r e s i l i e n c e
n. [1] the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity
[2] the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughnessThat's Mr. Oxford's take on it anyways. Well, whatever it is, Natalie has it. Today, the girls had a playdate of epic proportions at Miss Ashley's house. But don't worry; I'll ease you into it slowly by doing a short game of "who's who"
mom Carina
child Maggie [2.87]
child Natalie [1.08]
mom Jax*
child Zak [2.21]
mom Ashley
child Daniel [2.08]
child Sophie [2.08]
child Alessandro [2.08]
legend
bold-- role
normal-- name
brakets-- age
*general abbreviation for 'Jacqueline'
Ashley and Jax actually both went to the university here that I'm thinking of attending (I don't think either of them graduated from there though), University of Kwalzulu-Natal-- often abbreviated as UKZN. This simple fact was music to my ears, since I've been having a field day trying to figure out how to school here operates et cetera. Their website is pretty shoddy in design and talking to a real person always beats the internet. Sorry net! I visited UKZN this past Tuesday and spent most of it running around with Preshantha, easily the kindest soul I came into contact with that day. She works in the international relations office that deals with admissions, but there's a separate office once students from abroad are actually accepted. And of course, that office is across Howard campus (the college of humanities, where I'll be studying). Despite many a road block, I've gotten loads figured out and continue to make progress via my helpful strangers, who I very much hope won't remain strangers for too much longer.
Anyways, back to the triplet action! Both our girls had an energy-jet-packed time of it and were very amenable to the dinner-bath-beddybie combo package we sold them afterwards. It's simply astounding how different all the triplets are; such varied little personalities! Sophie and Natalie are both quite independent; Zach and Daniel play quite a bit rougher and are so daring!; and Alessandro is the world's youngest tattletale, to be sure! Miss Ashley was telling us about when she picked them up from school today. When she got there, Alessandro said, in his pseudo-British accent, "oh Mummy! You must come and take Daniel home-- he has been so naughty!"
Natalie continued to amaze me throughout the playdate. Despite the boys slight roughhousing and the sheer amount of energy in the backyard (the monkeys contributed to that a fair bit as well), she really held her own! She was more than willing to fight back and dish out her own fair share of hair pulling and bruises. Participation: full-throttle.
She's also starting to get chunks of words out. One she's been working on a lot lately is "Abbie." Our dog here, a gorgeous, sweet girl is named Abiquiú, after a town in New Mexico near Los Alamos (the place where the nuclear bomb was developed).
Usually she'll see the dog and run around saying "Ab," "ab," "ab" for a good little while. Today, however, she was able to say "Abbie" three times in a row! It's very exciting to see her learning so much so fast.
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Maggie and Natty have also just started having swimming lessons twice a week. The classes are taught by a woman named Lara and she uses the pool in her backyard for the lessons. She's great with the kids and seems to really love her work. We walk the girls over to her place Monday and Wednesday afternoons. Maggie is in a class with another little boy named Deklan (spelling??) who is very sweet and shy. Natalie is doing an infant series with Carina and loving it. It's so interesting to watch them at the lessons because it really shows you how different they are in nature.
Maggie is all about organization and pretty cautious. She gets fairly nervous when she does her little bobs under water and loves to chitter chatter throughout the class. Natalie, on the other hand, is absolutely fearless and can't wait to get all the way in! Maggie has her lesson first and Carina and I have a tough time keeping Natalie from diving in the pool while she waits. Once Natalie's in the water, she can't wait to dunk her head in and comes up giggling and smiling each time. Totally a water-baby. I hope to be posting some pictures from the lessons soon!
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In other news, several reports of an alarming nature have reached this news station concerning the sighting of a large and, possibly terrifying, flying insect. The insect in question was spotted in the humble of abode of one Sprekelia on the eastern coast of South Africa. Now, we'll turn to our privately investigated report with Sprekelia:
So basically, I was sitting on my comfy bed
writing my blog, when I saw a large flutter of brown wings. I carefully backed off the bed towards my desk and waited. All was eerily still, when suddenly, a huge, behemoth of wings rushed sporadically around the enclosure in wicked looking spirals and zags. I deftly rushed out of the room through the connecting bathroom, turning on lights as I went, so that I may better observe my attacker. Once in the kitchen beyond, I began chucking plastic toy vegetables through the door frame to try and rouse it from its den, but to no avail. Behind me, another door rattled open and lo! there stood Ben, in all his tall state, with large staff and flashlight in hand. Though brave in coming to my aid, it was his fair maid, Carina, who became the hero of the hour. Through agile skill and valiant thrashing, she bested the beast and caught it in a towel. After releasing it into the wilds beyond our abode, we discovered it was a
praying mantis
Definitely the size of both my hands together. You know, in my opinion, bugs that big shouldn't be allowed to fly. It's just not a great plan. Well, until next time, cheers!
