Cesped and other insanity

"Cesped" is the Spanish word for lawn. We learned it in language school in the city and NO Honduran native in the six months we lived in Urraco knew the word. They did not know what a lawn was. You know why? They don't have them. You know why? Because lawns are insane.
People who plant grass are crazy. Either that, or not entirely informed as to the undertaking cesped really is. Like when I started breastfeeding. Really, people? No one wanted to bother telling me that it was going to take 8 hours a day for at least two weeks? I think that is something I should have known. I think someone should have told me that I would be watering this stinkin' cesped 6 hours a day for a few weeks. That would have been nice info. (Jarod said he suggested a sprinkler system – but honestly – where is that money coming from?... I thought that was a joke.) No joke – my cesped is sucking the little life I had left right out through my mud coated feet. However, as insane as this fescue grass planting portion of my days have been for the last two weeks it is NOTHING compared to the insanity perused in other venues. Digging trenches to run extra water lines, renting large equipment to plant the seed, buying hoses and attachments, and the countless hours “schlepping” hoses is nothing compared to the end of semester/beginning of summer transition we have undergone... and really someone should have told us.
Told us that:
If God gives you a big house – expect it to be a hotel.
And expect the people in your hotel to take really long showers and eat at strange times.
If someone in your house is in finals week – you are all in finals week. If six people in your house are in finals week – you might want to leave.
Expect wind on BBQ days and lots of fun any way, even if no one knows what is going on
And you should expect to go one road trips just for the memory, even on your busiest days
If someone asks you to help them move – expect twice as much furniture – AND always expect mini-fridges at 7 a.m. on Sunday.
Expect people you love to leave forever... and leave you with wonderful memories and some awesome “non-takables” – “I'll always remember her when I use this stapler.”
If you offer rides to the airport they will always SOMEHOW involve 4 a.m.
Always expect girls to try to over pack their bags by 5-10 lbs.
If you love people it is really emotionally draining to say goodbye... again and again...
Expect hugs from Saudi strangers and talkative long goodbyes from usually quite Asians
It is even more emotionally draining to have their bed taken over by a stranger - and to make friends with that stranger while folding laundry after 2 days of no sleep.
If you have Saudi guys living in your house they might leave unexpectedly, come back unexpectedly, or maybe even come back with a wife – you should learn to expect that.
You should expect flat tires at 6 a.m. And no jacks and tools.
You should expect emotional break downs and for at least one of your kids to get the flu
You should expect your parents to be strung out and your other friends to move without even saying goodbye... because really where were they supposed to find you?
You should expect to be sad everyday as you practice the “end of school” play with 8th graders... everyday knowing that one is watching from heaven... that never sits well.
You should expect weird weather patterns... and strange sleeping habits from everyone...
… and a lot of questions about who will fill the hotel beds next... and fights over who will water the cesped next.
And you should know that just when you think you can't handle it... when you can't WATER the stinkin' cesped one more time – God will send rain. Of course your basement will be wet. But you'll have time to clean that up because God will take care of the cesped, and all the other insanity. And just like breastfeeding – you'll look back and never regret one minute of any of it. But you'll wish someone would have warned you... or maybe you don't because you never would have thought, “Well, we might as well.” 'Cause that is just insane.

Evaluated

Happily, it looks as though all six of our wonderful students will be returning next year! We love this idea for SO many reasons... one of which is that we can't have done anything too horrible yet and that takes a load off. But just in case, and just to avoid any simmering problems under their polite skin, Jarod and I decided a year end evaluation of life at 703 Fort might be in order. Hence, this morning the children sleepily crawled into my lap as I continued typing the evaluation form. Jude asked what I was doing and then brightening to full alertness pleaded to take his own. So reading him the questions, this is how he answered - and I will record parts of it here because I never want to loose it. especially the part where our relationship is "GREAT".

One a scale of 1 -5 how would you rate:
Going to Bethesda? - a 5 which equals "I would like to do this more often!"
family meetings? - a 2 which equals "This activity is not so enjoyable"
We scored a 4 on both "homework help" and "transportation assistance", which I can only assume means we do a little too much homework and not quite enough transporting to his grandparents' and the Lowery's on his every whim.
Our household cleanliness was acceptable but surprisingly he finds his bed a tad lumpy.
The price is just right for him but he doesn't feel that he is learning and growing from this experience.
He feels wonderful about inviting people into our home and is completely comfortable with all of his relationships within the home. Except for Lucy. He gave this relationship a 2 rating which equals "I am adjusting - but would prefer things were done differently."
And finally, my favorite - and the litmus test of honesty by which all 6 year old evaluations of their parents should be judged was that he rated his satisfaction with his responsibilities at a 1 - noting that he, "should not have to do anything at all." And last but not least is that his number one priority for having a successful year next year was to have more ice cream socials like the one we held Friday night for over 150 people. With 9 flavors of homemade ice cream... I think he might be on to something... but next year he will have to do ALL the dishes - you win some and loose some kid.

My evaluation of life in photos:

On having a huge ice cream social on apparently the only beautiful spring evening of 2011 = 5 = GREAT. Having an "accidental" pond/swimming pool that will apprently accommodate a dozen grown women = 2 = I am adjusting but would prefer if things were done differently... say for example if we knew what we were doing!


On becoming a soccer mom = 3.25 = It is fine... I think. He says were doing it again next year.



On celebrating so many birthdays around our dining room table that by the time I get around to downloading the pictures from a month I forgot about at least two of them = 4.25 = next year it will be a 5 because I will have "halal" (think muslim Kosher) figured out and Bob is buying me a box of 500 birthday candles... (no less Bob if you want an accurate representation on each cake.)






On a life full of random activities thats varies from trench digging, to judging college speech competitions, to driving instructor and moving coordinator, to chef at the play-dough restaurant extravaganza (by the way this last one keeps the kids occupied for hours if you can convince them they need to make a bowl of real-to-life brown rice... but expect to throw the dried brown play-dough out afterward). 5.



On having friends so close that you think nothing of having "trade out sleepovers" for your two year olds just because "all the boys need to be together and all the girls need to be together." Lucy preparing for her first all alone overnighter at the Lowery's and Jonah settling in at 703 Fort. 5.



Having two Chinese Political Science Graduate students as friends as well as poetry, Economist, and Bible reading partners. A 5 - there is just nothing like it to stave off the long hours of mindless chores done by a midwestern housewife and to give a little weight to an afternoon otherwise filled with playdough rice. What a balance. Oh, and the pond in the background of the picture... just for good measure. Like i said, Kid, you win some and you lose some. Anyone want to venture a guess as to how MANY goldfish (or stumbling drunks) we lose to the giant mosquito pit in our side yard this summer?

Samari in our home

After dinner, while loading the dishwasher - all too many of us in the one-butt kitchen,

"Amanda, what is samari?" - Salah questions

"Samari?" ... slowly I search for a simple worded answer for Japanese ancient warriors

"My assignment - I have to watch movie - samari."

"Oh the last Samari" - I think, what a strange assignment.. but that is nothing new

And Jarod breaks into a full on explanation of Japanese fighting and when he is about to get to the full body demonstrations in too small a kitchen, with audience - it is Salah's turn to look confused.

"No, I will not watch THAT movie- only ANY movie and write Samari."

"Oh - Summary."

At least five times a day something like this happens around here. So my blog should be better - really there is no excuse.