had booked appointments. As she had not Wendy rang from the car but the receptionist said they had nothing before 8.  When we arrived at Eastwood Wendy and I went in to see if we could wheedle our way in! We said "do you have room for us?" The receptionist said "hmmmmm". Wendy said "there's 4 of us".  Receptionist said, "you could come..................................tomorrow".  We tried not to laugh and left.
But we had a great night.  We ate Vietnamese food, enjoyed each other's company, ate frozen yogurt with lemon sauce, laughed a lot, chatted a lot and didn't really miss not having nice toes.
Besides it gives us an excuse to do it again.

Medicals

Today was one of those experiences that you never read about in parenting magazines or journals.  We are having our annual medicals tomorrow so I had to get up silly early on my day off and try and get down to the hospital and back as soon as possible so Rose missed as little as possible of class-time.
It did not start well as the two girls had a cat fight in the back of the car before I had even backed the car out of the drive so we sat for about 5 minutes until that was done and dealt with.  Then the traffic was shocking - bear in mind this was 6:15 a.m. It took us about an hour and a half to get to the hospital. Thankfully, as per plan, there were 2 other people in the lab and they were waiting for us while we went through the reception - to get a number and a cup for urine sample, receiving counter - to be entered in the system, cashier - to pay.  Rose decided that she had to do her sample first before I could get in line for receiving (I had made them drink lots on the way!) so I had to take both girls into the toilet and get their samples.  That was the experience I was referring to earlier. Naomi got upset because we didn't catch a huge amount from her and she thought that was bad. (It was fine).  By the time it got to me, I had trouble producing anything with the girls chatting and messing.  Of course, 5 minutes later I could have produced a large sample but that's the way it goes.
The blood was another experience.  Rose was great, but she remembered it from last time.  Last time, though, she only had a prick in the finger so she was pretty excited to do it "the real way".  (Will she still be excited in 5 year's time?) Both girls insisted I go first - I'm not sure how seeing it first helps. Rose was next and then Naomi got on my lap and held out her arm. The nurse said, "I can just prick your finger".  Naomi did not want that but it' s what the nurse wanted so it's what happened.  Naomi did not like it and fussed a bit but she did great.
As the results were going to be ready in 4 hours I dropped Rose off at school - took us less than half an hour on the way back - picked up Sarah and Ezra and we spent a pleasurable morning at Megamall, had lunch, picked up the results, headed back to school and picked up Rose and Josh.

New Starts

It might seem a little late to be talking about new starts but actually, it is the Chinese New Year this week (on Thurs) so I am not way off the calendar!!
I rarely, if ever, make New Year Resolutions because I am rubbish at keeping them. I am not the kind of person who revels in structure and doing the same thing in the same way for very long. (I can't even stand having the same lunch for more than 2 days!)
But as I was reflecting today, I realised I have begun some new things tha coincided with the start of the new year. I have begun a new reading programme with my Bible after reading about it on a friend's blog (here and here) and I have implemented a new discipline "regime" (sounds awful when put so baldly!) based on John Rosemund's book.  And I am seeing the potential of both of these new things of bringing good change in my life and our family's life.

And That Means?

Naomi's new phrase is "And that means?"
It's funny and it really makes me think through what I am saying to her and the best way to explain something.
The other day I said, "After school we are going to see Sandra".
Naomi: And that means?
Debs: That we will be leaving right after pre-school, that we will pick Sandra up and we will go out for lunch and we won't be going home before we pick up Rose and Joshua.
Naomi: Hmmph.
Do I need to tell you what that means?!