Hallelujah- Barney works!

I had a friend ship me the singing Barney for Pili since it is one of the only two songs she sings in English, I just had to have it for her, that's how I justified the $40. When we opened Barney and it didn't work I wanted to die! Pili was excited about her new toy but I thought if she only knew it's true potential.
Luckily it was just bad batteries and we are now enjoying the I love you song and I am no longer about to vomit over what I thought was $40 down the drain.
(25 barney, 17 shipping fees,)
Cola= butt
pansa= stomach
(I didn't quite get the batteries back in the right position so no longer do you press Barney's tummmy; it's the buttox now. There was a little confustion since Nico was not aware of the change.

McDonalds = Good Service

SIIIIIIIIIIIII, Virtual High Five!

I love McDonalds here in Buenos Aires, in New York I would hardly step foot in a McDonalds. 1. because it was dirty, 2. it attracted the homeless/drunks 3. It made me feel like the food was dirty, 4. there was no playland 5. And Ronald didn't make special appearances :)
Well here it is the total opposite.
McDonalds is one of my favorite places. Always well kept and the service is exceptional. For example as soon as I walk in and they see me with the kids, I am approached by a manager. Take a sit, what can I get for you? A Mcdonalds that has no lines; for mom's with little ones atleast. This concept needs to be introduced in US don't ya think?
I've fallen in love with their salads I'd put money that the chicken isn't processed, though the nuggets the kids eat are another story. And for dessert about the only time you'll see me eating icecream is here, THE dulce de leche icecream cone! It doesn't get much better! Oh and one very important factor of why we go to McDonald's once a week is that Mati has become a Happy Meal fanatic and the toys that come in the happy meals are better quality/price than anything you can get elsewhere. It's a win-win win win win.

WHO'S SHOES?

Nico's new obsession

Saturday morning as soon as the kids were up, Nico had them dressed and out the door on a hunt for a queen ant. Mabel bought this mini ant farm for Mati for his birthday and Nico seriously can't get enough. He sits with a flashlight for hours watching the ants work. The ants have become his buddies, they go everyone with him; the table, the sofa, the terrace, I will not allow them in the bed!
I'm glad he has found a new hobby because the bonsai weren't working out so well.



I wish I could become obssesed with cute hair-dos for Pili. I still am trying but it takes all I've got to get three pigtails in and then look at the part!

Feeling like a Teenager

I'd venture to say that 75% of Argentineans/South Americans have never eaten Mexican Food.



Friday night we had Florencia 17, and her boyfriend Naruel 15, over for dinner and had a blast hanging out with them. Naruel constantly makes us laugh and the kids are IN LOVE WITH HIM. I've never seen a 15 year old boy take so much time with little ones. Luckily Mati slept the first 2 hours so Pili got all the attention and then vice versa. Perfecto! He is charming, and in love with Florencia who is an aspiring artist hoping to make it to BYU, though now a little uncertain since Naruel has fallen into her path. I have high expectations for them both and had so much fun with them Friday night that the whole family slept until 10:30am on Sat. Reminds me of my teenage years!!

I suppose Nico thought this fetal position of Mati's was cute; perhaps in the womb but not in my face! Or maybe he took the picture because he thought I resembled sleeping beauty.

Pilitis

Dialogue yesterday

Pili- Mati hit me
Ke-Kee- Mati say your sorry
Pili- Sorry Mati
Mati- Sor-RY
Pili- Give me a kiss
Mati- I already gave you a kiss
Pili- give me another one

The last few days Pili has been constantly saying Ke-kee sabes que? You know what? and then she goes into a story that I can partly make out. Today it was something about Mati hitting her in the eye; I can't believe everything she says.
Pili loves to instigate a fight and she is always pretending to be mad, she seriously loves the drama, she puckers up her lips and wears her angry eyebrows perpetually. Oh but she can't hold it long before she starts smiling. However, she quickly reverts right back to her I'm so tough face.

These pictures do not portray my post well just wanted to ensure you they have their happy moments too. I will have to try to capture the POUTY PILI, it shouldn't be hard so stay tuned.



