Monday, June 6, 2011
Summer Vacation Day One
The first day of summer vacation and the weather was a record 100 degrees at some time during the day.... ironically I never felt that hot for some reason... In and out of the car.. and in and out of air kept me cool I guess.. or maybe just my Mississippi/Missouri blood working at its best. Ishmael,Idreis and Ibrahim had basketball camp this morning, and to my surprise Ibrahim held my hand very tight as we walked into the gym, the noise of fifty bouncing balls and a gymn full of older children kept him at my side... I laughed at him and shook him aloose from my shadow... set his gatorade down and sent him on his way.. By the time I picked him up I ended up with two extra children for the day.. and it reminded me that my Yukon XL is not large enough and I may need an extended MysteryMachine Van, need to seat at least twelve..
While the kids were at camp, I met with my co-operating teacher who I will be student teaching with this fall, I was so nervous for some reason... Ended up going very well and I can't wait. I will be co-teaching in a 6th grade classroom in Hopkins.
Picked Ibo up at 10:30 and ran some errands with him.. he was tired and hungry by the time we finished in Aldi he had tore open the strawberry coverd yogurt raisins...by the time I bagged the groceries he had ate half the pack..(stomach ache later).. this was of course after trying to leave the store without me....spilling the strawberries and kicking the cart all because I would not buy M&M Ice cream cones.... good thing I have lots of patience....
I just kept bagging..just kept bagging..just keep bagging.
So basketball is over, drive home... get the children lunch (leftover bbq) somehow I thought it was a good idea to grill at 10:30pm... the night before.. none the less, they ate and then had 30 minutes of SSR time (Super Silent Reading), the older three are responsible for reading a book a week this summer. I am trying to instil that only the institution of school is out... not learning and educating oneself... So we will actually be having a series of homeschool lessons this summer!
With the heat, I thought it would be a great day for swimming.. so we went to French Park in Plymouth.... the kids had a good time.. not much swimming seeing how one could go way out past the swim lines and still only be waist deep... and to be honest.. the lake was stinky... dead fish floating (just one) and lots of lake gunk.. probably wont be going back there to swim this summer.. very nice bike paths and rope park and canoeing/kayak rental... A good lake for toddlers for sure minus the stench. Played at the park a bit and then home by 6pm.
Fed them all.. Ibrahim so tired.. he ate and passed out.. he can get so delerious.lol
Hit the lake up a little after dusk and then headed to my moms to get my project done for class.. which I actually should be working on now :) Just wanted to give a little update.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Life Is..
My life is full of twists and turns lately. Bumpy roads seem to keep find their way under my tires.. car is in need of repair... just one thing on the list of many to fix Then I have to remind myself that my six children are healthy, I am almost finished with my college degree and will soon have a BA in Elementary Education, after pursuing my dream for the past 15 years.. I will actually be a college graduate! We gonna party like it's 1999! Made it through a Minnesota winter! It snowed so much I could not believe my eyes some morning... and then it would snow again.. Spring is here! Isa, Inara and Inayah and me filled the bird feeders in the yard this evening. Basketball season is under way for the boys, Ishmael is off this weekend to Akron, OH for one of Lebron James tournaments. Peace to my sister in Belize working in the Peace Corp
Friday, October 8, 2010
Welcome Back
So I think that I may start blogging again, as if I don't have enough to do.
It just seems like such a nice way to stay connected and also attempt to write something on a daily basis.
Don't know how far back I should try and catch things or just start from today.
The oldest four are in school, which is so wierd to see Ibrahim get on the school bus, they all seem to have adjusted well back into the routine. Ishmael is in 6th, Idreis 4th, Inayah 2nd and Ibrahim in KG. One funny story that happened this year in kindergarten was on the second day of school and the class was going over the alphabet, they were on the letter B, Ibrahim politely asks, "Teacher, where do babies come from?". I received a warm email from the teacher about that one. Mother is also in school, I am taking three classes at Augsburg now. The schedule is very hectic with school and then all the outside activities that the children particiapte in, football games, gymnastics and overnights swamp our weekend. I really don't know how I even manage to get it all done. So thankful for all the help I get from family and friends.
