Images from Today (Not in Pictures)

Luci decorating Christmas cookies with frosting in the way she paints on paper--sticking with one piece and layering and slathering incessantly. This and the constant finger licking/dipping eliminated any possibility of presenting it to the neighbors.

The kids running around Stepney Green after the decorating and pretending to trap Peanut with sticks. We had a definite time restriction (darkness and dinner approaching) so I was happy for the pursuit of Peanut since it increased her exercise.

Me, hanging out with the eldest son upstairs and commenting on how buttery and wonderful the milk always tastes in the tea there. To which he replied, "Oh, it's Carnation."

Peanut repeatedly attempting to get her head inside Luci's new doll house and failing. I thought there was some smell to the wood that she liked but it was just a untouched ginger snap left by Luci. I indulged Peanut because she has a weakness for almost all things ginger and molasses.

Jesse getting so excited, official, and proud about bringing our plate of saran wrapped cookies up to the neighbors. He didn't think there should be too much candy covering the cookies and was good about signing his and his sister's name to the card. (Yesterday he composed a whole card, letter, and envelope for the Hayeses completely on his own. It read "Dear Heezoos, I luv you, luv, frum Jesse.")

Me, appalled, that the woman in number 15 as well as the residents in 7 still don't have service water. And me intrigued to find out that it probably wasn't the number of phone calls that made the water company and council take the problem seriously. It was one of resident's mothers on Christmas Eve who works at BBC.

The 3 of us (Darren is on his first trip back to the US) eating leftover chocolate and biscuits for breakfast with buttery eggs and day old quality coffee, which I have determined is way better than poor fresh coffee. Yummers!

Wonder!

Wow, what a week has passed! A parent-teacher conference at the beginning of the week which was very encouraging. When you are sending your kid to school 5 days a week you want to know he is in good care. It seemed the teachers had a thorough record of all the kids' learnings. I like that he's learning but don't care as much about that as the fact that the teachers are paying attention to the kids and not just letting them screw around. J brought home a big wad of papers, his work since half-term that I have yet to look through. We also went as a family to a Cinderella play (not your traditional) with J's class and it was fun to meet other moms, ride in the coach (we got to wear seatbelts!), and watch the kids reactions. I think Jesse was somewhat pleasantly intrigued but his final comment was "Too long mummy" and that was his complaint about it when he woke up for a related nightmare that I knew would happen.
I think a cross-dressed wicked stepmother might just do that--I'm sure he thought there's probably something not quite right about that lady. Luci seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, with the scary parts outdone by the singing and fairy mum.

My computer bit the dust this week so that's been a bit of a pain and a wonder if or when I will get another. I really do like this connection to the outside world.

Our reliable tap water also went bye-bye. On Tuesday a neighbor came down to check and see if we had flushing toilets and running bathroom taps. Well "yes" I said after running upstairs to check the taps. I offered to give her water or let her use the bath. She said thanks and I thought "Poor dear". By that afternoon, we and that neighbor, #9, and 13, and 3, and 6, and 12 and on and on to the whole building were out of water, except for number 8 who had absolutely no problem. I checked that into my memory. We had a difficult English exchange but certainly I'd be able to ask him for water. The upstairs residents then began to express that they had no water at all. So our kind neighbor came down to tell us that we could use the tap they passed in the stairwell on the way to their flat. But we were okay with our kitchen water access. Until I called to place my complaint-then the whole building went completely out. (Imagine no flushing toilet for 6 or 7 days, imagine that with 12 people in your flat. Well, you'd get creative wouldn't you?) Thames Water "resolved the problem on Sunday, but funny, it was back to the normal abnormal by this morning. Needless to say I was fed up! More by the injustice than the water loss. I mean it had actually gotten really laughable and most of the time D and I were having a good time with it. But it felt like every time I called, I was told that I was about the only one calling. I asked my neighbors and they'd say they had all called. We found a few more neighbors passing our window and gave out the number so they could call. Finally with all the calls, our water came back! We flushed! But... we wrapped presents, Darren went to get his bike which he parked somewhere, and oops! He should have taken his shower before he left because there's a trickle of hot water up there now. But to hear the machines outside my window digging for a solution under the pavement give me great hope because it was only today that the council and Thames Water decided it was an emergency, even though there's a lot of elderly people here. After my 3rd call this morning and after many, many others, we finally qualified!

It has been fabulous to meet our neighbors this way. We did not get many names and chances are we wouldn't have been good about remembering them anyways but it's given us a basis upon which to interact and that is brilliant!

I haven't even talked about Christmas yet. We are very excited! We attended a crib service (a service for the kids) at Saint Dunstan's, a 15th century church in our neighborhood. Our acquaintances Sarah and Phil had invited us to come around to their place for an open house afterwards and so it worked out well. We walked back with them and hung out until 6, then came home, did the bedtime routine including a bath (that's when the hot water was flowing out of the tap), put the kids to bed (they're so good when concerned about the opinions of Father Christmas), and started wrapping gifts. Now, we aren't ones to teach our kids about Santa, we've always told them that it's just pretend. However, we have come into the knowledge that Jesse totally believes in Father Christmas, having been nurtured into this by his teachers. And his imagination and wonder is so endearing that we're just gonna go with it this year. Except I don't want to worry him too much. The poor kid has been concerned that FC won't fit down the chimney as he stares at our heating unit. (It would be hard to imagine him fitting through those grates.) So will we leave the back door unlocked he asks. Then last night, just because I polished off the chocolate chip cookies, J burst into tears because FC wouldn't have anything to eat! Darren found another one and we remedied the situation. Right at bedtime, concern over not having left a note arose and D assured him that HE could just write a note. Jesse's final instructions were to put the cookie on the floor in front of the door with the note so that Father Christmas wouldn't miss them.

Merry Christmas to all our friends and Loved Ones! Enjoy reflecting on Jesus' birth, drinking wassail, and being with your loved ones. And enjoy those presents too. I love that St. Dunston's is having a service at 10 am tomorrow where the kids are invited to bring one of their presents to show everyone, as long it is not musical.

The Christmas Festivities are ON!

Last week commenced with us attending Jesse first play ever--the nativity play at his school where Jesse got to be Joseph. We wondered if self-consciousness would kick in but it never did. He was so happy and proud to be a part of it and I couldn't believe how non-chalantly he said his line. It wasn't extremely dramatic but it was totally without self-consciousness or any related afflictions, just perfectly delivered. It was great to see him sing all the songs that he had been singing around the house. I thought it was funny when Luci said, "Mommy, is Jesse a pirate?" It was also fun for us to notice that Jesse was playing the air drums, etc. while the kids that had those parts were doing it for real. It was cute to watch him mime front and center on stage.

On Saturday we went to our neighborhood farm for a nativity thing too. Our friends from the Salvation Army organized this fabulous thing, which I gather they do every year. They had nativity related costumes for the children to put on (J declined, and Luci did too, as he was nativitied out and besides, he's off on Saturday). The boy who was the star (he was pre-picked) told everyone to follow him and we all followed as the nativity played out. We visited the 3 wise women near the geese and chickens, King Herod stationed with the pigs, the shepherds with the sheep and then finally the stable where the baby was, with the animals conveniently penned nearby. At every spot we sang a Christmas carol accompanied by the Salvation Army Band. (By the way Americans, this may surprise you as it did me, but the Army is alive and well here.) It was great to see friends, or people for who I am beginning to claim as that, and eat mince pies and drink mulled cider. I went home absolutely frozen and with dung on my shoes but feeling a bit closer than normal to the first Christmas.

On Sunday we went to the Christmas Carol service at our church, another confirmation that I am in the land of literature, theatre and music. It was a full house, we had to sit squished in the front seat of the balcony with squirming children but they had a couple pieces from the Messiah, a song performed by the the Bengali Fellowship that meets there and a bunch of carols. And all this performed within a cathedral--fabulous acoustics which makes everything sound amazing. Luci did her spinning ballerina moves on the side and made me jump up with 2 seperate declarations of "Pee-pee!" and "Poo-poo!" Jesse either wooed or irritated the lady next to us into giving up some spider man stickers from her purse.

This week is the week before Jesse has a break from school for 2 weeks. So he gets out early tomorrow since there are parent-teacher conferences following. On Wednesday he has a Christmas party that I'm slicing some cheese for. On Thursday we all get to go with J's class to a theatre production of Cinderella, and on Friday he gets out early again.

We are also going to have our first (I really think it's our first) native English friend visit for a dinner on Thursday night. We've had a couple of other folks over but it's been more of a time to pick their brains on things and get acquainted rather than pleasure. Wow, what a big milestone for us! We also have a date with this guy and his roomies to come play Settlers in January.

Delights

I once knew a man (in InnerChange) who would always say "Good morning delight!"

Well, that's generally what I think when I pick up Jesse from school--I'm just so happy to see him! Today he greeted me with this note that I think he worked out pretty much on his own. He's really been working on his words and it is incredible to watch him sound out words and then write them. They're often not right but pretty close!

Also, the other day as we were returning home from the school pick-up and then the playground, Luci was gurgling/cooing for a hug from Jesse, so Jesse leaned over into the stroller and hugged her. Then she gurgled again and with a warm smile he said, "You really like that huh?" and leaned in to give her another hug. Then there was yet another hug and he said, in Luci's ear, "Luci, I will always be in your life."