That was quick! Here you have it...

living in the moment

This quote stuck

I’m kind of an “in the moment” type of person. I like to feel the moment, breathe the moment, and taste the moment. My moments are simple. It might be because I don’t have the greatest memory of the past or maybe it’s because I’m not too concerned about the future. In my mind, for the most part, I really only have the now. Each one of our moments is like a simple thread that weaves through the tapestry of life. I’ve heard that, by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass. I figure, if I live each moment good, I’m bound to end up somewhere great!
www.harrisbeachbums.blogspot.com


The author and mother of three lost her 10 year old son this past month by a freak accident, he was tubing behind a boat when he flew off and hit the water it stopped his heart. Heartbreaking.
She inspires me. I don't know her (she is the sis-in-law of a good friend) but I admire her moments of living.
As she signs off on her blog....
stay tuned to more living

Dia de San Martin = ANOTHER HOLIDAY

Every month there is at least one Holiday; LOVE IT! They just sneak up on me to since I'm not so familiar with the Argentine Calendar. Wa bam all of the sudden it's a long weekend.
So today was dia de San Martin the liberator of Argentina. We took advantage for some good family + friend time. We started if off on Sunday with another sleepover with Ivan. The first one didn't really count since Mati fell asleep at 9:00.



notice it's nearly midnight and they are still wired, they finally crashed about 12:30 according to Nico cause I crashed right after taking this pic

Ivan: no shame in my game


Aren't my pancakes just adorable?? Well that's all they were because they were NOT edible :( Can food dye really mess up a recipe? They seriously tasted toxic.





first time on his skates, mas o menos


LEAN ON ME.... when your eating your ice cream and just need to chill.... I'll help you carry on......




We had Nico's cousin Agustin and his girlfriend Paula over to merendar. Paula just graduated from Law school on Tuesday so I made nutella, strawberry, banana, cream filled crepes for her. Mati and Ramiro (Bishop's son) worked on the RR and gave Agus a run for his money on the "soccer field"



This is what happens when you graduate here in Buenos Aires. How Encouraging right?

that would be eggs and flour and who knows what else

Stake Activity "day for the child"

Every ward (9) put on an act mostly songs for the kids. It was a hit. The kids really enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun myself. My favorite acts: ours ofcourse from the famous Argentinean artist Maria Elena Walsh, then Hi-5, Topa, Xuxa, Under the sea. This activity would be fun for any stake to put on for the kids regardless of it being kids day.




Aug 11 = day of the child
Argentineans have created a day for just about everyone, my favorite is pet day, I'll never have to buy a thing!! Oh but we have an ant farm now, a few extra crumbs, I can handle that.

Pili 4 years old????

So what do you think Pili learned this week?


Me: How old are you?
Pili: Cuatro 4


Just for kicks. Pili changing her baby and insisting we go for a walk, then she get's distracted supposedly hearing a dog

Joie de Vivre

The last four years with Mati have brought true joy to our lives. He deserves celebrating and that's exactly what we did!

August 10 in school and afterwards at McDonalds with Mati's best friends Juan, Peti, and Manu (and Manu's cousins)







Lucha libre

Video clips from Mati's 4th birthday

SURPRISE


Waiting, and wishing, and thinking, could a train really be on its way?


Tren de Alegria


Spiderman appeared from off the street what a GREAT surprise! He just jumped on and the jumped off for a second I thought he may be going to rob us. haha

PLAZA POTATO SACKS & 3 LEGGED RACE


Casa de los Abuelos

Mati's surprise birthday party!

Kids watching slideshow awaiting Mati's arrival

SURPRISE!!

It went something like this.......
12:00- guest arrive
12:30- Mati arrives
2:00 Tren de alegria arrives(happy train)
3:00 Train drops us at Mabel's for cake
5:00 Party ends
The kids were a hoot and we had fun. Mati's favorite part of the party the presents, go figure. Our favorite part; field day games at the plaza!

DECOR



The classic sandwhich here is called sandwich de miga. They are usually cut into rectangles but I had them left as whole sheets and cut out trains for the kids with a cookie cutter.


TRAIN DE ALEGRIA




We saw parents in the street COOL. Claudio is Juan and Peti's dad and he is the school physcologist almost more important than the principal here. Love these people!



Pit Stop at the Plaza for field day games. Potato sacks and rope.


CAKE- Mabel's sister Silvia made the cake, they almost crashed on the way over and the cake fell. She was so upset when she arrived but the cake was totally salvageable and it was DELICIOSA! Shot out to SILVIA! GRACIAS!