Best way to drink a diet coke

In honor of the college basketball season gearing up, I will demonstrate the best way to drink diet coke. Drinking it this way has a bit of nostalgia. My grandmother used to keep these little coke bottles in her cellar. In the 70's and 80's my sister and I would run with excitement to get our very own bottles of coke. First, grandmother would put a little sweat band on the bottom of the bottle so it wouldn't leave a mark on her furniture. Then, grandmother would give us a bendy straw, and we'd slurp it dry. We'd take the glass bottles to the grocery and get money for turning the empty ones in. They sell the little bottles of coke here, and from time to time I buy them for sentimental reasons.

The only bottle opener I have here is the one I packed in my suitcase. My dad gave it to me for Christmas one year, and since he's no longer with us, I especially enjoy using it and thinking of him. So, as the old saying goes, "Have a coke and a smile."

And the winner of the bookmark contest is NOT...

Annie came home with this bookmark she made at school, and it cracked me up! You gotta hand it to her for the creativity and urgency associated with reading, but it lacks a little on the politically correct side of things, especially if she had attended an inner city school. Anyway, this bookmark's a keeper. I may even get it laminated.

In case you can't read it: "Bust into Reading like a Police on a Case"

Stray Soccer Dog

We have a new stray puppy on the street! Since dogs usually run in packs here, they don't get near people. However, I'm wondering if this dog was either strategically placed here since there's a dog-loving family here (guess who?). Or, he was the runt in the pack and the mom left him. Regardless, our kids have been loving on him. Since most nationals see dogs as dirty creatures, they are rarely played with. So, I know it's counter-cultural to love on this street dog. Because he waits outside our apartment each day, it kind of gives away the little secret that the American family has a thing for dogs. His name was "Peaches" and then the kids changed his name to "Corey" because he was eating an apple core. Here he is showing off his soccer skills. So, do any of my canine-loving friends want to come over and adopt this sweet thing...Peaches Corey the Stray Soccer Dog?

Emma cruisin'

Here's a video of Little Miss Independent to go with what I wrote 2 posts ago. She's riding a friend's bike at Abby's soccer game.

SPF zero

No training wheels for Emma

I remember where my first born learned to ride his bike without training wheels. We'd been contemplating for weeks when to take them off. We picked the least hilly spot in the neighborhood. It was in a cul-de-sac of small town Kentucky. Mike unscrewed the training wheels, and we headed out. I carefully held onto the handlebars to stabilize the bike as David pedaled. Then, I'd let go and run alongside him for a few feet, and then I'd grab the handlebars when the bike looked too wobbly. We repeated this numerous times until he was steady and secure.

It was pretty much the same story with Abby and Annie, and then came Emma.

Emma has asked me for 2 weeks to please get the training wheels off her bike (that has an un-inflatable flat tire that hasn't made it to the bike shop). Since the bike is unable to be ridden due to the un-inflatable flat tire, I haven't bothered to take off the training wheels.

Now I know she's been a little bothered about the training wheels thing. She has 3 siblings who don't need training wheels. And, gasp, she has a friend a year younger who does not need training wheels. And she has good-for-nothing parents who won't get her blasted bike repaired!

Today I was at a friend's house visiting in the kitchen. Emma was outside playing. After a few rounds of tea, I looked off the balcony to check on Emma. I saw this cute little child riding a bicycle. I did a double take. It was EMMA on a bike without training wheels. Riding like a pro. Not even wobbly. First time ever to try a bike without training wheels. I nearly jumped off the balcony to congratulate her!

Hopefully my first 3 kids have fond memories of hearing mommy's voice from behind yelling, "You can do it! You're riding! Keep pedaling! Keep pedaling! I'm not holding on. Oh no, I'm coming, honey!" Not Emma. That little independent, determined kindergarten kid took matters into her own hands (or feet). She will remember a voice calling from a balcony above, "Oh my WORD, Emma, you're riding a bike! You taught yourself!" Sometimes you just gotta "do it". I'm proud of that little kid. I like her style.

