Update

It has been awhile since my last post and I am sure that all my faithful reader is dying to know what we have been up to lately. 

Anticipate no longer. Here is the long awaited update from the Brown's, in the form of a list for your reading/skimming convenience. 

1. Kevin just returned from a week of studying and meetings with his supervisor for his doctoral work in Scotland.  We were all so happy to have him home again. 

2. So far he does not seem to have contracted the swine flu despite his refusal to wear a mask on the plane like I suggested.

3. I would make a terrible single parent. Taking care of two children by yourself is not easy. 

4. But I did have some help, since the kids and I stayed with my parents for the first part of the week. Cambel especially enjoyed this extended stay at his grandparents, proclaiming it the "best day."

5. Before Kevin left, Cambel turned 4--an event that he has announced to anyone that has come within earshot. He is so proud of himself for being 4, and Kevin and I are pretty proud that we have been in charge of him for 4 years and haven't completely messed him up--yet. 

It is hard to believe that he is already 4. We love him more all the time. 

6. During the "best day" at grandpa and grandpa's, while my parents did yard work, Cambel collected quite a large number of worms which he stored in a jar and affectionately dangled between his fingers from time to time.  As if the shows of affection were not enough to kill the poor things, he "watered" them and flooded the jar (you can imagine the fate of many of them). I finally convinced him to put them back into their real home when I could no longer ignore one pathetic worm's feeble attempt to crawl up the side of the jar and escape the flood. 

7. After several failed attempts at getting Ada to drink from a regular sippy cup, I broke down and bought her two overpriced cups with special straws, which just might help her learn to do something besides nurse before kindergarten. 

8. Ada really is not happy about the new cups, but shear thirst is driving her to take sips--mostly when it is on her time and her terms. 

8. My book on effective parenting techniques will not include a chapter on weaning, or really any attempts to get your children to do what you want. 

9. I recently realized that my driver's license has been expired since October, so I had to visit the BMV and take the written exam, which is harder than you might think unless you already know the maximum speed limit on every possible type of road in the United States.  Luckily I passed and they sent me over to get my picture taken. The result is the worst possible picture of me I can imagine. For some reason they won't let you show any teeth when you smile and you have to tip your head down. And it was raining and I had on an old shirt and I was having a bad hair day (none of this is the BMV's fault of course, but it does add to the drama).  The good news is I don't have to go through this again for another 5 years. The bad news is that for 5 years I have to wonder if I really am that ugly every time I pull out my wallet. 

10. For Mother's Day Kevin got up with the kids, fed them breakfast, made me breakfast, and gave me a gift card to the Gap and a really sweet letter. Cambel picked a few leaves from a bush and wished me Happy Mother's Day several hundred times. So all that pretty much makes up for the week alone and the driver's license picture. 

I was without the camera for the week, so the only picture I have for this post is this one of Cambel watching PBS with his bike helmet on. This is normal right?