abuelo at work

I think this was taken bright and early, the first morning Abuelo got here. He replaced the roof on our bay window that has looked disreputable for years. Lowe's is definitely his favorite store.


I think he's probably been there five times. He's also replaced our front steps...the first of which was going to give any day now.


And there's the rain gutter on the back porch...it used to overflow and come pouring out over Isabela's window and right into her room. Not anymore.

Yes, my front porch looks like this. But the house has never looked better.


The fun Uncle has been taking our daredevil for rides...and letting him play way too many games on his phone.


And Isabela is enjoying her cholita outfit. She can really balance that hat on her head!

Sorpresa!

Saturday night, we head up the familiar I-95 to DC on the way to the airport. JP's brother was flying in, and instead of sending Juan Pablo by himself like we normally do, I suggested that we all go. It would be a late night, but it would be fun to welcome him as a family. I even bring balloons to blow up and wave when he arrives.

During the drive, I mention, "What if your dad comes with him?" We've been wanting him to visit ever since we got married and moved back to the states. JP shakes it off with a "Nah. I don't think so."

It takes us two trips around the airport to find the correct parking area, but we arrive on time and head into the terminal. We light up at the moving walkways like it's Kings Dominion, and you can hear squeals of excitement echoing down the halls.

It's not like the old days...or even like they still do it in some movies. You're not waiting at the end of the plane's walkway to greet your long lost relatives as they shuffle off the plane looking dazed and disoriented. You're not even allowed over there, of course.

We wait at baggage claim for him. And wait. And wait.

At one point, Isabela sees someone in a teal blue shirt and exclaims, "I see him!" And we all crane our necks saying, "Where? Where?"

"Right there!" she points. I can tell she wants to hop off the seat and run over to him, but I'm holding her back because there were a lot of people. He gets closer and closer and we're still asking, "Where is he?"

It turns out... that's not Uncle. Looks nothing like him, really. But the shirt did seem like something he would wear. Her face turns a light shade of pink, and we all bust out laughing at the guy who wasn't Uncle.

Searching the oncoming faces, we're still waiting anxiously to surprise him. And we start to get a little worried. The crowds aren't coming as strong now. I suggest he might have gone to the bathroom after the long flight. But JP decides to take Joaquin and go find him.

They're gone for awhile. Isabela and I continue to scan the crowds, while Diego waits unusually patient as I hold his hand with a tight grip. The baggage carousel is great entertainment and little too tempting, I imagine.

Then, far off in the distance, I see balloons. I can't tell who's carrying them, but those are definitely our balloons. And then my eye catches a distinctive head full of grey hair on a man with a suit. IT'S HIM! Hid dad! Those sneaky Medinas. They managed to it a secret for weeks. It turns out the surprise is on us!

We run over and give big hugs and shy looks from little faces who are unsure.

And it's all so incredible. We're all there to greet them. We have the big mini-van and are able to fit everyone in. And that sneaking suspicion I had on the way up. I do sometimes think I'm a great detective. Most moms are, after all. I think what gave it away was the fact that his dad didn't call us to say Julio had taken off from Bolivia. They always call.

Still, I love a good surprise.

high heels and loud music

We had one more birthday to celebrate while we were in Bolivia...Juan Pablo's mom's. And while there was no cake smashing, there was lots of partying.


That meant fancy hair...


(...although flowers aren't for everyone.)

Fancy dresses.

And fancy shoes.


And some of us were forced to do things we didn't want to....like kiss...

....and dance....


...and some got out of it by hiding behind the camera!! Come on and dance!


Abuela always makes sure we have a good time here. My sisters-in-law and I spent the day with her scouring stores for something to wear to the party. We ended up in one store where we literally tried on every. single. thing. in. the. store. She also had her hairdresser come to the hotels to fix us up. I loved it like it was my own party.

But I was secretly glad when little eyes got sleepy...my feet sure aren't what they used to be!


