Cowboys or Dog Cows

The boys were acting like cowboys today around the house. Sela was asking what they were doing and  I told her they are being cowboys. She looked at me a little funny and laughed. I could tell she didn't understand so I asked her if she knew John Wayne....nope...she didn't. Once I figured out that in her mind when I said cowboy she pictured a dog and a cow....I understood the funny face she gave me. In Portuguese Cao(pronounced cow) is a dog and Boi(said like boy) is a cow. So we decided that they were being dog cows. :-) I did show her a picture of a cowboy on the Internet and she said she knows them but didn't know what they were called.  

Out with the old and in with the new.....

It lasted a couple of weeks. Last Wednesday Nelson didn't show up and I asked why. He said he had gone to the doctor and when I asked for his doctor note he said he forgot it and that he would bring it on Thursday. When he showed on Thursday he forgot it again. I told him he had until the end of the day to bring it back and he assured me he would. Guess what? I never seen him until Friday morning. He was here bright and early about 6:30 and was busy working. Kenny told him to be at the house at 4pm to talk. When he came back at 6pm with his friend Kenny told him he would not work for us anymore. I am so glad Kenny was there to do my dirty work. Nelson said he understood and took his money for the month and told Kenny to tell me Thank you. Sela said she was glad we got rid of him because he was lazy and crazy. 

Today I talked to my neighbors gardener that is always there and asked him if he would like to work my yard too. He said no problem and that he would start tomorrow. About 5 minutes later Sela said he was already working in my yard. What a good man....I hope!! :-) The lady that used to live in the house said he was excellent. So now I have a Sela and 2 Baptista's. 

What's going on?

Last Thursday we had the boys parent teacher conferences. They both said they are doing an awesome job.

Jared's teacher said he is a thinker and really thinks about what he is going to say before he says it. He never has ideas or says anything he doesn't feel like he can explain or carry out. She said he is always the engineer of the class. She says he loves math and is doing great at reading. He is always the first to help others out.

Jacob's teacher said he is the sweetest boy and always cares about others and watches out for the way others are treated. She said he tries very hard at everything he does. She said he is going to be the artist in the family. I believe that...he loves drawing and writing stories. She said he is a hands on learner because he does not like to sit still for long. :) I have heard that for the last 5 years he has been in school. She said he is a planner and always likes to know what the schedule is for the day. We also met up with his math teacher and she said that he is doing a great job. He has moved up in his levels very quickly.....but again has a hard time being still for very long. :-)

We are very proud of both boys and how they have grown since being at this school. Jacob finished his poster and gave his first speech last week. He was a little nervous the morning of but volunteered to go first. When the kids do things in front of the class their teacher allows them to receive 2 stars and a wish. Jacobs 2 stars: he didn't look at his poster much when giving his speech and he knew a lot about his topic (circulatory system). His wish: he needed to speak a little louder when talking. I love that she does this. It gives the kids positive feedback and also something they can work on from their peers.

Since Kenny worked such long hours the two week before last he took Thursday and Friday off. After the conferences we hung out around the house and then Friday we all went golfing. I have only went one other time and didn't care for it much but after Friday I think I might take some golf lessons. The boys and I had a blast and Kenny did too!!! Jacob is pretty good and Jared is an excellent putter. I think they both enjoyed getting to drive the golf carts more than the golfing.

Jared being silly.

So the grandparents do not worry...Jared only sit in my lap and helped. Jacob did drive Kenny on his own and didn't run into any trees.

