Monday, March 19, 2007
Is It Spring Yet?
I was about to change my benchmark photo to spring when I realized that I wasn't sure if it was spring yet. Coming from Maine, I know that the "official" first day of spring as it is on the calendar means nothing. Growing up, we were looking for the first robin or the yellow-green shoots of crocuses pushing up through the last of the snow. I don't know how everyone else tells, but let me know when it's spring!
The Funny Papers
I haven't been writing much here lately, but I wanted to take a minute to share this. A local ophthalmologist writes occasionally for one of the island newspapers and I always enjoy his articles. This one nails a situation that many of us find ourselves in here. Too funny. It's copyrighted, so you'll have to use the link--it's worth a few minutes. It's entitled, "The relationship between moral health and a blind wife".
Thursday, March 08, 2007
I'm Baaaack!
Hokay. My daughter and fellow-blogger has been getting on me about not posting, so I'm making amends.
I was off-island from the end of January until the first Sunday of March. I went home to say good-bye to my father, who died on February 1. I feel so blessed to have been able to be there for those few days with him before he left us and also for the time I was able to spend with my mother.
On the last weekend of February, I went out west to visit Mal. That was fun, but man! Talk about opposition in all things! Going from a month with my mother in her senior citizens housing to a coed apartment in a college town! Whew!
One thing (among many) that I really enjoyed while out west was visiting with two of the missionaries that had served on Saipan. That was great! It was so fun to meet all of Mal's friends and put faces with the names I've heard so much about. It's a good group.
Before I went out, she called and asked me to bring a Scrabble game (honestly now, is "meh" really a word?), Maine maple syrup, and a jar of marshmallow fluff. (If you haven't already, check out this entry on how to make a fluffernutter that she's put on her blog--I took the photos:))
I was off-island from the end of January until the first Sunday of March. I went home to say good-bye to my father, who died on February 1. I feel so blessed to have been able to be there for those few days with him before he left us and also for the time I was able to spend with my mother.
On the last weekend of February, I went out west to visit Mal. That was fun, but man! Talk about opposition in all things! Going from a month with my mother in her senior citizens housing to a coed apartment in a college town! Whew!
One thing (among many) that I really enjoyed while out west was visiting with two of the missionaries that had served on Saipan. That was great! It was so fun to meet all of Mal's friends and put faces with the names I've heard so much about. It's a good group.
Before I went out, she called and asked me to bring a Scrabble game (honestly now, is "meh" really a word?), Maine maple syrup, and a jar of marshmallow fluff. (If you haven't already, check out this entry on how to make a fluffernutter that she's put on her blog--I took the photos:))
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Winner!
Well, Ez has had quite a year in cubscouts. Last year about this time he won the grand prize in their annual Father/Son cake decorating competition, and now this--the top dog of them all--the Pinewood Derby. His car (the creation of which was heavily assisted by Dad and Levi) was named "T-Bone". It wasn't all that pretty, but it was fast! 
This was his reaction to the final race.
Second and Third were his two closest friends. (This shows 1st, 3rd, 2nd.)
I'm so glad everyone was home for the big event--we had a blast!
This was his reaction to the final race.
Second and Third were his two closest friends. (This shows 1st, 3rd, 2nd.)
I'm so glad everyone was home for the big event--we had a blast!Monday, January 01, 2007
New Year's Eve 2006
As I've said, New Year's Eve is a party at our house. The photos here are actually of both our party and one that we attended at some friends' before the 9:30 start of the one here. Mal and Lisa danced at both and our friends had the pig and other island food where ours was hors d'oeuvres (or whatever people wanted to bring). Mal caught the cool pictures of firworks lighting up the night. I don't think I've ever seen such a big fireworks display from the houses we can see from here as there was this year! Ours also included the hillbilly band, complete with the washtub bass that Casey and Levi made. 
Friday, December 29, 2006
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
We're having a party of course! We often celebrate New Year's Eve here at home with our family and friends. Our house sits fairly high up on a hill with two big picture windows that look out onto the deck, so it's ideal for shooting off fireworks at midnight. Many people here like to go to the top of Mount Tapochau to see the fireworks shot from the hotels, which is fairly convenient from here also.
Because New Year's Eve is a Sunday this year we'll be a little more structured--not quite as much of a free-for-all as usual--until the clock strikes 12 that is!
