Well - Since Carlie is in a new school, every day I get an update from her teacher. Since her teacher doesn't speak English, she talks to Maca and I get bits and pieces (Feliz is always a part of it).
Today after we picked up our 3 beautiful children and were walking to the car, Maca said - her teacher said she's so happy and she talks to her in Spanish!
I am like, WHAT? What do you mean she talks to her in Spanish? Carlie talks Spanish?
Maca: That's what she said....
So, tomorrow, I will find out what the heck it means that Carlie talks to her teacher in Spanish!
I asked Carlie, "Do you know any words in Spanish?"
Carlie: Maybe a few.....
I will investigate more tomorrow and if I have to spy, I will!!!!
Both boys are in it.....
Last week the PE teacher gave Ben directions on what to do, and off he went - like he completely understood.
Bo is playing football........Coaches speak Spanish........He knows all the plays and what to do.
It's crazy to me but they must be understanding something.
Week by week it's different.
Bo said tonight - when we leave here there's no way I will be talking in Spanish - I thought, well how on earth are you on a football team with Spanish Speaking Coaches? When I watched practice Tuesday night he seemed to be completely aware of what was going on.
Tonight he was telling me all the plays and I said, who told you that? He said, Coach! so.....??
They are learning! :-)
Looking forward to the weekend and my dad coming to visit!
We have had rain the last 2 night but not during the day. I am glad it's raining now, surely it will all be over by Saturday.
the water is so good
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Super Sunday
Since I don't have the rights - Super Sunday seems like a perfect name for today anyway!
This is the first time I have had the thought cross my mind, 'I wonder how many more days we are going to be here?'
I think before now, I have always felt like it was still a long time. I didn't go to the calendar and check but for some reason, today - I am concerned about leaving.
The kids are all doing great. Carlie is happy. Quinn came and saw what we are up to. My dad is coming in 6 days. Things all seem to be going smoothly. The unknowns are small and I am comfortable.
Could have something to do with my love for being outside, not wearing shoes, sunshine, the power and mystery of the sea.
I have my mind full of all the things we have experienced. It is really thrilling.
Observing the boys here has been a real treat too. Watching them interact in so many different situations - they have no idea how brave they have been. I may never tell them but I am sure that they will use this trait forever.
The patience they have learned for time, difference, uncertainty, values, I have to think all those things are way more valuable than any thing else we learn while we are here.
The ability to make a friend in an instant - no matter the color of their skin or the speak that comes off their tongue.
It makes learning Spanish seem like second fiddle.
I have the laptop out on the patio and the sounds of kids screaming, laughing, splashing, and of course marco-polo are 5' over my right shoulder.
Jackson is in our 'club' today, he's from Canada. We have no idea how long he will be here but they offer him one of our pool toys and they are off like old friends.
They have made some other friends who come to XamanHa on the weekends - they are thrilled to see that we are still here. They speak no English but the fun is just the same.
Kids are Kids and I love being a kid!
This is the first time I have had the thought cross my mind, 'I wonder how many more days we are going to be here?'
I think before now, I have always felt like it was still a long time. I didn't go to the calendar and check but for some reason, today - I am concerned about leaving.
The kids are all doing great. Carlie is happy. Quinn came and saw what we are up to. My dad is coming in 6 days. Things all seem to be going smoothly. The unknowns are small and I am comfortable.
Could have something to do with my love for being outside, not wearing shoes, sunshine, the power and mystery of the sea.
I have my mind full of all the things we have experienced. It is really thrilling.
Observing the boys here has been a real treat too. Watching them interact in so many different situations - they have no idea how brave they have been. I may never tell them but I am sure that they will use this trait forever.
The patience they have learned for time, difference, uncertainty, values, I have to think all those things are way more valuable than any thing else we learn while we are here.
The ability to make a friend in an instant - no matter the color of their skin or the speak that comes off their tongue.
It makes learning Spanish seem like second fiddle.