And I'm thinking, "Where does he get this stuff?" My heart just melts.

Some more delights I'm looking forward to this month are:

going to a Cinderella play with Jesse's class. They had some extra tickets so the whole family will be there. This is perfect because Luci keeps asking to watch the movie which she's never seen before.

time around the Christmas tree with the fam

bringing Christmas cookies to our neighbors upstairs. I may not be able to compete with the curries flying around but I should be in the top of my game Christmas cookie wise, since there is no competition.

Things I Learned Today

From my own experience:

London can be dead silent sometimes. There are the crazy urban areas where everything and everybody is whizzing and whirring by but in the middle of a big park, like Victoria, it is as if nothing is around except a squirrel rustling through the grass or a bird chirping, I love it.

My dollar is pathetic!

The swans on the canal will ALWAYS hiss at Peanut as she runs by.


From a great newspaper called the Guardian:

France subsidizes artists who work something like 570 hours investing in their art form over 10 weeks time.

These are the 4 most environmentally polluting countries per capita (from worst to less bad): 1) Australia 2) U.S. 3) Great Britian 4) China.


From a great book that I recommend to everyone. It is informative and enjoyable because it is one family's account of trying to live on locally grown food, called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver:

The turkeys we eat generally (those non-organic ones we can pick up anywhere) are genetically altered and bred to grow so fat and inactive that the females have to be artificially inseminated. There's no energy to go about it naturally.

"Nearly three quarters of all antibiotics in the United States are used in CAFOs." (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations)

Setting the Record Straight

Jesse has been wanting to go to this thing called "club" all the time. You see his school friends go and so he wanted to go so badly because it would be so fun. Come to find out there is one club that is a daily after-school club that only kids with 2 parents working can go to and the other one is called "Sisters club" on Thursday afternoon that all kids are eligible for.

Now--I did not want J going to club. I feel that his school is enough time away from the family. But I thought since he repeatedly asked for it, he should try it once and then maybe visit on special occasions. Or maybe he wouldn't like it. After all wouldn't he be too tired to hang out there from 3:20 to 5:45?

Well, on Thursday morning we went up to the teeny-tiny old nun sitting at a table outside of his classroom and signed him up for sisters club. The very first thing that happened was that Jesse, upon seeing the nun, said "Wow! You look really old!"
And I said "Jesse!" but the that was it, after all making a big deal out of that just makes it worse and he did say it innocently--that was just his observation I guess. Well I paid a pound fifty for club plus one pound so he could pick out his snack when the time came. Yeah, I was just thrilled to hear that they got to choose between coke and lemonade, and candy bars and some other things. Which made a whole lot of sense combined with the other factor of club--that there's between 80 and 100 children supervised by 7 or 8 nuns. Are they all as teeny-tiny as this one?

Well, I don't know and they sure are cute and well-meaning. But when I came at 5:45, Jesse was saying he was so tired, it must be his bedtime, and that he thought I was never gonna come, and that he never, ever, ever, ever, ever wanted to go to club again. Well, I will consider him cured. Should be all I will hear about club again! Oh, and the snack table was entirely bins of gummy candy like you see in a candy store--these were their choices.

Luci.

Every morning for the past month Luci says, "Why Jesse goes to school and I'm a girl and I don't go to school?"

This morning I heard her say, as she was pretending with her Old McDonald (Donald Duck), "You go to school because you are a boy and I don't go to school because I'm a girl, and Old McDonald's a boy so he goes to school. No matter how many times we correct her,("'No. Luci. The reason you don't go to school is because you are too young not because you are a girl") she maintains this idea. I want to say, "This is the 2000's, women can go to school!"

Having Fun with the Kiddos

Last week was a great week. I'm talking about the days leading up to Thanksgiving--we'll talk about Thanksgiving later.

Jesse was home sick on Monday and Wednesday, which worked out fabulously. Given that Jesse now goes to school 5 days a week for 6 hours each day, I almost welcome when he is able to stay home. Indeed, I might even be looking for excuses because we are not allowed to even take him out of school for vacation--he is only to take that on the designated holiday breaks. (Not that we won't break that rule sometime....) After his Monday off, we sent him to school on Tuesday. J reported that after some coughing, Miss Flannery said, "You shouldn't be here!" Well, okay family day on Wednesday then. It was my day off and so Darren took care of the kids. They stayed in their pajamas almost all day and played pretend and filled the house with laughter, similar to what took place on Monday. It was quite enjoyable and I had recently mentioned to Darren that I miss the sound of children's laughter in our house because our kids don't have friends over (either because we don't have friends, or because why have friends from school over when they've just spent 6 hours together?) and therefore we don't have the hootin' and hollerin' of children in our house like we used to. Jesse had to dress up like a book character on Friday so he went as Farmer Brown from Click, Clack, Moo and won 2nd prize though he says it was first.

While I missed the replay of fun the kids had together on Wednesday, I was off to Victoria Park on my bike with Peanut in tow. Aaaahhhhhhh.......I also ventured into the danger zone (Oxford Street, the pinnacle of the worst shopping crowds ever) to purchase a couple of 10 pound sweaters which is miraculous considering I had considered my days of $10 to $15 limits history. I thanked God for H&M on that day. It really was a gamble since shopping failure of all kinds lurks around every corner here and I hate Oxford street. It comes to rob, steal, and destroy one's sense of inner peace.


Jesse is reciting tons of songs from the school play that he's in. I'm so excited to see it on December 5th. It's gone from one line (since I knew he was Joseph) to tons of simple choreographed choral stuff. Today my shreaking "Meeeoooow!, as I gave birth to a kitten under Jesse's instruction, elicited a song welcoming Jesus into the world. The repertoire is ever on his tongue and it is fun to see his enthusiasm The big question for us is "How will self-consciousness play out on stage--or will it?" We'll see. And you are all invited to his play the night of December 5th. I know it's hard to make it but I can't not invite all of you to my son's first school play!


Luci plays baby with Peanut all day. If I am in the kitchen, she repeatedly fetches me to come see her baby. Then I see Peanut upon the couch covered in a blanket in our darkened lounge and surrounded by toys. Luci also may(?) have hit a shy stage. A common reaction to "Hello Luci" is now "I'm too shy!" She asks Darren and I multiple times a day, "Why you guys get married?" We've explained it a million times to her and now I think it is just a joke for her because we've laughed at her so many times. She wants to own a cat all the time but I tell her that we can't (Daddy's allergic) but that she can have lots of dogs and cats when she grows up and has her own place. The other day she added, "and a pig too."

Title: Undeclared

Kid update:

I love how Luci says "nal" for the canal we walk on. Her hair is crazy. It's still very thin and I am destined to cut a bit off the lenght today because the snarls are terrible and she complains EVERY time I brush.

Jesse declared the other night that he was going to be Adam in the activity play. Turns out it is Joseph in the nativity play. Imagine this: "Hello Mary. I think we should go to Bethleeehem."

Peanut likes being D's pub dog--she accompanies him every Tuesday night to his guys group. First she rides the tube, then gets loved on for the evening.

My lounge looks much more glorious the past couple days since it has been illuminated with 100W bulb instead of a 60. It was getting entirely too gloomy in here with the curtains drawn here and there through the day to keep it warm in here.

Anyone have any good hallway color suggestions? I am dying to paint it and assuming a safe and ever-welcoming color is a light blue?

I see I have digressed from the children but these are all my pet projects.

Must go shortly but will include recipes in this plus my next 2 posts because they are fabulous and wonderful when cooking healthy in short time.

On with it!

Festive Shrimp Curry with Coconut Sauce (from Extending the Table)

Feel free to only use 6 peices of shrimp if that all you have like me and put in more veggies. Anyone imagining tofu?

Heat in large frypan:
1/4 c. oil

Saute:
1 green pepper, chopped
1 small onion, minced
1 large tomato, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced

Add:1 1/2 t. ground cumin
1/3 c. cilantro,chopped

1 1/2 lb. fresh or frozen shrimp, shelled and deveined

Saute a few minutes util cooked through.
Add:
1 T. flour (optional for thicker sauce and why do it?)

Cook 1 minute. Add:
approx. 2 c. coconut milk

Cook over low heat until thickened.

Add:
salt and pepper to taste

Serve over rice and garnish with"

3-4 chopped scallions (that's if you have it!)

Feeds about 4 (2 adults and 2 distracted children)

In a Flash(Back)--the positives this week!

All of Sunday! Went to Christ Church Spitalfields, chatted it up with some folks, came home and packed PB+J for a picnic in the park with Pea and kids, loaded up the wagon, laid out the spread, watched the kids run, went to the farm where Luci's new favorite animal is the ferret, held the bunnies, contemplated Aunt Sally the pig, journeyed on to the church yard where I hid D's gift of Starburst behind tombstones for the kids to find, came home only to be somewhat dragged upstairs to our neighbors the Begums to visit the cat and be treated with more food, learned 2 phrases of Sylheti, ran off to the vicar's house for a Guy Fawkes' party, laughed myself silly watching the kids be amazed that they could brave fireworks over their heads (it was the vicar setting them off the whole time and the kids eyes were so big), ate chestnuts roasted on an open fire and fellowshipped--loved just about every minute of Sunday, all without Darren, had the kids to myself and actually couldn't complain!

