Hexbug in a Megablock Maze

Nathan and Luke have been built a maze for Roy’s Hexbug to run through … pretty cute!

Nathan’s Best Day Ever

This morning there were two games left in the 2008/09 Dubai Little League Baseball season.   Nathan (playing in the Peewee Division with other seven- and eight-yearolds) has been steadily improving in his game, as has all his team-mates on the FedEx sponsored Kansas City Royals, and if nothing else his love for the game is what carries him through each play.

It was a hot day as the Royals faced the Tigers (the end of season games are usually the toughest) but they were on form, running in 5 runs with no outs in their first inning at bat – Nathan (a little lower in the batting order) first saw action as he played catch in the first defense inning.  As the pitching machine slung it’s true strike’s he tried to stop as many from getting away, but ended up with a lot more dust in his face than usual, again showing his commitment vs. skill.

The Tigers were cut short, scoring only 3 runs in that inning, and with runners on second and third Nathan donned his batting helmet and trotted out.  It was a nerve-racking first stance at bat, with a “Full-House” and only one ball left, but Nathan (with his signature left-handed stance) swung and hit a low lob just short of the pitcher, and running hard made it to first base.

Nathan proceeded to run unto third as his team-mates batted, but with the Royals scoring another 5 runs he had to shuffle up and down for the change of play without scoring a run.

The Tigers, in their second inning scored another three runs – Nathan playing Centre Field this round didn’t make any catches, but did once have a good run, collect and cut-off throw-in and looked on top of things most of the time.

Coach Stan, as always was very encouraging as Nathan again faced the pitching machine in the third inning, and again was at a Full house, only one ball away from a possible strike-out … But “HO” another pop-up swing perfectly short of Third base had him running safely onto first base, and an over-throw had him on second. Two batters later, Nathan’s friend Hudson hit a beauty into outfield and Nathan applauded as he ran in the 14th run for the Royals for the day.

The Royals would finish the day scoring 15 runs, to the 7 completed rounds of base of the Tigers – Coach Stan was SO happy with Nathan’s improvement over the season that he went as far as nominating that Nathan keep the “Game Ball” this week, an honour usually kept for the best offensive player … With “Game Ball” in hand, and smile as wide as Jumeirah beach, Nathan turned to Angela and I and said “I think this is the best day in my life, ever …”

We’re just so thankful to Our Lord and saviour for how He’s blessed us with such a wonderful boy, that even though his talents are obviously not on the base-ball field, he plays at it with all his heart – We’re also deeply grateful to his coach, Stan Paul, and the wonderfully humbling work he’s doing with the boys and girls on Nathan’s team, and rewarding effort and perseverance and not just raw obvious talent, which I must admit, there’s a lot of in the Royals.  Seeing Nathan so filled with joy also lead me and Angela to say “It was a pretty good day” as we look to next weeks game, and probably Nathan’s last … Thanks be to God!

Nathan helping in the new apartment

Today, while Angela was washing down something, I was installing curtain rails, and Luke was running around enjoying the echo of his empty room, Nathan got to work putting together a few stool for us to sit on: “It’s like Lego, Dadee, but you need to use a tool :-)”

Dubai Little League 2008 – Opening Day

Today marks the start of the 2008 Little League Baseball (and T-Ball) season for Dubai, and to celebrate DLL had a wonderful “Open Day Ceremony” presenting all 400+ players and 40 or so teams who’ll be playing this season.

It’s Nathan’s first year in Little League, and he’ll be playing T-Ball for the LA Dodgers.

Following the ceremony there were also a few “Exhibition Games”: The Dodgers played the Blue Jays in a 2 inning bout that saw the usual T-Ball rules of “Everyone hits, everyone runs, everyone scores” in full force, and a wonderful time was had by all. All the kids enjoyed it (almost as much as the parents) and in two loud words it has to be said that Nathan simply “LOVES BASEBALL!”

