29/365

Yeah, out of school again today. Just found out there is no school tomorrow either. Thank goodness I have a four-wheel drive Suburban. I am taking these kids somewhere tomorrow!

I called my neighbor today and she was at IKEA wandering aimlessly through the store while her children were in the child care area. Desperate times call for desperate measures...

I may have to visit IKEA tomorrow as well!

28/365

Must remember to teach her to avoid the yellow snow!

27/365

Our backyard this morning



We haven't had much snow yet this winter. I knew it was too good to be true. We are supposed to have 10 - 15 inches by tomorrow. Grrrrr...........

23/365

I leave for Guatemala in six days. One of my dear friends did some serious clearance shopping and gave me 20 pair of brand new shoes and over 80 complete outfits for children. I have the privilege of transporting these items to those who truly need them. Can you imagine the thrill these children will have at getting a new pair of shoes or a new outfit? Well, we probably can't understand what a treat it will be.

I am so blessed to have such loving friends who support the efforts to make a difference. Gracias.

Gus wanted to be in the photo so I asked him to give the "thumbs up" sign to our friend. He replied, "No, I want to tell her I love her".

22/365

She is our baby but no longer a baby. Ana Lucia started her very first dance/gymnastics class today. She was so excited! The class is tap, ballet, and gymnastics. Oh my.

She was so excited to leave this morning. She had her tap shoes and ballet slippers packed in her Tinkerbell bag. I must admit it was adorable watching the class. She went right in, listened to her teachers, and waved to Mommy every once in awhile.

Afterward I asked Ana Lucia what she thought of the class. "COOL!" was her reply.

21/365

It is semester exam week. The teenagers have turned in for the night after massive amounts of studying (we hope), the kindergartener and first-grader are fast asleep, the mother and father are sitting at the island in the kitchen working on their lap tops, and the 3 year old is well...

...attending to personal hygeine!

20/365

Ridiculously poor quality picture - I don't care. There would be no other photograph to highlight today other than the swearing in of President Barack Obama. It is an important day in our country. Whether you voted for him or not, support him and pray for him.

Several months ago Gustavo heard me say the name Barack Obama. He blurted out "Barack Obama, I know him! He is brown just like me!" The fact that Barack Obama's skin looks brown just like his has Gustavo interested in learning about the man. Just the other day we had a discussion centering around the fact that just because your skin is brown doesn't necessarily mean you were born in Guatemala. Here is a photo of my brown-skinned Guatemalan-American son leaving for kindergarten today after enjoying lunch while watching Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States. He had no idea of the history he was witnessing. Someday I'll be able to tell him that he sat and ate his lunch before leaving for school while the first black President took office. Cool.