March madness

Bill got to see a few games of this years college basketball finals. He either stayed up or once even woke up at 1am to catch the game live. For Baylor Men's final 8 appearance he didn't look at the internet all day so that he and a friend could watch the replay the next evening. One day a few weeks ago Zaky and he were playing basketball. Zaky said "it's your turn Baba, you shoot. And he went over to the side and watched Bill shoot. Then Bill said "ok it's your turn" Zaky said "Baba you have to stand like this", and he made Bill stand over to the side with his hands on his knees. I looked over at Bill and asked if he was ok. He said "ya, zaky is making me stand like this." We both looked at him, then figured out what he was doing. Bill then said ok it's my turn, Zaky went over to the side and assumed the same position of hands on his knees and bent over while standing to the side. We both laughed. Apparently Zaky had seen enough basketball to know how to shoot foul shots, that is he knew how he was suppose to stand while the other person was taking a foul shot!

Cheese vs. Chocolate

How to answer the question "do we buy the boys a cheese or chocolate croissant" the answer is easy. But when there are left over chocolate we give in to common sense.

More inside entertainment

We had early, middle, and late season rain this year (if I hadn't mentioned before) every time it rains everyone says "that was the last of it" then it rains again. These are more shots of our indoors "play area".

Just incase anyone forgot

Just encase anyone forgot how cute the boys were, here is a reminder.

Inside entertainment

Reason number 1 we keep our old used couches.... Reason number 2: does not show stains.

A friend and her little girl visited us the other week, and Zaky, Jonas, and their buddy James started pulling off the cushions, she looked puzzled and said "this would not even occur to her daughter to do"

New team

Our team mates of the last 5 years are moving back to America. And our other team mates are moving about a half hour away. So we have joined up with another group about 30 min away for prayer and other ministry. Our new team times are once a week in the evening with kids for a meal then put the kids down and have a study/ prayer time. The family that hosts most often have 3 girls. Two girls older then Zaky whom he follows around trying to play with, and the youngest (3 months younger than Jonas) who I can not for the life of me keep Jonas from beating up on. I swear Jonas just has to be in the same room as this little girl and he will seek her out and push her over. I arrogantly prided myself that "MY SON" (Zaky) was not a hitter, he will hit back, but not be the first to hit, not my son. Well I have been put in my place, my other son is officially a bully. The picture above is obviously the influence of a 5 year old girl.

Why Zaky likes school

Zaky reverted back to crying before school when we returned from Texas after Christmas, it took another couple of weeks for him to warm back up to it. He still says most mornings "today is Saturday no school", "there's no school today because there's no school today", "I don't want to go to school today because I don't want to". He does drag his feet in the morning being very particular about what he is going to wear. The nun gets upset with us most mornings because if he gets there after 8:15 he misses the singing practice for their recitals coming up in May and June. One morning he was there before 8 he got to carry the flag "with the Christmas tree on it". But after a couple of months he almost always says he had fun at school, his buddies are the two Ali. He has started eating their lunches, besides just on Wednesday which is spaghetti day. But I know what he enjoys most about school are the birthday parties, at this age parents are allowed to bring cake and goodie bags and the teachers do everything basically, and this gets the parents off for hosting a party at home (smart!). Almost every Thursday Zaky comes home with a hat and goodie bag. I always ask who's birthday it was if it was a boy he often knows their name, but if it was a girl "not Aya's birthday" is usually the answer. There are also two Ayas in his class!

cultural note: In this culture, in the wealthier schools, parents are sort of expected to host birthday parties inviting classmates, parents, and siblings. Usually at a restaurant or play place, big bucks!