did you know it is wednesday?! i thought it was tuesday:.

you could spend half your life doing laundry. two plus hour washing, hang
todry,wait, wait, wait. give up, pay 1 pound 50 and dry1. it is surprising
to me how differently we clean clothes!
lessons learned:
undies and socks on the inside
hang from inside to out
dont double up Fabric

went to a cheese shop in the middle of nowhere. saw some boats. threw rocks.
walked down a field with cows. walked back up. probably more suited for
goats. no camera.
tomorrow,market day & dolphins.

finished packing @ 1:50
driver pick up @ 2:00
checked in & at gate by 4:10
plane supposed to leave @ 5:00
six pm: flight cancelled!
long story, short, we arrived in manchester three hours late. bags came on
the next flight. the next day!
we were in our cottage in wales. took us five hours to get here. detailed
directions. and several uturns. in daylight. they courriered our bags to us.
nice service. we had no cell service. in the village, nor did he. it was
eleven @ night. no one about to give directions. one hour circling and i get
by precious belongings! he wouldnt take a tip!
cottage gReat. bedtime horrible.

You might not know it, but this is Sebastien getting dressed for school today.

Mihai's commentary on why:

Don't know. He did it and was laughing. He then laid down on it without
clothes on but I figured we don't need that picture.


(I particularly like his feet off to the right).
Photo might not be sized properely, live with it.

Sebastien and I went ice skating on Sunday. He had been talking about
'falling down' ice skates for weeks. Especially after our last attempt
to ice skate was aborted after falling to acquire a parking spot! I
could only imagine how crowded the rink was.

This time we were prepared. We got there BEFORE the open skate was
supposed to start. Time to pay, find skates, and get them laced.
Sebastien 'skated' last year with Mihai on plastic ice and double
bladed skates. This was his first time on real ice and with single
bladed skates ie "Falling Down Skates". We got on the ice and I
quickly reached the decision that this was a terrible idea. His feet
were going everywhere, I had no idea where to begin to help him figure
it out, and he was less than interested in listening to me. I was
adamant about making fists when he fell down. Not that he could get up
on his own. We did a few laps with one hand on the boards and my
balancing him with his other hand. He tripped all over the toe pick
and his skates. Eventually he figured out he could use the boards to
get back up. A few more laps. And then I needed a lunch break. (I was
ready to leave). Restored blood sugars, off we went again. After a lap
he was NOT AT ALL INTERESTED in my help. Off we went trying to figure
out his feet. And he did it! (for six or so steps and then down on the
ice in a heap). By now he had figured out how to stand up without his
feet moving out behind). And around the rink we went. Him skating and
falling (managing most times to twist around while falling to land on
his stomach) and getting back up again. One lap around, and twenty or
so trips to the ice, and I was ready to leave. I don't think it even
occurred to Sebastien to give up! I was in absolute awe of this little
boy who was determined to figure it out! I was almost moved to tears
when he told me "I don't want your help!" Two laps latter and he was
ready to leave. He knew I was proud of his accomplishment, and he used
it to get some candy out of me after nap time....

When we got home he drew this picture of the faling down ice skate
man. Those are skates on the feet. With just one blade.

Enjoy.

An original piece of construction courtesy of Sebastien.

A rescue helicopeter.

You can hear a clip of his describing it.

Sebastien drew this the other morning. The colors carefully match his
lovey 'Bear'. (We own three of them, two bumpy Bear's, and one Soft
Bear, for some reason less loved).

Bear's 'name' is written above (or to the side as the case may be).

Another drawing. Sebastien really enjoys drawing. So much so that the
teachers are coming up with more art projects for all the kids in his
class to do.

This one is a of a man scuba diving. Along with his submarine, a
shark, and a fish.

The Saturday of The Snow Storm of 2009, Sebastien watched the Princess
Bride at our neighbor's house. (He watched and apparently remembered a
remarkable amount of the movie). In one memorable scene, two parties
are scaling a cliff, having arrived at the foot of the cliff by boat.
Once atop of the cliff there is a sword fight scene.

One month later, Sebastien drew the following picture. We had not
talked about the movie. He made the drawing at school.

A little interpretation: Orange cliff, with orange sail boat at the
bottom. Blue rope, with two blue people climbing. Both carrying orange
swords.

We are astounded at his memory, accuracy, and his use of color!