Don't remember much but lucked out making a couple of good meals this week, an encouragement to my soul to find recipes that actually really work (simple, fast, yummy, and vegetabley) and will post them soon.

Was summoned up to the Begums another time, on Thursday, instantaneously received 3 cups of juice between the 2 of us (Luci and I) as well as jam bread and had to run just as Bela was about to serve me her delicious chapati and aloo (potatoes). But not to worry, her cheerful face showed up at our door a few minutes later, just as we were commencing our IC lunch team meeting, with a delicious delivery and I was delighted that she came in and was able to meet John and Deanna. We are now officially in the food exchange program and are excited to have currys coming our way. The only question is, now that I have 3 plates that aren't mine, what will I send them upstairs containing? As you can see, I am really happy about this reciprocal arrangement.

Jesse is singing an Alleluia song from Catholic school with verses about Jesus and Mary and now he hides in his red tent so that his Pirate can put on a show by singing it. Jesse has a great voice and it doesn't look like a pirate is singing but it is so cute.

Today also marks my first real outing with a girl friend I've made since moving to London. We had coffee and biscuits with Lu and wandered around a shopping center and got to ride in a car--it was the special treatment today! Luci reported that her fairy (a little doll) was afraid of the dark in the tunnels we passed through.

Events of the last 48 hours

Darren is off in Glasgow, Scotland for some church event and I am home with the kids and Pea. All is quiet here now though I cannot believe how full of fireworks our neighborhood has been this week-end. Guy Fawkes' day is the 5th and since that is a Monday all the celebrations are now. I think I 've heard more than in the Mission--is that possible?

Darren's been saying "I think Jesse needs a winter coat" for some time so I went out and bought him one. I thought it was cute, a blue coat with a liner that zipped out into a red vest. When he tried it on he said "It makes me feel chubby" and "It's touching my neck" and preceded to walk around with his face pointed towards the ceiling. We could send this boy back to CA but I decided to bring the coat back to the store instead with hopes of finding one that is soothing to his neckline.

I had big plans for today--take the kids and Pea to the park, go to Ratatouille and then go to fireworks at Victoria Park via a bus ride. However, it was all thwarted when J decided to be repeatedly disobedient and I took away the Ratatouille privilege. Boy he didn't like that and I didn't appreciate the two women and their children coming to the door of their house to stare at us as we walked down the street. I think it's good to check for child abuse but this was blatant staring and when I said hi they did not say anything (you know when you try to play it cool during a temper tantrum though it's just eating you up inside) and they stared at us as we walked the whole length of the street as if we were a float in the parade. I was so annoyed but tried not to let the whole situation get me down. But I didn't have a very good day because downward spirits did not afford me much energy. We did however get to the supermarket to pick out cereal and then stopped for Indian food on the way home and that did redeem the day somewhat. Nevertheless, I find I don't enjoy getting the kids through the day all by myself too much anymore. By dinner time I can hardly make it through til bedtime, I'm just aching for space. Maybe I could send them to bed early to read books in bed?

My neighbors from upstairs brought some fabulous lamb curry down via 4 of the 8 children that live up there. I had heard that if I brought some food to my neigbors (i.e. choc. chip cookies) that I would be on the receiving end of some curry. Wednesday was the day that Luci and I made our delivery. We were quickly ushered in and made at home,Luci receiving strawberry milk and me being treated with coke, fresh, hot chapati, beef curry, and spinach and potatoes. Yum! I got to learn a lot about the family. The mom Bela doesn't speak much English nor I Sylheti so the daughter was the translator and we did most of the conversing while her mom was in the kitchen. They had a great oreo cat that was too kind to Luci and she was in heaven. I feel blessed to have met such warm neighbors who have twice said "you have any problems, ring number 13."

After bedtime, I watched the end of one movie and all of another and I am so glad I've had this down time.

Ups and Downs

Sometimes it's so hard to blog, like when you don't have the internet at your house. But maybe it's harder once you get it? Ever since the internet touched down here on Jubilee Street, I don't think I have done a blog entry.

The last couple of weeks have been filled with lots of good times and some not so wonderful.

My high was having time to myself on the Wednesday of last week. With my time, I decided to go it alone on my bike down the canal, except I wasn't really alone because I had Peanut. We rode through Stepney Green up Ben Johnson Road (the only place I really had to brave car traffic) and down to the Canal (Regents). I cruised at a very relaxing pace while Peanut ran behind me. My planned destination was a coffee shop on par with Ritual in SF but we stopped at Victoria Park (the definition of gorgeousness) for a little bit on the way and then continued. Peanut sat with me inside the cafe while I read the newspaper for an hour and then we walked to London Fields across the street and played catch. (I cannot get enough of the autumn leaves here, not to mention the smell of the leaves and the grass together.) Then it was back down the canal, around Victoria Park and home again. The only thing that would have made my day better would be flannel lined jeans.

The low came this week when I was looking into nursing schools and I turned up some information that I feared I might. Basicially it is impossible for me to get a nursing education here. All the nursing programs are run through the NHS which fully funds the education of its students. I don't have access because I would have to be a resident for 3 years and that would be 8 more years for me since you can only apply for residency after 5 years of living here. Not a huge deal if they'd just let me pay. But NO. It does NOT and will not allow me to pay to get a nurse's education here. This was confirmed over and over again by several people though a managing nurse and doctor who I am acquainted with had no idea that this was true. Apparently the system was different years ago and you could pay. I don't know what to make of this situation since I had been counting on being ABLE to take some nursing classes. Yesterday, on the phone with someone with NHS, I received information that there are actually very, very few spots that are incredible hard to get for those who want to self-fund their nursing school in the country but they are very difficult to find. Hmmmmmm.......Do I feel like hunting for those spots?

This was a downer and it didn't help that I paid 17 pounds and 52 pence (basically $36) to send my parents 6 dollars of cookies the day after. Apparently since the clerk had already printed out the postage even though I hadn't paid for it yet,it was irrevocable. Rather than go to jail or look like a cultural moron, I capitulated after an ernest objection. (Sorry Ken, if you thought there was any hope I would actually send you those digestives, you can forget it now.)

I can't believe how utterly powerless I felt with the rejection from nursing. I wasn't even dead set on it but I always counted it an option and it seemed like a good plan. I am reassured that God is in control and I know that he brought us here so perfectly and smoothly and don't doubt this is where we are supposed to be but it was hard to get my mind around the fact that this willing, paying adult could not have the choice to go to nursing school anywhere in the UK. (My friend Scott facetiously says it is "another reason to hate nationalized health care.") It made me think about the position that other people are put in on regular basis--infertility, terrible political situations, not knowing where your children are when your country's at war, bad health, etc. That gave me a bit of perspective but also a touch of empathy for people in those situations in a way.

Anyways, interesting journey this week. And on my bad day, D's computer bit the dust. However, it is under warranty and the hard drive is currently being replaced free of charge.

Right Now

That's all the time I got in this internet cafe...

Then it's off to pick up J at school and deliver he and his sister to Deanna and John's to be babysat, whilst (that's right, that's what I said) D and I go on a fabulous date to celebrate our 7th anniversary!

So this is right now...

There's a man in a cell on the corner of this street and Whitechapel for six days (very much in public) to make a statement about Guantanamo Bay. Will it be chilly tonight? I imagine he's at least entertained by the general busyness of Whitechapel Rd.

Luci still mixed her food and sticks her hair in her drink while looking at it out of the corner of her eye. All this even though I take her to messy times!

Jesse in obedience said, yesterday, "I'll do it straight away!"

We are always the bottom-feeders. The bedframe and wardrobe that were going to be purchased, will no longer be. We found them in our courtyard and will be cleaning them for our purposes shortly. Now that's great door to door delivery!

On assignment currently to find Luci her own pink hairbrush, so must go!

Reconstructing Life

All y'all know I love the Mission District and so it is like me (and Darren) to try to replace some of the institutions of our life there. (I've already figured out that you can only wish here for the sunshine that we had there. My laundry gets rinsed a couple xtra times on the line and the stroller, or shall I say pushchair, raincover has gotten much use in the rain and WIND!)

The main street in our neighborhood is called Whitechapel and there is a huge open market every day there where we have found a bunch of fruit stands which are fabulous. I have yet to determine if they are really as good as the ones in the mission but Darren got a bunch (approx.6) small avocados for a pound.

I didn't know where I'd get my occasional article of cheap stylish clothing around here but I think I found it on the way to our church of choice this morning. It was also an open air street market but located in Spitalfields which is about a 10 minute walk. We've had to look truth straight in the face and say we will never replace the burrito but we may have found some cheap Indian food, and THAT'S not to say we've even come close to replacing Naan 'n' Curry but at least there can be optimism.

We went to a church in Spitalfields today which was great. I think it might be a match for our family actually, even though our intention was to visit around some more. It was very mixed, the worship was great for us, the people were friendly. It was probably only about 75 people with about only 3 small children because,we hear, people tend to get married and have kids here around the age of 40. There were some kind people who offered to show us around the neighborhood and have tea as well as those who have hearts for the Muslim community and want to have lunch, and that is exciting for us who are ready to get out a bit to socialize and learn about the neighborhood, though Darren and I are overdue on a cribbage night at home.

The big void we have is the lack of a telephone line at home and when we get one up and running we will enjoy being more connected with our family and friends who we miss and cannot be reconstructed.

