Friends' new baby

Last weekend we visited some very good friends who live in a special spot with beautiful gardens. Our older daughters are close friends and schoolmates, and the mom and I talk or text almost every day.

They just had a baby! She is precious and sweet and soft. Ahh... I love that indefinably wondrous aura that newborns have.

The bigger kids filled up on plums, played make-believe games inside the house and out, and held the baby.

Yay for fathers!

Happy Fathers' Day!

We are having virus issues with our computer, so I'm not uploading any photos, but I want to give a shout-out to the important dads in my life:

the father of my children,

my father,

my grandfather,

my father-in-law,

my godfathers (baptismal and matrimonial),

and my compadres (the godfathers of my children and fathers of my godchildren)

and to all the wonderful fathers out there who teach, guide, inspire, and love.

YAY DADS!

¡QUÉ VIVAN LOS PAPÁS, LOS TATOS, LOS ABUELOS, LOS SUEGROS, LOS PADRINOS, Y LOS COMPADRES!

On couch, with cat

Chely made sure Cresh was as comfortable as she was, each with blanket and stuffed animal.

Birthday cards for Gus and Bamba

Friends' reunion

Last summer I was devastated when our good friends, the de León Lockharts, moved away. My only consolation was in knowing that our friendship would continue no matter how great the distance and time that separated us.

We've kept in touch, of course, but I figured we wouldn't see each other for quite some time. Then Shannon wrote to say that she'd travel with her children from Louisville to Boston to coincide with our visit there! I was thrilled!!

We had not seen each other in ten months. That's a LONG time for our preschoolers: almost a quarter of their lives, in fact! But when Chely saw Liam, she whooped for joy. The two immediately picked up as if they'd never been apart. It was the same for Shannon and me (no surprise there). And as for the babies, Diego and Kayalá, they interacted on a whole new level, hugging and babbling and waving at each other. Diego would say "neh neh neh" and Kayalá would answer "nah nah nah." He would say "goo" to her "gah." They definitely spoke the same language.

Playing with trains:

Liam really, really loves trains.

Liam was thrilled to actually get to ride on a train!

Collective bath:

Four babes in the tub!

Kids in motion:

My godson Diego! Isn't he sweet?!

Friends!

Kayalá's First Year

Kayalá Guadalupe Janet is one!!!

The year in photos:

Thank you, sweet daughter, for bringing us so much joy and wonder. We love you!

Uncles, grandparents, greats, and more

Photos from our very fun and very full visit north.

Bamba (grandmother) and Gus (grandfather) got quite a workout with these two active kids!

I hope your backs are OK!

Snuggling with Bamba...

and tickling...

and curling up for a nap:

Gus bathes his grandkids:

and gets some playtime:

and snuggles, too:

We were thrilled and thankful that
my brothers Adrian and Will
and Ade's significant other, Claudia,
traveled to Needham during our visit there.


We love Uncle Will!


We love Uncle Ade!

Uncle Will braids hair so gently:
Upside-down games with the uncle who's part grown-up, part kid:

Two Berkeley fans:

Chely gets to be the tallest one around!

With Claudia:

Ade and Claudia reading to Chely and friend Liam (more on him in another post):

Visiting with Great-Gramma and Great-Poppa in their home in Northfield:

Practicing walking by taking steps towards Gramma:

Poppa gets a special hug:

Making fairy homes with Great (Aunt) Mary in Northfield:

and Needham:

Looking at pictures with Great Mary:

We visited Great Mary's 2nd grade class! Chely had a blast and was so wiped out from interacting with the big kids and teaching some K'iche' that she crashed on the couch after supper. Even my offer of ice cream didn't rouse her from her slumber.

Playing in the water with Aunt Andrea:

Going out to eat in downtown Needham with Great Uncle Eric:

Listening to Teresa (Kayalá's godmother) tell a story - watching Teresa read is more interesting than looking at the book!

Blowing bubbles with Chely's godmother Brenda:

We had other wonderful visits with loved ones, but unfortunately I don't have photos of those encounters. Chely had a blast with her cousins Sophia and Lucy! And you can see pictures of our special time with cousin Bebe here.


Uncles' shoulders are made for carrying:

They must have learned it from their dad -- Gus did loads of baby-carrying!

But Uncle Andrew preferred to carry Kayalá in a box.

Bamba's shoulder is made for snuggling.

Thanks for a wonderful time!