P.S. We'll post pictures once the good-for-nothing parents get the bike functioning (with good tires and NO training wheels).

Just To Make You Think

Because we all need to stretch our minds and think a little more each day, here are some quotes from the man who explains the complicated in a simple and understandable way, Yogi Berra. BTW - these are great to ask a kid to explain to you as well! Enjoy!

A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore.

Always go to other people's funerals, otherwise they won't come to yours.

Baseball is ninety percent mental and the other half is physical.

Even Napoleon had his Watergate.

Half the lies they tell about me aren't true.

He hits from both sides of the plate. He's amphibious.

How can you think and hit at the same time?

I always thought that record would stand until it was broken.

I never blame myself when I'm not hitting. I just blame the bat and if it keeps up, I change bats. After all, if I know it isn't my fault that I'm not hitting, how can I get mad at myself?

I never said most of the things I said.

I wish I had an answer to that because I'm tired of answering that question.

I'm a lucky guy and I'm happy to be with the Yankees. And I want to thank everyone for making this night necessary.

I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did.

If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.

If you ask me anything I don't know, I'm not going to answer.

Kimbob

Going to an international school has given us opportunities to enjoy international foods. One of our favorites has become kimbob (sushi minus raw fish). A while back a Korean friend taught me how to make them and gave me the bamboo mat and essentials. It is one of Annie's favorite foods, so we made them one night. We had kimbob and tomato soup. Here are some pictures of our Korean masterpieces complete with chopsticks. There are also pictures of everyone (well, almost everyone) enjoying the kimbob.

The Shoe or The Boy?

David had these shoes for 2 weeks...















They now have a nice ope-air element for summer, but that's not the look he was going for.
So, we got him a new pair.

2 weeks later...















How can the "heel" just fall off a shoe?

So I wonder what the problem is - the shoe or the boy?

A Night to Remember

On Monday evening, 6 men came to our house at David's invitation. This June, he will be 13 years old (and shortly after that, his Dad will hit the big 4-0, but we will save that for another blog). To honor and challenge him as he moves into a new phase of life, we sat down and made a list of people who he knows, respects and wanted to learn from about some the biggest issues in life. He chose 6 men here and 15 family and friends in the US. They each were asked to write a letter about what it means to be a godly man. Each man was given a second topic about one of the big issues, such as: money, balancing time with all of life's demands, friendship, girls/dating/marriage, how to grow in your daily walk with the Lord and finding your calling in life.
These men came to encourage David to seek out His best in all areas of life. I challenged him to realize that as he gains more freedom in his life, he will also be given greater responsibility. I will move more from being a teacher to being a coach in his life. I had told David several times that I hoped it would be a milestone in his life that he would always remember. As he went to bed that night, I told him I never thought it would be a night I would always remember too! One of the last things I told him was, "This is my son, in whom I am well pleased!"

Morning Rush Hour

As I stood on the bus and drove to the center of the city, I experienced
another "first" in life overseas. While the bus inched its way through
the morning rush hour traffic, cars are literally inches apart!

No worry, though, because the first rule of thumb on the road is simple: the bigger the vehicle, the more right-of-way you have. Thus, you would think a bus would be given first passage...unless there happens to be a taxi going the same way at the same time. The bus was turning a corner and the taxi wanted to make sure he was right behind the bus. The only problem: he was! And we dragged the taxi about 4 or 5 feet. Then, the fun began as the two drivers met at the scene and discussed why they were right and the other driver was wrong. After that, people on the bus started defending their driver and asked how they were supposed to get to work now that their bus couldn't take them. Horns honked and honked and honked and honked longer and in unison. For a little culture lesson, I wanted to stay but since I am having a lunch date with the prettiest lady in the city, I left to finish what needed to be done so I could enjoy lunch with my best half of the last 15+ years!

elevator fun

We've got an extra 5-year old, 3-year old, and 1 1/2 year old while their parents are out of town for 3 days. So I went to get them from their apartment, and we crammed into a small elevator to go down 7 stories. At the 4th story the elevator stopped and a young twenty-something guy hopped on. Hair slicked back. Cologne splashed on. And on. And on.

