language arts, the early years

S has been talking more and more. She's become a lot more confident recently and is repeating everything. Mostly just single words, but some are very cute.

"ah-sigh" = outside

"Uh Ja" = Uncle John

"straaaww-zaw" = strawberries, her favorite fruit

"backpack" = backpack, her new favorite word. She actually has all the sounds right on this one, maybe because she practices it a lot.

"Abba, abba, abba, abba!" = Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere! Not really sure why, but she's determined to sing it this way.

veggies

We've been enjoying our produce from this local CSA (community supported agriculture) program. We receive our medium-sized box of 10 or 12 different fruits and veggies every week, some grown on the farm itself, some grown in the pacific northwest, and a few things from a little farther away. So far it's encouraged us to be eating a lot more veggies and trying new things. Though this week I wasn't brave enough for dandelion greens so I substituted with english peas. And the trickiest part has been eating the ripest things quickly enough, although I am learning how to better store my produce. But it's exciting to log in every week and find out what new foods are available. And it's exciting to go pick up my box just down the street and see those colorful, just grown in the field fruits and veggies.

Here's an idea for getting the kids to eat more veggies. I read it in a book. Wash and cut up some raw vegetables and set it out a bit before dinner. Then point the kids to the plate when they whine "I'm hungry! When is dinner gonna be?" It's worked pretty well so far.

zoo and drum

We've been keeping very busy around here with lot's of fun field trips and adventures thanks to Aunt L and other family. Jomo and the kids joined an Okinawan drum group which subsequently performed two weeks later at the Mariners pre-game show. Very exciting. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures during the performance, just video. Maybe someday I'll learn how to post those. Anyway, here are some pics from that and our zoo trip.

Waiting for the show with Oma and S.

S is ready to backpack all over the zoo. If only my back could last more than an hour!

Picnic at the zoo.

Posing with an eagle statue.

We're doing well. Jomo is studying hard and has less than two weeks until the bar exam. While we're having lot's of fun, it's also a stressful time. Please keep us in your prayers for the exam (July 28 - 30), for Jomo to find a job quickly, and for us to figure out where to live. Thanks!