Touch

I love to touch...

a rose petal
sand between my toes
the hair of someone I love
the new, soft skin of a baby
flour
summer rain
kittens
my husband's hand

What do you like to touch?

Sickness Abounds

I'm not sure what is happening to our once-healthy family. It seems like we're the house of contagion these days.

Six weeks ago Naomi and Josiah each came down with some kind of sore throat virus thing (a week apart), and I followed them with my own cold. All five of us got head lice and it's taken 2 weeks to get rid of it by wet-combing.

Naomi's been battling impetigo on her mouth and nose for a few weeks. I was diagnosed with erysipelas (a superficial skin infection) on my cheek last Sunday, and now my visiting sister-in-law has come down with tonsillitis.

What is going on?? These are not major issues, but it's getting a bit tiring always having someone not feeling good! Naomi's impetigo and Genelle's tonsillitis are the current prayer needs .... let's get this family healthy again!!

Enjoying Owen

My nephew Owen has been with us since Friday, and solely in my care yesterday and today. The kids and I are having so much fun with him! At times it’s a bit tough having four, mostly because it changes our normal dynamics. (Both Ethan and Owen idolize Josiah and fight for his affection.) But mostly it’s been great!

The best parts have been going to playgrounds and parks, watching the boys wrestle together, and hearing the three older kids having conversations more intelligibly than ever before!

We’ve spent time at every park we know of: Christ Church Meadows, South Park, Headington Hill, Parson’s Pleasure, Meadow Lane playground, and our local playground. Lots of space to run around is just what the kids need. They also love throwing rocks and sticks into water, feeding ducks, finding bugs, and using their imaginations on play equipment. (Owen said his favourite part of yesterday was “riding the boat” at the park, referring to a large steering wheel on a jungle gym.)

Though an only child, Owen seems to be adjusting well to my physical boys. He’s jumping right in when Ethan tackles him, or whacks him with a pillow. And there are remarkably few tears resulting!

And it’s just great over-hearing the kids’ conversation. I love listening to them compare Virginia and England, share favourite parts of funny movies, and explain things to each other. I wish I could capture all their cute voices!

My last experiences with Owen had been less pleasant. A little over 9 months ago, he seemed grumpier, a bit rebellious and whiny, and a pickier eater. It’s amazing how much can change in that time period! He seems like a different kid! I am so thankful for this chance to spend time with him now that he’s a little older. He’s been fairly easy-going, cheerful and respectful.

And he makes me laugh everyday when we talk about our upcoming rest time. He reminds me repeatedly, “I don’t have to shut my eyes, right Lisa?” I assure him that he most definitely does not have to shut his eyes; he just needs to lie down for a quiet time. And every day, he falls fast asleep. Smile…

Family Visit

Steve's sister Genelle, her son Owen, and her boyfriend Bill arrived in Oxford last Friday, just in time for Naomi's 7th birthday (July 3). We had a great weekend together before Bill left on Sunday morning. Since then we've continued to enjoy local parks together and general cousin fun!

This is actually the most visiting time I've ever had with Genelle and I'm really enjoying getting to know her better. Owen (age 3 1/2) has matured a lot in the past 9 months and is fun to hang out with. We're getting some extra time with him while Genelle does research at the Bodleian Library.

See the post below for some pics of our time together so far...
1) Steve, Owen, Josiah, Genelle and Bill
2) Bill and Steve talk in Pembroke College Chapel
3) Ethan and Owen both love "Cars"!
4) Feeding the ducks and swans by Christ Church meadows
5) Fun at the local playground
6) Bill and Genelle try punting
7) The kids take shelter during a light rain.
8) 4 kids in a tub is pretty full!
9) Yummy ice-cream on a hot day
10) and 11) Enjoying the horses near our house

P.S. If anyone can give me tips on how to mesh text and pics on blogger, I'd appreciate help! I can't seem to give my pictures captions...

Family Visit Pics

London Pics

Lost in London

My kids and I just got back from a last-minute 5-day visit with friends in London. We initially went because a childhood friend of mine was visiting family in England. I hadn't seen her in 12 years and it was great to catch up a little! But I've also got some good friends, Becky and Claire, who live in London (one block apart from each other), so I decided to hang out with them for a few days and make a little holiday of it.

Becky tried to give me directions for how to get to Claire's house in Peckham from the British Museum by bus, but apparently I didn't understand exactly where to get off. We reached the area near her house and I recognized it from previous visits, but thought that the bus would soon get us even closer to our destination. So we stayed on the bus.

Alas, we should have gotten off the bus when I knew where we were. By staying on longer, we not only got farther away from Claire's, but I also ended up lost since I didn't have a map! We got off the bus and by looking at road signs, I started walking with the kids in the general direction of Peckham. We walked and walked and walked.

The kids were slightly worried because their own mom didn't know where they were or where they were going. It didn't help that we were exhausted from a long day out, having left Oxford at 8:30 AM, and tramped around London all day. It was now 8 PM and we hadn't had dinner yet, and didn't know when we'd arrive at Claire's.

When I saw a little shop that was still open, I popped inside to ask if they had a map. They didn't, nor did the next shopkeeper I asked. Finally, after 30 minutes of walking, we came to a police station that had a local map posted outside. I found where we were and where we were going -- and the quickest route there! We all cheered up, knowing we'd get to Claire's in the next 30 minutes or so.

We arrived around 9, ate dinner a little later, and I got the kids in bed at about 10:00. A comfy bed never felt better! My friends told me later that it was probably a good lesson for my kids -- to watch an adult be lost, persevere, and figure out how to get there in the end. It was also an inspiration to me to buy my own detailed map of London!