When the Family Arrives...

It was the type of holiday that the Colombians and Swedes are used to... people arriving in droves from all parts of the world to celebrate the spirit of the holidays and share time with family, near and far. On this occasion it included Pappou and Moca from Sweden, Tia, TTMouz and Avi from Malaysia, Abuelita from Colombia and Patty from Spain, and... oh yes, and us, of course!

Between the time we picked them up as they trickled in to the time we dropped them off as they trickled out, it was one of those holidays where the key was being together. Together for Christmas dinner. Together for the visit downtown. Together to go to the desert 'safari'. Together to visit Abu Dhabi (and Ralph and Anne and Maria too). Together to get the tree decorations set up. Together to create the nativity scene with clay. Together to go to the Christmas show at the Opera house. So much together and so little time!

But if together was what it was all about, then together was done very very well. The visit was filled with midnight masses, with jelly squares, with turkey dinners, and with laughter and love. It was the kind of together event that some might only dream of. Though when large groups come together might offer its challenges at time (of the logistical sort) the departure - timed for the day after Irini's birthday - left a pretty empty house and a mind full of memories. 

Thank you to one and all for being those special people that we get to share our "together" moments with@

Desert-bound.

 

Coming here from Malaysia it appears that nature is lacking. Certainly the lack of vegetation takes you back a bit, until you start to realize the beauty of the desert. Driving along the highway there are places - away from the urban sprawl - simply spectacular. If you are able to get out, to head into the sand dunes and explore just a little bit, you will find a splendor that often gets missed. The calm breeze that shared our evening was perfect and, as it gently made the dunes for us to run around, it allowed a different, quite spectacular, connection between earth and sky. As the sun went down over the dunes it was hard to not be amazed at how, even here in a land with little vegetation, nature is simply beautiful. 

Of course there was also the part of the dune bashing that brought tears to Irini's eyes as she looked out of her own car towards that one that daddy (and Pappou and Moca) were in. Running up the slopes and turning on a dime to go back down the edge brought a stress to poor Irini who thought her family might get hurt. But in the end the drivers were experts who added the adrenaline without incident and took us to our final destination... the camp where dinner was served and a show that, as it turns out, Amalia decided to join in with!  Round and round she twirled with a very heavy "dress" until, finally, the professional dancer who had invited her to the stage, helped her take it off to the applause of the crowd and the excitement of her family. :-)

A Happy Daddy and His Girls!

There are always great pictures to take and be taken. This one was just too cute not to post. The girls were thrilled with the Terry Fox Run at school and, dressed in appropriate t-shirts, they marched outside to share the experience with the rest of the school. Daddy, clearly unprepared, and mommy (who was prepared but was already "on the move" by the time this picture was taken) were there as well. Some of the time was spent walking (especially by daddy) and some running (especially by the girls) but it was all smiles!  It seems that we're steadily finding things to look forward to around here!  

Halloween 2017

Halloween around here is a kiddy-friendly time, much to the chagrin of the parents who are very cognizant of the fact that it quickly becomes candy central in all sorts of ways. At school the event is so big that the entire soccer field is lined with stalls of all manner of activities. But regardless of the activity one thing is the same: candy. And so it was that, after the necessary conversations about self control and "it's not about the candy" and proper nutritional statements, the girls ran around the school (and later the neighborhood) collecting as much candy as they could, with little to not self control and little to no consideration for nutritional habits, focused nearly entirely on "the candy". 

Sometimes, as a parent, you know you've lost the battle. Halloween is like that. 

On the other hand the girls were wonderful in selecting what they wanted to be, with Irini deciding that Pippy Longstocking would work for her and Amalia - in her Amalia sort of way - deciding to mix things up and be a Greek Goddess for one day and a bat for the other. Either way, we were all smiles all around. Is that a cavity there? :-)

Team Sports!

When the girls were born Daddy was all excited about the possibilities of their following his footsteps into team sports. But the idea seemed quite elusive as the girls chose activities such as yoga, and Book Cooks and horseback riding and climbing. Though thrilled that they were involved in so much, he kept doing his best to share with them his passion for team sports. This season the list was long with activities of all sorts - climbing, and riding, and piano and dance - but it took just a statement from Irini's PE teacher to get her suddenly "on board" with soccer!  It was late in the sign up season. We'd have to wait and see if she could do it. Mommy and daddy confirmed that it was what she wanted to do. Yes, she did. And so, when the news came out that she was "good to go" with the soccer team they were thrilled as can be!

