If I have to start every post with... "It's been a while since I wrote"

Well.  It's been a while since I wrote....but I'm not going to let that stop me.  We have entered into mid-October, and as Saturday Night Live puts it: It's Almost not Quite time for the holidays.

There will be several retro-active posts to fill in the gaps of the last few months, but I'm going to start with where we are, right now.

Gearing up for voting season, Joel put on a Town Hall Meeting where he explained the voting process for Ex-Pats.  It wasn't as well attended as it should have been, but was a neat event.  The Ambassador (seen in the photo below) and Joel were both featured in the Newspaper.  It was a very nice event.

Joel has entered the non-busy season for Visa applicants.  Work is busy enough, but not so busy he can't be home on time.  We are enjoying our solid hours of 7:30-5:30 Monday thru Thursday and until 11:30 on Fridays.  Our weekend starts every Friday at 12:00 when we go on a nice date, while Kate plays with friends.  It's better than late nights on Friday and getting home at 1:00 am...
He is gearing up to go to the U.S. in November for a training.  I've already got a shopping list ready for him to bring home crucial items.  It will be good to re-stock up on some good 'ol Trader Joe's.  I'm really missing my favorite store!  He will only be gone a week, but he will be missed!

Joel's 32nd Birthday

Karen is enjoying more free time now that the Foreign Service Test is over with.  I took it on October 3rd but will not know the results for 4 more weeks.  It was easier this time around, maybe the 3rd time is the charm.  I will let everyone know if I pass.

What does it mean if I pass?  I am starting the process (it takes about a year to get all my clearances) to become a diplomat.  I would work in a different branch than Joel but would be posted with  him for our future postings.  Otherwise there is a job opening at the Embassy, in January, for the housing coordinator.  It's a part-time job with a great opportunity for building a resume that is a little empty after 8 years at home with my babies.  With Kate starting Kindergarten in April, a full-time housekeeper, and a quiet life....I have to start considering these things.  This is all just preparation for my future career plans....stand by.






I am also getting excited for our trip to the U.S.  We will be leaving Asuncion on December 21 and arrive in Chicago the next day.  We are staying there until December 28 to spend time with Liz, Kathie and their families.  That's our East Coast stop-over.  It will be super-fun to have that time with cousins and sisters!  After that we head to Utah where we will spend quality time with the rest of the Merrill/Fifield clan.  We get to stay until January 21.  I am looking forward to some wonderful time with family and friends!


Sofia has joined Choir and Scrap booking club.  She is a natural artist and a great little singer.  She has great pitch and a strong, clear voice.  I remember her crying was really strong and beautiful.  It has carried over into her 9 year-old singing voice.

Here she is with her choir preforming "Spicy Hot" for Joey's Class.  It was a wonderful show!  Kate (4-years old) now walks around singing this song all day, everyday.


She is a delight for everyone in her classes.  Parent Teacher Conference was awesome because she had glowing reports from ALL her teachers!  She is an amazing kid!

Seth continues to bring joy and energy to our family!  He has such an easy laugh and happy nature.  We are lucky to have him as a part of our family!  He's really developing a strong sense of self and confidence in who he is.

Seth is getting better and better at Horse Riding.  He is jumping 3 feet!  He has a natural ability to ride horses without fear and has extreme control over these massive animals.  It shows his ability to control things that may seem outside of his control.

We are going to start guitar lessons next week.  It's a very popular instrument in Paraguay.  Seth and I are going to take lessons together.  It will be a fun mother/son bonding thing.



Joey is becoming quite the artist.  He draws constantly.  When I offered him a wall for artwork, he went to work straight-away and began drawing, cutting, and painting all afternoon.  We ended up with 10-15 pieces of artwork just from Joey.  I will scan some artwork in and show it for those interested.

He FINALLY lost his other front tooth.  It's been a long-time since his tooth was pulled as a toddler because it had a hole in it from the back.  Now he looks like every other 6 year-old with his two top teeth missing.  He was delighted to discover that he could whistle now by blowing extra hard through his top teeth.  It was a happy day, indeed.

He brings a smile to to our faces everyday!

