Ben's 4th Year

Well, it was a long time coming, but I finally finished the video for Ben's fourth birthday. I chose Three Little Birds as the song because he would ask to hear it over and over again while he and Izzie spun and danced in the family room. What a difference a year makes. Between the ages of 3 and 4 Ben learned to read, was potty-trained, graduated to the small Lego blocks, and started preschool - pretty much in that order. What a blessing he is in our lives. We are so proud of you, Ben!

Soccer!

Ben is playing Upward Soccer this year. It's run by a church not too far from us and all the practices and games are on the church property. Ben and Izzie each have their own soccer ball to practice with. They like to go outside and kick the balls around, and this day they begged me to take some pictures. Specifically the following ones which they set up...






Ben will tell you some more about his soccer team on his blog.

Typical Izzie Grin

The Benefits of Fresh Air

More Narnia Park

Yup, still posting old ones... these are from Thanksgiving 2009.



The sand play was well thought out - in addition to the diggers there are various tubes, lifting containers and special holes that will sift sand and shoot it out.

Sleeping Beauty

Izzie wouldn't go down for a nap before Ben came home from school, but couldn't quite make it to dinner.

Valentine Bags with Grandma Ann

Ben and Izzie have 2 creative and crafty grandmothers, and they reap the benefits (as do we) whenever a grandma visits.

Naturalization Interview

Tuesday, Feb.9 was my interview at immigration in Memphis. There some complications (throwing up on the airplane, Memphis not having my fingerprints, me somehow booking my return flight for MARCH 9th instead of FEBRUARY 9th!) However, the actual interview - and even re-fingerprinting with a broken wrist - went very smoothly. The people at immigration were pleasant and professional. Even the security guards were friendly! Long story short, I have been approved for naturalization and there will be a ceremony sometime in East Tn. after which I will be a US citizen.

The interview: I was given a booklet of 100 test questions to study at my last immigration appointment. At the interview you can be asked up to 10 questions - all directly from the booklet. You must get 6 right. If you get the first 6 right you are not asked any more. I made a little quiz for you using my interview questions - and they were pretty straightforward (Ex. Who was the first president?) so I tried to trip you up as best I could. The interview questions were short answer, which I think is easier than multiple choice because I just had to produce an acceptable answer - it didn't matter if it was the most obvious one. With multiple choice one is often left trying to distinguish between a less obvious answer and an unacceptable one.



Upon closer reading it seems that I am recommended for approval, not actually approved...

Morley Makes the News

This picture was in our local paper just before Christmas.

Izzie Update

Izzie is talking up a storm. Of course there are certain sounds she is still working on. She can say the c/k sound, but for some reason she often turns it into an n sound. For example "I num" means "I come." She also inexplicably says "ni-ni" for thank you. She finally started saying "I love you." I waited a long time to hear those words, and they sounded sweeter than I could have imagined when she finally said them. (I think she even gave in and said "Grandma Ann" before she said "I love you.") There are certain phrases that we hear a lot. One is "No mean do that." This usually comes out whenever she does something clumsy like tripping and sprawling flat on her face. The other thing she seems to have picked up (from Ben) is saying "really, really." As in, "I really, really sove you. Ni-ni, Mom."

Winter Hike

Since Ben was out of school yesterday I had this crazy idea that we should do something special - like take a hike. I had in mind that we would see some breathtaking scenery, the kids would have some fun and then take a really long nap and I could do as I pleased while they slept. But of course it didn't turn out that way.
The scenery. Not bad so far, right? But oh, the pain that was inflicted to get to that point.

We were well-dressed for the cold weather on Roan Mountain, but I didn't take into account both Ben and Izzie having a really hard time walking in the snow and ice.

Ben, looking very cheerful.

Izzie, in particular, had a difficult time remaining upright. She was decidedly grumpy to begin with, and even more so after falling several times. Not that she ever fell right down, but she did spend an inordinate amount of time dangling from my right hand.
Look at those sad eyes. Mom, how could you put me through this torture?

It was not so much a peaceful hike as it was me literally dragging two crying and complaining kids halfway up the mountain. Yes, children, we're going to "enjoy" this hike even if it kills us.

Back at the car again, Ben perked up and insisted I take numerous pictures of his hat head.

(If you're wondering what kind of mother would make her children hike miles through ice and snow when they obviously didn't want to, let me put your mind at ease by telling you that we probably only made it the equivalent of around our block... and Izzie normally likes to hike - just not in the snow, apparently.)

Eyes

The kids' eyes.
Our beautiful brown-eyed Ben.
Our lovely ocean blue- (or is it sea of green?)eyed Izzie. Pre-haircut.

The Haircut

I was going to take Izzie to get her hair cut, but then I thought, no, she's two. It won't matter if it's all lopsided. And it is. But who can tell with all the curls anyway? Just don't look too closely at her neck line. These two year olds... they only give you two seconds to get the job done whether or not you are wielding a sharp implement! It may not be even, but at least it looks less unkempt, and less like a mullet. Before: notice Izzie's grim expression. Nobody likes a mullet, not even a two-year old.
After: wow, everything has suddenly taken a turn for the better!

The Camera

Ben and Izzie have suddenly taken a renewed interest in a Christmas present from a couple of years ago.

This is the way Izzie has been holding the camera. The funny part is that almost every time she presses the shutter the flash will fire - right in the face. But so far she hasn't complained. Neither has she noticed that all her pictures are nothing but white blobs.

Here's Ben giving her a lesson on how to do it properly.

I think immediately after this she turned it around backward again!

Cold Winter Walk

The Bridge at the Narnia Park

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

Little Dancer

This is somewhat of an old video (August 13th) that I am just now getting around to posting.

Narnia Park

I don't remember what this park is really called, but it's one of the best parks we've ever been to. These pictures are from the first time we were there - it was just me and the kids one day. There are lots of interesting pieces of equipment that I've never seen anywhere else.

One of the favorites was the roller slide.

They also had a lot of musically themed pieces - turtle drums and a really big xylophone for example.

Ben driving the fire truck.

Izzie on a random lion. I'm pretty sure this one was not Aslan.

Stay tuned for some more pictures from this park when we were there with Grandma Ann and Grandpa Steve during Thanksgiving. We discovered things on that visit that we hadn't even noticed the first time.