Projects

We recently found a wonderful beach escape near Kingston, however this escape comes with many mosquitoes and very little in the way of shade. I am imagining long days on this beach but without something to cover us from sun and bugs it isn't going to happen. Jennifer on the Roof faced a similar problem recently and found a great solution but I had a little extra time.  So: I jumped into a new project, which I managed to complete in two days, not without a little bit of pressure from my husband who wanted the deck back. I have been eyeing up sun shades for the beach in Canadian Tire fliers but wasn't at all convinced. So: thanks to a lovely woman named Kate and Freecycle I had a old tent, destined for the landfill, delivered direct to my door. A broken zipper, not really waterproof anymore, but with lots of wear still in it.

I cut it up, shortened the poles, reworked the fly and created this:

Which can also be rearranged to look like this:

or this:

Money spent: $0
Materials: $2.00 in thread and velcro that I already had lying around.
Distance traveled: 0 km (the woman who dropped it off travelled but one of her kids was coming into town anyway so I don't think it really counts.)
Taxes paid: $0
Man hours: well lots, probably around 7 but I happen to have an excess of that particular commodity at the moment as I am on summer vacation and this sort of project ranks pretty high on my 'I had a good time' list as well.
Tents saved from the landfill: 1

Not bad really. The advantages to recycling: 1. My very own design which is way better than the "Tire" version. This sun shade is fully vent-able, fully adjustable, it can be shut up for bug free naps or changing or opened right up with the flaps spread out for hot days with extra shade. 2. The great satisfaction of doing with my own hands (rather than small hands in Vietnam) and lowing my carbon footprint. 3. The fun had by Diego as we put up the tent, measured, took it down, attached the flaps, took them off, ran around, inside and under.

I'm pretty proud of myself - and ready for long days at the beach; equipped for space to picnic, nap, change, rest, sit and stare at the water. Anyone want to join?

A year and a half

Dear Diego - you are a year and a half now; you and your personality get bigger every day. You climbed up in this chair, got out the book, and got busy entertaining yourself. We are loving your new independence, not only for the new freedom it offers us. You are such a good communicator. Last time I made a list of your words it looked like this:

"Bye Bye - in English, with wave.

Mama - the same in both languages, handy. Refers to mom and dad interchangably.

Papa - usually only when reminded, definitely refers to Rafa

Da! - this is both of us when mad, upset, hungry, tired, etc.

Pa pa - with sign, to distinguish from papa, Pajaro=Bird

ato - Zapato = shoe

eta - Galleta = cracker

New sign: fish thanks to Brown Bear Brown Bear. We also get a pretty reliable growl for just about all animals and a bit of akaka for monkeys."

I am going to try to make a new list - but this will likely be the last one because you are learning words so quickly that I won't be able to keep up.

Signs:

sleep, more, food, fish, help, open, spoon, fan, bird, bath,

In English:

Hi, Bye, truck, miiiety (Mighty Mechines), dudududu (Elmo), Wi (Wiggles), goldfs (goldfish), blueberries (this one you learned in a moment when you first tried this perfect blue fruit), up, down, more, tidy up, yea, no,

In Spanish:

Papa, Mama (you know the difference now), iego (Deigo), gayee (Galleta), mas, nombe (no hombre), pied, uno, apato (zapato), goal!, si, no, apa (papa), eche (leche), aa (agua), omba (bomba)

People we know:

I (Ivan), uye (Judy), ama (grandma), aedy (Saide)

We also get all kinds of animal noises: moo, baa, eeee (monkeys), bowwow, miao

Two way communication is still a little miracle to me. You are so creative at combining all your different ways of communicating to get your point across. I am so looking forward to our conversations together.

At your last doctor's visit you measured 50th percentile in height, but dropped off the chart in weight. Tall and skinny like your dad, he was always like that too.

Our new favorite passtime is dancing. You have learned where the speakers turn on and where the ipod is kept and are great at requesting music - but you must have someone to dance with you. That's OK little man, I love to dance. We turn on the music and break it down in the living room and laugh and laugh. We have been laughing a lot lately. Your laugh sounds more and more like a grown up kid's all the time.  

You slept through the night last night - 9:00-6:30. That is happening more and more around here and we sure do appreciate it. Keep it up!

We are loving our summer off with you. It's all day playtime around here. You are going to miss having both mom and dad home when you go to daycare in the fall - but we are also having fun imagining the fun you will have playing with the big kids in the toddler room. You are definately a toddler now. If fact, you are not "toddling" much anymore. You balance and co-ordination are impressive.

You will play for a half and hour at a time kicking the ball around the deck. You are also beginning to play with toy cars and puppets. Your games get more complex as they get more independent. You are also beginning to watch other kids play very carefully, always learning.

We are going to have a great August. We are going to spend more time in the park, at the spash pad and in the kiddy pool. We are going to take more trips on the bicycle and swing in the hammock more. And I promise, when we all go back to work in September - we won't every forget this summer with you. Watching you grow and learn is really fun.

All my love: Mama

A whole lot of pictures

What follows is a whole load of pictures. We're getting behind around here. This one is just cuteness.

We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and met up with some friends who were in Canada from Spain. They were in Toronto so we met them there to save them the trip to Kingston. It was the perfect day for the zoo. It rained really hard in the morning and by the time we got there at noon the rain was gone, there were still enough clouds to keep it from being stupid hot, and most of the people had left or decided not to come at all. It was also nice to find out that we can do the zoo in a day trip - it's a long day but Diego sleeps in the car and it was nice to get home to our own beds at the end of the day.

Tunels - always fun.

This is Jose, Kai, and Jenn. Jenn introduced me to Rafa in Barranquilla (she was on year two of her contract when I arrived) and then moved to Spain.

Notice the newest member of our family. The Quinny. After three strollers I finally have one I like. I know, I should have just gotten a good one to begin with. I got this one second hand from a woman who had used it 7 times. Here's the breakdown. Stroller 1 (bought for $50, sold for $30) Stroller 2 (bought for $200, sold for $100) the Quinny (bought for $200) - So the quinny really cost me around $320 - which is a pretty good deal. If you ignore the hours of looking, buying, posting, selling, thinking, that were also included in the process.

New splash pad at the zoo - spectacular.

Mom and I bought a season's pass at Thousand Island's Playhouse this year. Which means that when there is a play she comes, spends the night, and then does her shopping the next day. It's a great deal, she and I get to go out and then we get a grandma visit. Here she is teaching Diego "this little piggy" - an instant favorite.

Another new favorite game - exercising with Papa.

Toronto FCC - here we come!