Traffic Guy

Rats! I forgot my camera on Saturday. I went down to Seoul to do some shopping with a few friends. We passed the traffic robot man again. On the way there I noticed he wasn't wearing a tie. Must've been casual Saturday. On the way back he was dressed in his raincoat. I'm sorry I didn't get pictures!

Lazy Days of Summer

Snack Time!

Check out Izzy's hopeful stare. Will never disappoints!

It is so hot here (combined with morning, noon, and night sickness) that it has been hard to find the motivation to do more than sit in front of the a/c.......which, I of course, am happy to do. My kids, however, are not. SO....we've been trying to find some fun things to do around the house since Heath has the car all week. Yesterday we walked to an apartment complex that has a few playgrounds. It took us 30 minutes to get there and it started raining as soon as we arrived. Plus, we saw a snake on the way. It's safe to say that we won't be making this trek very often until after monsoon (and hibernation season for disgusting reptiles begins). Today we played out in the sprinklers. I am waiting for Heath to come home from a hard day's work so that I can go pick up take out for dinner. 'Wife of the year' is not looking likely lately, but, I figure I have a few bonus points stored up so I've decided to cash in.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Okay........after the tirade (referring to my last post, however, you're probably reading this first) This evening Ryan and I ordered take out for dinner. We were at one of the clubs on base that has 3 or 4 different restuarants and a coffee shop. There is one manager that oversees all of the operations. Ryan and I were waiting in the coffee shop area for our food along with a few other young men who were just hanging out, relaxing. They weren't being loud or rude, just talking, and one of them used the "s-word". I was thinking, "I'm glad Ryan didn't hear that" but otherwise didn't think much of it. Apparantly the manager thought something of it, because he appeared out of nowhere, it seemed, and made a beeline for the young man. When the manager addressed the young man he rose, I'm assuming out of respect (or habit as a young airman), to be addressed. Very quietly the manager asked him to conduct himself like a gentleman in the presence of ladies and children. WOW! The young man apologized, which I felt to be sincere. I was so impressed by how each conducted himself that I was uncharacteristically speechless. So, to all of you who teach, live, and learn kindness and respect.....THANK YOU. May they come back to you many times over.

Manners and 1 Anrgy Mother

Is it just me, or do children these days not have any manners? My experience lately has been to find that young children have no respect for each other, adults, or property. I am begining to feel that we've done our children a disservice by insisting that they use good manners, ie - share toys, speak politely, don't grab something away from another child. After 4 and a half years I have finally had it. I am sick and tired of watching Ryan 'use his words' or ask if he can share only to be pushed around, have toys taken from him, and in some cases be hit, kicked, pinched, or pushed. As babies you know they don't understand, as toddlers you expect that behavior and correct it, but as preschoolers and older they are definately capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong behavior. The final straw came today when we were at the Splish and Splash pool park. Ryan was playing with a pool toy when some little girl - probably about 4 or 5 -decided she wanted it. She ran at him screaming, grabbed him and pinched him on the arm with one hand and started scratching him on the neck with the other. Since her parents were nowhere in sight (not surprising) I grabbed her and told her to be nice and not to touch him. She spat at me that it was her toy so I explained to Ryan that she didn't have any manners and did not know how to share, but since it was hers he had to get off. He was obviously upset and tried to ask if he could use it while she wasn't playing with it. While he was trying to get out she came at him again, pinching and scratching. My fury got the best of me and I shoved her back and told Ryan, 'if she ever touches you again even on accident punch her right square in the face.' I got a few looks from other nearby parents but I don't care. I would have been very happy to explain my actions to her parents had I been able to find them! We have worked so hard to teach him to treat others with respect. He is so good about asking, 'may I have a turn' or 'may I share your toys' and he rarely, if ever, gets a positive response. I want my children to grow up to be good Christians, compassionate, caring, and sensitive to those around them, BUT, lately it seems that 'good behavior' puts them in harms way. Time to start teaching some assertive, no more like ass-kicking behaviors. I am open to suggestions.

No more chocolate

I made the big mistake of giving Will a few chocolate chips after dinner tonight. It is 11:40pm. He is still bouncing off the walls - literally. I am losing every battle - just gave into his demand to play t-ball and now he's crashing cars on the table, screaming in delight. Ahhhhhhhhh

Will's Words

Will's language has exploded over the past few weeks so I thought I'd take this opportunity to document his vocabulary. It's been so much fun to watch his development and so rewarding to see Ryan take an active role in teaching his little brother!

Dadada (we haven't been able to drop the last 'da'): Daddy

Mama (only ever said when crying): Mama

WyWy: Ryan

Eesh: Izzy

Aish: shoes

Baww: ball

Ba: bat

haT: hat

Dis: this (used as a demand)

Ahpuh: airplane (or helicopter)

pees: please

Aiyyyyyyyyyyyyy: Hi

Baiyyyyyyyyyyyy: Bye

Ehbo: elmo

ap: grape

boooo: what a cow says

ow: what a cat says

hahaha(pants): what a dog says

Wawa: water

Baba: bottle

jees: juice

uttae: upstairs

He adds more everyday!

Traffic Guy

As I promised in a previous post, here is a photo of the traffic manequin. I will try to take photos of him in his various outfits, which coordinate with the weather. Right now we are in monsoon season so I should be able to get a shot of him in his raincoat!