Irini took her first steps onto a soccer field in September and has loved the experience! Playing in a mixed 4th/5th grade team, and often against older competition, she has been happy as can be on the team!  Her teacher, Mrs. Turner, is the perfect first coach. Supportive and loving, focusing on growth and learning. Not much of a competitive feel to the competitions, but that's developmentally appropriate and, anyway, that probably fits better with our little girl's personality. 

We wish you nothing but wonder, beautiful girl!  We love you, in competition, in activities, in academics, in all sorts of learning, in life!  

Mommy the Coach.

Sometimes you just have to say, "why not"?  Early in the year daddy was approached by the athletics office and asked to coach one of the girls' volleyball teams in Middle School. His customary answer is "I'm not sure I can commit to all the practice/game times". So the idea of asking around and getting an assistant coach popped up. And, what does one do when they need an assistant?  Well, they ask their wife, of course!

Much to his surprise, mommy said "why not?" and so a new coaching tandem was born. What a great season for the girls and for the coaches. It was a great way for them to share some time while learning something new, about each other and about their team. In the end no championships were won, no medals were handed over... but the experience was a great one!  Mommy even mentioned that she might consider it for next year too. 

Oh, and our girls loved coming in to play volleyball at the end of practice after their activities. Perhaps this is the start of a master plan to make them super volleyball players... or not. :-)

Friends.

Part of the beauty of living internationally is the benefit of learning to work and play with people different than ones self. For our girls we have been forever grateful to have this opportunity - for them to get to know so many friends from so many different places. Case in point. We returned to year two only to be invited, almost immediately, to a play date with some of Irini's best friends. And so, off Irini went to reunite with friends she's made over the course of time here. Of course, children do what children do, but from an adult point of view, how amazing and hopeful that the children they choose to surround themselves with are of such inner beauty that their backgrounds don't matter.  They have so much to teach the world about community, what is true and what diversity celebrated looks like. We love you sooooo much!

Summer Fun

Sometimes, when you look back at your summer, the things that jump out at you aren't the beautiful places or architecture. They're not the landscapes or seascapes. Sometimes all you focus on is the smile and laughter of little beings. Though they are certainly getting bigger, our two little pumpkins (as Amalia referred to herself) are certainly enjoying things. Was it a bird that pooped on your head? was it an ice cream that somehow ended up on your nose?  Was it a swing where you decided to be too cool for words? Whatever it was, it was a wonderful example of happiness in being in the moment. Love and more love!

Mommy's Special Day!

The summer was the longest we've had in a long long time, if not ever. It gave us time to see friends and family, to travel the world and to return rejuvenated and ready to go.  But as luck would have it our return coincided - roughly - with mommy's special day!  So, despite our being rather relaxed to begin with, we headed out for a special 'staycation' in honor of a wonderful person, a beautiful wife, a loving mother and a simply pretty awesome being!  

The choice of location, as it turned out, was dependent on whether the place offered an outdoor experience with a "small" hotel feel. After some deliberation and last minute decision making, we were off to a rather posh kind of place with its own gold course and everything!  We happily played in the pool and munched on a yummy breakfast. It was just the right touch of "special" for a special kinda mommy!

Happy Mommy day to you, mommy!  We love you more than words can explain and waaaaay beyond the horizon!  

Year 2, Here We Go...

And, just like that, it was year two!  The summer quickly pushed back into the memory banks as we revved the engines for the new year!  Our arrival found the place to be pretty hot, though not as hot as we remembered. Was it us?  Was it really not as hot as the year before?  Whatever it was, we felt more prepared, our arrival so much more uneventful and expected. The "wow" factor lingered a bit but this was nothing compared to the wide-eyed arrival just one year earlier. The place - both the city and the school - was familiar and the home welcoming. 

By the time school began we had were ready to go. Walking through the door brought with it a sense of familiarity that gave us a good feeling. It's nice to return to a place where you know people, where you aren't constantly asking "where is this" or "who do I talk to for that".

