Today was our second oldest birthday. She turned 12 today. The day started with breakfast, then the girls dried their hair. Our youngest gave the birthday girl a present, a made up card, a belt (her own) and about 600 pesos from her own money (about 30 cents). After that Alex went the grocery store to get the cake with the birthday girl. We had the groceries and cake delivered (in Medellin you can have almost any purchase you make at stores or meals at restaurants delivered, it's great). The birthday girl and Alex then went down to play basketball (she's quite the athlete) while the other girls and I decorated the apartment with balloons, plates, etc. Finally she came up, we sang happy birthday, my parents called and we ate cake, a few chocolates, cocadas (delicious cookies)and juice. She received an MP3 and 10,000 pesos from us (about 5 dollars). We are starting to give the girls small amounts of money because the numbers here are so big (about 2,000 pesos to the dollar). At 12 we called David Kneusel and talked to him for a little while. Then at 1 we went back to El Tesoro, a shopping mall with an amusement park. The mall also has a grocery store and a movie complex, where at 3 we went to see their first 3D movie (Alex was sitting with two of the girls and I guess our youngest tried to reach out to grab little ball bearings with smiley faces that were used to introduce the 3D effect). Then we went to the same restaurant as yesterday for dinner. We are now starting to learn their tastes and are getting better at ordering for them or at least making better suggestions for what they should order. We know they are going to have to learn a new collection of food when we get back to the states. It will be a learning process for everyone. Fortunately they like dairy products and sausage.
After the movie the girls went back to more rides. The birthday girl had exhausted her funds for rides so she had to ask her sisters to lend her some money for rides from their cards. It was a fun day for everyone. We are exhausted and need to go to bed.
Alex and Mercedes,
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your call to me while I was in the hospital. It was a bright moment in a long and tiring time.
Your reports are interesting to read and show well how you both are handling this very hard transition time. I, too, am proud of all you that you have set out for yourselves and the girls. You must feel good about the respect and love that they are showing to you right from the start. The ability to communicate is an enormous help without which you would be in an extremely frustrating postion. Much worse, Alex, than you are now. I guess I don't have to tell you that. I hope all goes well with the judge and the rest of the time you are there. Just three more weeks and we will meet your family at Crab Lake. Can't wait. My love to you all. Dad/Andy/Grandpa(?)