Spring Art Show

Amazing artwork by amazing students!! It was wonderful to see how proud the girls were of their work, beautifully displayed in the hallways turned into an art gallery for the night.











And I have to say it brought back memories of the last art show I attended that featured Fer's and Wendy's work -- at the 92nd Street Y, summer 2009. They spoke no English back then, so all I heard throughout from them was "ese es mio!" - "that one's mine!" We are coming up on our 3 year anniversary of meeting the girls -- amazing all the changes.

For a walk down memory lane, from that 2009 art show:

Girls on the Run Practice 5K

The girls have been doing a wonderful running program for the past 2 months called Girls on the Run, which seeks to help girls make healthy choices and have good self-esteem, using running as a metaphor/motivation. Today was the practice 5K in Maplewood Park, and Chris and I ran with the girls. Chris paced with Wendy, who ran the 9 laps without stopping and probably finished among the first few! She is a natural runner and truly loves it. I ran and walked with Fer, who showed amazing perseverance and positive spirit. She was so happy when she finished! The program is non-competitive, so all the girls were celebrated and everyone was so excited for them. And now, onwards to the "real" 5K next Saturday in Florham Park. We're ready!!

May School Events

The girls' school had some fun spring activities. Wendy's class participated in the Earth Day Fair, and Wendy and her friend Brielle made a dolls' sofa out of bottle bricks! I had learned about bottle bricks from one of my housemates in Orlando and we had started making them at home after I came back. Basically bottle bricks are plastic bottles stuffed with dry trash which then can be used for construction. Schools are being built from bottle bricks in India and Latin America, and there is an organization in the United States which is working to help kids build "peace benches" from bottle bricks at their schools. I had originally had the grand scheme of constructing patio furniture from our bottle bricks, which was kindly vetoed by Chris, so it seemed a sofa for the American Girl dolls was a good compromise!

Then there was the Renaissance Day Fair, when the playground and field behind the school was transformed into a medieval fairground complete with climbing wall, face painting, arts and crafts, games and even a sponge toss which Papi was game enough to volunteer for! Fer happily took part in trying to hit him with the sponge, but alas, no luck this year. Maybe next time!

Mother's Day 2012

It was a really lovely Mother's Day, though it totally sneaked up on us. I hadn't been focusing on dates the way I should have, so we had an action-packed day with lots of fun stuff, I just didn't originally intend for it all to happen on the day I belatedly realized was Mother's Day! We went to church and then Aunty Barbara and Uncle Larry, visiting from Colorado, came out to South Orange for a Mother's Day/Tia B.'s birthday brunch. They joined us for part of Fer's soccer game, and after the game, we hosted a barbecue for some friends. It was wonderful to see everyone and the kids had a great time between foursquare and croquet while Chris manned the grill and the adults all had a chance to hang out and relax.

The girls both made me cards, and what they had to write was so beautiful. Fer especially has grown so much as a writer in the last year. Last year, in Tivoli, she gave me a card she had made in the shape of a high heel and inside she had written, "Dear Mom, no one can feel your shoe." Wendy: "What does that mean?!?" Fer: "I don't know, Ms. Guerra told us to write it." (I think Ms. Guerra had intended the students to convey that no one could fill their mothers' shoes!) This year her handmade card read, "Dear Mom, Thank you for taking care of me and spending time with me when I need you. You are a great mom and I love you so much. Once again you are the best. And Papi too just to let you know. Love Fernanda!" I have to say I couldn't get through reading it without choking up -- truly words to try to live up to. And Wendy's card this year, "Dear Mom, You are the best Mom I have ever had. love, Your dauther Wendy," followed by an acrostic poem she had written with my name, "Caring Amazing True mother Helpfull Youth."

AND, last night the girls slept in separate rooms! They have been talking on and off about it and I guess they now feel ready. Bedtime went beautifully -- Wendy fell asleep first in her room after I read her a story and sat with her for a few minutes while the audiobook played, and then I went to Fer's room and sat with her and sang for a little while until she fell asleep. Both girls slept through the night, and got up this morning a little later than usual. So, fingers crossed it continues to go well, but it certainly was a good start.

Famiversary Party 2012

A good time was had by all! Thanks to all our friends for coming to help us celebrate!!

Happy Easter!

We loved Easter in Tivoli between Easter egg dying with Jack and Daphne, the town Easter Egg hunt, our own Easter egg hunt at Sengstack, and great times with family and friends!

Palm Sunday

Another reason to love St. Andrew's and Holy Communion Episcopal church in South Orange . . . a REAL LIVE DONKEY on Palm Sunday!