Lean on Me

This was sent to the boys, especially for Christian, from Nana and Papa -- and timely, too!  Poor Christian has been anxious about school and says that he misses being at home.  He said his stomach feels "funny", too.  I remind him that even when he feels alone, his guardian angel is always close by. 

Grandma G.G.

Grandma -- Grandma G.G. (great-grandma) to the kids -- turned 92 this past June.  I miss taking the kids to visit her and Aunt Patsy.  Grandma loves children and laughs constantly at what they say.  She should've been a teacher and, in fact, wanted to be one, but life took her on a different path. 

During our first year living in Albuquerque, I'd bring Grandma to our house once a week and we'd have lunch when Aunt Patsy came to pick her up.  I wish we could've shared more of those moments, but life became hectic once I began taking classes and then Mike's job loss.  I was too stressed to make more time for my dear Grandma.  And even though we saw each other regularly, I wish we could've spent more time alone together like that first year.

Grandma and Aunt Patsy's dogs, Lucy and Ethel, finally warmed up to the boys.  They protect Grandma and check on her if she's been away too long in the loo. 

Grandma used to send me cards and 'pin money'.  I remember when I moved to Phoenix after college I'd receive thoughtful surprises in the mail.  At that time I would hardly find her at home when I called -- she was either busy conducting a T'ai Chi Chih class for the "old people" at a rehab facility, running someone to the doctor, or numerous other activities. 

A few years ago we interviewed Grandma, and out of that recorded interview my brother Sergio and sis-in-law Kyla transcribed it into a book that we each have and into a video which was shown at her 90th birthday bash.  Dad later used much of the material and combined it with a geneological history of our family that was researched by Grandma's brother, Uncle Frank.

Each time we talk she says, "We miss you so much!"  And we miss her, too. 

An Errand

Today Gabriel is home from school and we needed to return a movie we had rented, but instead of driving he wanted to ride bikes to the store.  So we set out on our long ride.  What a gorgeous semi-overcast day.  Jojo, who neither has a good bike for longer rides nor the stamina, had to ride in the bicycle seat.  As you can see, he was not so thrilled.

We stopped at a little playground along the way. 

I was relieved because we were almost to the traffic light where the store is located.  Gabriel did a fine job following me and stopping at intersections and cross streets.  As we were preparing to walk our bicycles across a busy street two cars cut us off, so Gaby learned why we need to walk - not ride- across busy intersections. 

Then we hoofed it home, but I needed to stop to figure out the gears on the bike.  Finally, I removed the cute little basket on the front to fix the problem, but lost my balance and down went the bike and Jojo in a slow free fall as I tried to hold the now detached basket and bicycle with him in it.  Jojo learned why he needs to wear his seatbelt at all times, and I learned that the kickstand is not very reliable when anyone is sitting in the attached child seat.

Gaby said, "Watch, Mommy!" He tried to 'pop a wheelie', and his next trick was to ride with one hand. He really likes his bicycle.  Both he and Christian want skateboards, but I'm not as worried about Christian riding because he's more cautious. 

Then we got home an hour later and we had a nice lunch.  The route we took must be around three or four miles, and I was impressed that Gaby kept up.

After lunch, Jojo went outside for awhile to ride his bicycle.  He informed me that he told some barking dogs to "shut it down".  He must've heard that phrase from his friend, the dogs' owner.  For some reason "keep it down", which I say about 20 times a day around here, hasn't resonated with him.

Far Away

Last week we spoke with Grampa and Yaya via videophone before they left for Spain.

Christian told me, "No fair that they're going to Spain!  Can't we go?"

The boys still remember their visit two years ago.  Believe me, Spain is the first major trip we'll save for once I am working!  I miss my second home and family there.  My cousin Maria is pregnant with twins and is due anytime now (she's at 34-35 weeks gestation).  She looks great!

Cousin Alberto sent us this photo from last night.  Pictured is Rosa (Alberto's wife), Javi (Maria's husband), Maria, Alberto, Mom, Dad, Tio Alberto (my mom's brother) and Tia MaAngeles at a terraza in Madrid where I'm sure they had the best tapas.  The only one missing was Diego, Rosa and Alberto's 18 month old son.