The weather here this week is beautiful, the sun is keeping us so warm, suprisingly I haven't even turned the heat on.
It just seems like such a nice way to stay connected and also attempt to write something on a daily basis.
Don't know how far back I should try and catch things or just start from today.
The oldest four are in school, which is so wierd to see Ibrahim get on the school bus, they all seem to have adjusted well back into the routine. Ishmael is in 6th, Idreis 4th, Inayah 2nd and Ibrahim in KG. One funny story that happened this year in kindergarten was on the second day of school and the class was going over the alphabet, they were on the letter B, Ibrahim politely asks, "Teacher, where do babies come from?". I received a warm email from the teacher about that one. Mother is also in school, I am taking three classes at Augsburg now. The schedule is very hectic with school and then all the outside activities that the children particiapte in, football games, gymnastics and overnights swamp our weekend. I really don't know how I even manage to get it all done. So thankful for all the help I get from family and friends.
The weather here this week is beautiful, the sun is keeping us so warm, suprisingly I haven't even turned the heat on.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
The Last 24hrs in Kiev
I cant imagine morhters who don't have their children.. Ishmael and Idreis left this morning with K for a 4 day road trip, we will be back in the States when they return. Ishmael had a bit of a cry last night and we stood and hugged for a long time. The fact that I know they wont be ringing the doorbell anytime soon, puts a little ache to my heart. I did not think I would miss them so much already.
We took a stroll down the the big store to pick up some goodies for the plane, the children played in the play area for the last time. There as a bully in there who would not share one of the swinging toys, and do you know these three little chickens, had the nerve not to fight back.. The boys would swat at them and even tried to spit once. The only one who attempted to hit him was Isa, and when he did that, the boy pushed Isa down, he got right back up. There on the sidelines... Inayah and Ibrahim... just staring.. Inayah did try to hit at him, and Ibo did more punching at the punching bag then at the boy. I thought to myself, as much as you all, wrestle and box and hurt each other at home, here is a chance for you to jump this little chunky bully and the two biggest fighters.. dont want to fight.. This is after I saw how the other child was treating them, and gave them permission to do some stomping... Peace once, Peace twice, and on the third Peace.. the other party just didnt get it, so get to whooping some ass.!
Packing the carry-on luggage and picking up the little bits and pieces that we dont want to leave behind. I have been thinking of the time spent here and wondering if I will miss my lifestyle here. I think that I will. The freedoms that I am going back to are such different ones, then the ones that I am leaving. Also back to the single-parenting for a few weeks, and less two children. It should be interesting. I do have to admit, part of me will miss living here and the experiences and times we all shared together as a family. Which makes sense, because that was the driving factor for making this journey in the first place.
Inayah and I walked up to Athina and ordred the last of the pesto, salmon and soup. We then walked to the underground and purchased some scarves while we were waiting for the food to get done. Beautiful day here, sun is shining, will probably go walk up the middle before it gets dark. Isa is napping and the rest are having quiet time.
We took a stroll down the the big store to pick up some goodies for the plane, the children played in the play area for the last time. There as a bully in there who would not share one of the swinging toys, and do you know these three little chickens, had the nerve not to fight back.. The boys would swat at them and even tried to spit once. The only one who attempted to hit him was Isa, and when he did that, the boy pushed Isa down, he got right back up. There on the sidelines... Inayah and Ibrahim... just staring.. Inayah did try to hit at him, and Ibo did more punching at the punching bag then at the boy. I thought to myself, as much as you all, wrestle and box and hurt each other at home, here is a chance for you to jump this little chunky bully and the two biggest fighters.. dont want to fight.. This is after I saw how the other child was treating them, and gave them permission to do some stomping... Peace once, Peace twice, and on the third Peace.. the other party just didnt get it, so get to whooping some ass.!
Packing the carry-on luggage and picking up the little bits and pieces that we dont want to leave behind. I have been thinking of the time spent here and wondering if I will miss my lifestyle here. I think that I will. The freedoms that I am going back to are such different ones, then the ones that I am leaving. Also back to the single-parenting for a few weeks, and less two children. It should be interesting. I do have to admit, part of me will miss living here and the experiences and times we all shared together as a family. Which makes sense, because that was the driving factor for making this journey in the first place.
