Great Grandparents! -- E.

Did we promise a long time ago to put up pictures of Dorie and James with their G-Gma and G-Gpa? Back in March, my grandparents (and Pepsi the poodle!) stopped in overnight.
It was such an unexpected treat to learn they were driving through Texas and would be going by Dallas. Dorie and James were thrilled! There's Dorie and James with Grandma and the building blocks up there. And down here, we've got Grandpa reading Harold and the Purple Crayon. Nobody can tell or read a story like Grandpa can. I probably enjoyed the reading even more than Dorie did.


In more recent developments, we are moving in five days. Queena and I would like somebody to tell our children to get over their colds, so that they can feel better, so that they can be happy, so that they can play by themselves a little bit more, so that we can pack. Packing really needs to happen.

GIAL Classes are a Thing of the Past!

Dorie and I showing my classmates how we use a computer program to practice Thai together.

This morning Dorie said "Mommy, I want to practice Thai with you." One of my favorite things about studying Thai has been the way Dorie has wanted to join me in listening to the tapes and learning the vocabulary. Today, however, was my last day of class here at GIAL! I have learned so much and I'm so grateful for the education I've received here. I'm also glad to be done and I'm so excited about a future where Dorie and I (and James and Ethan) will be learning another language together overseas.

I was a part of a team of four women who would meet three days a week to learn Thai from Phii Am, our amazing language consultant.

James Walks and Dorie Talks

But James can't walk and talk at the same time.

And Dorie can't finish a story if she hears a bath being drawn for James.

Learning Thai -- E.

Queena is on the home stretch of Second Language And Culture Acquisition class. Her practicum language, Thai, might end up being a language that our entire family will learn (if we move to Thailand, for example!).
Queena has learned to use a computer program, Vocabulary Manager, which does exactly what you think it does. Starting from scratch, Queena has made recordings of Thai words and matched them up with pictures. Now she can use Vocab Manager to practice her Thai anytime.
And Dorie likes to join in! She's learned a handful of Thai numbers and animal names; here she is practicing a greeting with the wai gesture:

When Life is Disturbingly Normal -- E.

Keeping house. There have been very special days here at home in Dallas, when I have been surprised to discover how fulfilling it can be to keep a house running. Special days, when the mundane tasks of doing laundry, keeping kitchen, and cleaning house bring me a lot of joy. Special days, when I become Ranger Bill in my own home, doing it all "for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done" (cue terrible radio organ).
Saturday was not one of those special days. Saturday I saw this . . .
. . . and just got depressed. I know, I know -- I hear you, everybody, thanks -- that's not even very many dishes. But it's big messy pots, and I hate those. Well, with or without deep fulfillment, the dishes need to be done. There's my deep thought for the day. So I did them, without much joy.
Then I realized why I was feeling down. It was because I needed, on an emotional level, to bake cookies with my daughter.

Peanut butter cookies, in fact. I've got a great recipe. You just put a bunch of this stuff together and it comes out great every time.
There, you see? A little butter, a little shortening, plus an egg, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Flour, salt, and rising agents are forthcoming. Awesome!
They're even better baked, yes. Come over and have a few.
And the Great Circle of Life continues.