Once the elevator door closed and we were trapped with the cologne fumes, the 3-year old piped up. "EWWWWW. What's the smell?" Her brother added, "Yeah, it stinks."

Can you say awkward moment? We can only hope he didn't know English.

A Tradition Unlike Any Other

For those of us who love golf, this past weekend was the one we most often look forward to enjoying as the Masters takes place. For me, Augusta, GA, is the one golf course I'd most like to see. And for those of you who cannot understand, we golf lovers even enjoy watching it on television. No, it is not liking watching paint dry or watching a chess tournament! It is exciting and worth every minute.
To prove my point, I told Lisa that I would be "staying up late". As I watched a Kentucky guy lead for most of the day (Kenny Perry) and another northern Kentucky boy who actually played on his high school golf team while I played on my high school golf team (Steve Flesch), I could not turn the television off. Unfortunately, 11pm became midnight, Sunday became Monday, 1am became 2am, 18 holes became a 3-man playoff for 2 sudden death holes and I finally went to sleep at about 2:30am local time. I DO hope this becomes a tradition unlike any other...because I hope I never have to do it again....at least until it is on TV again next April!

Top 10 Excuses for not blogging

Has it REALLY been nearly 3 months since my last post? I am shocked that anyone is still checking this blog, so count yourself as a REALLY good friend for continuing to check in. Here are my top 10 excuses for not blogging:

10. Been taking care of sick kids during the winter months. Some create their own reading spots in unusual places in the house. Some have good quality reading to keep them busy; others don't. I'm ashamed to admit I actually bought that book here.









9. Been wrapping rice, meat, and spices into grape leaves.









8. Been selling girl scout cookies. You thought they were popular in the states? Try selling them to people who haven't have access to American sweets. It's good to be a hero.









7. Been to a first dance. Sniff sniff. By the way, this is proof that Mike still remembers how to tie a tie. It's been a while, but he's still got it!












6. Been doing schoolwork with the kids. This one is CLASSIC! Emma brought it home in her backpack. I'm framing this proud piece of kindergarten work! She had to write something she does that's fun, and she explained, "WrEst2ing DaD" complete with a picture of her celebrating in victory over her dad flat as a pancake on the floor.












5. Been making friends with shepherds.









4. Been eating our new favorite vegetable. Brussel sprouts are rocking our world right now. I'm not kidding! I used to boil them to death and then put butter on them, but no one ate them. I found a new recipe, and our kids are now fighting over who gets the last ones. It was an amazing transformation. So, the basic jist is this: cover the bottom of your skillet with a thin layer of olive oil. Slice your brussel sprouts in half (you may need to take off a couple of old tattered outside leaves). Fry in skillet until nicely caramelized (fancy lingo for kind of brown). Flip. Saute just a little longer. Add salt. Wah-lah. They should be just a tad bit crispy. These are so delicious you won't believe they're brussel sprouts!









3. Been saying hello to spring.









2. Been saying hello to ice cream (ok, we never really said good-bye).









1. Been celebrating Easter!

Bus service

This morning the bus was late to pick up the kids. David used the intercom system to ask if I'd drive them to school if the bus didn't come soon. I told him to wait 5 more minutes. After 5 minutes transpired, I looked out the window and the bus must've come because they were not there.

Tonight at dinner I found out what happened. The bus driver came to our street driving a taxi. He told the kids, "My car broken" complete with hand signals. My = pointing to self. Broken = 2 hands together and pretend to break a stick. So the kids piled into a small taxi. Then he went on to complete the route in his taxi. He loaded 8 kids in the taxi and headed to school. So the kids went to school squished in a taxi driven by the bus driver because the bus was broken. I had no idea.