I don't usually ask questions here, but I'd be interested to hear if you have favorite yearly traditions or if you just go to bed.
What do you do on New Year's Eve?
Because New Year's Eve is a Sunday this year we'll be a little more structured--not quite as much of a free-for-all as usual--until the clock strikes 12 that is!
I don't usually ask questions here, but I'd be interested to hear if you have favorite yearly traditions or if you just go to bed.
What do you do on New Year's Eve?
Hey! For Unto Us A Child Is BORN!
Christmas Eve 2006--
While visions of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" danced in our heads, we had our annual family Christmas re-enactment of the beautiful words of Luke 2. In an effort at increased reverence, I had suggested that we were all getting a little too old for "acting out" the Nativity story this year and maybe we should just take turns reading it. I'm so glad that idea was promptly nixed and the play proceeded as usual. In fact, better than usual--Mary (Kait) was a beautiful and dignified sight, even with a towel on her head, as she tenderly laid the baby (an old ratty-haired doll) in the manger. There weren't the number of animals in stable there used to be, but Dad still willingly bears the donkey's burden (type-casting?). Joseph (Ez) and the shepherd (Jake) do their parts admirably, and the rest of us (I usually read the story) thoroughly enjoyed it all. Best of all, the exhuberant angel reminded us of the joyous news that was published that night when Peace was born on Earth. 
While visions of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" danced in our heads, we had our annual family Christmas re-enactment of the beautiful words of Luke 2. In an effort at increased reverence, I had suggested that we were all getting a little too old for "acting out" the Nativity story this year and maybe we should just take turns reading it. I'm so glad that idea was promptly nixed and the play proceeded as usual. In fact, better than usual--Mary (Kait) was a beautiful and dignified sight, even with a towel on her head, as she tenderly laid the baby (an old ratty-haired doll) in the manger. There weren't the number of animals in stable there used to be, but Dad still willingly bears the donkey's burden (type-casting?). Joseph (Ez) and the shepherd (Jake) do their parts admirably, and the rest of us (I usually read the story) thoroughly enjoyed it all. Best of all, the exhuberant angel reminded us of the joyous news that was published that night when Peace was born on Earth.
Blog Recycling
Since Blogger Beta is no more and we're all changing over to the new features, I decided that it was time for new paper in the bloggingroom. I hadn't really thought of using Lindsay's old template, but when I was looking through, the name caught my eye. "Harbor." I liked that idea. So since it also fit in well with our real life and nobody I knew was currently using it, I put it up. Does "Reduce, reuse, recycle" go for cyberspace?
The "Benchmark" picture I added for myself. I have found it difficult to reference my memories with no seasons, so I'm giving myself a little help. Now, if I can just remember to change the picture....
The "Benchmark" picture I added for myself. I have found it difficult to reference my memories with no seasons, so I'm giving myself a little help. Now, if I can just remember to change the picture....
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
This is a test...this is only a test...
Watch Sam do a little break dancing here or here.
And Kait taking Eden for a turn on a new bike (back in August--she rides just fine all by herself now).
And Kait taking Eden for a turn on a new bike (back in August--she rides just fine all by herself now).
Friday, November 17, 2006
The "T"
Ez, Ezra T-bone, Ezra T-bone Willy. He actually argued with us once about his middle name--I guess we'd confused him a little. :) "Any way you say it, it means happy birthday to you!"
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Ch-ch-ch-changes!
Our life has had dramatic and unexpected changes this week. For many years we have homeschooled our children off and on...mostly on.... We're not the super-achiever homeschoolers you read about sometimes, but just the quite ordinary variety. We struggle with motivation, math, motivation, attitudes, motivation. We've been very blessed living here with families that have moved in over the past 3 years that have added to our number and we've had a small but effective, close-knit homeschool group.
Last week, the husband of one of our homeschool moms was hired as the academic director at a new-this-year private boarding school here on island. The school's target market is Korea, China, and Japan--"send your children here and they'll receive an American-style education as well as immersion in the English language and still be close to home." The problem was that they wanted a core of native-English speaking teachers and students and they didn't have any. They had a few island kids who speak English, but it's kind of a pidgin English.
