My Snippets

SNIPPET: –noun
1. a small piece of anything (especially a piece that has been snipped off); a small bit, scrap, fragment, or morsel
2. Informal; a small or mischievous person.

LEARNING LANGUAGE

* Response to a foot rub: "Yummy!"
* Wondering how far we will be driving: "Big minutes?"
* Asked how the sore throat and sniffles are doing: "Finished"
* Wanting to leave early for school: "Mom, today fast go, okay?"
* Are you feeling grouchy? - "You grouch me!" - I'm making you grouchy? "Yes!"
* One of the first multi-word sentences, "Are you crazy?!" Complete with appropriate intonations and facial expression. (Where did you learn that?)

SIT, KNIT, CHIT (CHAT)

* Both kids learned to knit in their after school program. It is such a "warm, fuzzy" when we are all sitting on the couch together in the evening - with no TV - and all three of us are knitting and just talking with each other. We're so "Leave It To Beaver"!

HANDSHAKES, HUGS, & KISSES

* Josiah no longer wants to be hugged in front of other people, and fusses grumpily if I try . . . the other day we arrived at school and didn't get our usual clandestine hug at the car before going in. After storing his backpack he said, "Mom, come outside, Josiah tell you something." We walked back out into the hallway and he threw his arms around me and gave me my good-bye kiss! (Mom's eyes get misty!)

* Naomi still loves her hugs and kisses but we have added our own secret "handshake" . . . an Ethiopian custom is to press thumb pads together with someone and then you kiss your thumb where they touched each other. We added the ASL sign for "I Love You" followed by a high five. So it's thumb-kiss-ILY-high5!

ETHIOPIA IN DENVER

* Here's a link to a Google map of Ethiopian restaurants, markets, churches, salons, etc. in the Denver area, one of the top 10 U.S. cities with largest Ethiopian community, estimated at 20,000 to 30,000.

S P O R T S

* Josiah's soccer team once again led their league with a 7-1 win record. The boys had some tough competition but played their hearts out and impressed everyone. The last week of the season they had a "professional" training session with one of the Colorado Rapids players! It was a great opportunity and they got some good tips.

* Naomi is preparing for a dance recital in December. Her class will be doing a combo ballet and tap routine called "Put Me In Coach." Time to charge up the video camera batteries!!

* Josiah and Naomi both started Taekwondo this week. It was supposed to be an off-season sport between soccer sessions, but I am very impressed with the instructors and the class. The head instructor studied under General Choi Hong Hi, who is considered to be the founder of Taekwondo. The discipline and respect that is taught really reinforces what I am trying to instill in them at home. And I think is better received coming from an outside source. The class is a mixed group open to all ages so I am considering enrolling myself next month! Better than just sitting there on my rear and watching for an hour and 3/4. The instructor says it would also improve the chances of the kids sticking it out. I asked them if they would be embarrassed or didn't want me to join in, and both said 'no.' The funny part is that the hierarchy of the class is structured by rank - first by belt, and then by length of study within the belt level. Since Naomi and Josiah will have started before me, they will be ranked higher than I am. They'll love that!


LA'BRI-UT: -verb/adjective
1. Hebrew: be blessed

“The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”

~ Numbers 6:24-26 (NKJV)


Until we meet again,
Love,
Nancy