This winter has hit us hard in terms of health. Between the stomach flu, strep, runny noses, fevers, viral rashes and ear infections we have had our whoping share of not feeling well this winter. Even Angel got double ear infections, which gave me a secret glimpse into what it will be like to live with him when he is 70 years old. "What??? What??? I can't hear you??!!!" UGGHHHHH!

The kids, other than being on and off sick are growing so big and strong and HILARIOUS. As I write this we are on vacation in northern Minnesota at a resort together as a family. It is actually our first family vacation with just the four of us. No one elses schedule to follow, not worrying about what others need. It is just us; at our own rhythm. Eight day stay in a really nice condo in the woods with jacuzzi tub (which the boys used every night for their baths), fireplace (which the boys ate picnics in front of frequently), backyard (which the boys trampled around in to play in the snow) and pools galore (which we visited every day, sometimes two times a day). We did some planned activity stuff...ice skating, games, etc. but mostly we just were with eachother. Today we went into town to the General Store and it was GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! Everything was a dollar and I screamed. It made me wish my mom and sister were with me. We LOVE things like this!!!!! 33 dollars later we left with the most RANDOM things...flip flops, scuba masks and coloring books.

Angel put it best when he said that here we had our "own little bubble" this week and that is exactly what it has felt like. Our home away from home with no where to go and no one to see. I have done a lot of meditating both sitting and walking, reading (I finished three books) and a ton of snuggling with Angel and the boys. Actually, now that I think of it, we have mostly snuggled! There will be pictures to follow.

Emilio has just blossomed into his own beautiful little person. He is our baby golden boy. In fact, if you ask him if he is a big boy he says, "Uh uh...bebe!" Okay, we got it Emilio. You are the baby. He is his own being. I don't know if it happened during this trip or if life just slowed down enough for me to finally notice. He is a solid member of our family. He is strong willed, funny and talking more and more each day. He just started putting two words together and his primary language appears to be Spanish, which is enough to make any parent fighting the current to raise bilingual kids proud. The other day he said, "Papa, mira" (Papa look) and Angel and I just laughed. He concentrated so hard to put those two words together. It is such a conscious effort. He is his brother's leader and, at the same time, shadow. One minute he is poking his brother or trying to make him laugh and the next he is watching Ignacio so closely so that he can do the exact same thing. He is rough and tumble with energetic snuggles and hugs with teeth gritting and hair all wild and then he is sweet and serene, stroking your face as he gently pulls you closer to him. He is our Emilio and he is turning two. Five more days to savor every minute with him as a one year old and take him all in as he is in this moment.

Ignacio is brilliant. He is our little golden boy. His capacity for compassion, generosity and understanding is breath-taking. He is constantly talking...but mostly asking questions. "Mommy, what does "cheat" mean? Mommy, what does "equal" mean? Mommy, does Peter Pan know how to drive? Mommy, does God make things die? Mommy, did you know Emilio is my baby dragon? Mommy, what does "civilization" mean? Mommy, tell me a story about when I was born. Mommy, did your heart feel my hug just now? Mommy, are God and Buddha friends?"....on and on. All day every day. He recently made a card for his preschool teacher because she is out sick and requested that I write, "Be happy and never loose your heart" on the front. That is Ignacio. He is intense and fiery when he needs to be. He is eager to learn. The other day he called me into the room and proudly displayed his name he has written all by himself on the dry erase board. I couldn't even believe it. This vacation he swam without a life jacket. My baby, who I held next to my heart every night for the first two weeks of his life, is jumping into a pool and swimming the length of it with his own strength and coordination. I could barely contain the tears.

The best gift is the two of them together. They are the best of friends. They fight, hit each other, argue over toys and who gets to press the elevator button. They are normal brothers who fight for our attention and get jealous when one gets more than the other. But outside of those moments, which are so few, they are beautiful together. Ignacio anxiously cares for Emilio as if he is his own baby, never entering the elevator until Emilio has, never running ahead in a parking lot without seeing his brother in front of him. He is his caretaker. Emilio knows when to bend and when to stay firm in their relationship. For instance, he will hold his ground and fight yet give his brother the toy Ignacio so badly wants that he is crying . The other day I came into the living room only to find them laying side by side rubbing eachother's heads. While taking a bath together they will stop playing and just hug. It is adorable. They are partners. They seek eachother and provide for eachother in only ways that brothers could do. They are precious.