My Date with Jesse

BEFORE Jesse started a school schedule of 9 to 3:20, 5 days a week, D and I thought it smart to seperate the kids to give them some alone time with a parent. This was last Friday. So Lulu and D went to a cafe on a date and I took Jesse on a double-decker bus ride to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We had a fun ride, hopped off, oogled at the Tower, walked over the bridge and found a way to walk under it and come up on the other side. Jesse found this to be the highlight and so exciting that he was jumping, making unintelligible sounds, and pointing at the road. I inferred that he wanted to cross the road and do it again so we did and then instead of heading to Starbucks to play cards (J had packed a whole back-pack full) J wanted to go to the cafe right in front of us as we emerged from the underpass. Reluctantly I agreed as I had my heart set on, not the best, but a reliable mocha.

There was a man dressed in a suit at the register taking my order. Odd, but I was too distracted by life in another culture to really pay it much attention, I mean you should see me stare at the change it my wallet. I told him what we wanted and he said "Where are you from?" California. "What part?" San Francisco. (That's when I realized his American accent.). He said "I used to manage an Italian restaurant there." He said "Bruno's". And from there we chatted for a 1/2 hour. He was the food and beverage manager there (there being 20th and Mission, a short walk from my old house in SF) and had introduced the southern food. I asked if he had worked there when they had the orange seats, and he said yes. He said the coffee was on the house and sat down with us . (I thought "shoot, this will ruin my date with Jesse") But he engaged J a bit and he was not a weirdo. He referred to having grown up in Connecticut and I said I grew up in Massachusetts and he said, "Really, what part?" I said HIngham. And he said "Really!" Then he asked me if I knew some people and I didn't but I found out that he worked for a catering business called "A Catered Affair" (one I've heard of) based out of my home town and we talked about a few Hingham things. It was really fun and I found that it was great to talk to someone who knew where I was from on both coasts. He had such a historical knowledge and interest in London, I thought Darren and John would really enjoy talking to him also.

J and I said good bye to him after a bit because he had just been checking in on the cafe (since he is food and beverage manager for the hotel right there) and we had a blast playing War, Crazy 8's, Old Maid. It was a refreshing day!

this and that

Examples of the jokes Luci tells on a regular basis:

"Wouldn't it be funny if there was a momma and a baby and the momma had the baby's head on her? Wouldn't it be funny?"

"Wouldn't it be funny if my leg was on my head? Wouldn't it be funny?"

She wears her tutu and purple poncho every day so she can be a ballerina. I always wonder if she would make a good ballerina or not because she is so messy and wild.

Jesse is learning English speech in class now and we are laughing about it together. I asked him what the favorite part of his school day was yesterday and he said "Broccoli." His least favorite thing was when his friend pushed his other friend during circle time.

The cheese and yogurt here are so good! And the biscuits too! There's nothing like a McVitties chocolate covered digestive biscuit. We finally located some buckwheat so we have D's buckwheat pancakes this Saturday.

Connection to the Outside World

Since moving in, my days have been filled with mediating the debates that J and Luci have, shopping for groceries (I can't believe how much food stocks a kitchen the way we expect it to be), finding things like plungers in local shops, looking for an appropriate school situation for Jesse, and thanking God for the little things, and the big things. I have missed my connection to the outside world since we only have very expensive phone service via Darren's mobile and no internet access. Currently I am sitting in a student pub/lounge of some kind that affords me a connection for the price of coffee (79 p, not bad in London!). Last night we brought the simplest clock radio home from the local electronic store to put in our bedroom and I celebrated my first connection with the outside world in my house. Haven't listened to it yet but I want to see what's out there.

Home!

D and I moved into our new place and it, so far, is more fabulous than I anticipated. We have what I think is a beautiful lounge with 3 coffee colored walls and one red, the one with the window facing out to our backyard which is yet to be developed into a beauty of its own. Our kitchen was nothing to be excited about, except that it has a fabulous window looking out onto our neighbors and the courtyard that our kids roll around in, but it now is super cool since Darren "decorated it" by putting pretty beans, lentils, and spices into jars. I'd say it pretty much expresses us and it's so great to smell curry wafting through the air every day. I think of our neighbors who will be fasting from sun-up to sun-down during Ramaddan and wonder how I am assessed through my kitchen window as I reach for a cookie when I please throughout my days. Should I be fasting too?

J and I had a discussion about how the women dress here, many of whom are totally covered, with the exception of their eyes. I decided to bring it up at the playground with a covered woman, who was the topic of our conversation, in the distance. (I had heard that some children could be scared of the appearance of covered women, reasonable I think.) So we talked briefly about how it was part of what they believe and that some women wear different colors of fabric and some only cover their heads, not their faces. About five minutes later Jesse was yelling 'Hey mom, I see a woman with a red thing on her head but her face ISN'T covered!" He was so proud on his applied education. Then we hung out with a totally covered woman who was pushing her niece on the roundabout (merry-go-round) and talked about the school situation here. We talked about the large Muslim home-schooling community and not having to put J in kindergarten (reception here) even though most people already have their 4 year-olds in it. It was great to have a lot in common with her, learn a lot, and watch my kids laugh with her neice Tayyibah.

I have a grocery store, vegetable markets, a hole-in-the-wall (atm), Starbucks, bargain theatre, big green park, and farm all within 5 to 10 minute walks from our house and am finding it a joy to get out and about here. So glad we don't have to cross town for our basics. In a minute, I will head to Curry's to look at prices on electric tea-kettles. Seems like a must have here.

Our internet and phone access is limited now as we search for a service and become qualified (with a debit account here) so you may not hear form me much in the next couple weeks and that explains my absence but my friends and family are on my heart and we shall be in touch when modernity comes to my home. I have a toilet with a chain that has a tank at the top and sometimes modernity evades us but I have to say I am a modern woman in the way that I love my internet connection and having the world at my fingertips so to speak. And absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder.

Anticipation

As you may have read in D's blog, it has been great doing life in such close proximity to each other and within the Middleton's house but I can't wait to move into what I hope is our new place. I'm ready for some space and alone time in the confines of my own home and I'm excited for the kids to get excited about their new room which will be decorated, unlike our time at the Well. I'm ready to nest, in a sense, and the introvert in me has had just about all it desires of this cozyness. I think our new adventure, moving to the Hayes in our new neighborhood tomorrow, will rejuvenate me so that we can paint on the week-end and move in Monday or Tuesday. High expectations but soothing to me right now.

Disorientation?

After landing on the ground here in London, we have been able to stay with our new friends the Middletons. They have 2 girls, Janae (4 1/2 years) and Anneka (2 years). Janae and Jesse are 2 peas in a pod and I wouldn't say there is tons of chemistry between Anneka and Luci except for the occasional heated dispute, but everyone has made new friends. Yesterday I caught Luci telling Janae, "We're gonna miss you when we move to London."

On a food note, I had the most fabulous little corn tonite in a vegetable medley at dinner all on the homefront, not in a restaurant. I was thinking about how they tasted so wonderfully like corn and wondered what had gone wrong with all the American versions I'd had before. Seriously, has anyone had a small corn in the U.S. that actually tasted like a little corn on the cob?

First Assessment, London

Well, it feels like we've been her for a week--in a good way. The kids have almost adjusted to jetlag and so much has happened. It is really all going so smoothly. I would say jetlag and ensuing attitudes are the big things that could go wrong but they haven't and eating English food could be judged as a smaller hurdle but it hasn't been a hurdle at all. This continues to pleasantly surprise me--I have had nothing but top-rate food such as great curries (at a pub no less), wonderful meat pie with perfectly cooked vegetables, fresh produce, and amazing ice cream. I am really liking London, so far I have been protected from having to feel too far from home. The parks are fabulous and the children have been enjoying them and the people have been extremely friendly, even the gray-haired downstairs neighbor who was almost on the receiving end of a large rock that Jesse had dropped over the balcony. He just said it hadn't been the first time (there had been other children predisposed to the same behavior) and asked Jesse if he was Jesse James. I do and will miss San Francisco, but it is soothing to my soul to experience the pleasant sunlight and heat we had here yesterday, to smell the constant wafting of Asian spices floating through the Tower Hamlets air which I have dreamed of and to enjoy the greenery everywhere, as well as the banks of the Thames while our children cast rocks into the water. I am enjoying the simplicity of our life right now, even sleeping in one room together as a family. It feels like we are all making the best of it and it is an intimate time together and with God as I am happy watching Him take care of us moment by moment.

Wrapping It Up

The kids are enjoying Sesame Street, and I wonder how long it will be until they see another episode. Today, finally, is the day we move to London, a day we've been anticipating and waiting for for a long time even though we've enjoyed every step (mostly) along the way, appreciating times with friends and enjoying this great New England vacation at my parents.

We still need to record our kids talking because soon their speech will turn British. Maybe, we can record them doing the acting game that we love to do where you say anything, something like "I'm so sad that you're leaving" from many different emotional perspectives. It'll be fun to hear them in British.