Finally, A Birdhouse

Jojo is pretty bored when his brothers and friends are in school, but he gets to play with the toads without Christian's overshadowing presence. 

All week long Christian reminded us that we need to get a birdhouse and to hang the net filled with wild birdseed outside so the finches will start coming around.  And now he has almost convinced Mike to purchase a cage for his toads since one of them escaped this morning. 

They painted the birdhouse red and green.

And now it hangs from the branch of the pine in the front yard where birds and squirrels are sure to come all winter long.  I'm still waiting to catch a photo of a bird, but a weasel tot (he's no longer a tot!) is just as cute.

And my brown thumb hasn't killed off the beautiful mums yet (or whatever they are).

The Very Hungry Boy





The main library in downtown Columbus has been rated as one of the best public libraries in the country, and I saw the reasons for such accolades.  I've never seen such an amazing place.  There must be at least three floors, but the children's section is a wonderland.  There is a castle with little seating areas where kids can read.  There is a puppet stage, all sorts of computers, and toys.  Fantabulous!  There is even a little cafe on the first floor, where I grabbed a bite to eat while the boys left me there to do some studying. 

I found a computer to work on, and when my eyes started to glaze over I explored the second floor media/fiction book section to find a different place to study.  I noticed that there were several copies of books available, not just one!  The boys picked me up and we went to the park by the garden of roses. 

At the park we went to a creek so Christian could look for creatures while the rest of us tossed rocks into the water.  Christian was very upset that we did not stay at the creek longer because he wanted to explore some more. Oh how he whined and pouted!  He even lagged way behind while the rest of us made it to the playground.  I sat down in the grass and started reading a book I had picked up at the library that I cannot put down, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a very light green color.  I reluctantly put down my book and looked closer at the grass.  And then I saw it:  a plump, lime green caterpillar.  I called Christian to come over quick!  I wasn't about to touch it and save it for him, but I didn't want anyone to trample on it either.

Christian made it over and I had him sit down on the grass, and then he saw it too.  It reminded me of a book his Uncle Sergio and Aunt Kyla bought for him long ago called The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Like the caterpillar, Christian is hungry, but he hungers for all things found in nature... holding them, reading about them, and nurturing them.

Someone came by and noticed the caterpillar and asked Christian to show it to the other kids in his group.  Finding the beautiful creature helped him to forget about the creek.  We brought it home and he showed his friends.  He was so proud of the caterpillar with the lime green skin and iridescent red dots!  He now had a "friend" for the other reddish hairy caterpillar he'd found earlier in the week.

At the end of the night his friend traded two toads for both caterpillars, and now Christian is bursting with joy at the good deal he made.  We now have three toads outside in a box.  I caught Jojo earlier holding a toad and poking it with a small twig.  I asked him what he was doing and he said, "The toad needs a shot." 

Christian is going to start Cub Scouts soon, and his den will be marching in the town parade for the big Arts in the Alley event next weekend.  They are going to go camping next month and do all sorts of fun boy things.  He also has a subscription to Boys Life magazine and the first issue should be arriving soon. 

Postcards from The North Pole

Nana and Papa recently went on another adventure and travelled to/through Alaska by ship, train, and bus.  While there, they visited Santa's house at the North Pole, and Santa sent each of the boys a special message:

Tim the turtle was found at the creek at Nana and Papa's house this summer.  Nana convinced Christian to let him go back home to nature since Christian was already bringing home two new firebelly frog pets. 

We hope this will encourage Jojo to continue doing his potty business -- in the potty.

This reminded me that recently one of the older neighborhood girls who plays outside with the kids told Christian the TRUTH about the Tooth Fairy.  Christian was very matter-of-fact when he told me and my response was, "Of course there's a Tooth Fairy!  She does come at night because she used to come visit me when I lost a tooth!" He probably saw right through it, though, and that's ok.  He'll believe because he wants to continue believing in the magic, just as I remember doing so as a young girl.  Our little philosopher may continue to believe because he won't want to ruin the fun for his little brothers.

I pulled the little Grinch aside and told her, "C____, we still believe in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny, got it?" 

"The things I believed most then, the things I believe most now,

are the things called fairy tales."

G.K. Chesterton

Orthodoxy