Day 11: Ice Ice Baby

Thursday June 26
Today I picked up the boys at 12 and if you can probably tell it's been over a week since I have had them. I have another job that is keeping me busy this summer too! Anyways, I picked up them up and brought them to my house and we worked  on body parts today and opposites. Half way through the boys started to get side tracked and didn't want to learn. I decided to grab some sweetish fish and bribe them with it, that really got the learning going. After that we went and started the Movie Cars in English but they weren't interested really so they just played on the piano and with a few toys we have in our basement. After that they wanted to play outside, so we did. They  love to swing and go down the slide. It's interesting to see their little bodies that aren't used to using large motor skills try to learning new things. They are sometimes awkward and trip actually a lot. They discovered the ice that comes out of the front of my fridge today and they thought that was the coolest thing in the world. It's great to see them being happy and learning.

Day 10: Children's Museum

Tuesday June 17
I picked up the boys and said "How are you?" and then I told them to reply "good" so they somewhat mastered that. Today we went to the Children's Museum here in town. Let me just tell you it is the coolest place in this town. I was so impressed and entertained. They had a bunch of different rooms and activities that kids can do. After 2 hours in their we went to the library for a little while which I think the enjoyed and then we rode the carousel. Today was a good day with them.

Day 9: First Time In A Pool

Monday June 16
Today I decided I would do something drastic. I decided to take the boys swimming for their first time. We went to Walmart and got all the essential swimming supplies and they after getting all sun blocked the slowing got in the pool, however that means that they barely got to their waists in and just played with the little toys we bought. I put an inner tube around them and water wings and pulled them out into the middle and spun them around they sure got a kick out of that. After two hours of actually not a lot of swimming they were done so we went in and worked on their alphabet a little bit and that was the end of our day. I didn't get any pictures of them out at the pool unfortunately though because I got in with them.

Day 8: Melt downs to Melt my heart

Friday June 13
Today I had this great idea to have the boys make something for their dad for Father's Day this Sunday so we went to Michal's Craft Store. Things were going great we had cute little mugs for their dad that they were going to decorate. Then we kept looking around for other crafts when Darren saw Playdough... He really wanted the Playdough. The thing was I had just bought new Playdough for my house now try explaining that in Chinese when you only speak English. Well he started throwing a hit and crying hysterically and I had now idea how to calm him down I tried to distract him and say shhhh and I tried to explain that I had "Playdough" at "My house" but nope.. so we left the Father's Day present and booked it out of there. We came back to my house and worked on letters u-z!! Yay the finished the alphabet! Then we got to play with the beloved Playdough. They would pass back tools back and forth to each other and they would say "Thank you" and "You're Welcome" between each other. It made me feel like I was getting through to them somehow and that made me really excited! Another successful day.

Day 7: Jumping Jacks

Thursday June 12
I picked up the boys today and we went to... JUMPING JACKS! Not gonna lie I was pretty nervous about how they would respond to a big warehouse full of blow-up inflatables but they loved it! I try to be sneaky with my pictures so one, I don't freak them out and two so that I get some candid shots.

 

However.. After a few times of my phone being out they realized what I was doing. So they starting posing. I was dying at their poses I thought the peace sign was just a stereotype but nope, they actually do it!

Especially the older one he was all over it and wanted me to take so many pictures of him! After a little while I could tell they were tired so I let them ride the carousel and then we were done for the day. It was fun to pretend to be a kid again today and climb, slide and chase around with these two! 

 

 

Day 6: Staying At Home

Tuesday June 10:
I decided today to stay at their house because everytime I pick them up to go do something they always fight me for a few minutes. Let me just say staying at their  house isn't my favorite thing because it smells like fish.. and because they wander like crazy and we don't accomplish a lot. However I still gave it my best go. I brought their work books and a coloring page for them to do. We worked on letter p-t!! We're getting close to z then we worked on our silly songs again and colored. I drilled them on the alphabet and we started learning that A goes to Apple B goes to Ball and so forth the older one was a wiz at this but the younger one had a little bit of a harder time. Then I just let them play and show me all their toys and then, get this, they told me to "go" "home" Even though I was very impressed I was a little offended I thought we were having fun but also I didn't bring anything else to teach them so I gladly left. So something about me and something about the boys. Me: I hate feet. End of story. I don't want to touch your feet and I don't want them to touch me.
Boys: Here, lets us put our feet all over you.
Me: Very disgusted.

The good news about that though is I think they know the word foot now!

Day 5: Found The Pool

Monday June 9:
I picked the boys and brought them back to my house. We worked on letters k-o and then I taught them head-shoulders-knees-and toes again and also this song that I know we call it the good morning song. They sure got quite the kick out of those songs, so basically they didn't learn them they just laid on the floor laughing at me doing the actions... They we went downstairs and I let them play with a few of the toys we have down there and also the piano. I think I see some potential musical talent with them. Then we watched Matter's Tall Tales on Netflix. After that we went outside and I decided I would open our pool a little bit to see what they thought. They immediately were curious and started splashing their feet around and throwing toys in. I said "swimming pool" only a million times hoping they would catch on. I still am not brave enough to take them in the pool but I hope to do that with them soon! After a minor fall in resulting in wet shorts I took them back home.

