what's in a name?

I know the first name is obvious, but how ironic is the vice president's name?

OSAMA BIN LADEN
OBAMA BI DEN

What are the chances?
This is just an observation....not an endorsement for either candidate!

pumpkin patch with daddy!

Isabela's class took a field trip to the pumpkin patch today and Juan Pablo was able to go with them. It was a great time for them to spend the day together. He even got to ride the bus with them! He thought the bus was pretty unsafe...which is funny knowing how things are in Bolivia...no car seats, etc. He also said Isabela had a lot of friends! I was glad to hear that. And I had seen that, too, after eating lunch at her school a couple of times. She is VERY social. Anyway, they came home with two great pumpkins that we'll hopefully carve this weekend. The school didn't allow siblings to tag along, so it looks like we'll probably hit another patch soon for Joaquin.

it's a ...!

We found out this afternoon! I took the kids so they could see the first pictures of the new baby! Juan Pablo unfortunately wasn't able to make it. The ultrasound was a little long for them...but they enjoyed seeing the baby moving all around (which I couldn't even feel) and hearing the heart beat. So....not to delay any further....It's a boy! We really can't believe it's a boy. I'm not sure why we just knew it was a girl, but both Juan Pablo and I really had no doubts about it. Oh, well, shows what we know! So, it's a boy! Isabela will have two little brothers! She is still very excited. And Joaquin, of course, is too. Joaquin said today, "When the baby comes, can I still run around the house in my underwear?" I said, "Of course!" At least we all know what's really important!

Hallow-scream

We had a great day at Busch Gardens last Sunday. We had never been there during their Halloween time. A lot of the rides were closed, and some were converted into Haunted Houses. We went in one, only to come out at the first escape exit...Isabela and I didn't want to walk through. But Juan Pablo took Joaquin back in. He said every time they got to an exit, Joaquin wanted to keep going through the dark paths, but once they had continued on, he would say, "I want to get out." He came out the other side in Juan Pablo's arms, but all smiles and really liked it.

They got to ride two rides they had never done before...Joaquin is finally tall enough to get on the next level of rides. That's Juan Pablo and the kids way up high on that boat ride...and you can't see them, but they are on the next one way up high again.


They were all smiles when they got off! Although Isabela did say it made her feel kind of sick.

They both said that this one was their favorite ride.

There were lots of cool gourds and pumpkins around the park. The kids tried to see which were the heaviest.

And I love this picture of Juan Pablo and Isabela going down the log flume. They always have the greatest smiling,screaming faces...but those pictures are so darn expensive...so I tried to get around that by taking my own. If you click on the picture, you can enlarge it and see their faces better.

picture day!

Isabela had her school pictures taken the other day. She decided to sleep in her foam curlers the night before so her hair would be curly. I meant to take a picture of that, but I forgot....so here is the finished product before she went to school. I had to take her picture because who knows what it would look like when they got around to taking them. Everyday when she gets home, she looks like she's been through a tornado!

a little too excited

I've been meaning to update...I still have to post pictures of our Busch Gardens trip...but first things first. Today we were all excited to get the ultrasound of the new baby! Juan Pablo got off of work early, I picked up Isabela early from school and we were all at the hospital...only we were four days early! The appointment is not until Tuesday! The receptionist looked at me and said it's on the 14th and I agreed, and she said, "But today is not the 14th!" She would have tried to fit us in, but one of the machines was down. The kids were disappointed the most, Joaquin almost started crying. I've only told everyone I know that we were finding out if it is a boy or a girl today. So, we'll find out Tuesday!

Isabela's new teacher

Yesterday I took the day off from work to meet the new Kindergarten teacher for Isabela, starting Thursday. Her school hired a sixth K teacher to bring the class sizes down from 25 to 20. Thank God! Four from each class are being moved and she is one of them. She is very excited, and has gotten to come out of class to play some games with the new teacher to get to know her and some of the other kids. Mrs. Burns is her name and she was a preschool (JK) teacher before this. She seemed very nice and I know Isabela will adjust nicely. Then I got to stay for lunch with Isabela and that's always fun. The lunch ladies only turned the lights out two times, this time. That means no talking for those who've forgotten. I also sat in her class for a little bit afterwards. The kids were sorting some pictures that rhymed and Isabela came up to me upset because the teacher never called on her even though she had her hand up. She's just like me! I remember having that same problem, haha.