Leaving on an airplane...

When Angel and I randomly found dirt cheap tickets to Panama we decided we had to go!  I hadn't been out the country in two years.  TOO LONG!  After almost not going on the trip because Ignacio came down with a weird high fever (105.7) for five days it finally broke 48 hours before we boarded the plane.  Whewwww!  That was close!  We had 100 degree temperature change in 12 hours.  -35 to 96 degrees in one day.  We soaked up the vitamin D every day and spent every waking hour we could outside.  We were healthy and loving the warm weather!

 

 

 Us at the pool.  We were here almost every day for at least an hour.  Ignacio swims without a life jacket and Emilio just bobs around with his on. 

 Two of the loves of my life!

 We spent most of our time with abuelo.  He took the kids to the open fish market.  We bought the catch of the day and cooked it on the grill.  Now THAT is fresh!

What would a trip to Panama be without a few trips to a mall?  Here is Emilio playing at one of them.

 Angel is looking GOOD! So in love with him and so proud of him for making such great healthy choices for himself.

AWWWWWWW.  Brother love. 

AWWWWWW.  Mommy love.

I love this picture.  This is watching the sunrise...yes sunrise... on the ocean in front of our hotel on Isla Grande the island we spent a couple of days on.

My little Emilio.  I love this little one! The kids explored the whole time.  No toys.  Just sticks and sand and crabs and shells.

My big boy.  I just love him!

 

Impossible

It seems impossible that Christmas will come without Grandma alive.  Maybe the Mayans are right. 

Fantastic Five

Ignacio turned five and we celebrated in Cisneros style.  Angel and I didn't communicate to each other so we ended up inviting over 40 people to our home....20 of whom were under the age of 7!!  The theme was The Avengers and Ignacio had a blast with all his friends. If we would have invited all his friends we would have been in big trouble.  It is already hard to keep up with this boy's social life!   For his cake he requested Tiger Boy (himself as a superhero and a tiger).  The cake was awesome! 

The party even included a dance party.  Here is Ignacio showing off his moves to the ladies.  We laughed so hard!  I hope he always dances...always is himself no matter what.  Go IGNACIO!!!

Make a wish my beautiful boy.  I wish for a long, healthy happy life for you.  May all your dreams come true, may you experience all the beauty this life has to offer you.  Can I just add that he let him brother blow out his candles?  True good older brother.

Time to open gifts!  He got his first LEGO sets and cool presents! 

May I have this dance?

Angel and I have begun the ever-important journey in teaching Ignacio to dance.  We are starting with Merengue.  In Venezuela most kids learn to dance from birth practically and Angel distinctly remembers learning to dance at the age of Ignacio with his mom.  I took that as a hint.  Apparently for a little boy to learn this couple's dance they need a girl...that's where I come in.  So we have begun!  I decided that the initial invitation by the boy is the starting point so we have been role-playing, in English and Spanish, on his approach and extending the invitation to dance.  He is a natural and even practiced his skills with Ariana, a family friend, when she was over.  Hand placement, rhythm, eye contact...the list goes on.  It helps that Sesame Street featured latin dancing and there was a very daper eight year old latino kid who had some MOVES!  I could see Ignacio's face light up and I reinforced it by saying, "In Venezuela kids dance like that too.  You're Venezuelan!"  He totally soaked the concept up and by the time Angel was walking in the door we had the music blaring.  What a gift from this far-away land he hasn't met in person but which clearly lives very vividly in his heart...and feet! 

More fall...falling into love.

 I tell Ignacio he has "sparkly squirrel" eyes and I think this picture totally captures that.  What a beautiful boy I have.  What a beautiful husband I have.  What a beautiful life full of love. 

The Three Amigos.  Since the boys are getting older the wrestling, Kung Foo and Ninja fighting in our house are on the rise.  Angel gets home from work and it is GAME ON!  Ignacio can get a little carried away once he is worked up but, for the most part, they are hilarious.  Angel is equally hilarious because he really gets into it.  Sometimes I think he really thinks he is a Kung Foo master.  Cracks me up big time.  It provides me a chance to wrap up dinner or do dishes after dinner is over.  Let's be honest...It provides me a chance to do something other than be "Ninja Mom" for a second!

Halloween has come and gone.  Ignacio was Superman.  This is him in his costume days after Halloween so you can clearly guess he continues to be Superman.  After MUCH consideration Emilio chose to be a pirate.  The selection was limited considering I didn't want to spend more than 10 dollars on his costume.  I think he really chose it because the hat had a skeleton on it and the kids are really into "bone monsters" lately.  Emilio wore his costume the whole day before Halloween and the entire day of Halloween.  But, according to Angel, when the time came to walk out the door to go Trick or Treating the little stinker wouldn't put the thing on.  Don't you love it when your maternal intuition is right?  Glad I only spend 5 dollars on the thing!

Enjoying the Fall

 My Emilio.  Growing up oh so fast!  Here he is all dressed up in his "fancy" clothes.  My snuggle bug, my pain in the neck, my heart!  I  just love him! 

 Our family at Angel's citizenship ceremony.  Over 1, 000 people attended and, while it was hard for Angel to make the decision, it was a celebratory day for us as a family.  No more splitting up while going through immigration lines at the airports!  Angel will always be Venezuelan, never American.  He became a U.S. citizen. And yes, there is a difference.

 We went to the apple orchard again this year.  Emilio was even big enough to get up in a tree himself.  I don't know how many he ate while we were there but it was a bunch.  It was a hot day for autumn so we enjoyed the last few days of warmth before the Minnesota fall set in.

Ignacio was awesome at picking the best ones.  He is getting so big and strong and smart.  Doing so well in school and will for sure be ready for kindergarten next year.  Just the thought of being away from him all day is sad but it will be good...for both of us! 

Love

I love that...

Ignacio will randomly tell me he loves me, like last night when he said in his sleep, "I love you mommy.  You're the best mom I've ever had." 

Emilio only sings the last words to sentences in songs.

Ignacio will back bend his way to make Emilio content.

I can get giddy with my kids, laughing until I cry.

Even after a hard day we always find our way back to each other.

Emilio's face and hands are dyed purple after eating blueberries.

If one requests something they always request it for the other too.

Ignacio stands up for his brother at the park.

My kids easily give and accept love, not only from their parents, but from others as well.

We cuddle.

Both are connected to me but easily able to explore the world, with or without me present.

Ignacio's hair stands up in the back after a nap.

My kids are extroverts.

Emilio bites his nails.