With my friend Gracielle and my sister Ana:
The birthday girl and a couple of her friends:
Monday, July 26, 2010
Birthday Outing
A few photos from last Wednesday when we went out to celebrate my youngest sister's 17th birthday.
With my friend Gracielle and my sister Ana:
The birthday girl and a couple of her friends:
With my friend Gracielle and my sister Ana:
The birthday girl and a couple of her friends:
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Winter Happenings
The girls and I had a little cook-out one evening ...
The girls having a cozy storytime together:
An inchworm Alina found:
The little cake I made for our anniversary:
Alina: Bob, this is the yummiest cake you've ever made!
Me: Maybe because it's the only cake I've ever made!
Well, actually it was the second cake I baked in my life ... I'd made a carrot cake a couple of days before :). This month I also made baked chicken and potatoes for the first time ever ... such progress, I know.
We had a very nice barbecue here at home on Thursday. Some of my siblings' friends came over and we all had a great time ... beer and meat galore! That'll probably be the last barbecue I have here, sigh.
The girls having a cozy storytime together:
An inchworm Alina found:
The little cake I made for our anniversary:
Alina: Bob, this is the yummiest cake you've ever made!
Me: Maybe because it's the only cake I've ever made!
Well, actually it was the second cake I baked in my life ... I'd made a carrot cake a couple of days before :). This month I also made baked chicken and potatoes for the first time ever ... such progress, I know.
We had a very nice barbecue here at home on Thursday. Some of my siblings' friends came over and we all had a great time ... beer and meat galore! That'll probably be the last barbecue I have here, sigh.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
In Sickness and in Health ...
Today is our anniversary ... 2 years of marriage and 3 that we've been together. Sadly, my love can't be here for "our day", but at least he'll be here tomorrow (which is almost the same thing) and hopefully we won't be separated for so long again.
At least I have something wonderful to look forward to after the horrid week I had. I was more dead than alive, thanks to a wretched cold that I got, and boy, did I wish that my baby was here.
It's bad enough being sick, but it's even worse when you need to carry on as if you're totally fine while your head feels like it'll explode, your nose doesn't stop running, your eyes are watery 24/7, you're feverish, AND to top it off your kids are sick as well.
The only good thing about it all was that it sure made me appreciate the times that he was here and was able to get the kids when I wasn't feeling well or for me to have a sleep-in.
Love, I know I don't say it nearly as much as I should, but I LOVE YOU! And I'm ever so happy that Jesus put you in my life and not only let our paths cross, but gave you to me. You are everything I prayed for: a husband, a lover, a friend, a provider, and a father to my monkeys.
Even though it has been pretty rough at times, usually due to external circumstances that added unnecessary stress and pressure, I'm thankful that I have you by my side through it all. I know that we both have a long ways to go in becoming the man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother that we need to be, but just having you with me makes it all worthwhile ... I'm not alone.
I pray that this new year of marriage will be filled with blessings and happiness for us and our family. Thank you for all that you do for me and the girls ... you're the best! Te amo!
At least I have something wonderful to look forward to after the horrid week I had. I was more dead than alive, thanks to a wretched cold that I got, and boy, did I wish that my baby was here.
It's bad enough being sick, but it's even worse when you need to carry on as if you're totally fine while your head feels like it'll explode, your nose doesn't stop running, your eyes are watery 24/7, you're feverish, AND to top it off your kids are sick as well.
The only good thing about it all was that it sure made me appreciate the times that he was here and was able to get the kids when I wasn't feeling well or for me to have a sleep-in.
Love, I know I don't say it nearly as much as I should, but I LOVE YOU! And I'm ever so happy that Jesus put you in my life and not only let our paths cross, but gave you to me. You are everything I prayed for: a husband, a lover, a friend, a provider, and a father to my monkeys.
Even though it has been pretty rough at times, usually due to external circumstances that added unnecessary stress and pressure, I'm thankful that I have you by my side through it all. I know that we both have a long ways to go in becoming the man and woman, husband and wife, father and mother that we need to be, but just having you with me makes it all worthwhile ... I'm not alone.
I pray that this new year of marriage will be filled with blessings and happiness for us and our family. Thank you for all that you do for me and the girls ... you're the best! Te amo!
Monday, July 12, 2010
The Latest Loves of Alina's Life
Being the, and I quote, "regular bookworm" that she is, I bought her several books for her to devour. It's really hard to find English books here, children's books, that is.
Thankfully, I found these and they've been her constant companions. There are a couple others like her favorite "Little Women" and "Robin Hood", but they're my sister's.
Now, for an update on her teeth (which is also important), she has two molars coming in and eight permanent teeth (not counting the molars). I know that one day she'll look back over this and be happy to be able to know what the state of her teeth was when she was 6.
Speaking of which, she went to the dentist in May and to our horror, she had a ton of plaque on her front bottom teeth. After having them cleaned and getting lectured by the dentist, she has now made it a habit to floss her teeth once a day (as well as trying to brush them the correct way).
Thankfully, I found these and they've been her constant companions. There are a couple others like her favorite "Little Women" and "Robin Hood", but they're my sister's.