You might want to know where the kids are developmentally now. Luci is constantly playing baby--I get to be the baby sleeping on the couch (I love this game) that goes "Wah!Wah!" and then my mommy (Lulu) comes in to give me a pacifier, blanket, or foot rub at my suggestion. We have discovered that Luci is allergic to grapes or the sulfur pesticide that is on them. We hardly ever have grapes at home but have had them a lot here and she has had repeated diarrhea and vomiting for 2 weeks, it sounds bad but she has been enjoying life here, just having bad nights. Jesse likes to shoot on a regular basis and I allow this--I just want it to be outside and not usually in Luci's face since she often doesn't like it. My cousin's husband, J, over-indulged Jesse a week ago by doing incredible death scenes, staggering and gurgling to his death. He was an incredible actor, and even though it was grotesque, I think we were all impressed. Jesse stepped on the scale today and weighed in at 43 pounds and to which he said scrunch faced, "I'm a super-hero!"

Both Luci and Jesse have enjoyed the relatives and friends here, like Uncle Ken (I was meaning to do a blog entry on his fabulousness alone) and Aunt Sarah who have endless patience and energy to give our kids.

Reconnecting

So much has happened in the last couple of months and I have missed out on my blogging. I say I missed it, and I have, but in all this busyness, I have actually preferred my sleep and stillness over blogging. But many times throughout my days I have thought that I should really blog about this or that.

Here's a list of things I wish I had blogged about but haven't:
--Jesse's view of the world through pictures
--our awesome community of friends in San Francisco
--saying goodbyes
--the complicating process of getting Peanut to England
--plowing through every bit of our belongings determining "to keep" or "to pass on"
--the beauty of this lessening and the spiritual practice of the remembering the goodness of our life through these objects that we are sorting through
--what a thing of God the organism of the Outer Circle is as it lives and breathes the love of God through our IC/FBC family in SF on the streets
--taking in the tastes and pleasures of Napa on a week-end getaway with friends that have been family to us is SF
--saying a tearful goodbye to my friend Annelies but then stealing more moments in my house with her after, in the middle of a busy week for her and me she called to say, " I'm coming over to house with bon-bons and nail polish"
--hugging the big men who are like family to me--Scott (my constant enjoyment and truest neighbor), Fish (my big brother from the street who is much reformed, wonderfully considerate, yet so unrefined (this is quite wonderful too most of the time), and Joe, another beautiful man from the street who has persevered after Jesus and who I enjoy just having around, to eat my food and inhabit my orange chair like no other, twisting his twisties into character, laughing at simple things, and grunting.
--the pleasure of our friends Derek and Julia who we practically never see sitting on our stoop eating their burritos twice in 2 weeks!
--my last walk up Bernal Hill (where my weight is always lifted and I take in the city God gave us for a while) with my Peanut while smiling at her beard swaying in the wind
--the 80's prom party my friend Lyndy threw for her 30th (thought it was good of me to wear my fuchsia dress I wore to prom with the dyed-to-match payless purse and heels but my outfit couldn't stand up to the others coming through the door
--Jesse writing notes to his friends scrawled on the link freshly cut from our paper count-down chain and saying to everyone, while touching their arm, "We're going to miss you in London."
--Luci and Jesse being the best of friends
--Luci serenading Peanut for ten minutes at a time and telling me to "Go away" from her and her beloved
--enjoying teamwork with Darren in a way I could have never imagined

On that note, I have stirred up an overwhelming amount of memories and should probably exit. Here we are, now in MA at my folks, and reconnecting to our family life together, looking at each other and God and wondering excitedly what it will hold.

Thanks friends in San Francisco who have made my life!

This will be quick! Darren and I are sitting outside a Starbuck's in SoCal that has a fountain that the kids love playing in. They love to take our coffee cups and straws and send them around in the circular motion of the fountain like sailboats.

Our vacation down here with D's parents have afforded us and the kids much of this type of activity. It started with an afternoon at Darren's sister Sarah's house where the kids romped in the backyard--in and out of the kid pool, a loop around the yard on the bike, playing house.

Then there's been a lot of time spent in the pool or jacuzzi at Dan and Judy's. I went for a pedicure with Sarah that first afternoon and it is not holding up well as my toes scratch along the bottom of the pool.

This truly has been a perfect visit for us and the kids as we've enjoyed seeing the kid's cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and fireworks at Disney. Last night, we had the pleasure of hanging out with some of our supporters. It was great to connect after a long time and to inform them a little bit more about our move to London. We also had some great home-made Mexican food. All these things will be few and far between in London though we actually may have a great deal of visitors being in such a prime location.

The other night as we rode in the car as a family, we were reflecting on how we will miss riding in the car as a family, since we won't have a car in London. At the moment we were listening to a worship song that says, "the earth is filled with His glory" and Jesse was sketching this on his etch-a-sketch in the back seat. The drawing is a series of strokes culminating with the whole etch-a-sketch being completely filled in. A whole lot of glory.

Fun Times

Darren and I had a white trash/bookish people party last night. It simultaneously was an auction to get rid of our appliances, and therefore a fundraiser. Needless to say we had good results and it was great to kiss some of our stuff good bye. But it was also a whole lot of fun. The kids went for an overnite at their friend Bree's house so Darren and I got to socialize.

Throughout the night people said,"So are your kids sleeping?" The question was a nice reminder that they were gone--no inquisitive minds wanting to be part of a big kid's party or looking longingly at food. D and I mingled and mingled and reallized we hadn't even hung out with each other during the whole night.


There were classy looking people and trashy looking people. I reflected on Tim Lockie's horrible teeth, how much stuff Claire Howard has under her bed that can serve as fabulous outfits for at least a 1/2 dozen folks on a whim, how much we missed certain friends who couldn't come, and how the vote seemed to be that I should ditch my old look for my new one.


It all was a blast to behold. Thanks Lyndy, Darren, and Tim for helping set up and to Andrea, mom to my kids plus her own last night.

And thanks to San Francisco, my beloved city and home, who never casts a scoffing look at any reason to celebrate or go out in costume. It has taught us well!

Progression

Darren got our visa application done and in the mail today! It has been a long progress as he has consulted a Britiish immigration lawyer through the process and has followed his advice to include resumes, job descriptions etc. Whew! It was like a big school project and I'm glad it was Darren who did it since he always got A's and I got B's or C's as a standard.

Luci is using the toilet regularly with my constant assistance. She is nowhere near being potty-trained in my mind, since she needs to mature mentally and physically, but it saves on a few diapers and is good practice.

Some of you know that Jesse has been extremely tired for a couple weeks in such a way as to disturb us extremely. Is he sick? Does he have cancer? Is this all the effects of growth spurting? Not sure we really have an answer, but by putting him to bed a few times a week at 6 p.m. (per his teacher's suggestion) and limiting his activity, we are minimizing his emotional and physical meltdowns. However, I am discouraged to realize that his fun summer school times of riding the train, going to aquatic parks, and City Hall are almost above and beyond the energy level of my Jesse who likes the rythym of imaginitive play, snack time, walk time, circle time, and lunch--the normal school routine. It dawned on me today that it is a bit too much for him.

I am continuing with my running, though it is never as frequent and all-out as I would like. With Peanut in tow, I am inevitabley slowed down. Yet how can I reject her when the very necessity of walking my dog is often about the only impetus for getting my derriere out on the pavement, let alone Bernal Hill? I have to report that I think at times, not consistently, we are getting faster. Peanut has at least traded in some of her exhaustion on the way home into 3 blocks of sprinting for us. There she is, all out of breath, on the verge of collapse with me eaking out every block from her, and then 3 blocks from home she decides to play the leash game or get excited about the whiff of a kitty cat, and off she goes with my legs about to fly off. But I do appreciate this new challenge.

Tonight we ate the rice noodles which have been in our pantry for a year. It is countdown. With me having possibly not much more than a month here, it is time to whittle down what is edible in our pantry and fridge. So we had cabbage from the bottom of our crisper, tofu from the freezer, and the noodles together in a peanut sauced ensemble. It was pretty good for a no recipe meal.

Darren and I are packing boxes here and there and actually really enjoying our time together doing that. It feels really satisfying to be working on a project together and I'm glad that we are enjoying our marriage so much. You can't just expect THAT when you're moving.

Today

I commented to Darren the other day that this is the best summer of my life, probably an exaggeration but I am enjoying the kids so much. And I wonder if it will be my best watching them because they love and smooch each other so much. Jesse has recently gotten into saying "Oooohhh" when Luci cries and bringing her a parade of toys. Luci likes to make Jesse her baby, covering him with a blanket and patting his head--Jesse loves being mothered.

I was laughing to myself today, when at 1:15 today Luci, Jesse, Peanut, and I took a walk around the block. Jesse brought the dirty broom from the front steps, sweeping the bits of trash he found into the street and Luci carried her pink piece of chalk so we could draw spontaneous hearts and circles. We were one part city clean-up crew and one part graffitti artists.

A double pleasure occured today when we were enroute to gelato with our friend Fish and we bumped into our recently old neighbors Brent and his mom Ephralynn. I did not know where they had moved to nearby and was able to find out. (I knew it was somewhere around the corner but walking around recently with Jesse and calling "Brent" had not worked.) It was a joy to have our gelato time followed by a visit to Brent's new house where the boys rough housed on Brent's top bunk. Watching Jesse play with boys is one of my greatest joys because it is so rare, outside of school.

Had dinner at Naan 'n' Curry, ran over Bernal with Pea, and read a couple chapters of Anne Lamott's new "Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith" and am finding it so great to hear someone speak so truthfully and insightfully. I especially enjoy the stories about her dog and the trials of parenting. Her perspective is validating and encouraging. And now I'm off to take a hugely anticipated shower with hopes that I will not hear the Luci who apparently should not take any more naps starting tomorrow.

