Actually we're on vacation - yeehaw!
Be back in a few weeks!
Love to you all!!
Shelley
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Recovery Mode
John's parents headed back home last night. Carmen cried, I cried, John and Juan got misty-eyed. The kids waved enthusiastically from the front gate, throwing kisses and shouting love calls.
We've been blessed with an awesome extended family. I'm thrilled that our kids are so close to their blood relatives. It does a heart good.
Lisette went out for breakfast yesterday with Juan and Carmen. I was still sawing logs so when I came downstairs to find an empty first floor I felt bad that my in-laws had walked off to the cafe alone. Hence my delight when Lisette returned a short time later with them! They had had some deep philosophical discussions according to Carmen. I completely believe it.
Both of the girls spent a few hours laughing and talking up in Lisette's room with their Nana while Carmen packed. Jake had been the focus of cuddle time on Monday night so the girls were getting their fair share.
Juan, Carmen and I headed into the city to pick up John after school. We went to Cafe Tortoni...THE most famous, oldest cafe in Buenos Aires. It was worth the stop!
From there it was a relatively straight shot to the airport where we sat and chatted until the hour of departure arrived. Here the tears and mist were shed with talk of "the next time" - an important part of the farewell ritual. I squeezed John's hand as we walked away from the security gate. How well I know the pain of goodbyes.
We've been blessed with an awesome extended family. I'm thrilled that our kids are so close to their blood relatives. It does a heart good.
Lisette went out for breakfast yesterday with Juan and Carmen. I was still sawing logs so when I came downstairs to find an empty first floor I felt bad that my in-laws had walked off to the cafe alone. Hence my delight when Lisette returned a short time later with them! They had had some deep philosophical discussions according to Carmen. I completely believe it.
Both of the girls spent a few hours laughing and talking up in Lisette's room with their Nana while Carmen packed. Jake had been the focus of cuddle time on Monday night so the girls were getting their fair share.
Juan, Carmen and I headed into the city to pick up John after school. We went to Cafe Tortoni...THE most famous, oldest cafe in Buenos Aires. It was worth the stop!
From there it was a relatively straight shot to the airport where we sat and chatted until the hour of departure arrived. Here the tears and mist were shed with talk of "the next time" - an important part of the farewell ritual. I squeezed John's hand as we walked away from the security gate. How well I know the pain of goodbyes.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Where have I been??
Well, grab that cup of coffee/glass of wine and hunker down for a long explanation!
The five of us plus Juan and Carmen headed to Iguazu Falls for the weekend. In typical fashion, we had some excitement in our travels. Some expected and some not so much.
Our flight out started relatively badly. The pilot couldn't seem to find the middle of the runway but take-off was successful. The turbulence was nasty for the first 5-10 minutes but then we all settled into our seats to our books/games. A few minutes later we smelled that smell you don't want to smell in an enclosed space. The turbulence had gotten to someone good. That set off sympathy vomiting. Not fun but it didn't reach any of our little group. A little while later I had my nose in my Sudoku but Juan and Carmen noticed the arrival of some oxygen to a passenger half a dozen rows up. Luckily there was a doctor on board, unluckily he was a Radiologist. I let him know I was available to help if he needed. He was an American and happened to be sitting right behind us. He needed my help. He asked me to start an IV on the lady. Her BP was low and she was quite pale and clammy. Hmmmm. I haven't started an IV in over 9 years. Now I was going to try on a bumpy airplane. First try a success baby!! Yeehaw!! I always loved starting IVs. :-) She responded well to the extra fluid, her colour improved as did her BP. They turned around the airplane and we landed about 20 minutes after she got her IV. Whew! Supposedly it made the newspaper and it sounds like she was fine. The doc and I thought it might have just been some shock after the air sickness/vomiting. Nice way to start the vacation huh?
I have always thought that Niagara Falls was the most awe-inspiring falls ever. I was wrong. Painful as it is to admit, I was wrong. I wept...again. It was incredible.
We saw wild guinea pigs, dozens of coaties (raccoon looking creatures), two toucans, an eagle, giant ants, hundreds of butterflies and Lisette saw a monkey with a baby on its back!
Saturday was falls day, Sunday we went to some Jesuit Mission ruins three hours away and Monday was back to the falls for a boat ride into the falls!
I'm exhausted but the plane ride back was quiet except for the coke Jake spilled all over the place! :-)
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Feng Shui and Bowling
John's dad spoke at an Embassy Tea yesterday. Juan is a Master of Feng Shui and that was the topic of his talk. He did an outstanding job, it was fun to listen in and know that I didn't have to understand too much - we just call and ask him what to do!
Today was basically Jake's last day of school. His end of school party was at a bowling alley. I walked over there with the teachers/students/other parents - we managed to get there and back without getting wet (rain was forecast and the sky was threatening.) Jake has been having problems with a specific kid in class yet he ended up sitting himself right beside him. No fireworks were set off either! Yeah!
