Babies

Geremu's teacher had a baby yesterday.  Geremu came home today and told us all about the babies arrival, which was basically just the babies name.  Then he asked me how babies get out of tummies....  Before I could even figure out how to explain this to him Nasuuna took over.  She didn't even have to use words, she pretty much did an all out demonstration that included squatting and screaming.  The two boys and I just stood there watching her with our mouths hanging open and eyes bulging out of our heads.  When she was finished Geremu and Cullen killed themselves laughing while Nasuuna smiled at them proud of what she had taught them.  I was silent with shock.

Once Geremu and Cullen pulled it together they wanted to know more,  "Mom is she right?  Is that how it happens?"
Nasuuna said, "Yes, I be right, it's just like peeing."
A statement like that would only naturally be followed up with, "Well then does a girl's dinker swell up?"

I'd love to say that this conversation ended with me reminding the kids that girl's don't have dinkers...  Only boys do.  But that would be way too easy.  I answered their funny questions in an age appropriate way (I hope, fingers crossed) that seemed to satisfy them.

Tonight the kids had religion- on the way to religion we drove by the hospital.  Geremu announced that his teacher was in the hospital with her baby.  (He wanted me to stop so he could go see her.  Yeah, I don't think so kid.)  Nasuuna was shocked to hear this, "Why she be in the hospital?"  I explained that when people have babies they often have them in the hospital.

She informed us, "That not be how you do it.  You go outside, AHHHHHHHH (insert scream), come in with baby.  No hospital."

This girl is a wealth of knowledge....

Girl's Date Night

Today I had a date with Nasuuna to go see Disney on Ice.  Before we left we went to the grocery store to make sure there was a meal waiting for the boys when they got back from their activities.  Cullen was out tubing with a friend and Nick & Gere were at a wrestling tournament.  As soon as we walked into the produce aisle Nasuuna spotted sugar cane.  We bought a piece that is over 5' long and made it out of the store without knocking anything off the shelves, a miracle.

As soon as we got home Nasuuna wanted it cut it up.  When I started to get out the sawzall Nasuuna informed me, "That not be how you do it..."  Shockingly, I didn't lose a finger in the process of getting this just how she wanted it with a knife. 

Nasuuna was so happy with the treat...

I ended up having to cut another bag full of sugar cane so she could take it with her the rest of the afternoon. 

Disney on Ice was pretty amazing if I should say so myself.  We went with some good girl friends and had a great time.  Before we went I explained that the entire show was on ice and the characters would be ice skating.  She said, "Like Geremu?" Um, not exactly;)  Half way through the show she said, "Mom, Dat be ice?  Dat be REAL ice?"  

Before I continue on with the story I want to say that Nasuuna's language had really developed.  She has been in the United States for about 15 months and she is an a-mazing little sponge.  She still has her adorable accent that seems thicker to me when I talk with her on the phone.  Since she has picked up the language so quickly it's hard to remember that some times she has no idea what we are talking about because she just doesn't have the background knowledge.   Tonight was one of those nights...

Nasuuna has not seen any of the Disney Movies that were a part of this show, because of her lack of Disney knowledge she was more than a little confused.  When the characters would talk she had no idea who was talking because their mouths don't move and she doesn't know what voice goes to what character.  She could not figure out "Why that man (Pinocchio) nose be so long?" When Belle (from Beauty and the Beast) was on the ice dancing the Beast came to join her and Nasuuna yelled, "AHHHH, A MONSTER!"  I corrected her and told her it was a beast to which she said, "A beast be a bear?"  During the Nemo segment a large shark came out- it was clearly two skaters under the costume.  She said to me, "Mom fish have legs?"  The questions were priceless and just kept on coming.

On our car ride home after leaving our friends house she had a lot of questions about the show.  Even through she didn't always know what was going on she still loved it because it was fun to watch.  Once we were home Geremu wanted to hear all about the show.  Nasuuna said, "I don't know anyone.  Mom you tell Geremu about it."  Gere was disappointed he wasn't invited but once he learned we were not the ones ice skating he didn't seem to care about the show.  

