For those of you teachers out there, this week felt like the beginning of school, you know, when you just have that 4 day week and then you know that the next week is a full week so you better be prepared for it? Anyway, this week was very interesting in that I stayed home with the girls by himself for 4 days in a row. I tried establishing some routines, by doing work in the morning: Math, English and Reading. I also took the girls around and they got to see their cousin Julia play soccer for the first time. Mirellen our second one said that this was the first game they had seen 'live'. There will be many more, of course. That evening ended up with Yesica stepping on a bee. My sister Otin had given me a first aide kit that was promptly used. However, Yesica was OK by the time we go to Subway for sandwiches. I tried my best this week to cook every day for every meal but was only successful for one day (Friday). For those of you out there that might want to give us something: gift certificates to restaurants might be a good idea (so would a membership to Costco). People keep asking me if the girls are learning English. They certainly are with me, however, as most teachers will tell you, they will learn more from their peers than they will with me.
Last night was our first session trying to teach the girls how to play Wii. I'm sure parents out there are thinking "Oh, Oh they will get addicted". We have decided that Wii is going to be for now family time. We feel it is important they learn how to play since so many of their friends will probably have it, but we feel it is just fun to do as a family. We'll see if this plan works.
It's always fun to see the girls reaction to something that is totally new.
I also made a chocolate cake from a box that was a big hit. I gave the girls the bowl to lick. Since three of the girls were playing dress up, I told them to take their dresses off to lick the bowl. I had to control my laughter when I saw one of the girls with no clothes with chocolate all over her arms and face ( I won't say who but you can imagine). She asked me " are you going to give us some of that chocolate sauce again". To her surprise, the chocolate sauce had turned into a cake. Another girl asked: Why are you making us a cake.. I said 'just to eat', she said: I didn't know you could do that"...
One thing that has been a struggle this week has been unstructured time and what to do with it. As a child I remember the things I used to do with unstructured time, such as playing with dolls, making up games, coloring, etc. This has a been a struggle for the girls. Even though they have newly bought toys, they are not using them as much as I thought they would. As a matter fact, they gave away the Barbies that I brought for them to Colombia to other kids in Casa Lanthana in Bogota and were not interested in playing with them. Their play tends to be simple, just jumping on the bean bags downstairs or playing dress up. They are very good in art, but do not spend anytime drawing, unless they are specifically told to do this. Today I am going to take them to Michaels to pick up some crafts. We have some bird houses that Mine left here for the girls to do, but I am hoping they will be inspired to do some crafting and I plan to pick up a calendar of classes and see what they have to offer.
I'm sorry I have not posted any pictures recently. I really have not taken as many. We will still put pictures from Crab Lake soon.
--MM
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