Twins' Birthday, Visit in Nyack -- April 17-18

We had a great adventure going up and back to Newton in one day on the train on Saturday so we could attend Caleb and Alison's birthday party -- Wendy and Fer enjoyed their first Amtrak experience, complete with movies on my computer and a visit to the snack car! No pics of the birthday, sadly -- Wendy was camera-shy the first time I tried and then things went by so fast I didn't get back to taking pictures. On Sunday we drove up to Nyack to see Susie and Ken and their boys. It was wonderful to catch up, and the girls got to drive in their convertible, which was a big hit. Susie also generously added to our growing Barbie collection with a new Barbie house (this one with a multitude of tiny Barbie accessories) and the much-coveted Barbie glam car! The girls were thrilled.

Mini-Golf with Familias y Amigos

While we were in Bogota, I joined a group of families ("Familias y Amigos -- Families and Friends") who have adopted from Latin America. They have monthly events, mainly in Orange County, about halfway between Riverdale and Tivoli. We had the chance to join them for mini-golf -- the girls' first experience of that American classic!

The Four Amigas in Tivoli!

So I'm trying to catch up here . . . these are about 2 weeks old but great pics of a visit with our friends the Cannings in Tivoli. We all had a wonderful time!

And Trensas for Wendy! Also the zoo!

Well, the pics don't quite capture the drama of today. Wendy was really wanting braids when she saw Fer's hair, but I was worried about how it would be for her given how sensitive her head seems to be -- she hates having her hair combed with even a wide-toothed comb, let alone the fine comb that the braiders need to use to make her braids. But she insisted that she wanted them, so off we went this morning. She was OK for a little while, but then had one meltdown while Mariam was doing the braids in the back. She got herself together and was ready to go on, but then freaked out again toward the middle and end and I would say cried hard on and off for maybe 45 minutes to an hour! She wore herself out so much that she fell asleep while they were putting the beads in. I felt so helpless and like it was such a ridiculous situation for me to be paying to have her in such pain!! However, much as I offered that she could stop, she wanted the braids more, and so finally, it was done. Whew. I don't know what we'll do for the next round (a wig??), but apparently we're set for the next 4-6 weeks, which is great. She did seem very pleased with the end result and they both got lots of compliments.







After our hair time (3 hours again!), we went down to Manhattan to meet up with Liz and Leah for the Central Park zoo -- her welcome home gift to the girls. We took an express bus, and both girls slept on the way there which was I'm sure much needed by that point. At the zoo we saw the penguins, polar bear, monkeys and the sea lion feeding. On our way out we stopped at the children's zoo to see the animals there -- mainly farm animals -- and the girls had a chance to feed the goats!







Luckily a bus drove up to the stop as we ran across the street, so we got home in record time, threw together tacos for dinner, and for the first time in the past 4 or 5 days, got the girls in bed before 8:00. Wendy practically fell asleep during prayers, and not a peep since. Yay!! A peaceful evening for Papi and Mami after a very full day. :)

New Hair for Fer -- Trensas! (Braids!!)

I think the pics pretty much say it all . . .

Easter Day

Down to the River

Easter Activities in Tivoli!