A Derecho Destruction

A derecho, segun TWP, is kind of fast-moving, long-lived, large, and violent thunderstorm complex. We never knew this until it passed through our back yard! I should have taken fotos of all the fallen trees in the roads or the generators used to operate major stop lights at intersections, but I was obsessed with finding a gas station open since we already driving with the fuel light on!
This is what happened to our neighbor's carro.

Since the heat was scorching and we were without power, (and cell phones) we jumped when we heard that the Centro Commercial was open! Lots of people racing to charge their electonical devices!

Hot Icy Fun on SpanglishBaby

Read our article, Hot Icy Fun, about jazzing up your summer pool time fun!

¡Feliz Cumpleaños Victoria!

Victoria turned three years old and she had a super Max & Ruby bunny fiesta to celebrate!

Her mamá put a lot of thought into planning a special party that I’m sure Victoria will remember for a long time!  Like my amigas from the Fiesta Sponsored by L and 2, Victoria’s mamá planned activities to entertain every guest no matter what her age.   

There was a bunny petting area hosted by Fairfax 4 H Club.  The kids ate it up like, well….conejos y zanahorias!

Lots of little bunny detalles could be found everywhere…..table centerpieces, the snack stand, the staircase and sweet little bunny rings in the cupcake cones!

Every year, Victoria’s mamá takes special care in creating a personalized, educational and practical party favor for everyone!  They are always very kid-friendly and appropriate unlike some of the pre-fabed favors that are available.  Just check out Sofía’s pack:  a libro, whole grain snacks and a little zanahoria to hang on the Christmas Tree!   

And of course…..Victoria received a real bunny for her cumple!

Jorge Curioso

Sofía begged me to take her to the biblioteca!  How can a mother complain about that??

We pulled what few libros the biblioteca had available en Español.  Even if you don’t know any Español, the foto should be enough!  My, my Jorge Curioso has come a looooonng way!

Seven Oaks Lavender Finca

Last week, Sofía and her amiga Victoria visited a lavender finca.  (Sorry Siena, we missed out on going with you too!) It was a lovely experience!  Not only did I feel like we travelled to the REAL campo, I felt like we travelled back in time to experience the good fun of yesteryears!  (Not quite Little House on the Prairie, but definitely The Waltons!)

Seven Oaks Lavender Farm is a family business.  We were attended to by the very young (12 años ?) generation of the family who were more professional than many adults I have encountered!  Before the trip, I didn’t like the aroma of lavanda, but stepping out of the car, a sweet delicioso fragrance took over my olfato and I became a convert.  One of the young men in charge explained that there are many types of lavanda and one is much sweeter than the rest.

The first thing to greet us was a cozy gated area for you to meet some new conejos! 

The girls meandered through the patch and cut their own lavanda.

When we were finished frolicking in the lavanda fields, we played with some good ole toys and play house.

Under the shade of a beautiful mature tree, we picnicked on a blanket while taking in the beautiful scenery!  Really their website needs to include these extra benefits which make the trip to the lavanda finca much more kid-friendly that we expected!  If you are in the Northern Virginia area, this is a MUST-DO!  But ¡dáte prisa!  The Seven Oaks Lavender Farm is only open through Julio 3!

Belleza

This is our clemátide.  ¡Qué Belleza!  It established its roots securely and became very hardy and quick- growing! For the past 6 años, some natural “disaster” has made it so that we have had to cut it completely back and start from stubs from nada….but every year, it perseveres and outshines itself! What a beautiful life-lesson to learn from a flor!  ¡Cuidado with the clemátide they are as venenosos as they are bonitos!

¡Feliz Día del Padre!

¡Feliz Día del Padre!

This year it slipped by me to take a foto of Sofía with her Papi.  Ooppsss!!  Don’t know what I was thinking!  Sofía is into taking fotos with the cell phone and during our Sunday Breakfast out with los abuelos, Sofía snapped this foto of her Abuelo!

Later that day we enjoyed an asado over at Sofía’s tío’s house.  (A nice break for Papi because he didn’t have to cook anything!)  At the end of the fiesta, the niños roasted masmelos!  This was a first for Sofía! 

Papi had declared that the entire weekend was to be dedicated to him…..so..

¡Feliz Fin de Semana del Padre!

Gato School

Sofía shares her dinero with Paco and insists on teaching him the números as she goes!

You know your Grandmother is an Abuela When….

These are the kinds of chalk drawings she makes for you on the driveway!  Who else would draw a palmera except for a Latina?

Toolbox Treasure Art for El Dia del Padre

Check out our post on SpanglishBaby about a fun Toolbox treasure craft to make for Papi for

¡El Día del Padre!   We had lots of helpers!

Fiesta Sponsored by L & 2

¡Lily cumplió 2 años!  And her mami and another amiga of mine made all these fabulous decorations for her fiesta!  I should have taken more fotos, but I was having too much fun with all the yummy comida and of course I had HUGE HELPINGS comiendo prójimo with my amigas!

Check out the really chévere things they did for the cake!

¡Felicidades!  Really…..the Divas need to start a business!

Nuevos Babies Gatos

Meet our nuevos baby gatitos!   They are only three months old, but are very active and have integrated extremely well into our familia.  They are babies and a handful and I do feel like we have quadruplets between Sofía, Nacho and the two new ones! The grey one is Paco and the striped one is Paquita.   Nacho has warmed up to the new additions to our familia and Sofía absolutely loves her baby gatitos!

Paco and Paquita speak Español of course!

Fantástica Foto de Ballet

Isn’t this foto fantástica? Tío is a fotógrafo.  Sofía looooves her Tío…although it may be tied with Ballet.  How lucky are we to have these kinds of fotos in our collection!
¡Gracias Tío!

Calcomanía

As I was coming out of the pet store, I saw this calcomanía on someone’s carro.  It made me want to change it! 

Now, I’m not saying that I don’t complain about mi esposo or that some of the things that he does don’t frustarme, but I do think that he is perfecto and the mejor hombre del mundo!

I wish I could put this calcomanía on my carro!

2012 Great Homeschool Quest

I am so excited to be a part of the 2012 Great Homeschool Quest !

Click here to find out all about the rules of the Quest and all the prizes you could win from numerous fabulous sponsors!  The Quest runs from June 1- June 30, 2012!  Thanks to Jenn at OneSchool House for hosting the shindig!