It's Showtime!

This week the kids and I have had so much fun together putting on skits/shows for each other! After bathtime, instead of reading stories the kiddos had the option of putting on a skit of their choice using their imagination.  Ash had chosen to act out Little Mermaid musicals, Twinkle Twinkle Little star and sings Dora's Swiper song.  She sings and does her own choreography too, mostly mimicking what she's memorized in the Little Mermaid movie.  She loves Ariel. 

Austin got out his pirate toys and hid behind Ashley's footboard of her bed and put on pirate shows.  He even was talking about how the "ships were plundering the high seas."  I stopped him and said, did you really just say the word plundering?  

One night I got out the video camera and it was showtime! They loved being taped and would say "CUT" and do their skit over again until is was exactly as rehearsed.  So funny!   

This week Austin has done really well in his last session of swim lessons.  His first session was taught  by an American boy who was so congenial with the kids but did only the basics in swim instruction.  At least that's what I think now that we have the Polish Swimming Waterlogger.  Austin's new instructor, Conrad, is all serious.  Austin wasn't listening to instructions one day and he was told to get outside the pool and do jumping jacks.  Then I look over and see Conrad pushing Austin's head under water then popping it back up again.  He shoved his head down then up so Austin would feel the rhythm of taking breaths when his head is outside the water.  Then Austin became a little out of breath from doing laps and he was the only one physically breathing heavy.  The teacher didn't like that, so he made just Austin  do another lap!  A little uneasy initially, but Austin has jumped leaps and bounds in 2 weeks than what he did before.  Thanks Waterlogger!

We have been working on family prayers this week trying to make them more sincere, not rote, and from the heart each time and adding some personal elements to make them more effective. It's coming along really well.  In one of Austin's prayers one night he even reached so far as to be "thankful for the Nile River."  ???

These weeks Jonathan has been on his 4th trip around the world.  The last few legs have been Abudhabi, Singapore, New Zealand, Somoa then Honolulu.  He's telling me he's not getting personal time, probably only because he knows I would be insanely jealous even if he had 30 minutes on the beach alone out there!  In the past 6 months, Jonathan has visited 28 countries. 

As for me, I've had a fun week!  Ashley and I painted our nails together, had many tea parties, I attended a card making class (I love making homemade greeting cards!) and a super fun BINGO Olympic party!  It was great!!!  We even competed in Olympic events!  It's always a great summer event.

During these hot dog days of summer, I'm doing the same ole' thing.  Swim lessons, running, pool, library, slurpee runs, and playing outside in the humidity.  Generally keeping the kids and I busy.  We're all missing Daddy.  This is beginning the 4th year of him being on the Secretary's detail.  There is an end in site though.  Next summer.  In fact, it's bidding time AGAIN.  We get the list in a few weeks.  We're kind of getting the overseas itch now that Austin is doing so well after his surgery.  We're feeling better about heading overseas.  So maybe this time next summer we'll be somewhere International!  I get excited when I think about it.  Probably too because that way I'll have a husband around and the kids can be together with their Dad.  And ALL OF YOU can come visit us, wherever we are, anytime.  (Let's all pray for Rome :)

Much love,

Angie