"Why caffeine coming out of the hole?"

He didn't want me to use the magic bullet this morning, he said it was too loud and wanted to go to another room. But I brought out earplugs for us and he happily stayed.

I took out my coffee maker and NJ says, "Is this one loud too?" The magic bullet was shockingly loud, I guess. He had all kinds of questions about what it was and how it worked. I tried to explain the coffee beans became coffee grinds (in the magic bullet) and then brewed into coffee by the hot water. 

In the middle of playing, he came to me in the kitchen and said: "Mama, I'm tired." He gets his blanket out of his room and goes to lay down on the couch by himself. Silly boy.

Some pool time with the boys. 

It got strangely quiet when the boys got their ice cream. Hee, hee. 

Last day of VBS and he was smiling so big! They also all got a photo of their crew and crew leader. NJ looks so much bigger than the other boys! I'm happy he could be a part of it this year. 

Were you fighting ninja's in your sleep?

At last the magic bullet has been taken out of it's box and in use (also for the first time in this house)! I remember it being loud, but not this horribly loud! I think Dotty recognized it because she started barking before I even turned it on. 

I put some ice and cut watermelon pieces together for a refreshing after dinner treat. The boys really enjoyed it, so cute sitting at the bar together. 

Baba noticed a scratch on NJ's face. He says, "How did you get that? What happened?" I told Baba that he woke up with it and said to NJ, "What was going on? Were you fighting ninja's in your sleep?" His answer, "Yeah." Hmmm...

"Can I see Ming Ming every day?"

Airplane ride... He wanted to sit in the back, but had I known I would have let him sit in the front to control the plane. 

His first roller coaster ride! Woohoo! He said he didn't want to go on, I asked him to try it. He looked terrified and I was wondering if I made a bad decision making him do something that would scare him, but he loved it! This seems to be the norm for him, I guess. When he looks like he's horrified and ready to burst into tears, actually he's enjoying himself. How odd. Glad he likes roller coasters, 'cuz so does Mama... even at a young age when my friends were freaking out crying. 

Train ride...

"How we gonna get down?"

Mmm... churro, thanks Auntie!

Train ride again...

Look at the huge box of Thomas'. The most I've ever seen all piled in a box, all Thomas.

The boys played while we talked. So long that we didn't have time for lunch together. Oops! 

One last ride before we leave, I lost count after the fifth time on this ride. 

I wish we could have spent the whole day together and a whole lot more time together in general. At a time in my life where I feel so much disconnect with people, we really connected. It makes me sad to see them go. I think the boys will miss each other too. If only we lived closer. Why can't things work out the way you want them to? Why can't I have all my close friends as neighbors? I guess that's just the way God stretches us, keeping friendships alive through long distance, making new friendships, and adjusting. 

Diving and Farmer's Market

We walked to the Farmer's Market in South Pas and ate at a cute place with cereal and grilled cheese sandwiches. So yummy! We all got different kinds of grilled cheeses and Uncle Dan had his with a bowl of cereal. Ha, ha. Well, what a fun and enjoyable day with such good friends! 

NJ was nick named little fish today by his Auntie Becca because he was so over confident and comfortable in the pool today. So glad the swim lessons helped so much. He was diving for fish toys over and over without a break and sometimes for long periods of time. He'd be trying to swim, jumping into the water, and walking around along the shallow end with his mouth closed under water while breathing through his nose. We were both so surprised at how much he enjoyed the water and how he was in it. We'll have to use ours more now that I know he loves it so much. I want him to enjoy it while this lasts. Hopefully he'll always be this comfortable in the water. 

"See my prayer box, Baba?"

I asked him if he had fun today he says, "Yes." I asked him what he learned he says, "You can trust God." Wow, I got an answer! Usually he just talks about the snack. He did still talk about the snack, but it wasn't the first thing he said. He also proudly showed his little craft prayer box he made to Baba when he got home. 

What a pleasant surprise today to have a spontaneous mommy date with another VBS volunteer (although I'd hardly call myself an actual volunteer). We went for some tea and boba the two of us and her baby. We found that we have a lot in common and both have a hard time finding other stay at home moms to hang out with.   Too bad we don't live in the area anymore... I found a new friend! :)

"Can you do me a favor?"

I love using the kitchen again, I actually pulled out my aprons for the first time since moving here. I put one on NJ and put one on myself. He didn't keep it on for long. We made pancakes for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch, and rice, chicken, and corn for dinner (plus zucchini). NJ got exactly what he wanted to eat. He was so excited he said, "Rice and chicken and corn? Wow! Thank you, Mama! Thank you so much!" Ha, ha. 

I guess I ask him a lot for favors... he's my little helper picking things up, putting things away, getting something from another room... This is the first time he says it to me: "Mama, can you do me a favor? Can we go to Ah-ee's house so I can play with Cameron?" 

He also asked me today about going to see auntie Ma-chelle and Nathan. 

First day of his first VBS

He loved it! So much fun and excitement that it knocked him out. I was very excited for him to finally join. 

NJ really enjoyed eating his favorite food with Ah-ma, Ah-gong, and some relatives. 

"I want to go to my church."