Pumpkins and a farm

On Saturday we visited a pumpkin farm with Drea and family. We had a good time feeding the animals, finding and decorating pumpkins and bouncing.

Paloma was afraid of the animals and just watched them from her stroller. She was happy to see her cousin Scarlett and baby Sawyer. We all were happy to see them, actually.

Angus didn't want to get out of the stroller at first, but soon warmed up after he saw the bouncy house. He didn't decorate his pumpkin until we got home.

Jonas was doing everything and enjoying it all. He was quite savvy in finding some free food for the goats and cows.

And we even came home with a baby chick.

Who does that, anyway?

In Heaven

"What do you think Nana is doing in heaven right now?" Jonas asked.

We were in the kitchen, I was washing dishes or making dinner or something.

"I don't know what she's doing right now. What do you think she's doing?" I asked.

"I think she's getting ready for bed and she's talking to her mom right now."

"Aww, that sounds nice. Yeah, maybe that's what she's doing."

This moment

I stepped outside to find Paloma watching the little chick we bought yesterday.

She was trying to get it out of the cage. And she was naked.

Missing tooth

Jonas had a stubborn tooth that didn't want to come out. It was getting in the way of his new tooth. He had to get it pulled out by a dentist.

He didn't even make a fuss about it. Miah sat with him as the dentist talked him through it, and he was so good.

He left the tooth fairy a little note with his tooth. She left seven dollars under his pillow. He was happy.

What to do?

So, the house is quiet, because Paloma is napping, the boys are with my parents, and miah is working.

I've been sitting here, trying to figure out what to do with this rare quiet time. I've realized that I am so used to the noise and chaos that three children bring to this little house, that I don't know what to do.

Should I just sit and be or should I clean the messes in each room? Don't know.

It sure is nice, though.

Jake

Jeremiah spotted a turtle a couple of weeks back, walking, slowly,  on the street.  We brought it home with us so that it would not get run over.  

The kids loved him.  

They fed him, held him, Paloma yelled at him ("no, no, thtay," she'd say as it walked toward her) and hugged him.  We put signs up in the neighborhood and hoped that no one would call us.

Someone called.  

Jake went back home last night.  The kids were bummed about it.  They were sad to see him go.  But they handled it pretty well.  Jonas was the saddest, said he cried at school because he knew Jake had to go.  We explained that we would be sad if we lost a pet and would be happy if he was returned to us.  This helped him understand.

Thanks, Jake, for showing us how cool dessert tortoises are.

Angus: 3 1/2 years old

Dear Angus,

You are such a sweet little boy, but also very tough.

You are in the middle, in between a Jonas and a Paloma. That is tough stuff.

You are my little rock. The one I can count on to get out of a tantrum after a few minutes and be lovey. The other two are not so easy after a fit.

You are the best sleeper so far. You wake and ask for cereal all the time.

You love your brother and miss him while he is in school. Jonas loves you too, but right now he just doesn't know how cool little brothers are...yet.

You are sometimes mean to your little sister, but I guess that is how things go. We are working on it, trying to teach you to be a little gentler and to not get so mad.

You ask a lot of questions all the time. A lot of good and interesting and thoughtful questions. You listen well and catch stuff people are saying in conversations, the radio, or songs that are playing and you ask me about it.

The other day, I was having a rough day cause I've had a lot of those these past few weeks and you looked at me and said, "You give us everything."  I hugged and kissed you.  It was THE sweetest.

You tell me you love me all the time. If you see me having a bad day, you tell me I'm a good mom, or "you nice, mom."

I love you, son! You nice, too.

Mom

Checking in (in pictures)

Mi Nana

My nana was a very special person to many people.

Growing up, I remember seeing a strong woman - a woman who wasn't afraid to be herself.

She would get dressed up, sing out loud, dance, speak her mind, smile, laugh, watch her novellas as loud as she wanted, collect whatever objects she thought were special, from horses to stuffed animals, she displayed them proudly in her home. She walked or rode the bus when she needed to get somewhere. Her age never stopped her.

My nana loved music. Even while in her bed, during this last year, she enjoyed listening to her favorites and would often sing along.

She used to stand in front of large crowds and sing. A voice I can hear in my head, loud and beautiful. A voice I will not forget.

Back in the 70's , when My dad first met her, he remembers my nana being someone who was always giving. She was always dressed up in her skirts, a pretty woman, who had always offered to cook a warm meal if they were hungry or just lend a hand when it was needed.

The days, months and years never changed that in her.

She was always ready to give.

She would offer her jewelry from her own collection, clothes, her cooking, her help in her own way.

We could always expect to have a present every time Christmas came around. Without fail, my mom would tell me, “Ay te dejo tu nana un regalito.” Be it a pair of socks, leg warmers, a necklace…didn’t matter, it was always special because it was from her. That was her way of showing each one of us that she was thinking of us. No matter how often or how little you saw her, she was thinking of you.

That is what I loved about my nana - her unselfish nature.

She would fill our bellies with her good rice or sopitas. I’d stop by her house for a visit and before I knew it I was eating something. And I would never leave her house empty handed. My children can attest to that.

Even during her difficult moments, sitting in a wheelchair in her apartment, she offered my babies gifts. Treasures she had collected, that now, we will treasure and hold dear.

If you gave her a photo, you could be sure she would hang it on her wall. If she was invited to a party, you could be sure she would be there.

She was the one who would travel on a packed bus to Juarez or Fresnio. She'd take one of us or a couple of us with her. Her grandchildren always following her lead, because she knew what to do and knew where to go.

We walked down rugged mexico streets, with nana, in her 60's, leading the way. She showed us the ropes in an unknown place and made it familiar for us. It was always fun traveling with her. She taught us, unintentionally, how important family was by taking us, and that we should always be proud of who we are and where we came from.

I'll never forget her mannerisms, the way she would stand, her smile or some of the things she would say.

She was tough and funny and kind and so unselfish and I hope that one day I can be as strong as she was.

She went through a lot in her 80 years of life. There were tough times, but many, many good times. That is what we should never forget - the good times we got to share with her.

She did a lot for all of us. She left us with so many great memories.

I love her and miss her so much.