butterfly sundae

We headed to the butterfly sundae event at our local nature center today.  I had thought we might get a nice nature walk into, but since the heat index was over 100 today, we barely made it through the festivities.

Hijo made an egg carton caterpillar.  He liked this one and it is something we can do at home.

Hijo got a butterfly "tattoo" painted on his arm.  he got to pick the colors and was so happy to have it done.  I think he will not be bathing for a few days.  It is not worth the fight to get him into the tub.

His outfit for the day- frog boots for shoes.  Please don't ask why he choose the boots, and I try to let go of my need to control everything.  he was happy and I was happy that I explained that if he wore the boots, that was all he had to wear for the rest of the day.  he was happy with that explanation and off we went.  Mam and Pap had some comments later, but again, it was hijo's choice and he was happy.

The kids got to make the butterfly life cycle using different pastas.  I am pretty excited about this craft.  Hijo might see it again in a few years.

to go with the theme- they had ice cream sundaes at the end of the crafts.  Hijo was happy. We had to eat fast, though, thanks to the heat.

Checking out the pond.  We will see this in a few weeks when we go back for the turtle festival.

Love to you,
Momma

Separtion- never a good thing, but time heals

Today Hijo and I were supposed to have some neighborhood kids over- they never showed at our house and we never saw them outside. Hijo was pretty disappointed. but he still had fun in the house (too hot outside). I brought his kitchen stuff up from the basement and he "cooked" for me all morning. He made me some orange/carrot milkshakes, some eggs and some other things- all on his play kitchen set.




I spent the morning quilting. I am working on a Chinese zodiac quilt for my friend E's 2 little girls. I finally found a pattern that I love and when I showed it to E, she liked it too.so now I am excited to finish them. And once I am done, then I can work on M's quilt- actually for her baby that is due later in the Fall. So I have lots to do.



What was exciting about all this, is that hijo allowed me to quilt for about 2 hours today before he decided that he need my complete attention. Since I was quilting at the dinning room table, i could see him and reach out and touch him at any time while i was quilting. He really wanted me to let him run the pedal on my sewing machine, but since he nearly sewed my finger the last time I let him do that, I am not letting him do it now. But he wants to help. so I have a plan for him later.



I still need to finish T's quilt, but I can not get inspired over the binding and I actually want to ripe off off the backing material- I don't like it, but I have not found something I like enough to replace it. But I need to cracking on it too, because T's one year home-aversary is coming up soon and I want to get the quilt to her and her mom before then.



I am excited to be able to work on things that make me feel creative. it actually helps me know that I am not just a momma and a worker for my company, but a woman with talents that allow me to express my creative side. So quilting is good for me and my soul.



Hijo is fighting sleep again, but it is to be expected. he wants to be with me all the time, cuddled up against me. being away from each other all week is unsettling to him. He is learning to deal with the emotions, but he spirals once we are back together. being together for last night and today has helped, but he is resisting separation. He has already expressed that he wants me to stay at church tomorrow. Not sure how that is going to play out, but I am mental prepared to be called out of church to come get him from his Sunday School class. I think we will spend the day alone again as a family. Separation is always a trigger for he fear that I am not going to come back, the memories of being left in the hotel with strangers. In his mind, he was left, he still does not understand that Popi, Momi and the girls died walking away from him- that the separation was just as bad for them as it was for him. he does not understand that it breaks my heart to know that I caused the pain on all sides because I wanted to be a momma. I think the pain has made us all and continues to make us all stronger and better people, but it does not change that Hijo fears separation and that his fears are triggered any time I am gone longer than our normal day.



I worry about school starting and having to travel right after school starts. I already know I have to travel 2 weeks into the school year and then again in October. I ma not sure how this is going to work or play out, but I am trusting that God who heals all wounds will carry us through this change in our lives and we will be covered in grace so that there is no continuing impact to hijo.



This post took a different bent then I thought it would when I started. The bottom line here is that my baby is growing up, he will let me do more things then he used because he knows I am always there for him. Day by day the trauma of separation is leaving him and being healed. Thank you God!





Love to you,

Momma

Bathing hijo

Little Man decided that he wanted a bubble bath tonight.  Incredible!!!!!  He has hated bubble baths since I tried one on him in Guatemala and then another one when he first came home.  Tonight, he has been in the bath tub for 30 minutes playing and having a great time in the bubbles.

