Home on the Range

I was recently asked if I wanted a job at the Embassy. I'd be an exalted secretary of sorts, preparing the calendar of events for the Ambassador, going to their morning meeting, handling grants, and a host of other stuff. The State Department has had a rocky history in handling jobs for the spouses of FSO officers (we're called Eligible Family Members or EFMs for those who don't know), and sometimes EFMs have felt that some of the work is rather menial, but here in the Marshall Islands every person at the Embassy is desperately needed (there are only 4 Foreign Service Officers—the Ambassador, the DCM, Andrew (Pol/Econ/Con), and the GSO. The locally hired staff members are crucial as well. So it is quite flattering, the offer.

But they'd have to pay me a pretty penny to go back to full-time work, especially work that is not in my field and that I don't really enjoy. Sometimes I'm not really diplomatic, either, so I'd probably cause some ruckus. And besides, I sure enjoy my life right now. Lots and lots of freedom. Lots of time to spend laughing with (and at) Max, time to exercise, time to run my own business (and currently, I'm editing a 400-page technical textbook manuscript. It is intense!), and of course, time to do those housecleaning things that I actually never seem to find time for. Nobody to wear makeup for (and it would sweat down your face anyway), shorts and a T-shirt every day, no commute to anywhere (a small grocery store is across the street) and Marshallese women even disdain shaving. It is a low-key paradise, seriously. But I do appreciate the offer for the job and I wish them the best.

Here are some videos of my 21-month-old wunderkind. He knows all the numbers from 0 to 100 (in order, although sometimes he skips from 59 to 70), all the names of the letters in the alphabet, all their sounds, including short and long vowel sounds, and he can spell "Max," "Jamie," "car," "dog," "red," "no," and "yes." Any suggestions on what we should do next??

Counting to 50 (from 47)



"Mixing" Numbers




In the LDS Church we have what we call Family Home Evening (FHE—there's another acronym for you, EFMs and FSOs!). It's a time for the family to be in the same room and be with each other rather than staring at the TV. We start and end with a prayer, sing a song, have a little lesson, and have an activity and a treat. Pretty much every day Maxwell asks for "Famee Ho Eenin" and runs to the piano. So the following were from various FHE nights (ours are usually Monday nights).

Book of Mormon Stories—Zvirzdin Style



Bowling for Max




Pass the Pigs. If you don't know what this game is, here is its Wikipedia page. It even has the relative frequencies of each roll. Wow.