And we're back...

I can't believe how long it has been since I have posted in my blog.  For some reason I had a hard time accessing it, I had problems posting and then I just gave up.  But now all of a sudden I check again and voila!  The blog works! Hallelujah!
Lots has happened since I last posted ( I think it was last year), but one thing has not changed, and that is that our girls continue to be in a period of transition and that we are still trying to figure this whole family thing out.   It's funny how some attachment books talk about one month of adjustment period per year of age, but actually all our girls are past that, and they are still transition and adjusting to their new life, basically they are adjusting to having parents that are there for them every day.   For those of you who have more than one kid , you know how when three are fine, there is always one that is not.  For our girls the adjustment has been tough at times.  This is the third summer that I spent with the girls at home.  I call definitely tell the difference between 10 tantrums a day to one or less.  Today I had two, so it was not a great day.  All in all the girls are doing great.  Here a short summary of what they are doing now.

Our oldest, Milena is now 15.  She graduated from 8th grade in June and is going to high school.  She continues to play soccer.  She is also involved in Cross Country and Track at school.  She has pretty good grades.  This year she dared to drop ESL Study Skills class and take Art.  Her grades dropped a bit, not much.  But the experience of taking Art class with Mr. Forcier was all worth it.  She won an award for 'The Gallery', a book of art and poems at Kromrey, where she attends.  The award was for the most drawings published ever in the book.  Milena developed a friendship with a girl named Martiza this year. Maritza is a hard worker and has been a great friend.  We have invited her to do a few things to with this summer already.  She is excited and a bit nervous about going to High School next year.

Milena's 8th grade graduation

Mirellen has loved fishing at Crab Lake

Mirellen Cristina is now 14. I don't know how many of you have 7th graders out there, but it has to be one of the most difficult ages out there.   Girls are petty and on each other.  Boys don't care about all that mess.  Nevertheless, MC played soccer with her sister (their last year together), ran Cross Country and Track and Field.   MC has also discovered Music.  She continues to play the French Horn and has begun the flute.  She plans to take everyday band next year and has developed a great relationship with her band teacher.  She also won 'Most Improved' for all of 7th grade band.  She made Honor Roll last quarter.   

Yesica is now 12 and has moved on to 6th grade at Kromrey.  As her sister goes to the High School she moves on to middle school.   Yesica has matured quite a bit, she gave up the violin, (oh well), and made it to level 4 swimming.  Yesica has discovered her favorite class is Social Studies and loves going to museums with us.  She is looking forward to the middle school where she will be able to get more involved in school.  She tried an acting class this year, something she said she thought she wanted to be.  We got excited about it and even went to see the last class with other parents.  We thought she did great, she did not think so and decided not to return to another class, which is too bad.  Yesica blossomed at Sauk Trail.  She made lots of friends and improved her English quite a bit and is excited that she will be moving on to the middle school with her friends.   She played soccer this year with  terrific team.                 

A flower  for Yesica from papi for participating in the 5th grade concert.

Last, but not least, our little firecracker Sucena did not necessarily enjoy Sauk Trail, as she had left a good friend at her previous school West Middleton.  She was very clear at the beginning of the year that she would not make any friends at Sauk Trail.  Unfortunately she found a number of naughty friends that were not the best influence, and so she struggled quite a bit.  She did play soccer again with Middleton United.  The team did very well.  She also tried a hip hop dance group at school, but did not enjoy it (she can be a bit shy which is a shocking thing).  Hopefully next year will be better since she told me on the last day of school: "I finally like Sauk Trail".

Sucena has enjoyed fishing at Crab Lake

 Of course our big news this year is that we moved to Middleton.  We found a terrific house that only had a previous owner a block and a half away from Kromrey. The unfortunate thing is that we are now paying for two houses, and are strapped financially, which means the girls are in less activities than usual.   Except for soccer and what the girls can do at school, we are not doing much more.  However, we have a saved a ton of money in gas, and the girls have been able to participate in more after school activities.   We feel more part of the school district.  My job (Mercedes) is getting more challenging and so it is a great thing that I live close.  Which also means about 12 to 20 extra hours of work a month.  I love being able to walk to work.  Not since I worked in Milwaukee had I walked to work.  Hopefully we will be building a new school next year, and this will be terrific.

This summer I continue "Mami camp",  homework every day, trips and crafts during the week.  It is cheaper than sending them to camp but leaves me at times exhausted, especially when we have an emotional day.

I want to invite all our friends to come visit us at Middleton.  We finally have room for friends to visit.

M