K-k-k-Katie, beautiful Katie, you're the only g-g-g-girl that I adore....when the ma-moon shines over the ca-cow pen, I'll be waiting at your k-k-k-kitchen door!  That is sung every night as we put our little one to bed.  She is so much fun!  Truly the cherry on top of our ice-cream Sundae of a family.

She just started DANCE classes and is a natural.  They are teaching her tap, Paraguayan Bottle Dancing, and ballet.  She LOVES it.  I am amazed at how she has completely taken to it.  It's been so fun to watch her understand Spanish little by little.

Kate learned to ride her bike in 1 day.  We have had the pedals off for the last few weeks, just to help her with balance.  Joel decided to put the pedals back on one Saturday afternoon, and off she went.  No stopping her!  She rode for the next several hours in a swimming suit, and then changed into other, more appropriate clothing for cycling.  She is riding the bike in the house.  Thank heavens for wide hallways and smooth tile.




Sandy still loves to swim.  She turned 2 years old (14 in dog years).  She is a great addition to our family and keeps us in cuddles and kisses.  She'a a great swimmer and will often give the kids a ride on her back in the swimming pool.  It's like our own little Sea World, but instead of Shamu, it's Sandy.

And, just in case you haven't heart, we have a few others pets who have joined our family:

3 Bunnies:  Shadow, Snow and Pepper
1 Chicken: Iesa
1 Rooster Chick: Nonso

Sofia holding our baby rooster, Nonso

Our Bunny Snow, we have had since Easter

Joey and Kate holding Non-so and Shadow (our black bunny)

Iron Kids Triathlon

Claudio Delpeuche

A really fancy spa here in Paraguay     
 is hosting Iron Kids.  It's a type of Iron Man for kids.  It will be much SMALLER than a real triathlon, duh?  But my kids have been participating in the training sessions.  They are free as a service of the spa.  SO FUN!  And apparently, the gentleman leading the training is famous...


Here are my Darlings:

Joey on the Run

I wish adult Iron Man's had a trampoline....

Personal Training

FRIENDS!

My Joey and Kate

Stretching out afterward.

The whole group!

YOGA

We have started doing family Yoga.  It's so much fun!  My kids are WAY into it.  Kate (4) claps her hands and says YO-GA, YO-GA, YO-GA.

At first we tried doing a DVD with someone instructing us.  After we learned the moves (VERY BASIC) we decided to do our own thing.  So, now we play music (Enya or Classical) and let the kids lead us in 'their' Yoga moves:

Sofie's new pose, "The Thinker"

Even The Adult Kids got into it.

Is this Yoga?

  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my family!  They make every day worthwhile!

Ah, Seth!  Warrior 1.

Down Ward Dog, Joey!

A Small Band of Warriors!

FAQ's Part 2

  

I miss you, old friend.

1.  Have you gotten your car yet?  

NO!  While you're at it, why don't you give me a paper-cut and pour lemon juice in it! But I'm not bitter or anything!  It is somewhere in Asuncion going through customs....it may just be a paper-work thing.  So....we wait.  As of July 20th, we do not have our car, going on 4 months now.  So, we could 'survive' without a car, but not THRIVE!

2.  Are you Homesick?

Amazingly, no.  I miss my family.  I talk to most of them frequently (801-210-0239) hint, hint.  But never frequently enough.  They have been so supportive of this crazy life Joel and I have chosen for ourselves.  Everywhere we go, there is another family built in for us.  That does help....but they are never as good or funny as my real family!

My kids are doing great.  They love Paraguay and the opportunities they are having, ie: horse riding lessons, a swimming pool, friends from all over, a maid (ok, that last one was mine).

3.  What does a typical day look like?  Like this!

We wake up @ 6:30 am.  Joel is out the door by 7:10 so he can be at the Visa desk by 8:00.

Kids go to school at 7:30 - 8:00

I go back to bed, eat bon bons, and pretend "I have SO much to do."  Kidding!  I inherited the in-ability to go back to sleep once I am up. So I try to get my emailing done, pay bills, read, exercise, walk the dog, grocery shop, volunteer at the school and run the household.  At this point, it a lot easier to run when all the kids are in school and I have a house keeper.  Not to brag....

