Christmas Time

"Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant the pouring into a sick world the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost two thousand years... Underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart." -- George Matthew Adams (The Christmas Heart)

November Happenings

Some of the happenings in the month of November, enjoy!

Vera having school

Afternoon out with the Grandparents.

I was told Arkos ate so much pizza that he could not get up!

In the metro...

... with Abuela.

Special outing with Grandpa to check out the cool airplane exposition.

On the wing of the plane.

We went to "La Feria Internacional del Libro". Colombia was the guest of honor and a friend from the Colombian embassy gave us free tickets. It was a bit boring for the kids but Vera got to read a cool book in English.

And last, but not least... Jochi & Ana's wedding!
This is a young couple here in the home. They just did a civil wedding but we still held a little reception for them.

Getting ready and enjoying the last minutes of singlehood

A bachelor's last moments

The couple

The kiss!

The toast

The cake

Provito 2008

The 22nd of November Vera participated in the Provito 2008 Sports Championships here in Santiago, Chile.

She started to go to gym class and it so happens that at this time of year they have championships. We had a couple weeks to practice and get the routine down. Challenge number one; class is all in Spanish and Vera does not fully understand it yet so she would just copy what the other girls were doing. Challenge number two; mom had to learn gym lingo and the steps to be able to teach the routine at home.

We did all we could and then went to the championship mostly for the experience of doing something different and participating, she had only attended four classes so far so we didn't expect much. But to our pleasant surprise Vera won two medals!!!
There were three different routines they were doing, Viga, (beam) Suelo, (floor) and Salto (jump). She won a medal for the first place on Viga and second place Salto.

The girls waiting for their turn to perform

Doing the routine on the beam

Starting the floor routine

Receiving first medal...

holding it...

...second medal

The Team

Some of the team and their teacher with the Cup

Mi campeona Chilena!

Happy Birthday Luv!

Happy Birthday Luv! This is in remembrance of those good old times... which we might have again... :) Wishing you the greatest year yet! Lots of love from us in Chile!!!

A day at the Zoo

For parent day we took the kids to the Zoo that is at the foot of "El Cerro San Cristobal". We saw lions, tigers, and bears... oh my! As well as other animals too. Here are some pics of the occasion.

A lioness.

A lion... my handsome son.

We're looking at a crocodile that it's somewhere on the other side of the glass.

Goats! They became one with the country that's why the pale brownness... hehe.

Butts

A lot of the animals were just lazing around... too hot to show us their moves.

Oh, we saw a Condor, the biggest flying bird! He didn't fly for us but the kids took pics sitting on a statue of it.

Then after a nice long walk in the zoo we took them to the Parque Araucano, a very nice, big park here full of all kinds of kid friendly games. Time to relax those aching legs.

First Party in Chile!

So... last night we had a belated Halloween party and even though not many people came we still had fun! It's not quantity but quality.

My angel for the night, the lovely Ana

Some of the people that were there.

Pirates Birthday Party!!!

I finally got a hold of the pictures of our kids Pirate Birthday Party!

Ready for battle!

Our little Pirate family... hehe

Our amazing Pirate Ship.

Kenneth, the Birthday boy!