The Simple Woman's Daybook

Do stop in at Peggy's for all of the links entered in this week's Simple Woman's Daybook!

June 2, 2008

Outside My Window...an empty bird feeder waiting for me to buy more birdseed and refill it.

I am thinking...about how to pack everything we need to ship to the Solomon Islands into two cubic meters.

I am thankful for...my sweet sister who drove down from Kansas and graced us with her presence this weekend.

From the kitchen...the beginnings of cleaning out the pantry in preparation for the big move.

I am wearing...pajamas still!

I am creating...scrapbook pages of our time here in Dallas.

I am going...to lots of doctor's appointments this week (dentist, allergist, Benjamin's eye doctor).

I am reading..."When Mothers Pray" by Cheri Fuller

I am hoping...to find out where our new home will be in the Solomons!

I am hearing...Katherine babbling. She said "Mama" for the first time last night!

Around the house...children bending over math books in anticipation of finishing the school year this week.

One of my favorite things...meeting with the directors of the Solomon Islands this Friday to get to know them better and to find out more about where we will get to serve.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: more packing as we attempt to sort through every room in the house (we've already gone through the school room - the toughest room of all!).

Here is picture thought I am sharing...from a sweet friend at church. Thanks Susie!

Drop ins

One of our favorite things about living here on the International Linguistics Center is the people that drop by unannounced! Some drop by for laundry, some for supper, and some to practice on our children. This sweet couple is expecting their first wee one this fall, so last night they took turns loving on Katherine. Come one, come all - we love company and the front door is always open!

Pen Pal Day

Tomorrow is Pen Pal Day worldwide, but we have a busy day planned for tomorrow so I thought I would post tonight while I wait for Katherine to get sleepy. I know some kids in the Choate household who would love to be pen pals if anybody is interested! Sarah loves to hand-write notes with her calligraphy pen and different color inks.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

Since October 2005, we've been waiting for today...the day Sarah donates her hair (again) for Locks of Love. Aunt Rachel drove down from Kansas to donate her hair as well. I'm so proud of my girl who has already decided to grow her hair out while we are overseas so she can donate it again when we are home on fulough.

Just this week, a friend of ours decided to donate her hair for her seventh birthday. Way to go, Olivia! Anyone else want to join us?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Today is Ian Fleming's 100th birth anniversary. He was the author of the James Bond series of books, as well as the beloved Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Go read the book today - it's a great read aloud if you have young children, and the book is much better than the movie (plus, there is a yummy fudge recipe at the back of the book!).

Peek-a-boo!

Busy Weekend

Thursday night, we had some sweet friends from church join us for supper.

Then on Saturday, Uncle Daniel came over and showed us how to make sushi.

Yum!

Nanny came for the long weekend and got lots of hugs and kisses (especially sweet are the "straight-from-the-bath" snuggles). Thanks to ALL of you who made my birthday so special!

The posts will probably be getting briefer and fewer as we began the major packing and preparing to leave. We have four more weeks to organize and condense our lives. Please pray for our wisdom!

Bathing Beauties

The pool is open again, and the Choates are getting in shape for our Pacific Orientation Course. Adults have to swim a mile in the ocean, and children also have to show proficiency in the water. So we are practicing (can't you tell we are suffering?).

Sixteen Shots

This has been a whirlwind of a week for our family! Monday, our family received sixteen shots total and ate lunch with Uncle Daniel. We were also assured by the Dallas Police Department that we were law-abiding citizens. Yesterday, we all got poked for blood samples and donated other kinds of samples as well. Today, we went back to the hospital so Aaron and I could receive chest x-rays. Only one more appointment this week! Thanks for praying for us in all of the upheaval as we prepare for more training in Papua New Guinea.

Pulling Up

Yesterday, Aaron and I were in the kitchen when we heard Katherine yelling for her Daddy. We found her under the table, and she had pulled up on the dining room chairs! She was so proud of herself that she had to tell her Daddy.

Ah, boys

[Aaron's first post! :) ]

I know what you are thinking. Why are you showing us a picture of the hallway? Well, first, a little background. Since we moved, on occasion, our children have all (except Katherine) had moments when they have gotten up at night and wandered the wrong direction when heading to the bathroom. We have many funny family stories about such outings. Here I thought the most recent too good not to share. This picture is taken as Benjamin would see it standing in his doorway. To the right you have the bathroom, the target location. Straight ahead, mama and daddy's room [note the do not disturb sign :) ]. To the left, our cute version of a laundry chute.

We join our nightly drama in the Choate house. The house is dark and quiet, all that can be heard is the thup thup thupping of Katherine getting her last meal of the day. Suddenly, Joanna hears a sound in the hall and asks me to check on the child who is up. (Above the laundry chute is the hall closet where, among other things, the medicine bag is kept. Sarah has had a round of poison ivy lately so it is not uncommon for her to be digging for hydrocortizone cream.) I opens the door to see not Sarah but Benjamin...

I pause here because the next part of the story must be told with care. I see Benjamin holding the laundry chute door up. He is also standing funny. I quickly have the following thoughts: "Oh, it's Benjamin. What a good boy to get up and go to the bathroom! Bathroom, wait...what is that sound. Oh, no he di'unt" (the way some of our students used to say it). At this point I was shocked, in disbelief and really laughing inside. I turned around, closed the door and tried to figure out how to tell Joanna what I just saw.

We are so thankful for our children who provide great, inexpensive entertainment. Joanna started some laundry a little earlier than anticipated, Aaron cleaned a new spot on the carpet, and all got tucked in bed for a good night's rest. Pleasant dreams!

Adopt-a-Road

The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) where Aaron and I attend school has adopted a stretch of road to keep clean. Today was the day for students and faculty to pick up trash, so our whole crew donned gloves and sorted the trash on the side of the road. The boys took one side, and the girls took the other. Even Katherine helped out by carrying the trash bag on the stroller!

Children's Choir

Wednesday night, the children's choirs at church sang their spring musicals. We were so honored to have lots of guests come to cheer on our kids!

After church, we stopped by Sonic for ice cream, thus sealing the "tradition" we began last year. I'm proud of my kiddos!