Now, for an update on her teeth (which is also important), she has two molars coming in and eight permanent teeth (not counting the molars). I know that one day she'll look back over this and be happy to be able to know what the state of her teeth was when she was 6.
Speaking of which, she went to the dentist in May and to our horror, she had a ton of plaque on her front bottom teeth. After having them cleaned and getting lectured by the dentist, she has now made it a habit to floss her teeth once a day (as well as trying to brush them the correct way).
Laura and the Hat
It all started yesterday afternoon.
Alina and I were lazily lying on the grass reading when Laura decided that that wasn't the life for her (she'd already gotten me to read a book to her).
So, what does she do? She waddles to the back and a minute later returns with a decorated straw hat in her hand "asking" me to put it on her.
That hat became her treasure for the rest of the day!
Picking a leaf before putting the hat back on:
Making sure it doesn't fall off ... again!
A pose:
Trying to grab the camera to look at herself:
Pretending she knows how to read:
These are from the day before ... Laura with mommy's shoes:
Laura's new playing spot (the cabinet of the bedside table):
Oh, and this monkey is now the proud owner of 4 new teeth! All four of them came in at the same time so now she has a total of 16 teeth ... really important info! :)
Alina and I were lazily lying on the grass reading when Laura decided that that wasn't the life for her (she'd already gotten me to read a book to her).
So, what does she do? She waddles to the back and a minute later returns with a decorated straw hat in her hand "asking" me to put it on her.
That hat became her treasure for the rest of the day!
Picking a leaf before putting the hat back on:
Making sure it doesn't fall off ... again!
A pose:
Trying to grab the camera to look at herself:
Pretending she knows how to read:
These are from the day before ... Laura with mommy's shoes:
Laura's new playing spot (the cabinet of the bedside table):
Oh, and this monkey is now the proud owner of 4 new teeth! All four of them came in at the same time so now she has a total of 16 teeth ... really important info! :)
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Zoo Outing
This week the girls and I went to the zoo and spent a whole morning there ... very fun!
We didn't get to see all the animals because some of them are pretty far apart, but amazingly enough we ended up seeing most of them as well as almost all of the botanical garden.
Alina's latest fascination is crocodiles and alligators and we've researched about the different kinds, their habitats, what they eat, etc. and so she was all excited about seeing one up close. That's actually progress because the last time I went to the zoo with her she didn't want to go anywhere near the crocodile.
Laura wasn't so interested in seeing the animals, being that some of them were kind of far and she didn't have the most privileged view from her stroller, but at least she was content to sit still (miracle!) and munch on crackers.
It was tiring enough pushing her up and down and all around the zoo, so there was no way that I was going to stay picking her up to look at the animals.
"Bob! The toucan's bill is so beautiful it looks like plastic!"
Only the lioness was out that day, although we did hear the lion roaring several times.
A majestic jaguar:
A little squirrel we found happily munching on something:
Paying a visit to some of our relatives:
Hedgehogs?
An alligator:
The Nile crocodile:
Me: Do you know what kind of elephant these are?
Alina: African elephants!
Me: How do you know?
Alina: Because they have huuuuuuge ears! ... And I think it says so somewhere ... (looks around for the sign with the name of the animal)
Stopping for a snack:
This one looks just like me!
Thrilled with a dandelion:
A little piggie:
A medium-sized piggie:
And a large piggie:
Being a nut ... as usual
This poor bird caught the girls' attention and was soon being chased by them:
"Where did it go?"
A little wasp hive on the branch above us:
Part of the botanical garden:
Checking out the little museum in one of the greenhouses:
Imitation of caatinga vegetation:
We didn't get to see all the animals because some of them are pretty far apart, but amazingly enough we ended up seeing most of them as well as almost all of the botanical garden.
Alina's latest fascination is crocodiles and alligators and we've researched about the different kinds, their habitats, what they eat, etc. and so she was all excited about seeing one up close. That's actually progress because the last time I went to the zoo with her she didn't want to go anywhere near the crocodile.
Laura wasn't so interested in seeing the animals, being that some of them were kind of far and she didn't have the most privileged view from her stroller, but at least she was content to sit still (miracle!) and munch on crackers.
It was tiring enough pushing her up and down and all around the zoo, so there was no way that I was going to stay picking her up to look at the animals.
"Bob! The toucan's bill is so beautiful it looks like plastic!"
Only the lioness was out that day, although we did hear the lion roaring several times.
A majestic jaguar:
A little squirrel we found happily munching on something:
Paying a visit to some of our relatives:
Hedgehogs?
An alligator:
The Nile crocodile:
Me: Do you know what kind of elephant these are?
Alina: African elephants!
Me: How do you know?
Alina: Because they have huuuuuuge ears! ... And I think it says so somewhere ... (looks around for the sign with the name of the animal)
Stopping for a snack:
This one looks just like me!
Thrilled with a dandelion:
A little piggie:
A medium-sized piggie:
And a large piggie:
Being a nut ... as usual
This poor bird caught the girls' attention and was soon being chased by them:
"Where did it go?"
A little wasp hive on the branch above us:
Part of the botanical garden:
Checking out the little museum in one of the greenhouses:
Imitation of caatinga vegetation:
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