A Busy Weekend!

Wendy and Fer have been here for a little more than a week and they are doing really well. During the work week, they've been spending some time at KIPP, some time with Gigi and Grandad, some time with Valentina, and I've been able to take some hours from work to be with them as well. This past weekend, we had lots of family time, both the four of us and then with our KIPP family as well.

On Friday, we visited St. Peter's in Yonkers, the Catholic school that we think they will attend when we return from Colombia after the adoption process. The principal was very kind and welcoming, and gave us a tour so the girls could see the school. Then the kindergarten and 3rd grade teachers, who are both bilingual, spent some time with the girls looking at their schoolwork from Colombia. They told us after that the girls seem suited to those levels, but that learning English is of course top priority for them to be able to succeed! So, we are galvanized even more than before to try to work with them on English. It's a process balancing the two languages. It has been so helpful in making the girls feel comfortable and in being able to build a relationship with them that we are functional in Spanish. But, we also know we need to start helping them transition. We are trying to move forward on this, step by step or "paso a paso."

On Saturday, my friend and KIPP colleague Alaina and I had our parent child-book club, Breakfast and Books, at school, and then I took my 6th grade Knitting Leaders to Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and the window at Saks. Fer and Wendy joined in with all of it -- it's great that they have already spent some time at school so they knew Alaina and some of my students. One of my students came to spend the morning with them and then she and her mom took very good care of them during the trip while I had to kind of oversee the group! I think the girls liked the tree and windows -- it was maybe a bit overwhelming as well just because it was so crowded.

When we got home we had some down time and the kids went swimming, and then we went to the 7:00 Spanish Mass at St. Peter's in Yonkers. It turned out to be the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico, so the church was all decked out in the colors of the Mexican flag, there was a big chorus and band to accompany, and everyone was dressed up and energized. There was a lot of excitement, a big procession with Guadalupe's statue, and fabulous music and singing. The priest was great -- very dynamic and funny. However, his sermon went on for 40 minutes! So we tried to sneak out after communion (by this time 8:35 p.m.!) but it turns out the service was so popular that we were totally blocked in by other cars in the parking lot! So we had to wait anyway. The girls were amazing throughout. Tired, but in reasonable spirits, and I think they actually found it kind of funny!

On Sunday, we hosted a baby shower for Sarita, another friend and KIPP colleague. The girls had a great time sweeping and dusting the house (they loved the Swiffer - "que rico!") and were so helpful with getting everything ready. At the shower we had crafts -- card making and scrapbooking -- and the girls joined right in and made several lovely cards and pages. They love their "KIPPTias" and had a great time with everyone. When they got a bit tired of the festivities, Padrino was stationed downstairs at the health club to take them swimming, so that broke up the afternoon. Then, Gigi and Grandad came over on their way home from Tivoli (after quite a harrowing drive!) and we had a lovely Advent supper together, hopefully a new tradition! The girls have loved opening their Advent calendars and counting down to Christmas. They keep asking about Tivoli, and we are excited to go next weekend and then spend a bit more than a week there once vacation starts. We are counting down to Christmas too!