Nathan’s first Enviro-Battery

Today Nathan made his first “Enviro-Battery”, out a Lemon (cut in half) – He joined the lemon halves as follows: Nickel plate to copper plate using a white wire, and then Copper to the Positive side of a little light-bulb, and then negative side of the light-bulb to a Nickel plate in the other side of the Lemon.

The theory is that a reaction takes place and electicity will flow from the nickel to the copper plates, and thus through the light-bulb and give light, and you know? IT WORKED! However, the light was VERY dim, hence Nathan’s puzzled look …

Nathan’s Gingerbread Christmas Tree

Nathan and Angela “put together” this Gingerbread Christmas Tree as part of the festivities for Christmas this year – Nathan really enjoyed it, especially the fact that he could work with icing sugar that was his favourite colour (i.e. green)

Looks lovely, don’t you think?

Nathan at the Police Station

Today is National Day of the United Arab Emirates, celebrating Thirty Six years of union as one nation.  It’s been our home for about five and half years now, pretty much the only home our boys know; Following on this, it came as no surprise that when I asked Nathan what the one thing was he really wanted to do on this National Day of celebrating “The Birthday of the UAE” he said he wants to meet with the Sheik (i.e. ruler). I told him that’s a bit hard to arrange, as the Sheik is a busy man, and did he have a second choice?

Nathan replied he would really like to go visit a Police station and talk to a Policeman. So we headed off to Al Aweer Police station and met a very friendly Sergeant who was happy to meet and chat with Nathan, and also offered to have his picture taken. He even took Nathan to have a look at his Police car.

Nathan’s not so nice saying …

So yesterday the boys were playing in the room and Luke (being Luke) starting ’screaming’ which is more like short high-pitched bursts of noise.

Anyhow, after some time, Nathan went up to Luke and said to him ‘Luke, if you don’t stop screaming I might accidently hit you’.

My sweet boy! Guess he had enough of it.  Luke must’ve gotten the message because he stopped screaming pretty quickly after that! :)

Nathan’s submission to McDonalds Picture Competition

Nathan drew this picture for the McDonald’s Picture competition – It’s a picture of an “Alien-Robot-Bug called McDonald”

Boys all down for the count …

Luke is teething and has been sick most of last week. He had a very high fever on Friday which Angela managed to Rear-end (*grin*) with modern medicine and control. We only went to the doctor yesterday, and he said: “Too late, Luke seems to be over the worst”, but his nose will most likely continue running like the tap is has been ’till he’s 5 years old or something…

We have to monitor Nathan though (Doc’ said); He has a cough and sore/red throat and if it get’s worse we have a script fot some Anti-Biotics to start him on tomorrow or perhaps Thursday.

I was off work today and yesterday, having started on Anti-B’s after the family visit to the doctor yesterday (brought on mostly by my aching head and dry, irritating cough). It’s the usual case of sinus related flu, bit of phlegm in the lungs …

Angela was just SO wonderful in taking care of us three, these past two days and the rest certainly has put me back on the road to recovery – Will see how first day back at work is tomorrow (assuming I feel as well tomorrow morning as I do now) …

Excavation Complete

Today Nathan (with a lot of help from Angela) completed the excavation of his dig-a-dino bones.

All 14 bones were unearthed from their muddy clay entrapment.

After a decent wash and scrub to remove the remaining dirt-remnants, Nathan then proceeded to put the bones together. The final result, this Brachiosaurus replica.

Nathan’s Concert

Every year a group of Home-Schoolers in Dubai have a concert for the kids to display some of their talents – Being our first year we weren’t to sure what to expect, but it was a pretty fun event, and great time to spend our Friday afternoon.

Aside from the expected recitals of piano, violin and even a flute music, there was a very polished “Irish-dancing” (notable, as none of the girls performing were Irish) and also Tai-Kwan-Do display.

There were about four “reports” about books read, holidays attended, etc. and also a few readings.

Nathan did a reading (we asked if he wanted to play piano, but he insisted on reading) and did a very good job of it indeed. About halfway through the reading he stopped for a lil’ while as he looked up and must’ve thought “Wow, so many people, all listening to me” but it didn’t seem to shake him and he continued reading calmly and clearly – Angela and I were very proud indeed.

