Christmas in Colombia

Here we are at the "Tree Lighting Ceremony" at school. With "Santa Clause".

Lucia - first day of school

A video of Lucia's first day of "Children Learning Center". It's school/day care. Just the mornings. The pretty blue dress is the uniform. She did great! Didn't cry at all.

Diego has been in school for two weeks. Also LOVES it! Here are some pics and a video from his first day. Pre-Kindergarden.

He comes early with me and hangs out in my room for a bit - watching netflicks on the ipad usually. The first day Lucia came along.

Pictures from the first month

 Watching TV on the plane.

 Almost there

 Diego at school entrance interview: "It's not me, it's just my brain."

 Rides at the park.

Big update

Last published on April 23rd... that is what my blog-schedule says. Whew! A lot has happened since April 23rd.

Lucia turned two. I will take the time to write a proper Dear Lucia later - we are deep in the "terrible twos" - with all they're ups and downs.

Rafa graduated from Civil Engineering Technology and got notice of a pass on his last exam for his Professional Engineering License. 

Spring came - slowly and cold for the most part.

I finished one of the most challenging and also most rewarding school years of my life. I ended up doing a lot of mental health support this year... among other things. The best advice I had all year: "It's all conversations, you just have to keep having the conversations".. I had lots of amazing conversations with kids, many frustrating ones, some funny ones, some very fruitful ones...
An example of one of the fruitful ones - if not my best moment as a professional...
Me: "________ - if you are not bi-polar I am going to poke your eyes out!"
The student - "It does run in my family."
Me: "Then you need to see a doctor."
I loved it, and also was ready for a break - which is good because a big break was on it's way.

June 31st I finished school. In the next ten days we packed up our house, sent our most precious things to my mom's, sold or gave away the rest, cleaned, packed, changed our address... and loaded our kids, 8 bags, 2 car seats and the stroller on a plane. We flew out of Kingston and arrived, 6:30 pm and 3 planes later in Barranquilla. July 11th, 2013.

A so begin the next two or three years. We settled into our apartment, 4 blocks from my mother in laws house. We`ve purchased and borrowed some basic furnishings - just missing some bed frames to get our beds off the floor. We`ve enjoyed the little pool downstairs. I started work on the 22nd - the kids don`t arrive till the 12th of August. A big change from the afternoon of prep I am accustomed to. As I imagined - everything is easier in the second round. As I hoped - the kids are settling in well - no one has been sick and everyone is sleeping well.

In a week and a half I`ll get somewhere around 100 students in middle school History - Grade 7 World History and Grade 8 American History.

Rafa is happy, I am enjoying the change and Diego already doesn`t want to go home. Lucia, she doesn`t seem to care where we are as long as Rafa and I are both here.

Pictures will come - as we continue to get settled and organized.

Walmart Portraits

An adventure in the Walmart Photo Studio:

Playtrium

Last Play

Pictures from what could be our last winter plan in two years.

Guess What We're Doing?

Lucia - 20 months

 Dear Lucia - you are 20 months old now and the terrible twos are defiantly approaching. There have been so many milestones I'm not sure where to start.

I've been back at work for a while now and you are settled right into the daycare. Most days you wander off to play without even looking back. The other morning when we got to the door you shook your fists in excitement and asked for "ninas!". In between work and home it's been a bit of a whirl wind. You have responded beautifully by becoming more independent. Feeding yourself and playing with your brother for up to 20 minutes at a time. Well done little girl! You are also beginning to watch TV and will ask for "doda" (Dora) or "gangasye" (Gangum Style - you can blame your father for this one.)

Your language has begun to turn from words into sentences. You've moved way beyond "Spiderman" and today you told me "Lucia no tiene popo." (Lucia isn't poopy... in case you couldn't figure it out.) You did by the way, you can't fool Mama.

Your cautious steps from 15 months have become a little trot and I have even seen you jump a few times - with both feet off the ground.

You love books which you first called "cuento" along with the sign but you are now asking "I wan book". It's how I get you up to bed.. Lucia, cuento? "Book! Ya!" On that topic you are sleeping better. You've taken to crying yourself to sleep lately (after several months of not) but you are also sleeping through the night so I'm not complaining.

Now that you're near two we've got some pretty spectacular tempers. You show your quiet and reserved side to most of the world but you are also definitely not going to let yourself get pushed around. Good job and keep it up.

I'm proud of you little girl - you are growing up smart and funny and I sure am looking forward to the next couple of years... but more on that later.

Love always,

Mama

Favorite Phrases:

"I wan book."
"I wan jugo."
"I wan Dedo (Diego)."
"I wan..."
"Mas, mo!, mo, mas!" (This is called hedging your bets - one of those languages is bound to work.)
"Ya!"

Diego is four

Dear Diego;

You are four. You are standing in front of me now - talking up a storm with your Papa. You don't want to speak any Spanish although you understand everything. It's pretty amazing watching you translate everything. "Papa - the boy who plays soccer with me..." Sera que un dia tu vas a jugar futbol? - Debes ir practicando el Espanole porque ahorita te vas a tocar....

You make friends with everyone you see - talking to everyone who we cross paths with. "My name is Diego, I am this many years old, that is my sister Lucia, I speak English and Spanish, do you want to see my tattoo?" You are the big boy now at the daycare - playing with the children from Kindergarden and watching out for your little sister.

The two of you are beginning to play together more. You are more independent. You are brushing your own teeth, learning to use the remote control, getting dressed to go outside alone. Still, requests of "can you feed me like a baby" and "I want you to rub my back" remind us, and you, that you are still our baby.

Diego you are brave and smart and fun - thanks again for picking us.

Mama

Christmas

So behind - so lets start with Christmas. We had a wonderful Christmas road trip which started with one night in Arden, our small family Christmas in Kingston, a Tang family Christmas in Markham, an Abbot family Christmas in Thornbury, an amazing visit with JanMarie and family in OwenSound, a chance to check out Jenn's new house in Duneden and then New Years in Toronto with the Fry-Standards. Wow! Are we blessed with so many wonderful friends. Thanks for sharing the holidays with us. Here is a short video from opening presents in Kingston.