From the Mouths of Babes?

Two days ago when Jesse, Luci, and I were eating Darren's leftover gumbo, which is delicious and we all love, Jesse and I had this conversation:

Jesse: "So the hunters hunt this chicken?"

me: "Well, yes" (I wanted to keep this conversation short because I fear details of the reality of meat will either lead to severe jesse sorrow or nasty details of chicken factories that I would like to only relay in bits and pieces over time.)

Jesse: "Well, I don't like that the chicken had to die for me to eat this chicken because I like chickens."

me: "Well, honey, that's why I like to eat meals without meat most of the time, like beans and other things."

Jesse (after another yummy bite): "Well I'm gonna ask God to kill the hunters because I don't like them hunting the chickens."

Jesse

A quote from Friday upon returning home from school, said witih complete seriousness:

"We should really have junk, because I ate really well today and I really love junk, so we should eat some junk."

After I pray that Jesse "have wonderful dreams that feed his soul", Jesse says, "What are wonderful dreams? Are they when you eat something really yummy?"

Whew!

So much to say and it feels like I've missed many anopportunity to blog about exciting details of our life...But then again I've been busy just living it and I'm glad about that.

I'll just do a few words to recap our life these day, kinda like the "popcorn" prayers we used to do at church. Sorry to those who don't know what I'm talking about.

Jesse's summer school started this week which included a train ride to and from and exciting park in Burlingame

We've now enjoyed a month of friendship with Jesse and Luci's new friends Pretty (almost 4) and Strong Claire(almost 2) and her mom Lisa. We met at and hang together at Wednesday night dinner and church on Sunday. Shared ice cream at Dolores Park today!

Boxes are being packed and given away or stored iin prep for our move.

Jesse wants to move to London in "like 2 days" so Christmas and his birthday can come quickly.

I am doing the preschool search as much as I can from here, and it's a tad difficult but hurray for state-funded preschool!

Darren and sidekicks have finished a several day long training for InnerChange's summer exchange interns. I'm excited that 3 are going to my beloved Starlight in Boston.

Luci's not so great at using the toilet. Don't think I'll be proclaiming "Potty-trained" for a while.

John and Deanna Hayes, who have gone ahead of us to London, have settled into an apartment in Tower Hamlets and I finally feel that the move is upon us. It's exciting to have a neighborhood pinned down and I am already researching it from afar, throught the internet or chatting with the Hayes.

School's Out

Jesse's school year officially came to an end on Friday and while I was looking to spend some more time with this week, before his summer school starts, I was wondering how the kids would be occupied. Would the kids mostly get along blissfully? Would I be extra tired at the end of the week. Well, so far so well.

Yesterday, as I was planning an excursion, it was clear that Jesse was not interested in going anywhere or doing much. He was content to read book while sucking his fingers, or play imagination games from the couch while sucking his fingers, or cover him up on the couch so he could sleep like a baby. He did all this in a good mood and it ended up being a great morning with the kids as they played together and we did basic things. We went grocery shopping and that pretty much made it a morning.

Then in the afternoon, Jesse's friend Judah came over with her mom and little brother and we all hung out while the kids played in their kitty cage, which is the pack-n-play with a sheet over it. Good times.

This week consists of a bunch of playdates which I am looking forward to, I really enjoy Jesse's little friends (they become Luci's too) and their moms--the change of pace is refreshing.

Peanut did get neglected yesterday though. She was home with us but she wasn't out running around until I went to Mariah's surprise 25th birthday party, stayed for a bit with me as we played BINGO, and ran home with her. Would have loved to run longer but I was ready for bed and didn't feel like running around my neighborhood too late. I mean Peanut is my protector dog, of course, but she would lag behind with her ears back when we stumbled upon shady characters, until she could figure out a way to dart around them. I know she'd take a chunk out of someone if they laid a hand on me, but I'd like her to look and act just slightly more intimidating.

Today holds a playdate with Jesse's beloved Uma at a nearby park. Tommorrow is his regular time with his other girlfriend Bree. Then, hurray for a BOY named Cooper on Thursday. If only there were more boys.......

Monday Lunch

I don't know if the point is that I'm weird or my kids are agreeable, but I just made them cherry arugula sandwiches with parmesan-romano cheese and they made a good stab at eating them with no complaints, just yelling for the grapefruit they wanted for dessert.

We did eat a TLC oatmeat/dark chocolate chunk cookie in the car on the way home from Costco. Now that's more like it!

It's Finally Happened

Well folks, the kids are finally, officially, for the long term, sharing a room.

As our full May approached, Darren and I looked forward to our guests but dreaded the inevitable loss of sleep that always resulted when Loud Luci moved out of her room and into Jesse's. At bedtime, she would do every song and dance to ward off sleep and to have us waiting on her and losing our tempers. This behavior also annoyed Jesse who just wanted to drift off into dreamland as he sucked his fingers. And just as we thought we'd left the misery of the night behind, Luci would do her typical LOUD morning wake-up call around 6, once again annoying everyone else. Give us a few nights of this and Darren and I are very tired and annoyed with our high maintenance daughter.

But truly after some great company (both sets of Grandparents and Rex and Connie Kennemer), lots of practice, and a bit of maturing, Luci is proud to be sleeping like a big girl with Jesse and can be coaxed (a.k.a. threatened) into behaving tolerably. It was cute to see how excited she was to return to bed every night in Jesse's room. And now, though the system is not without a few little kinks, I am happy to report that the kids are sharing a room quite well.

Perhaps Jesse should be given some credit. One morning (at 6:45) when Luci was repeatedly yelling my name and Jesse's, Jesse yelled back at her, "Luci! Do you want to grow? Do you want to grow? Then you have to sleep or you won't grow!" This went on for 5 minutes until Luci sheepishly said yes.

A Sweet Mostly Palatable Friday

Friday.

My parents were here (they left this morning) so they watched Luci with Darren while I was able to have an adventure with a friend. My friend Virginia, who is a foodie, led me on a tour through Chinatown as we both set out to find really yummy chinese food. Ginny had it all planned out so it was a pleasure for me to just relax, have some good conversation, and enjoy the secrets of Chinatown. We ate a little bit here and there but the highlights were a chocolate covered something we shared from a bakery , and the shrimp and leek dumplings we ate as we shared dim sum at the Great Eastern Restaurant, I think. (I will be sure to make a clear identifications so I can obtain these foods in the future.) Wow--only a few months to enjoy what I've been missing all these years. The antithesis to this enjoyment was walking into some meat/poultry shops and seeing the rotund frogs sitting in a bucket and the game birds crammed so there is no room to move in their cages, this to precede the hacking off of their heads for the viewers and purchasers. This might be bad to see but not so bad for the animals who would endure brief pain after days of terrible containment. I don't think it takes an animal lover such as myself to feel compassion. And as we walked out I said to Ginny, "I'm sure glad God is a God of justice because it is apparent that ALL of creation is suffering." She said,"It's true, we're all suffering and then we make each other suffer." We proceeded to the best fish store ever that I am definitely taking my kids back to and we awed at most of God's creation reserving "That's gross!" for the slithery eels. This was a journey to be replayed, and perhaps edited, next time around. Thanks Gin and my parents and husband for giving me this opportunity!

I disembarked from my journey at the 24th Street BART station and jumped into a van with my family (this includes Grandma, Grandpa, and Peanut) to head up to our farm for strawberry picking. It was a long journey which we will never do again to the best strawberries I have ever tasted. I really never knew they could taste so good. Eating each one warm from the sun was like eating strawberry pie. I ate more strawberries than I ever had and wish I had eaten more because it did not make me sick. The kids showed surprising restraint as they bent down underneath their sunhats and accumulated berries in their baskets. After about a half hour they sat under the tent at the picnic tables and partook. It was nice because nobody else was picking at that time. So it was a peaceful family and nature time. Also a great opportunity to show my parents the Eatwell Farm that we always talk proudly about. We even saw the hens that lay our eggs and Jesse screamed "Cock-a-doodle--doo!" into the roosters' faces.

Fullness-a week in Review

So much has flown by and for the most part I've enjoyed it. Here's a recap of our days.

Jesse, Luci,and I took our friend Shirley home from Wednesday night dinner. It was an eventful journey as my kids were ready for bed and only elevated their voices to speak. I was so annoyed with them and welcomed Shirley barking at them. First she said "I'm so glad I don't have kids", as she clenched her head in her hands. Then she said "Stop kicking the seat" and when Luci asked for music she said "She can't do that right now, your mother's first priority is to drive." Inside I felt like I didn't want my kids' feelings to be hurt but mostly, since they weren't listening to me and their voices were killing my head, I was thinking "Yes, Shirley, way to put them or scare them into line." Though I have to admit that she made only a small impact. It was a hilarious ride.

Thursday was a change of plans. I made my chicken casserole for Fish as he was coming over to dinner. And made a chocolate pot de creme for dessert. He got mixed up and didn't make it but we had my friend Andrea and her daugher Bree (Jesse's most long-term friend) over for dinner and the night. Luci and Jesse shared a room again (an opportunity always afforded to us by having guests) and it was proven once again that they don't share a room too well, thought admittedly Bree was the early riser who had a domino effect.