I have the laptop out on the patio and the sounds of kids screaming, laughing, splashing, and of course marco-polo are 5' over my right shoulder.
Jackson is in our 'club' today, he's from Canada. We have no idea how long he will be here but they offer him one of our pool toys and they are off like old friends.
They have made some other friends who come to XamanHa on the weekends - they are thrilled to see that we are still here. They speak no English but the fun is just the same.
Kids are Kids and I love being a kid!
Friday, February 4, 2011
McCoy
It didn't take me long to realize that life is life no matter if you are in Lawrence, Kansas or Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Life is life; kids are kids; moms are moms; school is school; youth sports are youth sports; love is love; loss is loss.
All of these things I will explain at some point because I have found them all very important during my stay here. But today - the pain I have felt this entire day - it seems like here, on this absolutely perfect day - No clouds, slight breeze, 78-82 degrees that loss would be easier but I have found that is just not true.
Today, I lost my bestest friend, really - and even though I haven't seem McCoy since early on January 1. I have thought about him every day and I have missed him every day. Even though I knew there was a chance when I hugged and kissed him goodbye that morning, way before he would have normally gotten up... I really thought I would see him again.
I am forever in debt to my dad for handling this in, I am positive, the most loving way.
I am sure it was as horrible for him as it would have been for me.
I am grateful that I knew I could call him and know that I didn't need to do anything else.
As painful as it has been for me today, with the entire situation of McCoy, his health, his illness, his diagnosis - - being here, in this beautiful place didn't cushion the pain one bit.
Loss is Loss.
I am thankful that I was able to give McCoy all the things I did to make him a GREAT dog!
Puppy kindergarten, Agility Training, Long Walks, Long Runs - he was my personal trainer when I ran my great race in 2004. He was never left at home - he did it all. He could do anything.
I guess I am trying to do the same for my children in giving them all those experiences to make them great people.
Today has sucked from beginning to end for me.
When I woke up this morning, I thought - man I slept good - then started to cry.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: No matter where you are - feelings are feelings, loss is loss and Pain is Pain!
Here's to you my boy! Thanks for giving me constant love and protection for the last 14 years.
There won't be a day go by when I won't miss you, think of all the fun times we have shared, all the cool places we have been together and all the secrets you kept!
You never let me down, I was very lucky to call you mine.
McCoy McCoy McCoy
I love you!
Life is life; kids are kids; moms are moms; school is school; youth sports are youth sports; love is love; loss is loss.
All of these things I will explain at some point because I have found them all very important during my stay here. But today - the pain I have felt this entire day - it seems like here, on this absolutely perfect day - No clouds, slight breeze, 78-82 degrees that loss would be easier but I have found that is just not true.
Today, I lost my bestest friend, really - and even though I haven't seem McCoy since early on January 1. I have thought about him every day and I have missed him every day. Even though I knew there was a chance when I hugged and kissed him goodbye that morning, way before he would have normally gotten up... I really thought I would see him again.
I am forever in debt to my dad for handling this in, I am positive, the most loving way.
I am sure it was as horrible for him as it would have been for me.
I am grateful that I knew I could call him and know that I didn't need to do anything else.
As painful as it has been for me today, with the entire situation of McCoy, his health, his illness, his diagnosis - - being here, in this beautiful place didn't cushion the pain one bit.
Loss is Loss.
I am thankful that I was able to give McCoy all the things I did to make him a GREAT dog!
Puppy kindergarten, Agility Training, Long Walks, Long Runs - he was my personal trainer when I ran my great race in 2004. He was never left at home - he did it all. He could do anything.
I guess I am trying to do the same for my children in giving them all those experiences to make them great people.
Today has sucked from beginning to end for me.
When I woke up this morning, I thought - man I slept good - then started to cry.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: No matter where you are - feelings are feelings, loss is loss and Pain is Pain!
Here's to you my boy! Thanks for giving me constant love and protection for the last 14 years.
There won't be a day go by when I won't miss you, think of all the fun times we have shared, all the cool places we have been together and all the secrets you kept!
