morning out. Tuesday, April 5, 2011   David first had the idea to give me a weekly chunk of time out back when Amelie was a baby and I really, really struggled with the transition from one to two kids.  Oh how I have been grateful for this habit.  It has come in fits and bursts . . . some weeks it happened, some months it didn’t.  Depending on our schedule, it has been in the morning or the afternoon or even an evening.  But we’ve fought for it, and many weeks I believe it has kept me sane. Back home I would typically spend my several hours at…

  last day of school. Monday, April 4, 2011   Judah’s last day of preschool was on Thursday.  The school year here runs from July through March, which is a bit of adjustment.  But it’s so hot already that it definitely feels like summer time. We had a wonderful experience at Little Elly.  The first month was heart-breaking with lots of tears, but once Judah adjusted, he loved it.  Judah clearly loves his teachers, especially the school coordinator, Bandana, pictured below.  We suspect he is spoiled rotten, as South Asians generally do with young children, but it is good to see him adjust to a South Asian environment and way…

  gratitude # 538 – 562. Monday, April 4, 2011   our country’s cricket World Cup victory this weekend watching a sky full of fireworks from our balcony end of school and my boy at home all summer neighbors congregated at the pool Judah trying to swim teammates who let us borrow movies family date-night on Friday . . . real beef burgers and pizza and chocolate cake Richey and Keli are coming back soon! business visas granted to teammates Richey and Keli are having another girl! skype-date with Pat, Cathy and Annie this morning Judah adores his cousin Annie a morning out family dance party to the Baumer remixes…

  the hike. Friday, April 1, 2011   As you have probably noticed, David has a newfound passion for hiking and camping.  He is determined to bring Judah and Amie up the same.  So David did a little research and one morning the three of them set out to Dolphin’s Nose.  Unfortunately for him, the hike was a straight decline . . . after a few hundred feet of holding Amie, holding onto slipping-and-sliding Judah, and trying to keep his balance, he opted for a nearby waterfall instead.   The kids had a blast. Maggie calls Judah our Thoreau, because he is a bit of a loner, and is never…

  at the lamberts’ Friday, April 1, 2011   I am kicking myself for not getting any pictures of our new friends . . . we must have been too preoccupied talking a mile-a-minute, sipping homemade chai, and chasing around after six kids. But they have a lovely house in the woods — English-cottage style — owned by the international school where Graham works.  Oh, if only I could find something like this in our city!    

  at the lake. Thursday, March 31, 2011      

  “toy story number two.” Thursday, March 31, 2011      

  a family getaway. Wednesday, March 30, 2011   David and I had hoped to take a mini-vacation before heading back to the States in May to switch visas.  We talked vaguely about somewhere near the beach, but then God dropped the perfect opportunity in our lap.  A friend working in the north put us in touch with a British family who lives in a gorgeous mountain town about eight hours’ drive from our city. We instantly clicked with the family over email, and they helped us get a room in this charming, amazingly affordable hotel just five minutes’ drive from their house.  We spent the last five days sleeping,…

  market day. Wednesday, March 30, 2011   Monday is Market Day.  We walked with the crowds down Cloud Street, one of the main shopping streets, and ended up at the Cloud Street Cafe, a little family owned restaurant where we ate several happy meals this week.  Judah and Amie had the run of the place with the owners’ two-year-old, Aaron.    

  from kodai. Monday, March 28, 2011