an answer?

Well, Juan Pablo and I thought we had an answer to that question...at least one we both agreed on, but after all that commentary, it seems a bit more complicated. We agreed that workers seem happier in Bolivia because they "owned" their own job...they could come and go when they want (you never know when a store would be open), children could also be brought and they played with children from other stores, so rules aren't as strict...I remember some tourist getting so mad one day because Isabela and Joaquin were running around the lobby of the hotel...he was yelling something about this being a "place of business". We also noticed the Bolivians who were stressed or didn't like their jobs were ones who worked for corporations, like a bank. One of Juan Pablo's friends had quit a job as a loan processor because of the long hours (like 14) and verbal abuse from her boss! Another thing we did not take into account is our consumerism...always wanting the next best thing...I love Pottery Barn,too...but that is real and is pushed on us constantly and causes the need for large amounts of steady income. But anyway, that's what we came up with! I really loved all the feedback!

a good question

We're still having computer problems, hence the lack of pictures and me sitting in the library typing this. But I did manage to save all the photos (I think!)and we've ordered parts to have the hard drive replaced...for free I might add. Yea..Mac! So the good question is this...that I posed to Juan Pablo as we were driving around one day.
Why do you think most of the people in Bolivia that work selling bananas on the side of the road, or whatever the case may be, are basically happy...happy to go to work, happy to sit there all day, etc. and most of the people in the United States HATE to go to their job and daydream all day of their next vacation or the upcoming weekend?
(I do have an answer, I think.)

ugh! computers!

We've been having a few computer problems...after someone dropped the laptap (not me or the kids, thank God). I had to go to the Apple store twice and thought we had lost the four thousand pictures that are on it. I wasn't too upset because I'd been meaning to back them up for months, so it would have been my own fault if they were gone....but the geniuses at the Apple store were able to get it working again...and the pictures are still there. I have backed them up...and will also start printing them off. What's the point of taking them if they are only in your computer? After these last traumatizing days, my amazement at how great my computer is, is now somewhat diminished, and I'm thinking back to the simpler times of letters in the mail, picture albums and scrapbooking. Of course, now that it is working again....

milestones!

We have hit a big one!....Joaquin can ride his bike WITHOUT training wheels! (And can you believe he is only 3?) I picked up a bike for him at a yardsale about three weeks ago. It had training wheels, but that didn't stop him from speeding up to launch over speed bumps and off of curbs. Last week, Juan Pablo pumped up the tires to full strength, which made the training wheels not touch the ground as much. He was a little wobbley at first, and I considered deflating them (and actually tried to but the cap was too tight). But apparently, like my friend Liz said, training wheels are for training only....you are supposed to try and keep your balance on the bike without them! So once I passed this knowledge on to Joaquin, he was busy trying to ride so that you couldn't hear that awful scraping noise of the training wheels touching pavement (now I realize this is probably done on purpose so you can hear when you are not balancing on the bike!)
So last night, Juan Pablo took the training wheels off and they went to ride at our apartment's tennis courts, where most of the kids play. Isabela and I came up about 15 minutes later, and he was just riding around the court, no problem! He was SO excited. This is all he's talked about for weeks....in books..."look ma, this one has no training wheels", in the car "look, that boy has no training wheels!" ...and so on. He did get clotheslined by the tennis net once, but otherwise he is really good! Watch out X-Games...here comes Joaquin!

creative minds (Part II)

So the kids, it seems, have finally grown out of naps....which is definitely the hardest on ME. Yesterday, they had their "book time" which it is now called, and I HAD to take a little nap...which, hopefully, I will soon grow out of too! But I woke up to raucous laughter, which is always a bad sign. The kids were tired and acting wild, but forcing naps doesn't work and would mess up the early bedtimes we now have. I knew we had to get out of the house. I just didn't know where we'd go. It took about 30 minutes for them to find their socks and shoes...meanwhile my mind's racing as to where to take them. Should we go to an indoor play area? No, that costs money and seems like a reward for acting wild in the house. Should I just drive around until they fall asleep? No, that would make me tired and waste precious gas. Should we go to a park? I would like to be outside, it's cloudy but not raining, although the ground is saturated from this week of rain we've had. So I buckle them in, still not knowing where we're going. That is where the creative mind comes in. Sometimes you just have to go through the motions and act like you know what you are doing and the right thing will pop in to your head. So we headed out to the main road, when Tom Sawyer's Island popped into my head. It is a park I learned about last week, right near our church, that is situated on a little peninsula surrounded by the Swift Creek resevoir, where there is also a pier, boat marina, and walking paths around the water. We had never been to the playground on this "island" but had been to the marina, so I thought we'd go explore it. I also remembered I had put some bread in the car that morning to feed ducks....don't ask me WHY? I had that in the car, I hadn't planned on going to feed ducks...but it certainly would come in handy now that we were headed towards the water! So we spent an hour and half walking the trails, playing on this really great playground, seeing all kinds of water fowl...ducks, some weird black ducks that dive completely under water for at least 5 seconds!, a huge blue heron and geese....plus a squirrel that almost fell in the water and a little flock of cardinals. We also found a tree that was bent about 5 feet off the ground in such away that I could lift both kids up to sit on it at the same time and have a beautiful view of the lake. We also saw a man who had decided it was a good time to fish...we watched him back his boat into the water, drive the trailer out of the water...which was Joaquin's favorite part, and then push off from shore and jump in without falling in the water. Very exciting, and realizing he had an audience, he gave us a salute as he passed by. It was a great time with the kids, we were on trails so avoided most of the muddy ground....but occasionally stepped off to poke sticks in creeks to see how deep they were. I think most moms develop this "creative mind" (and teachers too) out of necessity. We learn to think quick because the kids constantly keep us on our toes. For me, it makes me a little nervous, kind of like performing live on stage....will I remember the dance steps? will I think of something quick enough to avoid complete melt downs from the kids? I never did like performing on stage...but I've found that I normally do make the right decisions and come up with a good plan, and the results are always surprising!

creative minds

I love the creative minds of children plus free play!! Joaquin created this one man boat/island/bed/home out of a large box, his pillow and all the towels and blankets in the house. And if you can believe it, both him and I got in it at the same time!

scooby dooby doo!!

We are still yard saleing on Saturday's....yes even in the rain! It's so addictive and fun...you never know what you're going to find! Take this great corn popper for instance! I had no idea I would find that! Of course, Isabela convinced me how much fun it would be, and for $3, I agreed. It does only pop about three handfuls at a time, but when it comes flying out of his mouth, it's pretty funny. Plus, it's healthier for you too!