Darren took Jesse to his first Giants game on Saturday. We all headed to Dolores Park from which the two of them took off on the train. Jesse was so excited he wanted to skip playing on the playground and head straight to the game even though it was early. Apparently, at the game, Jesse tried flagging down everybody who came by selling food. I asked him how the game was later and the first thing he said was, "I was hungry a lot." Luci and I stayed at Dolores and took part in the Cinqo de Mayo festivities--primarily the food, which consisted of tamales, pupusas, dulce de leche coffe samples from Starbucks, and gelato, and Peanut frolicked in the grass. What a beautiful day!

Sunday was worship and relaxation but also church busyness, as church was preceded by a deacons meeting and concluded with a deacons lunch. That evening was a respite from the moods and busyness that accumulates--we got to go see David Wilcox with our friends Rick, Cathy, and Scott. Dave Wilcox is an enjoyable storyteller.

Monday was the fulfillment of a dream! Or shall I say 2? We had a playdate with Uma and her mom at Precita Park. It was a scorcher of a day so much so that Jesse was officially introduced to the man with the ice cream cart, a much feared introduction as I know this knowledge could have infinite repercussions. On the way to the park I found a old push lawnmower, something I had been looking for on Craig's List! We'll see if it works......

Tuesday--a perfect finale to all this writing. After a week of back-up in the bathtub the plumber paid us a welcome visit,something Jesse was sorry to have missed. As we climbed our stairs freshly home from school, he said "But can't the plumber come even when something's not broke? Like he could just come over to babysit! Earlier Tuesday, Luci swallowed a penny at the fruit stand. And when I questioned her of the deed, she yelled "Sorry, Mommy!" before I could finish my words. The guilt seemed evident to me but it was nothing like the proof of a shiny penny I found in her diaper today.

Looking forward to Jesse's birthday festivities. I can't believe he's turning 4!

The Things Lu-lu is doing these days

About Luci...

She loves her tweety bird pj's and in the morning during her diaper change, she says, "Please, can I wear my tweety bird a little bit?" I think she thinks it's a costume.

She can actually keep a hairstyle for longer than 5 seconds. We've had 2 days of almost all-day pigtails. Cute!

She still loves her green and white gingham butterfly dress. Soon the buttons will not be able to close. But it is a constant request nevertheless.

Still collecting, in descending order of importance--flowers, sparklies (this includes glitter, sequins she rips of my clothes while I'm wearing them, shards of glass most of which are worn down by being trodden upon in the Mission but it makes me MAD, and anything with a hint of light in them), leaves, rocks, marbles and beads from the sidewalk.

She's enjoying the movie Annie and singing Tomorrow as well as a song from the Wiggles that includes "Shh, shh, shh."

She talks about friends now, wanting to see them, and her class at church. She pretty much stopped crying when I leave her in her class about 4 or 5 months ago.

She adores running to the front door when Daddy comes home and demands to be tickled. Jesse and Peanut make the same demands.

Starting to be a little better at night. She's been corrected by her dad's stern command of "No more crying". Seems it was just what she needed to correct a really bad habit of crying when waking at night.

She is a kitty 25% of the time. When she knows she needs to eat more at the table, she meows and this allows her to eat the spoonful in front of her. Sometimes her wake-up call in the morning is a "Meow". It is very high pitche and squeaky.

A deep voice of a lion is used to roar when she's chasing her brother.

She says daddy broke her light every night at bedtime, ever since the bulb burned out of her night-light 2 months ago.

She's started using the toilet here and there and went pee-pee for the first time there last week.

She's a handful, that's for sure. Some things haven't changed. But I think I glimpse a bit of politeness developing!

God Provides "Peter and the Wolf"

By now many of you know about "Peter and the Wolf", the musical compostion and enclosed story. Jesse has loved it ever since its inception into our lives. Don't even know where it came from, second-hand at Chloe's perhaps. I believe we've had to retire it twice in Jesse's short life-span because it gives him serious nightmares. And this is hard scientific fact. There were moments when I thought "Nah, it couldn't be that" but put it to the test and you will get Jesse moaning and crying all night long. But he loves it. And it is stored away, always approached with trepidation by both parent and child. Jesse says, "I don't think I should listen to that--it will give me really bad nightmares. Nevertheless, he can quote it jollily and ask me to tell him the story on the way to school. Fear not, merely talking of it has no correlation to nightmares.

I remember fondly a recent visit (about 2 months ago) to Naan 'n' Curry that intertwined with the topic of Peter and the Wolf. We had wrapped up our dinner there and Darren was at the register paying, when Jesse started chatting it up with some refined looking 60ish women. I don't know all the words of the exchange, but it started with Jesse inquiring "Do you know Peter and the Wolf?" The women said something like "My yes." And then Jesse quizzed them on what instruments played what characters. I could see these women were in a bit of disbelief that they couldn't answer to a 3 year-old. ( I am not saying that J can actually answer his own questions but this was the impression he was making.) They looked at me astounded and said "Isn't that quite advanced for a 3 year-old?" In a flash, I thought I could say, "Well, he's almost 4 actually" or tell them that we're not a family of classical music scholars, we just take what comes our way. But I thought, no let them dote--it's fun to watch these ladies who are enamored with our family. We wound up the conversation, headed towards the exit, Luci reached for a straw and accidentally sent a glass smashing to the floor. So much for the impression of refinement! I thought it was pretty hilarious.

The other day when Darren took Jesse to a playgroung, they just happened upon a pile of books that contained "Peter and the Wolf". What luck! It feels like the fulfillment of 2 years of meditating on Peter and the Wolf. Not that we had ever even hoped for a book! It seems the words mimic the recording exactly. Jesse's favorite page is the one with the fox greedlily looking at the duck. When I read the word "wall" as "wall", Jesse pointed out that on the cd they say "wool"--his rendition of wall said with a British accent. That's when I explained that that was British English, the English that they speak in London where we are moving to. He now requests that we read the book with British accents. Jesse has said that he might get nightmares from reading the book, but so far, read in moderation, he is nightmare-free.

Jesse showed the book to his teacher Monica at school. In fact he waved it to her from across the room and said "Look!" She said, " I bet I know what that is."

Jesse's Prayer at Bedtime

Dear God,

Thank you for giving me the bestest mommy, made of Pam, that I ever had. And thank you for giving me Luci, the bestest sister I ever had. And thank you for Darren, the best, best, bestest daddy I ever had!

In Jesus' name, Amen!

Amazing Cultures!

I should be blogging about my fabulous time having Jennifer here (which just so happens to coincide with Darren being away in London) but my excitement about these cultures overwhelms me right now, not that bacteria is more exciting than Jennifer. I'll have to reflect on my week with Jennifer manana.

I entered the magical world of probiotic making today. In laymen's terms that would be how to make such things as kefir, yogurt, piima, quark, cream cheese and creme fraiche. These things have active enzymes that really aid in digestive health.

Didn't know that this class (given by Jesse's teacher Carrie) I signed up for at j's school auction would be so enlightening. What a treat (and deal) for $30 bucks!

Would love to relay all that I learned but I'm to tired for that so here's a small summary.

Let me start by saying these things have interesting tastes that wouldn't at first inclination appeal to all, but wow, Carrie had some fabulous things to eat that were made out of her colonies--cheescake (the BEST I've ever had), dips, butter, the creamies, sweetest plain yogurt ever, yum!

Everything she made (cultured) was SO easy, only the yogurt required stovetop time. Basically, put a little bit of this culture into this much milk, set aside and get your result in a day or two.

Kefir grains are these little cauliflower like things (very cool-looking) and if you put some with milk and set aside you get kefir (maybe you've seen it in health-food stores or health magazines), a tangy drink that I definitely could dig on a regular basis, especially with a dallop of jam mixed in.

For the first time I tasted whey, the extremely nutritious liquid you can strain off yogurt or piima. Interesting fermenedt taste! Carrie says she craves it to quench her thirst and I can believe it. It is tart yet satiating.

One thing I suspected, and Carrie confirmed, was that the occurence of creamy, thickened milk only sometimes in Luci's sippy cup after residing for a night in her crib is in fact yogurt. For months I'd been suspecting that Lulu had been making yogurt with her body heat during the night. Turns out it's true. I'm so thrifty maybe I should eat it for breakfast?

Another interesting tip was to ferment nuts (starting with raw is best) by soaking in water with sea salt overnight, and then drying slowly in a low temp oven. The resulting taste is delicious (I'm oblivious to any fermented taste, it just tastes like the regular nut only better) and these nuts are sometimes digestable by people who have nut allergies because the offending enzymes are removed. WHY I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!

I'm so grateful I had my class today--another way of looking at God's marvelous world.

Uma

Jesse LOVES his preschool friend Uma. I ask him whose birthday party he want's to go to--Francisco or Imagen. He says Uma's. I ask him who he plays with the most. Uma. He tells me about jokes they have together.

But this says it all, this conversation we had when I had tucked him in bed.

Jesse: Mommy, why did you marry Daddy?

Me: Because I loved him and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

Jesse: Will I get married someday?

Me: Yeah, if you want to.

Jesse: I want to marry Uma. Someday, my mommy can give a ring to me. And her mommy can give Uma a ring. And we can walk together through the forest and I can give her the ring that my mommy gave me and she can give me the ring her mommy gave her.

Yikes! I am not looking forward to taking Jesse to London, far, far away from Uma.....It has been plaguing me for months and this love has not let up.

