Holidays are approaching

Joaquin has discovered his tongue!!!


I can't believe that it is already Christmas and we have been here for 6 months. I can't believe that we still don't have our stuff yet!!! Who would have known! So much is going on around here.

The kids are wrapping up their school year. They are getting ready to transition into a different school. The school they are currently at was perfect for a first school because the teachers were so loving and caring. They really made the kids feel special and that is exactly what they needed when we got here. Unfortunately, their academics were not up to my standards and that is why starting in Jan., the kids will be going to Notre Dame. The past couple of weeks have been full of the kids activities. Isabella sang in her Christmas choir, Santiago had his end of the year show and Gabriel will graduate from Kindergarten tomorrow.



The kids have continued to go to a lot of birthday parties. I took some pics so you could get an idea of the parties here.



One of Santiago's friends mom's invited me to a a play put on by the only special needs school in the city. It was absolutely awesome!!! The school helps people from babies to senior citizens. A group of actors and dancers comes together with them every year and they put on a play. All of the students participated, as well as some teachers. I thought that it was great to see how inclusive the play was and how each special needs person was able to participate to the extent where they felt comfortable (singing, dancing, acting, making the sets, etc.) I hope to go and visit the school in the near future. Isabella and Gabriel went with me. It has been a blessing to see how God always puts special needs people in our lives and how my kids are now starting to recognize them wherever we go and accept them for how God has created them with their special needs.

Jaime's boss (Kevin) and Marcia from his office came down for a week. It was like Christmas. They were gracious enough to bring us 4 suitcases filled with stuff. Amy was an angel and packed up not only all of our Christmas presents for the kids, but packed up all the goodies and items that we needed. I am thankful to now have arepa harina and my hot chocolate. Yum yum!!!


Thanksgiving came and went. At first it totally did not feel like Thanksgiving because they do not celebrate it here. The kids had school, Jaime worked, etc. I invited my English class to come over for a Thanksgiving feast. The kids were psyched about it. I had some Thanksgiving crafts sent from the US and we had a blast making them. The kids made a little craft for each of my students and a center piece for our table. On Sat. all of my students came over and we had our feast. It was the first time they had tried mac-n-cheese, pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread. We all had a great time just hanging out. It was a good time to thank God for all of the blessing that he has given us and for the new friends we have made.


We joined the tennis club. Hooray!! There is a club within a 5 min walk of our apartment. Everyone kept telling us that we needed to join and we finally did. I think that it is going to be great. One of our friends got us a temporary membership so we don't have to pay the expensive title for the club for a year and just try it out. It has tons of activities for the kids to do like swimming, soccer, tennis, basketball, etc. It also has a gym for Jaime and I to use and a baby daycare center to take care of Joaquin when we need it. This club is going to be a blessing during the kids summer vacation, which starts in two weeks. We will have somewhere close to go during the day in order to burn some energy and get out of the apartment.

Jaime and I have both had birthdays within the last couple of months. It was a different experience being here to celebrate them without our friends and family in the US. We missed everyone terribly. Jaime took me shopping on my birthday.He said I need to get with the brazilian styles. He told me that I needed to get some heels like what everyone wears here with all of their outfits. Isabella now thinks that I am super hip. I will let you know how walking around in them goes. They are going to be a change from my mommy friendly shoes. Gabriel took a pic of Isabella and I modeling my new shoes.



We have also found a consistent babysitter. Her name is Ana Beatriz and I give her English classes once a week. She then comes over another night and babysits the kids. They all absolutely love her and it has been great to have her here. She has become like part of the family.


I am in the middle of planning Isabella's 8th b-day party. This will be the first time ver that her b-day falls during summer vacation, so we have decided to have the party Dec 11. before vacation starts so that all of her classmates can come. She has decided to have a pool party. This will be the first time she has a summer birthday and she is really excited to be able to have it at the pool. I have 3 people coming to help me supervise the kiddos. We are doing it American style. Amy sent down some crafts for us to do and we are going to play some games. i will have to let you know how that goes later.


Well, I guess that is it for now.