(I HAVE SPENT 5 YEARS WITH 4 KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 5, it's time to enjoy!)

Kate arrives home at 12:00.  We read, play and bond because "you're my best friend, mommy."  Poor kid.  3 days a week we have a Spanish Tutor come over and work with our family in Spanish.

The other kids arrive home at 3:30.  I let them have 1/2-1 hour of TV or computer to relax.  Then on to home-work.  It's fun that they can help each other now.  I love that!

Dinner is at 6:00 (Joel arrives home at 5:45) and we enjoy hearing about each others' day.  Then we do Yoga* from about 6:30-7:00.  This has become so much fun for our family.  It's great to spend time together.

Books, Baths, and Bedtime from 7:00-7:30. 

Then Joel and I pull our house back together a little, relax, read, watch our stories and go to sleep by 10:00.

Rinse and repeat.

4.  What do I plan to do with all my 'spare time.'  Anyone else have this problem?  What should I do with all this spare time?  Actually, between studying Spanish and preparing for the Foreign Service Exam (yes this will be the 3rd time taking it) I will be a student again....

I may or may not begin a Master's...

5.  Have you traveled yet?  See Number 1.

Fourth of July in Paraguay

Take just a minute and read through the lyrics.  Skip the first verse if you please, but read the last one.  It's so beautiful.

"Then Conquer we must, when our cause, it is just!"

 


The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: 'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more! Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave! Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand Between their loved home and the war's desolation! Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just, And this be our motto: "In God is our trust." And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Penguins in Paraguay?

PENGUINS IN PARAGUAY????

Since it is almost 'winter' here, we have found different ways of cooling off during those 'freezing' fall days....35 degrees....okay, okay, that's CELSIUS which is about 90 degrees F.  So  it's not feeling like winter, even though we begin the South American winter on June 21. 

A really great action shot!

My children discovered that our tiled back patio is VERY slippery when wet.  And, if you add SOAP to that water and slick tile....it's VERY, VERY slippery.  So Joey and Kate invented "Penguins."  

To participate in 'penguins' one must strip down to ones underwear, or nothing (if you're a 4-year old) and slide on your belly, back, or knees like a penguin.  This can provide HOURS of fun on a warm day.  

It also doubles as a shower because before they come in the house I pour a bucket of warm water over them to rinse off the

 suds and sludge.   

In this photo (right), a dog we dog sat, named "Ranger" is trying to get in on the fun.

Joey and Kate Begin Pre-School

 First Day of School....

First Day of School

 Nothing feels more settling to a young mom than getting ALL your kids into some form of school.  Joey and Kate have begun pre-school.  

SHE IS NOT EXCITED, AT ALL!
They attend 5 mornings a week from 8:00 - 12:00. 

Our motivation to get them into school, even though summer is fast-approaching (winter here) is to immerse them into the Spanish Language.  Even though the school they are going to (American School of Asuncion) will be English-driven, the language of play on the play-ground is Spanish.  Joey has assured me that he "does not want to learn Spanish because English is working fine."  There were a few times at his pre-school where the teachers were not sure if it was English he was speaking....sounds like speech therapy has paid off....

HOLDING THE TURTLES; "SHELLY" AND "SLOW-EY"
(Kate named them)

Kate got along quite well with everyone in her class and won over the teachers with her "si and gla-ci-as" constantly!   


I should have known 
We should have known that the pre-school would be a HUGE hit when we saw the 4 turtles walking around in the front yard.  Can you beat that? 

Turtles welcome you at the front door?  

The classes are all in Spanish, but there are several teachers who speak fluent English.  It's a relief to know that if there is a real need, 
Joey and Kate will be able to communicate.  

This is the School's Logo

The school is only 10 blocks away, so we have been able to walk, which is a nice bonus since our car has not arrived (it's in Argentina, so we could get our car in the next month).  We have 2 neighbors who are wonderful enough to carpool and allow us to mooch rides.  THANK YOU!

The front door!