You never let me down, I was very lucky to call you mine.
McCoy McCoy McCoy
I love you!
Feliz Cumpleaños
Another year older, another year wiser!
31 days in Mexico and I have had many years worth of experiences.
I sat in my first Spanish Mass on Sunday - on the back row, in front of an open window - sun beating down on my back; Ben & Carlie complaining about how hot they were.
That there, was an experience, just sitting in church, in January, with windows open.....
Then you add - all these people gathered for the same thing. The Usher saying Arriba, Arriba to us - I had not idea what that meant but I knew it didn't mean, have a seat here in this section where no one is sitting. Ben seemed to understand too - he was in the lead and kept on walking to the stairs. During mass there were little kids crawling all around, Moms trying to hush them, handing out snacks, digging in their purses for money to give the little hands to drop into the basket that made the rounds.
In a different 'world'. Everything seemed different: weather, smells, sounds, language, the sound of the bell just before communion (it sounded like a cow bell), windows, what everyone was wearing, what they ate for breakfast, the choir (couldn't help but think of our choir @ CC) there were 3 men in this choir - with amazing voices. Wooded benches, concrete steps for benches in the balcony, wooden kneelers -
Praying The Lords Prayer was amazing - even though I was certainly the only one speaking it in English, it was like we were all speaking the same language, the pauses were the same, we ended at the same time, it was amazing to me -
At times, these countries seem so diverse but on this day, I realized - we are 1 people, 1 faith, 1 God and it was such a good feeling to me.
It was a great way for me to End my 42nd year and start my 43rd.
How large the world, How large the faith in a time where it's easy to wonder........Where is the faith?
31 days in Mexico and I have had many years worth of experiences.
I sat in my first Spanish Mass on Sunday - on the back row, in front of an open window - sun beating down on my back; Ben & Carlie complaining about how hot they were.
That there, was an experience, just sitting in church, in January, with windows open.....
Then you add - all these people gathered for the same thing. The Usher saying Arriba, Arriba to us - I had not idea what that meant but I knew it didn't mean, have a seat here in this section where no one is sitting. Ben seemed to understand too - he was in the lead and kept on walking to the stairs. During mass there were little kids crawling all around, Moms trying to hush them, handing out snacks, digging in their purses for money to give the little hands to drop into the basket that made the rounds.
In a different 'world'. Everything seemed different: weather, smells, sounds, language, the sound of the bell just before communion (it sounded like a cow bell), windows, what everyone was wearing, what they ate for breakfast, the choir (couldn't help but think of our choir @ CC) there were 3 men in this choir - with amazing voices. Wooded benches, concrete steps for benches in the balcony, wooden kneelers -
Praying The Lords Prayer was amazing - even though I was certainly the only one speaking it in English, it was like we were all speaking the same language, the pauses were the same, we ended at the same time, it was amazing to me -
At times, these countries seem so diverse but on this day, I realized - we are 1 people, 1 faith, 1 God and it was such a good feeling to me.
It was a great way for me to End my 42nd year and start my 43rd.
How large the world, How large the faith in a time where it's easy to wonder........Where is the faith?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
New School
This is day 3 of Carlie @ her new school.... So far so good!
She is happy when I pick her up.
She hugged the teacher goodbye yesterday and this morning told me that there were 3 blonde girls who were older (9) who speak English and talked to her on recess yesterday!
There is a little snack bar with popsicles and she has gotten one each day after school.
Life is Good!
She is happy when I pick her up.
She hugged the teacher goodbye yesterday and this morning told me that there were 3 blonde girls who were older (9) who speak English and talked to her on recess yesterday!
There is a little snack bar with popsicles and she has gotten one each day after school.
Life is Good!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Winter Weather
I think it must be a sign that I am getting spoiled rotten if I think that a 70 something partly cloudy day isn't absolutely perfect!
Today, I actually had that thought, then I looked at my kids playing in this HUGE pile of sand in their swim suits and thought, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???