John, Lisette and I went over to pick up an outdoor shed we bought from a family that's leaving. Leaving it to the last possible second - our typical style - we ended up working in the dark and the rain. Sigh. But it's now snug in the back of the truck - in the garage!
Time for dinner! Chili's on the stove!
Love and Kisses!
Shelley
Today was basically Jake's last day of school. His end of school party was at a bowling alley. I walked over there with the teachers/students/other parents - we managed to get there and back without getting wet (rain was forecast and the sky was threatening.) Jake has been having problems with a specific kid in class yet he ended up sitting himself right beside him. No fireworks were set off either! Yeah!
John, Lisette and I went over to pick up an outdoor shed we bought from a family that's leaving. Leaving it to the last possible second - our typical style - we ended up working in the dark and the rain. Sigh. But it's now snug in the back of the truck - in the garage!
Time for dinner! Chili's on the stove!
Love and Kisses!
Shelley
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Virus and Flight Plans
I seem to have Carmen's virus. My head is freezing - it actually feels like there are icicles under my scalp. This hurts! Carmen was complaining of her head being very, very cold earlier in the week. Now I know what she was talking about!!
The girls finished their exams today so both went out to a restaurant to celebrate with friends. They'll get their final grades on Friday!!
John will be promoted at the end of June and expressed the desire to have the ceremony in Florida. I consider it my job to make as many of his dreams come true. To an extent!! :-)
We're all flying to Florida next week. The kids went nuts when we told them today. I really wish we had videotaped it - they're obviously homesick!! Jake actually wept with joy...broke my heart!
Besitos!
The girls finished their exams today so both went out to a restaurant to celebrate with friends. They'll get their final grades on Friday!!
John will be promoted at the end of June and expressed the desire to have the ceremony in Florida. I consider it my job to make as many of his dreams come true. To an extent!! :-)
We're all flying to Florida next week. The kids went nuts when we told them today. I really wish we had videotaped it - they're obviously homesick!! Jake actually wept with joy...broke my heart!
Besitos!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Recaps
Sunday morning John, Jake, Nicole and I went into the city to meet Juan and Carmen for breakfast. Lisette remained at home - she had a girlfriend sleep over Saturday night and it was an early breakfast!
We sat in on Juan's conference for a little while but it was all Greek (actually Chinese but in Spanish!) to me so we headed back home for Nicole to get some more studying done for her exams. Everyone was doing their own thing for the rest of the day - studying, reading, playing and napping. I put Jake down for a nap as he had very little sleep last night - he crashed for two hours!
Jake and I went to meet Mary and her boys for dinner. My meal was purple! I ordered bow-tie pasta with steak and mushroom sauce. It was purple. Not too terrible tasting but not so great either. Lesson learned - no more ordering of purple food!
This morning I went over to Mary's for breakfast. She tried out a biscuits and gravy recipe on me - yummy! I took Buddy to introduce him to her puppy Rosie. Buddy was unimpressed, Rosie was in awe. She finally figured out he wasn't so scary but still kept her distance. Too cute!
The girls were very happy with how they did on their exams today. Nicole has two tomorrow and Lisette has one last one. Jake had another good day at school but was accidentally clocked with a book corner just above his eye on the bus...poor guy!
I had to be a little tough with our maid today. It's never really happened before but she wanted to bring her son here tomorrow because she hasn't been able to get a medical clearance for him to go back to school since he's been sick with a cold. She brought him here without asking last week - not so cool. I said no but needed John to get home to clarify things with her. So we gave her the day off tomorrow with the understanding that she'll make it up some other time. I'd never make it as a tough boss. It's too stressful!
We sat in on Juan's conference for a little while but it was all Greek (actually Chinese but in Spanish!) to me so we headed back home for Nicole to get some more studying done for her exams. Everyone was doing their own thing for the rest of the day - studying, reading, playing and napping. I put Jake down for a nap as he had very little sleep last night - he crashed for two hours!
Jake and I went to meet Mary and her boys for dinner. My meal was purple! I ordered bow-tie pasta with steak and mushroom sauce. It was purple. Not too terrible tasting but not so great either. Lesson learned - no more ordering of purple food!
This morning I went over to Mary's for breakfast. She tried out a biscuits and gravy recipe on me - yummy! I took Buddy to introduce him to her puppy Rosie. Buddy was unimpressed, Rosie was in awe. She finally figured out he wasn't so scary but still kept her distance. Too cute!
The girls were very happy with how they did on their exams today. Nicole has two tomorrow and Lisette has one last one. Jake had another good day at school but was accidentally clocked with a book corner just above his eye on the bus...poor guy!
I had to be a little tough with our maid today. It's never really happened before but she wanted to bring her son here tomorrow because she hasn't been able to get a medical clearance for him to go back to school since he's been sick with a cold. She brought him here without asking last week - not so cool. I said no but needed John to get home to clarify things with her. So we gave her the day off tomorrow with the understanding that she'll make it up some other time. I'd never make it as a tough boss. It's too stressful!
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