{Pre-blog entry from The Mom: Our oldest will be blogging, since our adventures are as a family and today is the FIRST entry. She is a fabulous writer and loves to tell stories.}
So,when we got to Puerto Rico, (At 10:00 at night.) We stayed in Dorado for about I'll say 4 weeks. During that time I met my FIRST friend: Alejandra.We played and laughed and played each day. She also taught me how to ride a longboard. Then, we moved to Toa Baja. And we have been to the beach, Old San Juan, San Juan, and the pool. I have met a lot of friends since the beginning. And to end my entry by saying I am very blessed to live here and to meet my friends.
Sincerely, {The Oldest Child}
Friday, March 27, 2015
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
The Coqui
It took us six months here and we finally saw our first coqui.
If you didn't know, coquis (pronounced: co-key) are the indigenous frog species here. They are so loud at night and say their name when they sing, thus, how they got their name. I was anticipating a tree frog-like size.
Um, not exactly.
We found/caught/tried to gently hold three today. Enjoy these photos. They are tiny. Those things pack some sound out of those tiny frames. The only get about as big as a quarter.
If you didn't know, coquis (pronounced: co-key) are the indigenous frog species here. They are so loud at night and say their name when they sing, thus, how they got their name. I was anticipating a tree frog-like size.
Um, not exactly.
We found/caught/tried to gently hold three today. Enjoy these photos. They are tiny. Those things pack some sound out of those tiny frames. The only get about as big as a quarter.
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| That is my hand. Yes, I am not afraid of frogs, lizards, or many other amphibians/reptiles here. Spiders are another story. |
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| Three! We have been trying just to SEE one and we CAUGHT three! |
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| This little thing was already singing 20 min after being placed here. |
Monday, March 23, 2015
Debacle of the white pants
So this week is International Day at my kids school. Our oldest is representing Argentina (which we are personally quite fond of because of my husband's two years living there and then converting our whole family to the amazingness of Argentine food) and our six-year-old, Mexico.
The oldest is wearing her Dad's old Riverplate jersey he got 15 years ago. My favorite part is the beer brand on the front. It isn't local and no one may notice. (In case of a phone call from the school, I have a backup plan.)
But The 6yo needs and all white outfit. This is a predicament.
Who in their right mind puts a 6 year old boy in all white for a whole day?! I can't wait to see how not white these clothes are. Anyway, I digress.
So I've been prepping for this for a month. I needed white pants for him.
And since I didn't know about this during the San Sebastian festival, where I could pick up a pair of white pants anywhere, white pants are no where to be seen.
So after weeks of searching, I did find white shorts. I bought them and showed them to the 6yo and after asking the teacher, he said, "I can't wear shorts. They have to be pants." If you know this boy, then you know there is no negotiating room. He follows directions, and she had said no shorts.
Oh. My. Goodness. [Can you hear the sigh of dread?]
My girlfriends looked for me when they did their shopping. They searched everywhere. I even asked to borrow some.
Finally last night, I made some.
{I forgot to mention, I got my new sewing machine in two days ago. It sews like buttah. I am one spoiled woman.}
I had no other choice. I have never made pants. I thought, "this will fail, or it may be an almost fail." I've never made pants before and I have no pattern or know where to buy one here.
It turned out to be neither one. I traced a pair of pants (four pieces total) onto an old white curtain. Phhhsssttt, I don't have time for a mock up.
Cut, sewed (incorrectly twice by the way. Thank goodness for seam rippers.), tried them on the 6yo a bunch, and voila! we had pants. He was so frustrated at one point, during the last fitting, he asked if this could be the LAST time.
And they fit. Not just a little bit, but beautifully. I told the 6yo to go show his dad.
"Wow. Wow. WOW." There was no discounting the surprise in his voice.
Honestly though, I was just as surprised. I did have to put extra side panels, like tuxedo pants, because they were a little too tight for him to play in.
They look good. Just don't look to closely. I'll post a pic later. They're in the wash.
The oldest is wearing her Dad's old Riverplate jersey he got 15 years ago. My favorite part is the beer brand on the front. It isn't local and no one may notice. (In case of a phone call from the school, I have a backup plan.)
 |
| This is the new jersey. No beer label on this one. I'm just not willing to shell out $50 for it for my kid. |
But The 6yo needs and all white outfit. This is a predicament.
Who in their right mind puts a 6 year old boy in all white for a whole day?! I can't wait to see how not white these clothes are. Anyway, I digress.
So I've been prepping for this for a month. I needed white pants for him.
And since I didn't know about this during the San Sebastian festival, where I could pick up a pair of white pants anywhere, white pants are no where to be seen.
 |
| This kid is way cute. This is the "traditional" type clothing I needed to find. |
So after weeks of searching, I did find white shorts. I bought them and showed them to the 6yo and after asking the teacher, he said, "I can't wear shorts. They have to be pants." If you know this boy, then you know there is no negotiating room. He follows directions, and she had said no shorts.
