What a week!

Whew.  I’m exhausted.  It’s 2.26 am in Spain.  I guess it’s actually Christmas morning!  All of mine are in the bed and some with fevers (like last year…I don’t like this tradition.  We’ve had an exciting, busy and exhausting week.  This past Sunday our community of believers moved into a new church building, Andrew had his first school program, we had a lunch with our co-workers, we got snowed in on the first day of winter, los tíos (Melissa and Mason) arrived for the holidays and there has been MUCH cooking and baking.  I’ve already asked Matthew if we could eat out on Saturday!  I am enjoying so much this time of year and it is especially exciting with a three-year old!  I’ve still got a few Christmas movies I need to watch but I feel like it is the Christmas season until January 6th because of Three King’s Day that is celebrated here.  Two more weeks to fit it all in and two more weeks of celebrating!

I hope you have a very merry CHRISTmas…

Fire fun

The last few nights (after C and D go to bed) Matthew makes a fire and we sit with our marshmellows and enjoy.  We got our first snow yesterday and so we just had to have a fire last night.   I was out most of the morning and didn’t have my camera so no snow pictures. I hate when I forget my camera.  But alas, I love the snow…I love winter and I’m thankful for those in our house to share it with.

Here is Andrew helping eating…

Some friends that joined us…  (If you know my husband, you aren’t surprised.)  We have “Clara” and “Cowboy” (the lamb named by Andrew).

Andrew: Age 3

Andrew is amazing me these days.  He draws all the time.  He also has the best imagination for a three-year old I’ve ever seen.  You wouldn’t believe how many stories we’ve told, heard and helped act out about a scary bear, a scary robot and a scary mummy.  Yes, he likes to be scared.  It is a regular activity to go searching for the scary robot.  He acts it all out with a great amount of enthusiasm and description.

On a different note:  he is obsessed with his clothes/pijamas/shoes/socks, etc.  Matthew’s mom says that Matthew was very similar at this age.  Sometimes he wants to wear his pijamas simply b/c that is what Caroline and Daniel are wearing.   Other times because he doesn’t like what he’s wearing and sometimes he goes crazy because it doesn’t feel right.  It can be a challenge to decide when he can change and when to say NO!  I’m reading Child Wise which has been very helpful and it talks about giving too many choices.  We are trying to keep an eye on that and letting him decide very little.  The rest we decide for him.  He is also very interested in finding what articles of clothing are the same with what we are wearing.  ”Look, mommy/daddy, this is the same!!!”  I’ll be glad with this weird clothes phase is over!

Last night we were drawing together and he accidentally marked on my sweater.  I told him to kiss the sweater and all would be well.  He did and then a minute later said, “I’m sorry mommy.  I really didn’t mean to do it.”  It couldn’t have been more sincere.  It did a mom’s heart good.

He’s a silly boy that Andrew…

Happy Birthday (Part 3)

Daniel’s first year…

Dear Daniel,

You are ONE!  You are sensitive, dramatic, funny and smart.  You have seven teeth and can take steps with your push toy. You still love to laugh and you make us laugh all of the time.  You are a slow eater and tend to want your sweet foods over vegetables.  You LOVE your milk and if we don’t have your breakfast ready for you right when you wake up you get quite antsy.  (You eat the best at breakfast time.)  You understand “no” but you usually laugh when I say it…hmmm. What a fun boy you are and we are so blessed to have you.  We love you so very much.

Mommy

Happy Birthday (Part 2)

Caroline’s first year…

Dear Caroline,

You are ONE!  You have six teeth and you walk all over the place.  You are the best eater we’ve ever seen.  You will eat just about anything.  You can eat a pear in its entirety in a matter of minutes. In the last few months you have become a cuddler when it’s sleepy time and we love it!  You are also quite adorable when you are “talking” to us.  You have lots to say!  You enjoy seeing other kids and are not afraid to just walk right up to them and stare at them.  :)  You have a strong will sometimes and you do not like being put in your car seat/stroller or having your clothes changed.

You are SO very beautiful and mamá y papá love you VERY much.

Mommy

*All of the great pictures (1,2 and 7) are from Raissa Gorospe Photography!

Happy Birthday Caroline and Daniel (Part 1)

English

A couple of weeks ago I had my first session helping at Andrew’s school (older kids) with English.  I so enjoy being in the classroom and would love to actually use my degree one day!

Here is the address to some pictures/description of my time with them….www.ecoguadarrama.blogspot.com

I just love it that they are encouraging the kids to participate in the form of a blog.

Since the description is in Spanish I will add that we are learning “The Little Red Hen” by way of a play.  This Friday we are going to work on making masks for each character.

Well, I must away and clean some while the babes are napping. “Who will help me put away the dishes?” asks the Little Red Hen. I think I’m hearing a “Not I..not I?”

This past week…

Daniel got his first hair cut…

(the “after” with our peluquero and friend…)

Matthew and I had two days of meetings in this quaint hotel…

A VERY common sight at our house…Andrew plays with his cars at least 5x a day.

And Andrew’s new favorite thing this past week was to draw…we’ve used up two whole notebooks drawing all sorts of fun things…(yes…it looks like he is left-handed.)

P.S.  Andrew’s usage of “do”

“Mommy, who do this mess?!”  ”Oh…I do this mess.”  (Referring to something he spilt on himself.)

“Mommy, watch how I do.”  (when he wants me to watch him draw, do a dance, etc.)

Dancing and walking time…

I hope you like the Jackson 5!

We’ve been…

devouring pears…

getting haircuts (Andrew)

learning new recipes for the crockpot

getting organized after two weeks of no energy thanks to the flu

learning to walk (Caroline)

pulling up and saying “ba ba” (bye:) while waving (Daniel)

browsing Etsy way too much (me:)

talking about taking a trip (Matthew)

going to Starbucks with friends

helping with an English play at Andrew’s school (me…and it’s so much fun!)

reading “Child Wise” and “The Shack” (to be discussed at a later date)

taking our Christmas card pictures

avoiding the yard and this is what popped up…

I would love to hear what you’ve been doing!

P.S.  something I want to remember:

Mommy: “Andrew, do you need to go pee-pee?”

Andrew:  ”No, I went last day.” (yesterday:)