The girls settled in rather quickly as well, with Irini taking it in stride (and loving her new teacher). Amalia needed a bit more time, as she always does, but, in the end, she too is well adjusted. It's "go" time!  :-) 

Random Shots of a Colombian Summer.

Sometimes - okay, often actually - you find yourself caught up in life with little time to actually reconnect with the photos of summer. Sometimes, like this one, it's because the summer was just filled with life and laughter and beautiful memories. Our time with 'cott and 'becca and Lizzie was wonderful, as it always is, and included some pretty colorful visits to our favorite places in central Colombia. But then there were those moments that add that little spice to life... the beautiful lush side street that takes you down a path you hadn't planned on visiting. That colorful wall you just have to take a picture next to. The flower-filled garden with the hammock that lulls you into the quiet sense of serenity that cities just can't match.  And then there's the discovery of the little things - in this case the worms in the garden where we stayed in Villa de Leyva - and the bigger things like the rocks in the local part... perfect for climbing!  

Whatever the moment, it was a summer filled with "wows" and we could not have been happier to extend our friendship into one of our homelands with our chosen family who took the time to come to Bogota for a visit!  On to other journeys and other beautiful memories!  

Tree Planting, Abuelita Style

Anyone who knows abuelita knows that she has a green thumb extraordinaire!  She loves her garden and, though busy each and every day, is happiest when in the garden with her flowers, trees and plants. On this visit she wanted to make a gift to her grandchildren... the gift of planting a fruit tree for each. The girls worked under the tutelage of the gardener, Oliverio, receiving pointers about how to mix the soil and plant the trees. It's something that girls have done before, in Malaysia, but this time they will be able to see the growth of their trees over time.  During the process the girls decided that the gloves they had were just getting in the way so, in true "get your hands dirty" fashion they took them off and finished the job with their bare hands, enjoying the coolness of the soil. 

Irini chose the apple tree, and planted it closest to the house in the front garden. Amalia chose the peach tree. across from the apple tree just inside the front wall. Both trees are now happily placed in their respective 'home' space and they have been watered appropriately by the two gardeners in training.  With love (of which we are sure there will be plenty) and time their newly liberated roots will take hold in the ground below, allowing them to grow. Within two to three years, we are told, we could be welcoming the first apples to the house. 

It'll be useful training too because, when we return home one of the top priorities is the creation of the garden, including planting of trees, flowers, herbs and - hopefully - fruit trees as well. How wonderful it is to be part of the creation and support of life!  Muchas gracias abuelita! Te queremos muchisimo!

Villa de Leyva, Once Again.

It had been four years since we'd been there. Villa de Leyva, though increasingly touristy, still holds a very special place in our hearts. A beautiful small town with colonial architectual style it is hard not to recognize it's splendor.  Trying to keep the weekend crowd as far out of the picture as possible we opted to head there during the week. For added good measure we also booked a place outside of town (a first for us). The set up could not have been better... a wonderful house with lots of natural light indoors and a whole lot of space outdoors. 

Those who've been to Villa de Leyva will know that the light there - especially on clear days - is simply perfect. This house allowed us to enjoy it to the maximum as it was set at an angle to the mountainside, giving us panoramic views to nothing but color, mountains and clouds. The night time was even more spectacular as the dark seemed to jump out at us, revealing a sky full of millions of specks of beautiful light, traveling through the universe to reach us. We sat and marveled at both the darkness and the light. Wow!

And then there was the simplicity of it. When one is in a great place there is little motivation to leave. And so it was that, largely due to the house itself, we enjoy your breakfasts, took our time out in the hammock, discovered flowers, bugs, toads and chickens in the garden. It was one of those "it's so nice here that we might as well stay" kind of places. Of course we did roam a bit - notably into town and over to Raquira (known for its ceramics, hammocks and colorful houses along the main street) - but we happily returned home, to "Rosita's place". 

But what gave it just that little more powerful experience was our chance to talk to Orlando, Liseth (the caretakers) and their daughter, Angie. On our last day there Angie had the day off (it was Colombian independence day) and so she and our girls chatted away as they swayed on the hammock overlooking the mountains, played and laughed, went to visit the place where the chickens lay their eggs. They got along so well!  

By the time we left we knew we would have loved staying a bit longer. But time was short and Bogota was calling. For Scott, Rebecca and Lizzie there was a lot to discover still. For us, there was lots to show them!