One of Our Budding Singers

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Turn up the volume and enjoy a little medley Claire created: "ABC, Twinkle Lil' Star, Jesus Loves Me, Happy Birthday To You Cake"

Culture Shock still happens

We have lived here in Monterrey over 2 years now, but every now and then I still have "culture shock" moments. I have had 2 of those this week. On Monday, Anna's teacher informed me that an assignment was totally unacceptable. The instructions for the assignment were: Cut out and glue the following dates in order into your notebook: Sept. 1, 13, 16, 20, 27. So, we did that. What we were supposed to do was go to a paperleria and ask for historic picture sheets from those dates, cut out the pictures and glue them into the notebook. Somehow everyone just "knew" this.

Today was another of those days. I'll back up to yesterday. Anna came home with a note from school saying they were having a parent's meeting at 8:00 am this morning (I am used to always being informed about things the very last minute). I immediately told myself that I wasn't going because: a.)Maggie has to be at school across town at 9:00 b.)The babies usually wake up at 8:15 and Wes is in the shower and c.)The meetings are usually about needing fund raisers because the conditions of the school or something else that could be summed up in a note. Well, the meeting wasn't about anything that couldn't be summed up in a note (i.e. they need money for some books, explanation of grading policies, etc.). So I was very surprised by Anna's teacher's severe reproach about me being the only parent not at the meeting (aside from one who had chicken pox, but she told her she wasn't going to make it [although I don't know WHEN]). I tried to explain to her about Maggie (to which she replied, that's not until 9:00) and the babies (you should bring them). So not only am I frustrated about all the cultural differences and expectations, but I hate to think of her teacher thinking of me as the disinterested parent who doesn't care about her child's education. And then again I cannot believe that every other parent can attend and 8 am meeting with less than a day's notice! And that proves that I'm suffering from cultural shock!

Aaaahhhh, the other side!

Well, most of you probably don't know of the ordeal we had this week. I'll give you a brief recap. About 2 weeks ago I started having a dull ache in the right side of my lower back. No big deal since I'm always carrying kiddos around..."just pulled something" I thought. When I woke up this Monday morning I told Wes that I thought we needed to get a new mattress, that my back was killing me! By 10pm I was in pretty severe pain & very nauseous. I took some medicine and felt somewhat better. Well, after finally getting to the doctor and having tests, they discovered that I had a pretty big kidney stone - 1.4 cm X .7 cm. X .9 cm lodged in my ureter. To make the long (and VERY VERY VERY painful) story shorter, it was decided this stone wasn't coming out on its own and had to be broken up by laser so it would exit the body. Due to the inflammation of my kidney and the serious pain I was in, I had the procedure ASAP - Friday at 8am. It was very anticlimatic. I was asleep for the entire procedure and woke up feeling like a new person! As soon as I could move my legs again (they were numbed from the epidural), I was released from the hospital. After having spent 3 days feeling like I was having back labor coupled with intense morning sickness, I cannot tell you how wonderful I feel. Thank goodness for modern technology & the prayers of the saints!

Super Fun Visitors

On Friday Graham and Amanda Davidson came to visit us for the weekend. It was a very sweet time. As a mother to small children, I don't get very extended conversations with adults too often. So I was especially thankful to have captive audiences!

I want to give both of them some press because they are incredibly talented people. Amanda has such a beautiful voice & incredible song-writing abilities! She's SO amazing! If you don't own her album, get it NOW! And Graham has worked very hard in editing & helping make a mockumentary about teaching Chalk - I am dying to see it! They are hoping to release it in the Spring.

Unfortunately we didn't get to do a lot of sight-seeing or fun touristy kinds of things, but here are a few pictures that Anna took from el Mirador (a great view of the city).

Happy Birthday to You Claire-Bear!

Last Friday Claire turned 2 years old! Wes took Claire, Maggie & Anna to Peter Piper Pizza (similar to Chucky Cheese) to celebrate the monumental occasion. (I couldn't make it because I had a previously made engagement) Claire has had a very eventful 1st 2 years of life. She is fearless and fast... a very dangerous combination in a 2 year old! We are so thankful for God's protection of her in numerous occasions!


Later we had cake & gifts to top off the sweet day! She really liked the "Best of the Muppet Show" DVD's we got her. She said, "I like that - the Muppet Show. I like that- Miss Piggy." when she opened it.