 After church we tried out a new Chinese restaurant that is pretty close to our house. We had sweet and sour chicken that was really good. Kenny ordered some kind of meat dish that was not very good. Katie had told me about the place and so we had our drivers talk and when Baptista pulled up we were a little worried. Jacob even said there is no way Katie would have ate here. We lower our expectations a lot because this is our new reality...remember. :-) When we pulled up there was a red door that they opened for us to pull in. All the table were outside with canopies over them. I called Katie to make sure we were at the right place because the guy at the gate said it was massage and restaurant. She assured me we were at the right place so we sprayed with bug spray and had a seat. A Chinese waiter came to the table and we asked if he spoke English. He said no and left and returned with another Chinese guy. We thought ok this guy will speak English and the man said he only speaks Chinese and Portuguese. We had Baptista eating with us so not a problem we thought.....until they gave us a menu that was only in Chinese. No luck because Baptista does not speak Chinese. :-) We finally got them to bring us a Portuguese menu so we could read it and look at the pictures in the Chinese menu. By this time Kenny and the boys were ready to leave but I assured them Katie said the food was excellent. (I was praying that it really was and she was not just delirious on the day she ate there.) Once we got the food everyone was happy and loved it. HATS OFF TO KATIE!!!

Not sure what Jacob was doing in this picture. :-)

The boys are also out of school all this week for fall break. Kenny is working so we are just hanging out at the compound. There are a few people still here so the boys have friends to play with. They have been having NERF gun wars every day since last Thursday at the park. Tomorrow the boys are going to join me at water aerobics.....this should be interesting. 

This and That

Keep The Peace

Can you see Miles and Jared in the front. Miles in blue, Jared in white.

Jared is in the bottom left picture...eating Alphabet soup.

This is a picture Jared drew for Relationships.

My two silly boys!!!!! I love these two.

Jacob turns 9!!!!

I know...I know...I know.....I am really far behind. A couple of weeks ago we had Jacob's birthday. We decorated all downstairs again to surprise him when he woke up the next morning. He LOVED it!!!

Here is the poster Jared made for his brother.

We had to do the balloon door again!!!

Jared wanted to stay up and help me decorate...he didn't make it!!!

Kenny and the boys!!!

The boys and momma!!!!

Jacob trying to blow out his candles.

Everyone enjoying some cake. I just noticed Jared's face in this picture...that's my boy alright. :-)

Sophie

Sophie turned 2 years old last Saturday. I found a recipe for a dog cake that had peanut butter, carrots, honey and then the regular flour and eggs and oil. She loved it and even shared with her friend Fletcher. :-)

What a day!!

We started a new rewards program for the boys where they do things without being asked and they get stars that they can trade in for rewards. For instance, getting ready in the morning without being told over and over again to eat, or put shoes on, or brush teeth, or pack lunch box and back pack without being told, cleaning your spot at the table. This morning was wonderful...every one was up and dressed before I came downstairs at 6:15. They both earned all stars plus some for doing extra chores. After school was a whole different story. Jared was pretty good....had to be asked a couple of times to clean up his mess so he lost a star and Jacob went downhill fast once he got home from his after school activity. These days are always hard because he is tired and hungry when he gets home and the last thing he wants to do is homework and practice the guitar. He did it....but it was a struggle and we lost some stars along the way. He did turn himself around before bedtime which I am super proud of and acknowledge his wrongs and decided he would end on a good note.

He is having to make a poster this week in class on the circulation system and give a presentation. He worked on it all weekend and when he went to class today his teacher told him he had done most of it incorrect. He was not a happy camper and said, "Maybe I need to pay a little more attention in class so I don't waste my time". I think it is happening people....I think he is figuring out it is better to listen the first time. :-) He sure is growing up and it is scary for me and I think him as well. I love and hate how much more independent he is. He is needing me less and less everyday. I can not believe in 1 week he will be 9 years old. What happened to my little red headed baby. :(

Kenny had to work late because it is the 1st. I wanted to make some no-bake cookies so he would have a little snack at work and it took me two batches to get them to harden. He said they were very good. The boys ended up eating some of the other ones with a spoon. :-) 

Katie and I went on a peanut butter hunt again today. They still don't have the good kind but we did find some of 2nd best (Black Cat). I am not sure I will ever get use to the prices here either. I spent $23.00 for 3 jars of peanut butter. It was about $8.00 a jar. Ugh!!!

We always tease that everyone wears their flip flops at least one size small and while I was waiting in line I had to take this picture. ENJOY!! Have a great week!!!