We found the best game!

I know Nikki will rock at this!
I tend to score between 4-6. Is that sad?

To the tune of 'Little Donkey'

Little monkey, little monkey
You're a cheeky boy
Those are not yours to mess around with
Find a better toy

Stop throwing things downstairs!
(Son of mine, son of mine)
Stop knocking over chairs!
(Son of mine, son of mine)

Little monkey, little monkey
I know you want to be
a sweet angel, a little cherub
but it's not to be...

Evolution

While fiddling on the computer instead of doing something important, I stumbled across an interesting article from the Washington Post on Evolution vs Intelligent design. I disagree with a fair bit of what both sides of the argument say in America so it's a bit contentious in places, but I loved the way it finished up:

'How ridiculous to make evolution the enemy of God. What could be more elegant, more simple, more brilliant, more economical, more creative, indeed more divine than a planet with millions of life forms, distinct and yet interactive, all ultimately derived from accumulated variations in a single double-stranded molecule, pliable and fecund enough to give us mollusks and mice, Newton and Einstein?'

I certainly think that Evolution should be taught as theory, not fact, and that there should be room for alternative explanations on the school curriculum. But I believe that evolution could be evidence of God's creative process, so I'm not getting myself tied up in knots about it!

If you want to read the whole thing it's here.

It's been a while

Sorry to people who check our blog regularly; things have been a bit stupidly hectic around here for the past week or two, and chances to blog have been few and far-between. We have both been battling with a son who won't sleep at appropriate times (like now) and a daughter who is somewhat teething and miserable. I have also had a very busy week at work, with two parents' evenings in the same week (not that I can complain to the school - I fixed the date for one of them), one for Year 9 and one for a Christmas Markets trip I've been organising to Lille and Cologne. Should be a lot of fun.

And even though I'm knackered and fairly disillusioned with my job, God reminds me of the reasons why I do it. At Year 9 parents' evening:

Me: "So, Georgina, how are you feeling about your German at the moment?"
Georgina: "I'm loving it." (big grin)

With the prospect of teaching kids like that for another two years (as she's already decided she wants to do it for GCSE, and told me the other day that 'my teachers have decided my GCSEs for me'), how can I even think about leaving (and I have)?

Just came across this

And it majorly tickled me. Thought it should be shared. Click here

Another big weekend

This weekend was a pretty major one for both our families. On Friday my 'baby' sister turned 18, and on Saturday Mark's sister, Mim, got married to the quite wonderful Adam. So, much merriment, and little sleep was experienced by all!
Friday night was a fun time- we went to the wedding rehearsal before dinner at my parents, so we saw a fair whack of our families all on the one day. Very exciting for the kids, yet they were angels. Mark was on top form at dinner I must say, and special as it was to all join in the toast to Abi, hearing what each of her brothers-in-law had to add was particularly moving. Feeling very old, and a little bit like I have to grow up- or at least let Abi do so! She's very special to me, and I don't think she'll ever be too old to be indulged, or blindly defended, or given the benefit of the doubt, or teased, or hugged (or to sleep on my sofa whenever she wants to!) She will never stop making me laugh I'm certain, and I'm sure I'll never know anyone as stunningly beautiful. I love her very much, and hard as it is to face the idea that she's actually quite a grown up young woman, I'm proud of who she is, and I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for her.
Saturday was equally moving. Caleb didn't actually manage to walk up the aisle with the rest of the Wedding party, but no-one seemed to mind. He looked, and (mostly) behaved, like a cutie so he was forgiven! Most importantly, Mim and Adam clearly enjoyed their day. The service was lovely- everyone contributing hit just the right note- and it was a pleasure and a priveledge to share in it with them. Unsurprisingly, Miriam looked completely gorgeous, and beamed all day (despite not being able to breathe in that dress, according to Lorraine) I think we're all very proud to welcome Adam to the family- I can say that you see, coz I'm a joinee myself!

How lovely to see so much of our families in such a short space of time, and to celebrate such cherished moments together. We are truly blessed, and honoured, to be part of two such exceptional families.

(For some better wedding photos have a look on Sarah's flickr account.)

We've found the perfect babysitter!

Not only did she cuddle Elodie back to sleep, she did our washing up- and put it all away! The whole house looked untouched, she hadn't even watched tv (she was doing coursework) and she refused to be paid! Of course, we insisted, but how long have I been moaning that we don't have any free babysitters?! And she's a sweetie to talk to (wants to teach English and Drama, so she stole my heart right away!) Something tells me we'll be calling on her services again...

Try this too...

Crazy, stupid quiz which gets the right results! I really should be working!!!!

http://www.smalltime.com/dictator.html

Which sci-fi/fantasy character are you?

I am Yoda! Result!
A venerated sage with vast power and knowledge, I gently guide forces around me while serving as a champion of the light.
"Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not - for my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is. Life greets it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminescent beings are we, not this crude matter! You must feel the Force around you, everywhere."