Feliz Cumpleanos, Mamita! Te queremos mucho!

a hot shower

These are what most of the shower heads look like here. All those wires help heat the water before it comes out. The faster it comes out, the colder the water. So my first day there, I was taking a shower....I did notice it seemed to be getting a little hot, but I do love a hot shower. Then all of a sudden...it exploded!! And fiery sparks came raining down on me. I screamed and leaped out of the shower....JP said I had burned it....it had gotten too hot.


Well, Diego wanted nothing to do with those showers...he screamed bloody murder if I put him in there. So I got an idea...one bright red tub later...and he was splish splashing like usual!

a secret garden

The streets in Bolivia are lined with walls. Houses and business are enclosed and secured with barbed wire and broken glass. To keep out the bad guys.


So one of my favorite moments is when the door from the street is opened to reveal the beauty of the most amazing gardens.


Beautiful flowers...


...trees bearing fruit...


...manicured grass..(this is not cut with a gas-powered lawn mower!)


...and space to play.


Is he hula-hooping with a steering wheel cover?


A tub of water--the perfect toy.


Some yards also have outside games, like sapo...(you throw a pile of heavy coin-shaped pieces and try to land them in the various holes...the frog's mouth scores 5000...this is a highly addictive game!)


...and foosball, Diego's favorite.


This is a giant parakeet bird cage!


And some beautiful parrots, as well.


"Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these." Luke 12:27


The threshold of a garden is quite an amazing place.


**While we were eating dinner, playing cards, and visiting with family for several hours, the van at the top of the post was robbed of its side mirror while parked along the street. Parking within the walls is always preferred, but there was no space that night. Juan Pablo's brother, Julio, said that once he returned to his car and his steering wheel had been stolen!

dude, a ranch

Right now is the summer break for kids in Bolivia. They start school in February, but like schools back home, some offer special classes and field trips to keep the kids occupied. The cool thing is they let strangers like us join just for the day!

Abuela found one that was visiting a horse ranch and the kids were definitely excited. We followed the school kids in our own minibus...and drove up...and up...and up. A view from the top.


When we arrived, the kids ran straight to the playground while the ranchers got the horses and ponies ready.


Super fun, but again, you have to question the safety of crooked monkey bars over a bed of sharp rocks.

We got a sneak peak of the stables because Isabela had to keep running to the bathroom.


Diego watched from afar. Notice the bag he's sucking on....that's a juice box in Bolivia.


All the new kids got a mini lesson on how to properly mount a horse (or a precious little pony.)


The big horse was a bit harder, so they got a little help from behind.


Joaquin wanted the big horse, not the ponies, so he waited and waited for his turn. Some little squirt even pushed him out of the way and poor Joaquin came crying over to me. I was so busy taking pictures, I didn't even see it. But he finally got his turn in the saddle.


This guy was making the ponies run fast around the ring, but the kids were bummed he didn't do it with three on his back.


Another view of the city in the background! Very cool.


Little ranch hands.


After riding, they got to play some relay games. In this one, they were running up to the ponies to give them a carrot.


It was a great day, but the sun really cooked us up here. Isabela felt sick afterwards, nothing a little Coke and fast food fries couldn't cure.

One more view from above.

the mega center

Abuela suggested we go to the Mega Center....it would be lots of fun...the kids could play in these bubbles on water. I had no idea what she was talking about, but we always say OK.
It turns out the Mega Center is a HUGE new mall that opened a year ago with the typical expensive stores, a food court, a huge cineplex (with 3D movies) and play areas for the kids.

They go big here. This is just one slide in a complex maze of tunnels and chutes. It's probably as large as the whole Chik-fil-A restaurant.


Typical Joaquin.


What ARE they doing to Isabela? And is it safe?


It turns out, these are the bubbles she was talking about.


And this is the water.


She's smiling now....


...but what seems like fun can quickly turn into torture. Can you imagine having to pee while being trapped in a bubble on water? Poor Isabela. Here's the video (Isabela's on the left, Joaquin's that wild one in the middle):



The good news is she made it.