Inayah and I walked up to Athina and ordred the last of the pesto, salmon and soup. We then walked to the underground and purchased some scarves while we were waiting for the food to get done. Beautiful day here, sun is shining, will probably go walk up the middle before it gets dark. Isa is napping and the rest are having quiet time.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Ms InaraArlene On Her Way
Ms. Inara Arlene
Inara is such a delight. She has been learning some new dance moves and loves to bounce and bounce to the beat. She has mastered drinking out of a cup and anytime there is food around, you can find her begging and yelping at your leg for a bite. She enjoys playing with all the children. Every morning when Isa wakes up, he has to come in and give her a hug or kiss, if she is awake. He just smiles at her and says, " Hey my pretty girl". She has also learned to climb the stairs and so we have to catch her, usually on the second or third stair. Otherwise she just yells and yells to the children from the bottom step. She loves to go outside and most times we can soothe her crying by just taking her to the window. She also has learned to stand up briefly. The best part is when she falls, she just laughs and smiles and gets back up. Determined little girl. She definently knows who and what she wants. The other night she was crying and crying and as soon as she saw Khalid, she just reached for him and stopped. She also lets Idreis sing her to sleep, such a sweet sight to see. They all seem to want to crawl into her playpen and play with her. She still loves her pacifier and luckily we have not lost it. That clip works great.
Yougurt... I must be in heaven
I just love this stuff they call chicken.Sun is Shining
What a difference a day makes.
Morning started very slow and Idreis had to finish his homework while eating oatmeal. That is just how it goes some mornings.. I went back to sleep for a bit, Isa played on http://www.starfall.com/ a very good sight and has online books that he can click and be read to. Love that.
Cooked a very nice brunch of cheese omlette, oatmeal pancakes and cornbeef hash. I found the corned beef at the grocery store.. That will be my first and last time eating that over here. It looked too muchlike dog food coming out of the can. It tasted ok.. of course.. because I was cooking.. but I think I will have to wait to get back to the State and go to Good Day Cafe.
Isa spent part of the early afternoon painting and Ibo shooting hoops.. He reminds me of Ishmael running around in our Storrs, CT apartment.. We went for a nice walk up the middle and did some 3-D chalk painting on the sidewalk. A truck drove past, windows down and hiphop music playing loudly. The driver and passenger had shades on.. Ibrahim just looked up from his chalk work, made a face and waved them off. I had to laugh.. That boy is a hot mess!
School kids home and Ish and Dreis are off to pick GramaLene up from the airport, they also have basketball tonight so depending on the time, they will drop her first or get dropped, just depends on the traffic.
We put a homemade bird feeder up on our patio, but have had no visitors, me and K had a good laugh about what the neighbors who can see it are probably saying about us. Either way Ibrahim spends time looking out the window to see if any birds have came.
Morning started very slow and Idreis had to finish his homework while eating oatmeal. That is just how it goes some mornings.. I went back to sleep for a bit, Isa played on http://www.starfall.com/ a very good sight and has online books that he can click and be read to. Love that.
Cooked a very nice brunch of cheese omlette, oatmeal pancakes and cornbeef hash. I found the corned beef at the grocery store.. That will be my first and last time eating that over here. It looked too muchlike dog food coming out of the can. It tasted ok.. of course.. because I was cooking.. but I think I will have to wait to get back to the State and go to Good Day Cafe.
Isa spent part of the early afternoon painting and Ibo shooting hoops.. He reminds me of Ishmael running around in our Storrs, CT apartment.. We went for a nice walk up the middle and did some 3-D chalk painting on the sidewalk. A truck drove past, windows down and hiphop music playing loudly. The driver and passenger had shades on.. Ibrahim just looked up from his chalk work, made a face and waved them off. I had to laugh.. That boy is a hot mess!
School kids home and Ish and Dreis are off to pick GramaLene up from the airport, they also have basketball tonight so depending on the time, they will drop her first or get dropped, just depends on the traffic.
We put a homemade bird feeder up on our patio, but have had no visitors, me and K had a good laugh about what the neighbors who can see it are probably saying about us. Either way Ibrahim spends time looking out the window to see if any birds have came.
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