Day One of our Unaccompanied Tour

Well, July 9th came much faster than any of us was ready for.  Our two weeks together was full of doctors appointments, birthday parties and family reunions.  Not to mention those last minute trips to the store to get those last minute needs.  Of course if I had had my way I would have spent every minute relaxing on a beach somewhere with the hubby and kids.  But that is never what our last few days before he leaves are like. 

The morning he left he made sure to give the kids their school year blessing, and when it was my turn and the tear started running down my face, Eli crawled up on my lap and said, "What wrong?" while prying my eyes open so I could seen him.  That little one is going to be the light that keeps us all laughing. 

Emma, Eli and I took the hubby to the airport.  We were running a tad late and the security line was forever long so what is usually a 30 minute hug at the airport turned into a total parking time of 17 minutes.  Isaac decided that he could not bear to send his daddy off at the airport one more time so he said his good byes at home.  It was hard for me to leave him behind with my mom, knowing that he was going to go through that good bye pain alone, but I had to respect that he was figuring out how to deal with the stress for himself. 


The airport brought many tears and dreams about Christmas.

Saying good-bye is hard, but it was even harder to watch my children say good-bye to their dad, and watching my husband say good-bye to his kids.  None of this is fair, but we will make the best of it and try to make some memories along the way. 

Update....don't expect me to stay ontop of this

So I know it has been forever since I blogged.  I think once you get behind the idea of catching up is just so overwhelming that you keep putting it off, longer and longer.  Fortunately now I have another think  I want to put off more than blogging, homework.  Yes, I have gone back to school to get my masters in Applied Behavioral Analysis with Arizona State.  I’m super excited about being back in school, but very overwhelmed and even more stressed about managing my family, and vacations during this year and a half I’ll be back in school. 

Since we all know that there is no way I’m going to post for everything we have done over the last 6 months or so, I’ll just give you a quick rundown.

In September Shawn and I went to Bogota.  While he worked I hung out at the pool and checked out the city.  On the weekend we hit a couple of museums and hired a taxi to take us out to the Salt Cathedral.  It was beautiful and we are super glad we went. 

Isaac started Kung-Fu and after 6 months earned his yellow belt.  He loved it, but decided this semester to participate in the elementary school play.  He has been cast as the Mayor in Seussical the Musical. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rapunzel

Emma participated in the play this fall and was cast at Rapunzel in Into the Woods.  She made a beautiful Rapunzel, and I must say although she did not share the same feelings I was relieved that she did not have a huge part like last year.  I’m sure next year she will be very specific as to what she wants to play. 

Through a ton of hard work, Emma has been on the Principal’s honor all year long.  She was also one of only three students recognized for having outstanding conduct in the whole middle school.

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years, partaking in some of the local traditions.  One of which is celebrating with fireworks at midnight.  We did NOT set off any of the fireworks (mostly for fear of setting off fireworks made in Paraguay).  

Emma is the Angel in the Ward Christmas Party



Eli at the Embassy Christmas Party

In January we took a trip to Puerto Madryn, Argentina.  We did so because Isaac had stated when moving to Paraguay that he would like to go to the Amazon and see the Penguins. 

The Amazon didn’t seem possible this year, so we hit the penguins.  It was awesome, we say a penguin colony of over half a million penguins, and went swimming with sea lions in the wild.  On our way home we stopped at a zoo near Buenos Aires and got to pet lions, tigers, and many other animals. 

Since returning home Shawn headed to D.C. for high treat training before taking off to Afghanistan while the kids and I were stuck at home for 5 weeks without him.  We are grateful he has returned home to the heat for family time before leaving for Afghanistan. 

Eli started preschool in February, it is a little early for him, but I decided the extra Spanish and kid time will do him some good before we take off next year. 

 

 

4th of July in Asuncion

     Sorry this post is not coming to you until 6 weeks after the 4th of July.  I can blame some of it on family fun, and getting ready for back to school; but some of it just boils down to being lazy.    

     So I think the best way to tell you about the party is just to show you how much fun we had.  This was our first 4th of July overseas as a family and I didn't know what to expect.  It was a lot of fun.  However the party for families actually occurred on June 30th.   

Friend Fun

Balloons

Food

Family Fun

Statue of Liberty

Egg Toss

Long lines for bouncy slides

Soccer (futbol)

Cheaters in the 3 legged race

Super Cute Babies

Dancing

Music

Cartoon Artists

Tug-o-war

Still got it!

Egg Toss

Prizes (we had 7 tickets and won 3 prizes!)

Uncle Sam

      



  




Best of All FAMILY!!!

 The following pictures are pictures from the actual 4th of July.  There was a more formal party at the Ambassador's residence later in the day that I do not have pictures of, but was a very nice event.  I was an interesting event as the change (ousting of the last president) of political power had just occurred (a week or so ago) here in Paraguay and the Embassy didn't know if they should expect the old administration, the new administration, some of each or none at all.  I'm going to say it was a success, although my Spanish leaves something to be desired so I could have missed something.  But I enjoyed myself and they had peanut butter cookies.  What else could a girl ask for?

Marines with the flag

Raising the flag



Star Spangled Banner

Ambassador speaking

Post Machu Picchu

On our first stop through Lima Shawn and I at a Dunkin' Donuts.  It was soooooo yummy.  Yes they have donuts in Paraguay; but they taste like crap and we don't eat them.  So before we boarded our plane for Asuncion we stopped and bought a dozen for the family.  They cost $14 but it was worth every penny to see these faces. 

Please note, before Eli took a bite he answered his like a telephone.

"Hello?"

International Day at ASA

So last week we had "International Day" at the elementary school.  In years past they have studied Paraguayan traditions and history and all of the kids have participated in a Paraguayan dance.  But this year only 2 grades represented Paraguay and the others learned about different countries (and one state.) 

All in all the program was great.  The costumes were very well done and the kids looked so cute.  But there were a couple of things that made me say, "huh?"  For example the picture you see above is of England.  If you look you will see the English flag, white with a red stripe.  I had no idea this was England's flag, nor do I understand how those outfits represent England.  I think our kids might have been better served to have learned about the United Kingdom, but who am I to say? 

The other thing that made me giggle was that they choose to do Hawaii (the one state.)  And every time the principal would talk about the different countries she would have to say (in a low voice,) "and one state."  It was funny. 


 Isaac's class represented Taiwan.  Now many of you might be thinking, "Taiwan is not a country, it is part of China."  Well actually Paraguay is one of the few countries that recognizes Taiwan as an independent nation.  So although we are the AMERICAN school of Asuncion, because we live in Paraguay we will let that one slide. 






He looked so handsome in his costume.  And although they were not told they were Ninja fighters;,I give it just a matter of time before he decided that is exactly what he is.  Doesn't he look just like a Ninja?









This is Isaac's best friend.  He was representing Tahiti.  Cute huh?

These are our little dancers from Mexico.  I think kindergartners are so cute.  Don't you?

 Isaac doing the "coolest" dance of all!

After all that dancing the kids got "passports" and if the collected the flags from each country they could turn it in for an ice cream.  Isaac did it. 

And he got his ice cream!