Nothing like 6 months to keep the blog up...

Basically we're boring people; it takes six months for enough "blog worthy" events to transpire to make it worth doing a post. So, here's what's been happening:

Aidan has continued to be an all star at school. Well, he's a normal, bright kid and he is now reading like a champ. Mom (Grammy) - you will be so excited to have him read to you! Both Jamie and I love taking him to school; it's about 20 minutes in total and 10 or so is spent on the b

us when we get to have him read him school book with us. I realized a little while ago that he was pretending to sound out words that he could easily read because we would have him do that when he first started learning. Now he just reads, some things quite easily; so easily I think that some things he has just memorized, but some he is actually reading. What an amazing skill that even 4 year olds can acquire.

Oliver has become a big jibber-jabber with some definitive English words being spoken. And I mean Queen's English; the other day he pointed to his finger and said, "Hurt" with a dropped/soft R and everything. Precious. The two of the together is becoming more and more fun as they are able to play, communicate and fight like real brothers. Aidan is very protective of his little brother and is always very cautious when getting on and off the bus and tube, being sure to hold the door for him. I think he was traumatized during our last holiday, more below...

Jamie is still a super star with her work; she is in some super-star position that she essentially wrote for herself. She is doing a little bit o

f everything now, managing the minions in the London office, going on sales trips with the sales people, and now speaking as an industry expert at conferences. Well, at least I say she's an industry expert, but she seems pretty knowledgable and has spoken at a few different event over that last year or so. She rocks her job and just sit back and boast about her.

I am now just living as a kept man, getting manicures and highlights twice a week. Yeah right! While not nearly as prestigious I am still assisting in buying wine at Whole Foods Market in London. I work at the flagship with a massive wine dept, about 1200 listings at the moment with capacity for about 1500. I've been there a year now which is a great thing because job stability was missing from life in London. It makes life a whole bunch easier.

Other big events: Oliver turned 2 on the 2nd of January, which was a fun celebration, mostly with friends from pastorate. He mostly didn't care, he was just excited to be eating little cakes at 10 in the morning.

Here he is blowing out the candles in his little store bought cakes.

I've got to go to work now, so I'll post part two later. Hopefully not 6 months later.

Cheers!

Nothing like that fresh from the hamper taste...

Aidan went home after school with a friend to have a playdate and dinner. When they got to his friend True's house True's mom gave the boys some rice cakes as a snack. They were labeled "Savoury flavour" and that was it. So after gnawing on it for a bit, Aidan hands it back to Michelle and says with a straight face, "I don't like that, it tastes like it's been in a bag with my dad's dirty laundry." After picking herself up off the floor after laughing, she took a closer look at the rice cake package--turns out they were Marmite flavoured...

Cheers!

Muli bwanji?

Had a chance to hang out and discuss our trip to Malawi with the Fergs. For those of you who don't know, we are going to be going to Malawi to do a GAT trip. Rather than explain that, here's the link. Malawi is such an amazing country, with awesome people. It is called the "Warm heart of Africa" for a reason. We are excited that God's wanting to do this. The other beni is that Jamie's super prego sister Lindsay will be there and we'll get a chance to see her and the b.i.l., Nick.

So, be praying for some more people to come together to form the team. Be praying that the Malawian team on the ground is getting stuff ready, like organizing and inviting people to this training time. That will help us with specific times, dates and places. Then only after you've prayed for those thing you can think about praying for the finance end to come together.

And as you're reading this and you feel like you're an answer to prayer, please don't hesitate to get a hold of us. Here's an awesome pic of Malawi:

This is a waterfall at the base of Mount Mulanje. I'll get some of our pics up here once I get them on this computer.


Cheers!

Sleep Stories and First Days

Aidan's first day of school was Monday. Check it out:



He is a precious little lamb! His creativity has been going wild in the past few weeks. Last night as we were getting ready for bed he was talking about the "sleep stories" he was going to have that night. Apparently that's what he calls dreams. Precious. Another highlight of bedtime last night was opening up his imgainary book while on Jamie's lap. He read, "The Lion and the beanstalk." The Lion climbed up the beanstalk, ate the Giant's food and the Giant ate the Lion's leg. Aidan tells it way better than me...

Cheers!

Grammy get yer gun!

Aidan just received a back-to-school present from Grammy Forbes this week. So we are trying to teach our kids some etiquette and send thank you cards for gifts. So as Aidan is creating his card, drawing a picture on it of a dog. Aidan says, "Yeah, cause Grammy likes dogs." Soon another shape appeared next to the dog. Jamie - "Is that a stick for the dog?" Aidan - "No mommy, it's a gun. Yeah, cause Grammy likes guns." As intuitive as ever, Aidan picks up on our snickerings at that comment and says, "Don't be silly mommy! Yeah, Don't be DAFT Mommy!"* At which Jamie fell on the floor and had to spit out her coffee or choke laughing.

We have hilarious children...

And, speaking of back to school, Aidan's school clothes just came in the mail. This year he is in "Reception", like Kindergarten but a year early. But this means that he has proper uniform this year. Adorable kit, so we'll get him dressed and take some pictures soon.

Cheers!

*Please reference our englishisms if you don't see the humor in a 4-year old saying this.