busy

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted. We're still busy looking for a job for Juan Pablo. I've also been busy trying to start a little class for preschoolers to learn spanish, using music, instruments, puppets, etc. that would be fun and interactive. There's not much out there, so I'm having to do a lot of research, but I think it's going to work!
The kids are getting ready to start preschool next week. We were holding out for a job, but think they should get in already since there is only a few months left. We've also looked into ballet classes for Isabela and Gymnastics for Joaquin. They are excited about those possibilites. So although we have no obligations right now, we've been busy,busy,busy...but that's the American way, right?

citizen kane...i mean Juan!!

Juan Pablo is officially a US Citizen as of yesterday!! He passed the test easily...he missed one about the preamble...but answered others about the colonies and branches of government...and he took the oath the same day! There were 19 people taking the oath, from 15 different countries, including Vietnam, Lebanon, Liberia, Brazil, Panama, El Salvador, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Haiti, Bolivia of course, and I can't remember the others. Many were in the Navy...I think that is one way to get into the country, join the armed forces and then you can become a citizen.
They watched a video from the president and a video with the song "I'm proud to be an American" with scenes from all over the country. Now he has no greencard, he can just check citizen on applications just like we do!! And he can vote for the president!

ps...on the way home we were talking about presidential candidates and I said what if Oprah was president, and he said completely by accident, "Oprah supports Obama bin Laden." very funny slipup!

anatomy of a move

It's been very interesting this process of moving here and there...seeing what really matters to a person...what can you leave behind. It's something to think about. The good thing is that both Juan Pablo and I are minimalists and don't like to have too much clutter around anyway. So when we came back from Bolivia, the suitcases were mainly filled with clothes, the laptap, toys (the kids' scooters), important documents, my jewelry, some kids' books, and scrapbooks or photo albums. I left behind most shoes (I had needed new ones anyway, and they take up way to much space) our hairdryer (could by a new one), toys (the kids always have way too many toys) photos that weren't in an album (they aren't looked at if they're not in an album...note to self, put all photos in an album...and they way a ton).
So the first things we bought when we got here were:
*TOWELS
*LAUNDRY BASKET
*HANGERS
Interestingly, we didn't have to buy the hairdryer yet, since we were staying with family and everyone has a hairdryer. Of course, I was soon buying clothes and Christmas presents for the kids, which consisted of more toys. Now we are in our own apartment, living in a brand new empty space, so what do you think are the first things you would buy?
Well, for us it was a cardtable with four folding chairs...eating picnic style gets old real fast! Isabela started complaining about her neck hurting from looking down to eat her cereal! We had dishes given to us by grandma and the apartment comes hooked with a small tv under the cabinets in the kitchen which gets 3 channels, so we didn't need a tv either. We bought more hangers, because we didn't have drawers so we had to hang more clothes. And we bought a pan to cook in, plus were given a used pot and frypan. We were also given a sofa and a vaccuum by our friends Liz and Steve.
Some other things we've bought:
*SILVERWARE
*CUTTING KNIVES
*CUTTING BOARD
*POTHOLDERS
*CAN OPENER
*FLOOR LAMP
*HAIRDRYER
Also, Isabela now has a bed frame (still needs the mattress) and Joaquin has a bed...we still need one, but are on the air mattress for now. Beds are our next focus. We are trying not to clutter up the apartment so that when we move to a house eventually, it will be easier.
Some things we need but still haven't got around to buying are:
*TRASH CANS (bathroom and kitchen)
*DRINKING GLASSES (we're using those little teacups that come in dish sets that are never used.)
*TWO MORE LAMPS (floor lamps I think because the apartments don't have overhead lighting in the bedrooms or living room.)
This is not a request for these items, just me noting what you can still live without.

The only thing that has been missed by the kids are their bikes, which I'm sure we'll replace this year. I miss my books and the photo albums I had to leave behind. Juan Pablo probably misses his family.

So what do you think is most important to you? What would you like to leave behind? What would be the first things you would buy?

kids' room

Here's a view of the kids' room...Joaquin's stuff was from a model home someone bought...never slept in and everything matches!!!...there was a dresser too which is in our room. Isabela's bed we got on craigslist too....needs the mattress still and we just got a comforter from walmart which is pretty, but it's not in the picture.

the apartment

Here are a few pictures of our new place...the bedrooms have no beds yet so I didn't put those on there, but they are coming along slowly. I forgot the bathrooms too, one of which has a great big oval shaped tub (no jets), they are really nice. Our dining table is a new card table that came with 4 chairs for only $36 at Walmart! The windows are nice and big. We're on the third floor so it's not noisy (too bad for the people under us though!) And it's got a dishwasher and ice maker in the fridge and the kitchen's inside! haha!

happy new ear!

Yes...it's supposed to say that...I remember how cute it was last year when the kids said "happy new ear!" and now they say year. We had a great new year's at the First Night celebration in Fredericksburg. The kids got their face painted and we rode the horse carriage and the trolley and we did a huge labyrinth of luminaries...by the way did you know the difference between a labyrinth and a maze? A labyrinth has no dead ends or tricks but is a winding path to the center!
We've been busy job searching and getting our new apartment in order, which is why I haven't had time to post much. We love the new place...it's got lots of room and is perfect for us right now. I'll try to post some pictures of the new place!

a very merry christmas

It was so nice to be home for Christmas! The kids have had a lot of fun seeing family and friends!! Their favorite gifts from Santa were Joaquin's roller skates and Isabela's vtech kid's camera. We are planning on staying and have gotten an apartment (we move in today!) in Chesterfield! I am planning on keeping up the blog and hope to have more time to post in the near future. Keep reading!!