Love it!!!!!!!

Happy to be home with my little man.

Love to you,
Momma

Boston Day 3- almost done

Hi Baby- Just one more day of meetings and then I am heading home.  Today was a long day- in a room all day with no windows and no chance to breathe fresh air.  Dinner was with the team at another tapas restaurant - just like last year.  But this time, no quails on the menu. 

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and we had a good time talking on the veranda of our fearless leader's room.  The weather was great tonight and I was able to get some nice pictures of the river and the reflections.  I hope you like them.

Tomorrow is the longest day for Momma.  I have my portion of the meeting to present and then heading home in the evening.  I should be home around midnight.  I am ready to sleep in my bed and to have you close.  I miss your hugs, your "I love yous", your constant talking and your whole being.  I miss you and I can not wait to be home with you.  I hope you had a great time with Mam and Pap.

Love and hugs mi hijo. Te Amo mucho,

Momma

Boston Day 2

HI Baby-

Momma spent the day preparing for her meeting with the client tomorrow and Thursday.  But we got to go outside for lunch.   Here are R and M relaxing on the porch of the restaurant at the hotel.

This is our team table.  We could see the river while we had lunch.

There were some sailboats out on the river.  I think it was training class because there were 2 motor boats with the sail boats that stayed with the boats the whole time.

Momma enjoying the breeze and the time outside.

I wanted to get some pictures this evening, but the rain arrived, so no pictures tonight of the river.  I am going to try tomorrow night while we are out with the clients.

I miss you lots.  I hope you had a great time at Gymnastics tonight with Mam.  Have a good sleep and dream happy dreams.  I will be home soon.

Love and hugs my precious baby.  te amo,
Momma

Boston - Day 1

Hi Baby-

Momma thought you might want to see what Momma sees as she heads into Boston.  First, momma had a long time flying today- her plane sat on the runway for 2 hours before we were allowed to fly out of our home town.  Then when I got to Charlotte- I had 5 minutes after getting my bag plane side to run to my gate to catch my connecting flight- I missed it.  but there was another flight taking off 10 minutes later and I made that one.  Finally in Boston, 2 hours late, I was feeling very sick.  But the day started to be better, the taxi driver was so friendly.  The ride to the hotel was the best ride in a taxi I have ever had here in Boston. 

To get to the hotel, I have to go through a very long tunnel- it goes under the river and the city.  Most of the 20 minute drive is in the tunnel.  The taxi driver told me the colored tile on the wall tells you what you are under- red is the city, blue is the river, etc.

There is lots of traffic in the tunnel- it bothers me/scares me sometimes.  But this taxi driver was a great driver.

After the tunnel, the taxi crosses the river again.  I like going over the bridge in the summer months- the sailboats are so cool.  Maybe one day we can go on a sailboat together?

I had dinner at the hotel on the balcony over looking the river.  I had a crab cake and tortilla soup.  YUMMY dinner.

Uncle Darrell sent me pictures of you with the ducks at their house.  It looks like you had a great time loving in the ducks and keeping them warm.

I am not sure I I would let ducks swim in my bath tub, but this is a choice Uncle Darrell and Auntie Lulu make.

I love you lots and I miss you.  Have a great time with the family tomorrow and enjoy gymnastics.

Love to you,

Momma

growing garden and hijo

Our garden is really in summer swing now.  The tomatoes are ripening, the  corn is taller than hijo now. Hijo is 43.5 inches tall now.  he is growing like a weed.

Hijo is picking tomatoes fresh from vine- the look on his face is is pure bliss when he eats a fresh tomato.

The start of the summer haul.  Next year I am adding cilantro to the garden so I can salsa from all fresh ingredients.

We made flags of Spain yesterday to prepare for our party today. 

We had to shop right after church for ice, cilantro and a few other things for today's party.  Fresh salsa is quickly devoured at our house.  Since I will be on a business trip this week, the left over salsa is in the freezer- I hope it tastes just as good when I unfreeze it.

Hijo helped bake the cake before our guest came over.  He loves cooking with me. it is lovely if I do say so myself.

I will be traveling all week, so the posts this week will be for hijo so he knows what Momma is doing.

Love and hugs,

Momma