This is a perfect day!
Obviously we have been blessed with GREAT weather since we have been here.
Today, I actually had that thought, then I looked at my kids playing in this HUGE pile of sand in their swim suits and thought, WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME???
This is a perfect day!
Obviously we have been blessed with GREAT weather since we have been here.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Lice Day
Yesterday, Carlie didn't go to school. As we were walking to school, she was crying so hard---I thought to myself, it's not supposed to be like this. So, we turned around and came back to the condo. She worked on spelling all the popcorn words and addition and subtraction from Miss Fewins website and then we did piano together. After that, we took a cab to Sam's Club. I knew it should be about 30-40 pesos to get to Sam's and the guy said 50 pesos, I said, for round trip? He said no and gave me this schpeal about that must be another taxi service that this is a blah blah blah, I said whatever and we were at Sam's in 3 minutes.
As I got out of the cab, I saw no other Taxi's so I said to the man checking my Sam's Card....taxi?? he acted like no problem.....I knew I was going to be in a toot because it was 10 til 1 and I had to get the boys between 1:30 and 1:45 and I had never gotten there after 1:30pm.
Carlie and I got the things we needed, mostly, couldn't find peanut butter or rechargeable batteries and got some things we didn't.....cheesecake and were in the check out line @ 1:30. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is a cab waiting for me at the exit. Sure enough, there was a taxi there, we hopped in, instead of just giving the guy 40 pesos I aksed how much, in spanish, of course and he said 35 pesos. I look at my watch ( I actually wore for the first time knowing I needed to keep on schedule to get the boys) and realize there's no time to drop off groceries so I tell him, 'Escuela Manuel Acosta'. Off we go. As we pull up to the school I ask him, if he'd wait for me and then take me home with the kids and groceries. I'm not sure he understood until I wasn't getting my groceries out of his trunk.........I tell Carlie to run and get the boys! Ben came running and Alexander didn't - by this time, the police was screaming at the driver thru the driver window, 3 cars were behind us honking and I am jumping in the front seat and screaming at Bo to hurry up! He has his little look on his face that he always gets when he has no idea what's going on. I am trying to tell the driver I'm sorry - he's arguing with the policia all the while he's driving away and Alexander isn't completely in the cab and his door is still open.......
Alexander is loudly saying MOM!!!!! I respond SHUT YOUR DOOR!!!!!!!
For the first time ever, I had remembered to haul shopping bags to Sam's so we were easily able to unload everything and as we're walking down the steps to the pool - alexander says - Mom, we can't go to school tomorrow, we have lice.....I"m thinking WOOHOO 3 day weekend!!!!
Guess they did an all school check yesterday and over half the kids couldn't go to school today, mine included. Since Carlie wasn't at school, I did what you all know I'd do and decided she should skip today too!!!
Our Lice Day started out with Zucritas and Leche and fruit - wish I knew the word for strawberries but I don't. Then I got right to combing hair. I found 1 tiny little egg in each of the boys hair and several in Carlies, although I am feeling like hers were dead ones from our last treatment. I heard if they snap when you push on them, they're dead. So, who knows, at least I picked as many out as i saw then looked again and again, all the while sitting on the wall in the hot hot sun!
Ben, Carlie & I hauled all our bedding and towels to the laundry last night while Alexander and Mikel (Andreas Mom called and he doesn't have lice so he didn't come) worked on their class project. I decided that is the last time we take our laundry there - the load we brought home, had some things in it that weren't ours......talk about completely grossing me out..... We will go back to the lady who has done it before with her garden hose - it's not A/Ced with a nice sign on the door, it's 4 blocks further & I think it may cost a little but but for some reason I don't think she mixes our laundry with that of complete strangers????
After lunch, we are going to rest. We worked on SJ homework this morning and Ben & Carlie played the piano again. Then we are going to scout out some hotels for some friends who are planning a trip here. After that, we are headed to pizza for dinner. Looking forward to that! May even have to get a dirty monkey for the walk home, possibly get a glimpse of the Sr Frog Dancers and call it another good Friday in PdC.