Oh. My. Goodness. [Can you hear the sigh of dread?]
My girlfriends looked for me when they did their shopping. They searched everywhere. I even asked to borrow some.
Finally last night, I made some.
{I forgot to mention, I got my new sewing machine in two days ago. It sews like buttah. I am one spoiled woman.}
I had no other choice. I have never made pants. I thought, "this will fail, or it may be an almost fail." I've never made pants before and I have no pattern or know where to buy one here.
It turned out to be neither one. I traced a pair of pants (four pieces total) onto an old white curtain. Phhhsssttt, I don't have time for a mock up.
Cut, sewed (incorrectly twice by the way. Thank goodness for seam rippers.), tried them on the 6yo a bunch, and voila! we had pants. He was so frustrated at one point, during the last fitting, he asked if this could be the LAST time.
And they fit. Not just a little bit, but beautifully. I told the 6yo to go show his dad.
"Wow. Wow. WOW." There was no discounting the surprise in his voice.
Honestly though, I was just as surprised. I did have to put extra side panels, like tuxedo pants, because they were a little too tight for him to play in.
They look good. Just don't look to closely. I'll post a pic later. They're in the wash.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Honeymoon
Obviously, we're not talking about and ACTUAL honeymoon. That ship sailed 11 years ago.
I'm talking about that time when everything is new and you see things with blinders.
That's where people think are in the middle of here, although I feel like it is, but it isn't.
I knew coming here, it would be different. It's a different culture, different mentality, different climate, different language. Pretty much different everything.
I miss a few things. I miss family and some very dear friends from New Jersey. I [slightly] miss snow, but it is only when I burn my feet on the hot sand on the beach.
We are incredibly blessed to be here. There are so many things that are not like I like them, but I just have to brush them off. Most of the time, I say out loud, "welcome to Puerto Rico", meaning, that is how it is done here and I need to be okay with it. And it helps me calm the anxiety or stress or frustration.
I really don't want to let that frustration stop me from enjoying my time here. So many people miss what this island can offer because they're so mad about something that doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. I don't want to be that way. I know it has it's quirks. There's a lot that drive me crazy. But, it is like that anywhere that isn't your culture. It happened to us in New Jersey after we moved from the South. It just is exacerbated by the fact that Spanish is the primary language and has so much slang (even my husband, who is fluent with experience in three different dialects [Argentinian, Mexican, and Castellano], is having trouble with it).
The more I am here, our family is here, I know that this is preparation for the next step in our lives. I feel it to the depth of my soul. We are here for a purpose. We are here for, I'm sure, a whole host of reasons. We have to learn, to grow, to change, to love, and to help.
I am so grateful for the other women, my friends, with the same mindset. It is so impressive how much they enjoy and love. There are a lot that don't.
I want to leave here, when our time is up, in tears. That sounds weird, but I do because it means I hurt because I chose to love those here deeply, with my whole heart.
I'm talking about that time when everything is new and you see things with blinders.
That's where people think are in the middle of here, although I feel like it is, but it isn't.
I knew coming here, it would be different. It's a different culture, different mentality, different climate, different language. Pretty much different everything.
I miss a few things. I miss family and some very dear friends from New Jersey. I [slightly] miss snow, but it is only when I burn my feet on the hot sand on the beach.
We are incredibly blessed to be here. There are so many things that are not like I like them, but I just have to brush them off. Most of the time, I say out loud, "welcome to Puerto Rico", meaning, that is how it is done here and I need to be okay with it. And it helps me calm the anxiety or stress or frustration.
I really don't want to let that frustration stop me from enjoying my time here. So many people miss what this island can offer because they're so mad about something that doesn't matter in the big scheme of things. I don't want to be that way. I know it has it's quirks. There's a lot that drive me crazy. But, it is like that anywhere that isn't your culture. It happened to us in New Jersey after we moved from the South. It just is exacerbated by the fact that Spanish is the primary language and has so much slang (even my husband, who is fluent with experience in three different dialects [Argentinian, Mexican, and Castellano], is having trouble with it).
The more I am here, our family is here, I know that this is preparation for the next step in our lives. I feel it to the depth of my soul. We are here for a purpose. We are here for, I'm sure, a whole host of reasons. We have to learn, to grow, to change, to love, and to help.
I am so grateful for the other women, my friends, with the same mindset. It is so impressive how much they enjoy and love. There are a lot that don't.
I want to leave here, when our time is up, in tears. That sounds weird, but I do because it means I hurt because I chose to love those here deeply, with my whole heart.
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