New things and experiences

What an interesting week..

Jesse was off from preschool as it is school vacation week. I guess it was a perfect time for him to be progressing through a bad cold. We all are excited to see him off to school tomorrow. Looking forward to catching my breath and recuperating a little bit.

We had a cool Easter week-end. Went to a family-oriented Good Friday service at our church on Friday, where the death of Jesus was really driven home to Jesse. He saw some pretty harsh video clips (it wasn't known to us prior) of Jesus being nailed to the cross and he was very sad to see Jesus crying out in pain. It occupied his mind all evening, and beyond but praise God it has brought good conversation and no nightmares. We like the truth of the gospel message but we also like to sleep.

J and Luci had fun at the following pot-luck in the basement of our church where Jesse hung with his friends at the children's corner and made a cross out of popsicle sticks and Luci sang here trademark Twinkle, twinkle little star so loudly, everyone turned to watch her and then clapped. I'm sure this will deter further behavior of that sort.

I came down with my cold on Saturday but we managed to pass the time pleasantly with the kids as the boys went off to get the car washed and took a bus ride and the ladies lingered at home (this does include Peanut of course), then meandered their way slowly to Phil's coffee where they met the boys. Then off to Precita Park, to naps, to dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant--we're not challenged by the use of chopsticks just the misuse, as our children drop them on the floor and treat them like drumsticks, and the lazy susan with all the sauces.......they're not baby bottles Luci!

Unfortunately we had to miss church on Sunday to fulfill our other plans which was to spend Easter with our friends from church, the Osgoods. They have a great vacation home in Napa, on a golf course (don't care for golf, just sprawling greeness) and 3 great more mature kids, Joseph 9, Charlotte 11, and Madeline 12. We ate mostly casual meals with them and our kids ran around so free--down the street to use the neighbors wagon, J to the pond with Charlotte to open sprinkler boxes and collect frogs, Peanut running off and keeping her eyes on all parties--the children away from the house and the parents close by. There was a brief Easter egg hunt for our kids. I'm not sure who's the smartest, Jesse who wanted to collect as many as he could, or luci who was intent on eating as she went along. Peanut couldn't resist jumping into the pond as the kids climbed trees. We took a drive to Osgood's friend home and vineyard and let their dogs out to romp--Luci hung on the massive labs as much as she could and declared that Peanut, who was with us, was her dog.

It was quite a blissful excursion for us but we were ready to go today as the night was eventful--a word that never is a compliment to the night. Jesse slept with the other kids (a first for him that he was excited about) but woke up lost and screaming at the top of his lungs in the living room at 1 am. So we were all together in our room at one point not sleeping very well.

I am beat but wanted to make sure that I had recorded some of our excitement around here. It was great to admire God's creation and to play outside on this Ressurection week-end.

Have I mentioned these beans before?

This will be to the point and of minimal words.

Make these beans.

1) Soak 3 cups uncooked black beans overnite in 2 quarts of water.

2) Then...drop one head of garlic into the pot, 1 tsp. salt, 1Tbsp. olive oil, and, if you want, 2 bouillon cubes of any kind. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for an hour.

3) Enjoy at a 0% failure rate (except for gas, though I am not a sufferer) with tortillas, brown rice, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, cilatro. Maybe get crazy, like Darren, and do platanos. Way to feed a crowd and please 'em!

Been good, but glad it's almost over

Darren's been away for the past few days running the apprentice mid-year retreat and I've felt overly surrounded by motherhood. You know I don't like some things too much--dealing with sick children in the middle of the night (however endearing they may be), doling out food so much I've lost my appetite and simultaneously can't be satisfied. (There are some things that are downright humorous--like the dream that Luci constantly, at breakfast, says she had . "I had bad dream. Peter Pan took me and I was flying." I also enjoyed telling Jesse that little boys are made of puppy dog tails all afternoon, and finally having him ask, "Mommy, you're just joking, right?"

Tonight Darren and I had to go to Jesse's school auction right after D got back into town. It was to be a fun event yet something we had to do some work for. For weeks, we have collected donations to be sold at the auction, I baked a pie for the event, and we had some jobs assigned to us at the auction. It's now almost over (Darren's still closing out) and was a decent time, and we're happy to contribute to Jesse's wonderful school.

Tomorrow, the deacons from church are coming over for lunch. We'll treat them to a vegetarian feast of black beans, platanos, and tortillas.

But I'm ready for a little break from the kids and their sickness, happy that my stress over the auction can dissipate, and thinking it's gonna be a good time kickin' back with the deacons. I mean, how complicated our beans? And luckily, the house is in decent shape.

So happy to say good-bye to today, if the kids and car alarms can keep quiet tonight, and even happier to see tomorrow evening coming.

Mr. Troy

Mr. Troy is the elderly man that sits in his motorized wheelchair at the corner of 21st and Capp St. He lives in the senior home on the corner. He is the lollipop man.

Sometimes when he sees the kids coming he'll holler at them, but now the kids pretty much beat him to it. I remember when Jesse was so young, I could actually take the lollipop from him because he didn't get what it was. Then I remember when the kids vaguely got what Mr. Troy was about, and so I'd try to avoid him (without him knowing of course) but man, he'd zip right up to me and corner me with that wheelchair. ( I was just trying to be a good mom and prevent some sugar in my kids lives! ) Then there was the stage when my kids optimistically thought that every black man in a wheelchair was Mr. Troy and referred to them as such. That sure created a lot of false hope.

Now they really know Mr. Troy and they have come to rely on him, so much so that he can not only thrill them but let them down. One time it seemed that Mr. Troy (because his supply was running low) was actually trying to get away from us, but of course with my kids screaming at him, he couldn't fake his lack of hearing for long. He turned around, gave a warm smile, and my kids mentioned lollipops. Mr. Troy handed one to Luci, while saying "Here" and said to Jesse "Well, you're a big boy now" and handed Jesse an orange, after which Jesse's face became immediately downcast.

Mr. Troy has served as a good neighbor and also as an object lesson in gratitude, politeness, etc. I've had to coach Jesse on how to be thankful even when disappointed--even though a let down has only happened once, we rehearse how to be kind if it doesn't go our way. I find myself saying "He not just a lollipop man, he's a person." Nevertheless, we adore Mr. Troy and it seems the relationship is mutually fulfilling. Just today, Luci plopped Black baby into his lap, and Jesse punched buttons on Troy's wheelchair, an action which propelled Mr. Troy to put on his safety lock.

I love running!

Missed my Wednesday morning run that I usually take before hanging with my friends at the cafe because I took Alice Rouse (head of RYSE at my beloved Starlight in Boston) to the airport. But Pea and I were able to squeeze it in before the kids went to bed, as Darren was enjoying his time with the kids before heading off on his 2-day retreat. And thanks to Alice, I now know how to save my knees when running downhill--tilt your body downward!

We zipped up 20th to Dolores Park, which is wonderful at 6:45 pm in this weather. Peanut rolled and rolled and would catch up with me as I ran the perimeter. Then we stopped to throw the ball (a coveted activity since P has been out of balls for days) before resuming our run. Peanut could barely muster up enough energy to keep up on our run home. I had to run zig-zags or run back to her just to keep running. On the way home we bumped into Lisa Scandrette and Nancy Gnass, 2 of my favorite neighbors and friends. What a beautiful run! I only wish it was longer, but then it would be without Peanut.

"We had a busy day"

This is a favorit saying of the Prince children. They like to say it as we HAVE a busy day, and after.

Today was a day where we really needed food. The cheese was all gone--therefore we could rule out eating pizza, quesadillas, cheese and crackers, and many other things that are happily enhanced by the sprinkling of cheese. The cocoa powder was gone--what would I do without my chocolate milk concoction? And we needed tofu, as well as black beans and millet. So off to the stores we went. First was Safeway and I HATE big grocery stores. (I have to ask people to find things for me multiple times.) Apparently Jesse does too as he did his classic shivering in the cheese aisle. Then we hit Rainbow, in my opinion the creme de la creme of grocery stores. For being so good at the store (Jesse put DOWN the organic chocolate candy basketballs) the kids shared a bag of veggie booty on ride home.

Then we scarfed down some leftover chicken casserole and went out for a walk because Pea needed her walk and we needed some sunshine. We stopped at Garfield Square Park where Luci enjoyed putting her baby on the merry-go-round and Jesse dangled from the monkey bars, a monumental thing for him lately, as those have always been big kid things.

At 1 p.m.,we reentered the house, changed Luci's sand-filled diaper (no problem to her), and began naptime/quiet time.

Jesse sat engaged peacefully on the couch in his room listening to Peter and the Wolf 3 times, noting that the flute was the bird and learning to recognize the clarinet as the cat. Man he loved it!

I was in the kitchen throwing together some vegetarian chili for dinner.

We then had to wake Lu up from her nap so that we could make it to J's schoolmate Ian's house for a playdate. J loved the garbage truck and Luci chased the cats around while Ian's mom and I exchanged small bits of info about our lives.

Then it was home to a quick dinner, wrestling, Mommy reading Green Eggs and Ham to Lu, and Daddy reading Green Plagues and Lamb? (What is the name of that book Papa Dan?)

The kids are in bed peacefully and I'm off with D to a local spot with some folks in town for InnerChange's summer xchange planning meetings....Peanut's coming too, yippee!