At any rate, Dr. Brown (the new academic director), called last weekend and asked if I would be interested in sending my children there for school (it's K through 6 right now, but potentially through 8). He said that he could make an arrangement where I would work part-time in the office in exchange for their tuition. I would never have to be there when my children weren't there, and it would be great if we could start ASAP.
Casey and I discussed it and thought that it might be a wonderful experience for the kids, so here we are! We started Thursday--me (in the office from 11-3:15), and the three youngest in school. They're expecting 100+ Chinese and Korean students beginning in January, but right now there are only 20 students.
Eden's first-grade class began the day she did and includes her American friends from church! The only "new" person was the teacher! She's having a ball and probably feels like she gets to go to Primary every day.
Ezra's third-grade class consists of him, the director's son, and a Korean boy. Their teacher is a very sweet Japanese lady--on our first meeting she commented that his math was "weak". I agreed and said that was true of our family in general (I didn't mention that I don't worry about math too much until they get older:) She smiled and said to me, very intensely and quietly, "Oh, but I love math and I want Ezra to love math, too!" If she could give him that it would be a wonderful gift. I asked Ezra how his first day went and he said, "ok". Typical Ezra-answer. He did finally allow that, "I guess I would have to say it was good."
Kait's experience was somewhat different. Before we actually began, she had asked if we could just try it...if we didn't like it could we quit? I assured her that if it didn't work for our family we would quit, but we could not quit over a bad day or a difficult assignment. She is in 5th grade and there are (counting her) three girls and three boys in her class. She is the only American and the others are Korean boarding students. After her first day, she was practically gushing. "Oh, Mom! They're so nice! Every classmate was sooo good to me... and so helpful!" She says that her teacher (American) is "brilliant at explaining."
The first night, they had so much homework that I was wondering if this was going to work. I'm not a big homework fan and have been known to send in notes to teachers requesting they excuse my children for not completing a homework assignment because we were having a family activity. I felt better when I found that there is a general school policy for no Friday homework and there are study halls built into the day in which they can complete their assignments. I can live with that.
Okay. So. How do Mom and Dad feel? Well, the first day that Mom came home from Seminary and found her little kids gone she got a little teary-eyed. Dad, on the other hand, said, "It was great! I got so much done!" We'll see how it goes after the fun of new school supplies, etc., wears off. . . .
Last week, the husband of one of our homeschool moms was hired as the academic director at a new-this-year private boarding school here on island. The school's target market is Korea, China, and Japan--"send your children here and they'll receive an American-style education as well as immersion in the English language and still be close to home." The problem was that they wanted a core of native-English speaking teachers and students and they didn't have any. They had a few island kids who speak English, but it's kind of a pidgin English.
At any rate, Dr. Brown (the new academic director), called last weekend and asked if I would be interested in sending my children there for school (it's K through 6 right now, but potentially through 8). He said that he could make an arrangement where I would work part-time in the office in exchange for their tuition. I would never have to be there when my children weren't there, and it would be great if we could start ASAP.
Casey and I discussed it and thought that it might be a wonderful experience for the kids, so here we are! We started Thursday--me (in the office from 11-3:15), and the three youngest in school. They're expecting 100+ Chinese and Korean students beginning in January, but right now there are only 20 students.
Eden's first-grade class began the day she did and includes her American friends from church! The only "new" person was the teacher! She's having a ball and probably feels like she gets to go to Primary every day.
Ezra's third-grade class consists of him, the director's son, and a Korean boy. Their teacher is a very sweet Japanese lady--on our first meeting she commented that his math was "weak". I agreed and said that was true of our family in general (I didn't mention that I don't worry about math too much until they get older:) She smiled and said to me, very intensely and quietly, "Oh, but I love math and I want Ezra to love math, too!" If she could give him that it would be a wonderful gift. I asked Ezra how his first day went and he said, "ok". Typical Ezra-answer. He did finally allow that, "I guess I would have to say it was good."
Kait's experience was somewhat different. Before we actually began, she had asked if we could just try it...if we didn't like it could we quit? I assured her that if it didn't work for our family we would quit, but we could not quit over a bad day or a difficult assignment. She is in 5th grade and there are (counting her) three girls and three boys in her class. She is the only American and the others are Korean boarding students. After her first day, she was practically gushing. "Oh, Mom! They're so nice! Every classmate was sooo good to me... and so helpful!" She says that her teacher (American) is "brilliant at explaining."
