Loving the cat

Chocolate ice cream

Cast!

Chely fractured her arm!

We were visiting SMT and were bathing in a lovely spot where a natural spring fills a small cement pool.

She was getting dressed after bathing, and while pulling on her boot, she fell and cracked her arm on the cement structure. Of course it hurt a ton, and as her mom I was in agony to see her suffer. Some ibuprofen along with plenty of cuddles and story-telling (the most-requested one being the story of Curious George at the hospital) helped calm the pain.

She was really excited to get a cast. She generally likes doctors and hospital experiences! I'm sure it helps that her grandfather is a pediatrician. She got a kick out of seeing the x-ray of her own arm.

The first night she complained a bit about being uncomfortable, and I heard her say in her sleep, "Kwaj taj ri inyeso" (I don't want my cast"), but for the most part she has taken it in stride.

Yesterday was the first day back at school after mid-year break (the school year here goes from January to October), and she had her injury story all planned out to share with the children and teachers. She reports that the children liked her cast!

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