Thou Shall Read This

Noah's got a new KJV Bible. Won it at the Bible Exhibition at the gospel hall. This was a visit during school hours which I think counts as religious education. According to him, he had a clipboard and he got 25 questions correct. He liked the crisps [potato chips] he got as a prize on the day even more than the Bible.

Octavia is holding her sister in the photo. It may look like a lamb or a reference to the New Testament to you, but it is definitely "My Sister" and she doesn't want anyone to squish it.

The family meeting has not transpired yet. I asked Scott to read a certain few chapters of a certain book before we had it. He will have that done by this weekend. Perhaps then I will be able to give you the agenda according to Noah for the Family Meeting.

Alex and Octavia waving good-bye to the Titanic at the Transport Museum. Things seem to have deteriorated at the museum in the past couple years. Quite a few of the hands-on exhibits are out of order, they've done away with Noah's favourite model train, and even the hand dryer in the disabled toilet is kaput.

My inaugural ball. Would it be an American high holiday without some red food colouring? Also notice the snowflakes. Inauguration day has been the only day with noticeable flakes this winter. We watched the ceremony on TV with our L'Arche friends and I made Gramma Sheila's dip. Maybe for the first time ever.

At your convenience

The kitchen blackboard is sometimes useful. Noah is, as you can see, gently suggesting a family meeting. It wasn't convenient that night as both Aodh and Octavia were completely melting down by 7.30. Oh, and Go For It was on the radio and who wants to have a serious meeting just after GFI?

We are hoping it will be convenient soon. Like after Scott and I get to have a parent's meeting to strategize about why Noah might want a family meeting. To push back bedtime? To lobby for more time watching Charlie Chaplin? To ask for and RDA for chocolate? Most likely to ask if we could be more patient parents. It isn't easy.

A video to you, to you

Octavia was missing Christine this week. She made a video for her with an original song. If you are a friend of Octavia's, you can watch this video and insert your name in place of Christine's.

Joan Steinbook

Last night when I went in to say goodnight to Tate, she was reading Cannery Row by Steinbeck.

M: How is it?
O: It's good.
M: Yeah, Steinbeck wrote a lot of good books.
O: Steinbook?
M: Yeah, that's the name of the man who wrote that book, John Steinbeck. He also wrote
The Grapes of Wrath.
O: Joan Steinbook.

She gently closed the cover, uncrossed her knees and placed the book on the bedside table.

What are you reading? I just finished yet another crime novel. But I might dip into Tagore's Short Stories that Scott brought me from Kolkata. Scott, too, is reading Cannery Row. Noah has finished the Melendy Quartet books and is re-reading them. Aodh seems to have set aside Milking for Dummies and is now working his way through the practical elements of Auerbach and Riordan (eds.) Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.

This is a fine time to be reading. The sun rises just before 8 and dusk is closing in a little after 4. And it is cold all day long. Cold. All day long. Reminds me that I want to have some ice cream and have wanted it all day long.

Bugs

We've spent many hours at the fireside this holiday. Not everyone has been studying an ancient language, though. Noah, as you can see, is very comfortable with being Big Brother x 2. His skills are finely honed; Baby Aodh knows he is in safe hands.

Ever heard the phrase "Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth?" If I had a nickel for every time I've heard "Oh, he's awake!" this week just after someone has poked someone else, I'd be down at the 5 and Dime buying myself something nice. Except Woolworths is closed now, just like in America. Good thing I don't have all those nickels.

Today was the Ugly Bug Ball, also known as Lorcan's birthday party. Octavia and I made her costume. We started out sewing the spots on but eventually, as time ran short and friends rang the bell, we resorted to double-sided tape and a prayer. Yes, Dannette, that is a bun with red frosting--serious food colouring--we snapped a photo just for your enjoyment. Then Octavia snitched a chocolate while everyone else was busy with the bug hunt! She did find the dragon fly, though. Did you know that dragon flies, albeit much larger ones, were alive during the age of the dinosaur?

Sometimes we get political

If you live in the USA, or if you have an interest in maternity care and policy, have a read of this link. Things need doing, people, so if you are an American, get an opinion and let Obama and his people know what it is... (if you click on the title of this entry it will take you to the link).

I hope it is the same as mine!