First Full Week of School and the Cricket

We have reached the end of the first full week of school and I was happy to see that his teacher said Danny was doing well. I think our biggest problem right now is getting him to eat his lunch at school. Today when I picked up Danny, the teacher asked me if Danny ate food with sauce. Apparently, Danny had said that he did not eat sauce (the past two meals were spaghetti, but with vegetables mixed in and Chinese noodles with beef), and the school was debating whether they needed to provide Danny a meal without the sauce. Well, at least we know he is not afraid to speak up about his preferences. I explained that Danny could eat whatever was served to him.

Today I was absolutely exhausted, as in I felt like someone had snuck in the middle of the night and drugged me with something. Yet, the Lord was so faithful in seeing me through the day. I just took it minute by minute, and it turned out to be quite a nice day overall. Josh and I took Danny to school and then did our usual walk down to the local store. We stopped into my favorite place (Starbucks) and headed home. I let Josh walk for a little bit (normally his is in his stroller) and he was so adorable. He is still in the "I just learned to walk" wobble. He has seen his brother walk back and forth from the store, and was quite proud to be doing it himself today. It unfortunately, remains oppresively humid and hot, but again makes us so grateful for our air conditioner and after walk snacks of cold green grapes. Josh and I played and read this morning and he is finally pointed at his nose, ears and mouth when I ask him. (I have really been working on these points). The funny part is this is what Danny's class is discussing as well, just a little more advanced.

While Josh napped, I was able to run over and pick up Danny from school (Fridays and Mondays are half days for him), and we headed back home for a snack and a nap for him as well. Both boys slept a long time and I was able to rest and visit with Dustin. Dustin worked from home this afternoon, but had to head out just before dinner to meet a customer. The boys and I went over to the clubhouse for dinner and had a nice meal before it got really crowed. Friday nights at the clubhouse can be a little insane--lots of children and lots of volume. It makes you wonder what the staff thinks of all of us expatriates.

We finished the night off with Danny's favorite Sesame Street show and I tucked them in. Now it is just me and the cricket. I believe I have failed to mention our resident cricket yet in the blog....

When we arrived back from the US we were greeted by a cricket. My best guess is that he is somewhere under the baseboard in the dinning room area, but we have been unable to track him down any more specifcally than that. He must be quite an amazing cricket, because we live on the top floor (fifth floor) and I have no idea how he would have gotten up to the apartment from outside. So, if not through the outside then he had to hop his way through the lobby get on the elevator and then hop into our apartment at sometime. Anyway, I am beginning to think he is a permanent feature of the apartment. Thankfully, we have coexisted quite nicely so far. He greets the boys and I when they wake at 5:30 in the morning, and is quiet after that until we head up to bed.

We have a busy weekend ahead, as Dustin will be gathering with other IU alums on Saturday---I know, I know, what happened to Purdue (our undergraduate), but Dustin did get his master from IU, so I guess it is allowed. We both said we need to track down the Purdue alums in Shanghai and get them together if they are not already organized. Then on Sunday we are going to have lunch with a couple that we met at church, who are from Michigan originally. It should be a lot of fun.

On that note, I am heading to bed, as 5:30 always seems to come quickly.