All About My Dad By Geremu

This past week I got an e-mail from Geremu's teacher.  I'd love to post the e-mail on here but I don't like to put anything too personal about my kids on the blog for fear my kids will one day be upset that I shared too much.  So I'm going to be vague about the e-mail.  The e-mail was written by his teacher but she was writing exactly what Geremu was saying.  The e-mail ended with "... period, did you write a period Mrs. U?"

I wasn't sure how to respond to the e-mail.  Do I praise Geremu for his punctation or discuss what was actual written?

Geremu has a new found love of writing.  He has always LOVED reading but now he enjoys writing too.  Most of his books are about animals (like full grown sperm whales) but this weekend he wrote a book about Nick.  Since I'm not a big saver I'm just posting the book here for record keeping sake.

All About My Dad

By Geremu

Pinterest This!

In January my sister sent me some ideas for Valentines from Pinterest.  This is my sister who is a solid mix between Martha Stewart and Betty Crocker.  In her spare time she sews cute, crafty things as seen here.  Seriously a-dorable, right?  Anyways, one of the things she sent me caught my eye...

I stole the idea and made it my own...

I know, I know, I know, I may have totally outdone myself this year.  

I really needed to redeem myself, the week before Valentine's Day was the 101st day of school and my kids were suppose to dress like dalmatians...

White Shirts + Black Duct Tape = Dalmatians

Our Winter Slip n' Slide

Sunday we received some precipitation in the form of rain.  For the first time since we have lived in this house we have standing water or ice (depending on the temperature) in our back yard.  Every day this week when the kids get home from school they have spent all of their free time playing outside on the mess.  Sometimes even successfully breaking through to the water.

Today Geremu put ice skates on, while I sat in the kitchen laughing my butt off.  At one point he was between two of the lilac bushes pulling the branches down trying to avoid doing the splits.  I'm pretty sure our lilac bushes days are numbered after watching Geremu use them to catch/break all of his falls.

 I opened the kitchen window at one point to hear what the kids were talking and laughing so hard about. Turns out one of them found some "Frozen poop!  Mom come out here and look.  You won't believe it?"

Geremu enjoyed wearing his ice skates so much that I found him at the top of the neighbors swing set/fort still wearing his ice skates.  

New House Rule:  Ice skates are only allowed to be worn on ice.

Jack fell down and broke his crown...

Geremu came home from school last week with a huge lump on his head that was black and blue and skinned up.  He slipped and fell at recess resulting in the injury.  Geremu's head swells up anytime he bumps it so the bump didn't bother me as much as the bruising- I could tell he hit it hard based on the color.  I didn't think to take a picture when he first fell so what you see below is the injury on the mend.

Tonight Cullen took a fall and hit his face pretty hard.  His mouth and nose were both bleeding.  Tomorrow I'll be taking him in to the doctor to get his nose checked, it is really swollen on his left side.  I'm guessing by morning his eyes, nose, and forehead will be black and blue.  

For those of you wondering Cullen's forced "Family Fun Night" was a huge success.  We played games as a family.  I think we would all agree that Headbandz was the favorite.

Snow Fun

I have a lot of stuff I should get done this weekend.  

Somehow snowshoeing with the kids ended up at the top of my list of things to do.

Nick wasn't feeling 100% so we left him at home 

and went to explore on our own.

I debated asking a friend to come join in the fun.
Within the first 10 minutes of exploring I was reminded why I usually don't ask others to join us.  

My kids have a agenda of their own...

And a pace that sometimes is hard to keep up with...

And at other times, not so hard to keep up with... 

They like to stop and play, which usually involves creating "forts" along the way...

There was a lot of singing, talking, and laughing.

 I vividly remember my Mom and Dad taking us out when I was younger (and even older) to cross country ski or hike in the bluffs.  

I specifically remember one weekend when my Mom and Dad couldn't join us.  When my Mom dropped off Chad, Megan, and I to ski she gave Chad a big bag of jelly beans.  We didn't know about the treat because Chad hid them from us.  When we got tired and were resting in the snow, Chad surprised us and pulled the jelly beans out of his coat pocket.  They were the BEST jelly beans ever!

Next time, I will remember to bring jelly beans.

Cullen just announced that tomorrow night is "Family Fun Night."  

I'm not really sure what that all involves, so we have that to look forward to...