Dear Uncle Trey...

Dear Uncle Trey,

In preparation of coming to the U.S., I have had to say almost everything to my kids twice.  This is your fault.  They want me to say things normal and then say it "Southern".  They just discovered in this last year that people from the south have an accent.  I guess I have pretty much lost mine, except for when I am mad.  At least, that is what Chris tells me.  I guess that most people revert back to their native language when they are mad. But, let's get back on topic.

 They want to speak with a southern accent so they can talk to YOU!  I'm not sure how you all have been communicating for the last 10 years, but it must not have been working...
 
So they have been practicing how to say Y'all.  And they are horrible at it!  They say it too high pitched.  The southern voice in my head cries in agony every time they say it.  (Could you perhaps help them with that when you see them in August?  Thanks!)  They are both pretty good at the "Uh-UUH" you seem to say a lot. Honestly, though, we love you!

Dear Uncle Dominick,

It seems that you can understand "non-southern" English.  Congratulations! We love you, too!     

It's Summer, Y'all!!

This may be the first time and perhaps the last that you guys will read the word "Y'all" on my blog, but it just felt right!  And I am from Alabama, so, there's that. 

Hey!  It is Summer!  And I haven't written forever!  I have thought about this blog and kept my list of story idea, but alas, the muse has not been with me.  But I feel it returning.

My sweet kids are on summer break now.  They are now officially third and fourth graders!  But, living in Taiwan has taught me something.  Every summer, we hang out, play, sleep in and in general, just do what kids should do in summer.  However, their Chinese classmates all go to extra classes, practice up on their math skills and probably build rockets or something.  The point is that they stay educationally active in the summer and us, not so much.  And we have to play catch up in August.  So I thought that I would pick up a few workbooks for the kids to just practice in their down time, i.e. when they say they are bored.  Today, that time arrived.  Abbey comes in my room wanting something to do.

  "Go read your library books", I say.  She has already finished them.

 "Go play outside', I say.  It's too hot.

 "What about your Polly Pockets?"  She's bored with them, plus Ethan was doing something else and she didn't want to play alone.

 I grab the Math workbook and give it to her.  Actually, I just held it out to her.  She never actually took it because she was scooting away from me and the workbook.

 "Here, practice this and time yourself.  The first couple of pages are super easy!"

 To which she replied, "Mom, are you kidding me?  Math?  I hate math!!"

 I decided not to push the issue because, well, moms like summer break, too.  Later I heard her telling Ethan about it.

 "Ethan, mom tried to make me do Math today.  During Summer break!"

 "Dude, you're kidding!  Math?"

 I chimed in with, "Well, I just don't want you kids to forget everything in the summer."  Ethan's reply?

 "Mom, it's like in our brains.  We won't forget.  It's impossible."

 Anyone need a math workbook?  Cause I've got genius kids that don't need this one.