The first night, they had so much homework that I was wondering if this was going to work. I'm not a big homework fan and have been known to send in notes to teachers requesting they excuse my children for not completing a homework assignment because we were having a family activity. I felt better when I found that there is a general school policy for no Friday homework and there are study halls built into the day in which they can complete their assignments. I can live with that.
Okay. So. How do Mom and Dad feel? Well, the first day that Mom came home from Seminary and found her little kids gone she got a little teary-eyed. Dad, on the other hand, said, "It was great! I got so much done!" We'll see how it goes after the fun of new school supplies, etc., wears off. . . .
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Happy Birthday Alexa Aoibhe
On her 22nd birthday we gave her a star...
Sunday, October 15, 2006
How Old ARE You Anyway?
Here's a test to determine your biological age (as opposed to your chronological age) that Mal sent to me. It's a pretty good motivator...I hope!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
The Beautiful Kaitie-Lynn
As delicate as a butterfly...
She was Levi's 14th birthday present! Sweet, smart, capable, creative, awesome...oh, AND 11! Happy Birthday Suzie:)
She was Levi's 14th birthday present! Sweet, smart, capable, creative, awesome...oh, AND 11! Happy Birthday Suzie:)
...And Levi, too!
Yes, it's that month of months in our household when birthdays come by the week instead of the year! Can it be that our firstborn is 25??!!! Why, yesterday he was running through the sprinklers in his undies pretending to be "He-Man"... and what better way to celebrate?
Levi, we knew from the moment we first saw you that our lives would never be the same--we just didn't know how far you would go to make sure of that! You're our star...we love you forever.
Levi, we knew from the moment we first saw you that our lives would never be the same--we just didn't know how far you would go to make sure of that! You're our star...we love you forever.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Thinks at 3 A.M.
Life is sooo different than what I had expected. Especially now, living here...I think I'm becoming unconnected with the familiar. Today my baby said, "What are those skinny things that go down mountains?" "Uhhhh...rivers? streams?" "Yeah, streams." And from Kait: "On mountains they use snow-skates." "Skiis." "Yeah, skiis." Weird. They don't know snow or cold or streams, ponds, or lakes. They don't know bluebirds or spring... or autumn... ouch.
But they do know sunsets and tradewinds and ice kekis and flametrees. They know turquoise lagoons and white sands and brown people and things that I didn't know. I love the variety of life and generations and experiences, but I miss what I don't have and what they don't have. Luckily, they don't.
But they do know sunsets and tradewinds and ice kekis and flametrees. They know turquoise lagoons and white sands and brown people and things that I didn't know. I love the variety of life and generations and experiences, but I miss what I don't have and what they don't have. Luckily, they don't.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Happy Birthday Malie-Moe!
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Big Bad Daddy-o
"Big Bad Daddy-o
It's Big Bad Daddy-o"
There's no real tune, but every Conner Kid reading this now has the familiar chant going through their head. He has inspired other names..."Hunky Unky" (he came up with that one himself, but his nieces and nephews would agree I'm sure:)), "Gorilla Head" (Shawn), "Kimmie-Dahlin'" (I think that's Lee's favorite). To me he is husband, confidante, love, and friend. Happy 47th honey.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Announcing the August Birthdays
Here are some pictures of the two birthdays we celebrated this last week--on August 22 Sam turned 17 and the next day Eden was 7.
We had a family celebration with cake, ice cream, and a new bike for Eden's day which was a Wednesday. I realized when I went to post the photos that the only one I had that was useable of Eden was this one. Blowing out the candles on her cake and riding the bike with Kaitlyn were video clips--I'll try to figure out how to post them.
We had a family celebration with cake, ice cream, and a new bike for Eden's day which was a Wednesday. I realized when I went to post the photos that the only one I had that was useable of Eden was this one. Blowing out the candles on her cake and riding the bike with Kaitlyn were video clips--I'll try to figure out how to post them.
Sam's party was a Saturday night dance with about 25 friends out on the deck (and in the livingroom, the diningroom, down in the family room, running around the perimeter of the house, you get the picture). They had a blast! I love the one of both of the boys dancing.
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