It's Hot here! Hot. My neck is on fire and I am partially shaded by the palm tree here to my right.
I am missing my washing machine more than I ever ever dreamed and I promise I will never complain again about doing laundry in my own home, with my choice of detergent & fabric softener and with only clothes in my machine that someone I know has soiled!
As I got out of the cab, I saw no other Taxi's so I said to the man checking my Sam's Card....taxi?? he acted like no problem.....I knew I was going to be in a toot because it was 10 til 1 and I had to get the boys between 1:30 and 1:45 and I had never gotten there after 1:30pm.
Carlie and I got the things we needed, mostly, couldn't find peanut butter or rechargeable batteries and got some things we didn't.....cheesecake and were in the check out line @ 1:30. I am keeping my fingers crossed that there is a cab waiting for me at the exit. Sure enough, there was a taxi there, we hopped in, instead of just giving the guy 40 pesos I aksed how much, in spanish, of course and he said 35 pesos. I look at my watch ( I actually wore for the first time knowing I needed to keep on schedule to get the boys) and realize there's no time to drop off groceries so I tell him, 'Escuela Manuel Acosta'. Off we go. As we pull up to the school I ask him, if he'd wait for me and then take me home with the kids and groceries. I'm not sure he understood until I wasn't getting my groceries out of his trunk.........I tell Carlie to run and get the boys! Ben came running and Alexander didn't - by this time, the police was screaming at the driver thru the driver window, 3 cars were behind us honking and I am jumping in the front seat and screaming at Bo to hurry up! He has his little look on his face that he always gets when he has no idea what's going on. I am trying to tell the driver I'm sorry - he's arguing with the policia all the while he's driving away and Alexander isn't completely in the cab and his door is still open.......
Alexander is loudly saying MOM!!!!! I respond SHUT YOUR DOOR!!!!!!!
For the first time ever, I had remembered to haul shopping bags to Sam's so we were easily able to unload everything and as we're walking down the steps to the pool - alexander says - Mom, we can't go to school tomorrow, we have lice.....I"m thinking WOOHOO 3 day weekend!!!!
Guess they did an all school check yesterday and over half the kids couldn't go to school today, mine included. Since Carlie wasn't at school, I did what you all know I'd do and decided she should skip today too!!!
Our Lice Day started out with Zucritas and Leche and fruit - wish I knew the word for strawberries but I don't. Then I got right to combing hair. I found 1 tiny little egg in each of the boys hair and several in Carlies, although I am feeling like hers were dead ones from our last treatment. I heard if they snap when you push on them, they're dead. So, who knows, at least I picked as many out as i saw then looked again and again, all the while sitting on the wall in the hot hot sun!
Ben, Carlie & I hauled all our bedding and towels to the laundry last night while Alexander and Mikel (Andreas Mom called and he doesn't have lice so he didn't come) worked on their class project. I decided that is the last time we take our laundry there - the load we brought home, had some things in it that weren't ours......talk about completely grossing me out..... We will go back to the lady who has done it before with her garden hose - it's not A/Ced with a nice sign on the door, it's 4 blocks further & I think it may cost a little but but for some reason I don't think she mixes our laundry with that of complete strangers????
After lunch, we are going to rest. We worked on SJ homework this morning and Ben & Carlie played the piano again. Then we are going to scout out some hotels for some friends who are planning a trip here. After that, we are headed to pizza for dinner. Looking forward to that! May even have to get a dirty monkey for the walk home, possibly get a glimpse of the Sr Frog Dancers and call it another good Friday in PdC.
It's Hot here! Hot. My neck is on fire and I am partially shaded by the palm tree here to my right.
I am missing my washing machine more than I ever ever dreamed and I promise I will never complain again about doing laundry in my own home, with my choice of detergent & fabric softener and with only clothes in my machine that someone I know has soiled!
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