Blessed Mother’s Day

This morning at 5:30 while I was busy getting Luke a bottle, Nathan came running excitedly into the kitchen and proclaimed he was ready to make his Mommy some breakfast and “spoil” her for Mother’s Day. He’s not yet 6 years old, so we kept it simple – Tea, Cereal and a Handcrafted card.

I proceeded to get Nathan some cereal as well, and while Luke finished his early morning bottle, we enjoyed a family “Breakfast in Bed”.

It brings joy to my heart to see Nathan so excited about loving his Mom’ – Praise the Lord for Him, and ov course, my wonderful wife as well!

Nathan’s Excavation

For easter our friends Allan and Christine Paton gave Nathan a “Dig-a-Dino” excavation kit – Basically it’s a square clay brick, but inside it is heralded to hold a the promise of something exciting and mysterious, i.e. little plastic bones of a Brachiosaurus, that needs to put together to complete the activity.

Nathan has slowly been brushing away at the dirt (first two photo’s a couple days old) and today finally hit “pay-dirt” and uncovered the “dino-spine” … We’re all eagerly looking forward to him finding the whole thing! (not that the dinosaur is going to be particularly BIG, but it’s kinda exciting given we started off with a brick o’ dirt)

This is one of those great toys/gifts that teaches patience, not only to Nathan, but to Angela and myself who both really want to “dig-in” and help him out ’cause we’re realy just so darn curious, but realise we should restrain ourselves for his sake, afterall we are the adults in the relationship :-) I think the fact that this is also a “use only once” kinda toy has us all cautiously watching the progress …

Luke and Nathan

Luke is 9 months old today, and from these few pictures you can see all six his teeth. Our personal favorites were the top two eye-teeth which erupted after the bottom two – We’ll miss his little “Dracula Smile” which will fade as his newly aquired top-center teeth grow to close his current top-center gap.

Luke is a really happy smiley little guy, as you can clearly see, but Nathan is  also not one to shy away from advertising his pearly whites.  Can’t believe Nathan is almost 6 years old – Feels just like yesterday we were celebrating his ninth month and sixth tooth, and eagerly awaiting him to start walking … My how quickly time flies!

Nathan’s Story

For Language Arts today Angela gave Nathan a rather simple assignment: “Write a story. Write it about anything you want, I’m not going to help you with any words.”

And so Nathan wrote the following:

Ceeeeeeees

Mouses ate ceeeeeeees and uud ito cats and dogs and men and dadddddyeyd. the end

(Angela corrected the story, a little after that and Nathan re-wrote it)

Cheese

Mice ate cheese and turned into dogs and man and died.

The original manuscript is attached in the “thumbnail”

Nathan watching over Luke

In this picture Nathan is watching over his brother, Luke, who’s playing on the carpet … Isn’t Nathan just such a good Big Bro’ ?! (Daddy’s feet are in the background too)

Nathan’s First Day of School

Today Nathan started his “formal” education and had his “First day of School” – Don’t be fooled by how familiar the school entrance and desk he’s working at look – Verrips Elementary is a very serious establishment who take their one-on-one education very much to heart.  Nathan’s teacher (Ms Angela) seems very dedicated and is doing a GREAT job!  She mentioned to me afterwards though that he’s a very fast learner, and enjoys Math more than Language Arts.

Map to Pirate Party

Nathan’s Latest Sayings

Isn’t it cute when kids start trying to use words/phrases they hear and get it completely wrong? :) Well, you have to give them credit for trying. Here are some of Nathan’s attempts on words:

Nathan enjoys it when we have a cupboard holiday (public holiday) because then he gets to spend the whole day with his Daddy.

While we drive to playgroup, Nathan enjoys looking out the window and seeing the falimo’s (flamingo’s).

When we go to the doctor, Nathan knows that there isn’t always parking – he reminds me that we should rather do villa parking (Vallet Parking).

Have a happy day!