Counting the Days

Shaun returns home on Friday, which I'm (needless to say) very excited about.  The kids have been quite good, but once or twice I have found myself exasperated at the day's end.  And I'm sure they can hear it in my voice.

Seth has taken his role of being man of the house very seriously, sometimes trying a little too hard to "order" Hazel around.  And he says things exactly how we do....so I know he DOES hear us after all.  Lorene was in our driveway last week to pick something up and Seth was outside playing hockey and they got to talking about how Lorene was staying at her mom's house (instead of in the basement suite).  Lorene told me about this later but apparently Seth turned to her and asked her, "Don't you know that my mom needs company?"

Hazel finally got two of her "two-year-molars" right under the wire before her third birthday.  She also has had a bad cold and ended up with an eye infection, poor girl.  However, because of these things, she has napped probably 6 of the last 9 days.  She hasn't napped for three months, so it has been a nice little break in my day.  And maybe because of that, she hasn't been too grumpy with all those issues going on at the same time.  However, holding her down while putting in eye drops has been an adventure.  It's amazing how squirmy a 26-pound little two-year-old can be.  And then this morning Seth thought it would be funny to jump on me and tickle me while I attempted this.....

Lyla has woken up at around midnight every night but last since Shaun's been gone to say "Hi" to her mommy, which I deeply appreciate.  Yesterday she finally broke a tooth and then last night she slept so I'm hopeful that that's the end of it...although I see the second of the pair coming down now!  And she looks like she's been punched in the eyes, as Hazel's eye infection spread to her now.

Of course, when people ask how the kids are doing, this is the list I come up with, but it really has been great for the most part.  They have become more well-behaved as the week progressed...hopefully that's not because my expectations have fallen drastically...ha ha.

Anyways, I gave Shaun a big list of items to price check in Recife to compare shipping costs to buying costs.  I think shipping stuff from up here is winning out, if we can split a container with someone.

People keep asking when we're going and if we're excited, etc. etc.  Right now we are hoping before next summer.  And yes, we are excited.  I think I'm a bit more hesitant than Shaun thinking about being away from my family and being a bit sad that all the little cousins will be apart for a few years.  Also I don't think I worry about the kids moving there (maybe Seth a little bit) but more for moving back.  But the people of Brazil are so welcoming that I know with a little effort we will enjoy being a part of a vibrant church community.  And like everyone keeps saying to me, "Kids are resilient!"

Shaun and Randy are off to Fortaleza for 2 nights tomorrow and then HOME!!!  It's at a time that the kids and I can pick them up, so perfect!  And now it's off to bed for me.  With Lorene being back here I'm finding it a bit easier to fall asleep early at night :)  Well, that and my glass of wine is helping!

Have a good night everyone!
Brenda

The Prayer

When Shaun took Seth skating two weekends ago, I had Hazel and Lyla to myself.  It's interesting what you learn about your second oldest when your oldest starts to do things like go to school and hang out with his dad on a Friday night....

Anyways, she insisted on doing the bed-time prayer herself.  And then I ran and got my camera and hid it behind my back and asked her to do it again.  I know, I know, not the most respectful way to pray, but I thought in 15 or 20 years, it will be so cute to remember her squeaky little voice doing her night time prayer.  So here it is, I hope I'm not the only one who understands what she's saying!

A New Job

I had my first Usborne book party a few weeks ago and somehow got "suckered" into becoming a consultant.  It could have been the 236$ worth of free books and the $100 worth of books for $40 and the 5 books that I could buy at 1/2 price because I obviously need to upgrade my kit....

Anyways, the books are so beautiful that I thought I would take a picture and show them to you.  I'm trying to aim for books that will be useful for the next few years, with needing to teach my children English as well as topics that I think would be interesting to have for them.  Books in Brazil are crazy expensive.  I'm not planning to actually throw parties (well maybe one next March when I'm off my maternity leave and allowed to "make" money..besides that's around the time I'm sure I will want to collect a few more books for our potential move) but in the meantime I can buy one of all their new releases and reprints and customer specials at 1/2 off! If I have enough interest, I may just put in orders for these for other people, but of course it would be a first come, first serve basis, as I can buy only one copy at the reduced rate.

Anyways, here's the picture:  I tried to combine volumes of books as that seems to be the best value...and I'm sure the best for packing.  So many of the books are 4, 6, or even more books in one - such as the Big Machines, Complete Book of Drawing, World Wars, Better English, The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales, and Fat Cat on a Mat and other Tales.  Doesn't this picture make you drool?  My new obsession: children's books.

Thanks to all my customers who made this moment possible!

Shaun's Report

Shaun left for Brazil yesterday at 4 in the morning.  It's the first time I've actually been alone since we've been married.  Once I went for a week to Smithers (when we had Seth and Hazel), but that was with my mom and dad, so I wasn't really by myself.  And another time when we just had Seth, Shaun went to Ontario for 4 days, but I think I stayed with my mom and dad then too, because I worked all 4 evenings so I needed to put him to bed somewhere.  So here I am, by myself.  I haven't had any major breakdowns yet, but we're only on day 2 here.  And I kept thinking it was only 10 days, but Seth and I marked it off on the calendar and it's actually on the ELEVENTH day he comes home.

Anyways, I just talked to him on skype and tried to convince him to write an update on here, but he said he only had one cool thing to report, and I could do it.  Randy and him went for a walk in the back of the ATC, and they saw TWO SLOTHS in the trees.  Unfortunately, they only had a camera phone with them.  When I get a copy of it, I will attach it to this post, unless it's such a horribly blurry picture that you can't even make out the sloths on it.

Anyways, they stopped by the ATC (where one of the missionary's families live and where the church has many training days and combined services), and then drove right on down to Sao Jose, where they are staying in a beautiful pousada.  It is spring in Brazil, so it looks like highs of low thirties, but they had rain all day today.  The rest of the week looks promising.

So there you have it, an update on Shaun.  I have another photo I want to put up on here too, so you may get two posts in one day!

Talk to you soon,

Brenda

Seth's First Ice Skate

Seth's school was scheduled to go skating for 3 Mondays in a row, starting November 1, so Shaun took Seth skating for the first time on October 29.  He's gone 3 times since then and is loving it.  I was thinking of putting him in a little Learn-to-Skate program so he would have some idea of skating before we leave (if we leave) but it was wait-listed, so maybe we'll see in January.  He is Canadian, after all....he must learn skating :)

I do have some more things to report, but it will have to wait until tomorrow, because I need to go to bed now!  Ta ta for now,

Brenda