 ~Me and Darren had a little bonding moment~

~The First Touch Of Pool~

 

Day 4: Feeling Domestic

Thursday June 5:
I picked up the boys today with little fight. We went to the gas station because my gas light had been on for a full day! Then we went to the grocery store because I promised I would make dinner for my family that night. Then we had to go to Walmart too, lots of "stores". After that we came back to my house and we worked on letters  f-j in their workbooks. Then we played play dough which they got a kick out of. While they were sitting and playing I started making dinner and I stopped and thought man this is probably how it's going to be to be an actual mom, you know minus the part where my kids don't speak the same language as me.. ha but then they explored the back yard and it was too too hot to be outside so they started Monster's University the movie which I thought was funny they wanted to watch the monsters again but whatever floats their little boats! Then it was time to take them home! Today was very chill which I appreciated a lot. It helped me get my spirits back up and it was amazing to see them improving so much in their workbooks too it helped me realize that maybe I actually am making a difference in their lives, one can hope so right?

Day 3: A Rough Start

Wednesday June 4th,
Today I went to go pick up the boys and when I gestured them to "go" in the "car" Darren was all for it but Dylan didn't want to go. The grandma was trying (I think) to get to me stay at their house today so that Dylan could still be with us. The problem was all the materials I had prepared for that day were at my house.. After about 15 minutes and a bilingual phone call I decided I was just going to go and come back tomorrow. When I said I was going to "go" though both, yes both, grabbed their shoes and walked out to my car! Sitting there waiting though all that was going through my head was I can't do this anymore, I don't know what these people are saying, how will this ever work out. I was so down on myself but once they were set to come with me all those doubts went away. We drove to my house which they found very fascinating and wanted to explore it. We sat at the counter and we did a few pages in these books (they were my savior today) luckily the boys kinda knew what to do in them.

After the time in the books I wanted to watch an English movie with them. We watched Monsters Inc which was good for a short amount of time. I mean who would want to sit for a whole movie that they can't understand? But still I think they enjoyed it. Then after a quick bathroom break I took them home. Even a bad start can make for a good ending. They are masters at the word "stop" now so I'm feeling pretty good.

 

 

Day 2: Splish Splash

Tuesday June 3rd:
I picked the boys up at 12 expecting to put them in car seats but then I realized I had no idea how to seat car seat in Chinese and heavens they probably don't even have a word for car seat so I gestured and said, "come on" (they've learned that one) and the got in my "car" and we went to the "store" Let me just tell you we spent an hour, yes and hour, in Walmart picking out 2 little boy swim suits. They thought Walmart was the coolest thing on earth we had to walk all around it which I was totally ok with because they stayed by me, it was cool inside, and we were wasting time. When we got to the little boys section I showed them literally every swim suit and a few the younger one, Darren, said yes to but his older brother Dylan would say, "no no no" I was like crap, what am I going to do?? Then I realized that the boys section was too big for them so we went to the baby section and I got two 4T lightning McQueen swim suits and took off without any reassurance from the two. We waited our turn in line which included them picking out a candy for each of them. We drove to the splash park after that. I think they thought we were in Disneyland. They changed right into their "Swim Suits" and ran to the water tags still on and everything.

 

These cups were literally the only thing that got us through today. Who would have thought that a red solo cup could bring so much joy ;)

 We got a few weird looks today and a few questions about me being with these two boys and I think it was all worth it. These two made my day even if I have no idea what they are saying. To see a smile and hear a laugh from them makes it all worth it in the end.

 

Day 1: They Don't Speak Any English

On Monday June 2nd I typed in the families address and started off to literally the unknown. When I arrived at the house I said a prayer before going in, praying that everything would be ok and that basically I wouldn't be made into sushi by the end of the day. I knocked on the door and it opened to a little Chinese boy. The minute he saw me he waved and his brother joined behind them they waved and I said hi and then as little kids do they both ran away. The grandma came to the door and gestured me in and to sit on the couch. Oh! I forgot to mention none of them speak ANY English!  I sat on the couch and waited because Jean (the mother) told me her sister Mindy would be there and she speaks a little English. While I was waiting for the aunt to get home the sweet little grandma offered me a whole plate of oranges.. then I started having such an intern conflict because I had just brushed my teeth and everyone knows oranges and mint are the worst combination ever! I didn't touch them... the little boys kept running out of the hall way and laughing and then the grandma came and picked up the plate of orange slices and insisted that I eat one so I gave in and finally ate one. Then, Hallelujah Mindy walked in!! She told the boys to come out and she introduced me as miss camber which felt so professional to me. Their names are Dylan (6) and Darren (4) We started on the alphabet with them repeating all the letters I said and we also did numbers they can now count to 6! haha but then I decided we should go on a walk and I brought a scavenger hunt to look for things on the walk. After that we came home and colored and I taught them head-shoulders-knees-and toes they sure got a kick out of that. When I left that day I realized that they are just people too! Not that I thought they were aliens but I thought they would act so much different than they did they are just little boys that like to squish ant holes like any kid. My attitude towards this challenge is changing every day and I find myself getting excited to plan what to do with them the next day and I miss their little personalities when I go home, and it's only be one day!

Becoming Nanny Cam

My parent's have become really close friends with the owners of a Japanese restaurant here in St. George and they have three kids, 2 boys and a girl. Here's the crazy part... Right after each of the children were born they were shipped off to China to be raised by their grandma. Under a year ago they moved the 2 boys and their grandma here to Utah, Crazy right? The daughter still lives in China but with the other grandma now. The boys' mother, Jean, wanted the kids to be learning English and normal American things so she asked my dad if I would be willing to take them a few hours a day and teach them a little English and do activities with them. When my dad first told me about this I was so not on board but, then I was telling a few of my friends about it and they were like this will be such an amazing experience. I started to give in and I even started thinking of activities I could do with them. I told my dad I would do it still a little hesitant because this was going to be such a challenge for me, I'm not super out going and I don't speak ANY Chinese so I know that it will be tough but I'm excited and can't wait to see how much they and I learn by the end of the summer.