Leap-Day Uncles / Tíos del 29

My children are lucky enough to have two uncles with Leap Day birthdays!  Tío Romario celebrates his 4th birthday today, and Uncle Ade, his 9th. In Uncle Ade's honor, they put together a list of 9 things that they appreciate about him:

1. He gives us shoulder rides.
2. He takes us to the playground.
3. He takes us to Echo Bridge.
4. He gave us an ice-cream play-set.
5. He likes to go downtown.
6. He plays with us in the dollhouse.
7. He likes sports.
8. He plays jokes on us.
9. He gave us a new cousin.

(A parallel list for Tío Romario appears in Spanish below.)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ADE AND ROMARIO!

Mis hijas tienen la dicha de tener a dos tíos que cumplen años el 29 de febrero.  Tío Romario hoy celebra por 4ta vez su cumpleaños a pesar de estar cumpliendo 16 años, y Tío Adrian de 36 años va celebrando su cumpleaños apenas 9 veces en la vida.  En honor al Tío Romario mis hijas prepararon este listado de 4 cosas especiales de él:

1. Le gusta montar caballo.
2. Juega, corre, y baila con su perro.
3. Le gusta ir al río.
4. Le gusta hacer bromas y reír.

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, TÍO "I" Y ADRIAN!

Hanging out

But We're Mayas...

We were eating fried rice for lunch today.


Chely: Where are the tortillas?

Me: We're not having tortillas today.

Chely: Awww!  But we're Mayas. We're Native Americans!

Kayalá: I love corn.

6 Years and 13 Days

This is how old Chely is today.

This is how old Edwin was when his mother was killed.

This is how old Edwin was when his sister Graciela was killed.

This is how old Edwin was when his sister Guadalupe was killed.

This is how old Edwin was when his sister Estela was killed.

This is how old Edwin was when his brother Eduardo was killed.

This is how old Edwin was when his grandmother was killed.

But he survived. 

He survived.

And now he and other war survivors are finally reaping justice:

Former Dictator to be Tried for Genocide

Minnesotans in Guatemala

For the last three weeks I've been translating with a group of college students from Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota.  You can read about our adventures here, and specifically check out this post that includes Chely's birthday celebration here.

Take Joy!

Take Joy!

by Fra Giovanni Giocondo

I salute you!

There is nothing I can give you which you have not;

but there is much that, while I cannot give, you can take. 

No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in it today.

Take heaven!

No peace lies in the future

which is not hidden in this present instant.

Take peace!

The gloom of the world is but a shadow.

Behind it, yet within our reach, is joy.

Take joy!

And so at this Christmastime I greet you,

with the prayer that for you, now and forever,

the day breaks and the shadows flee away.

Gifts for Uncle Will

One day the kids brainstormed gifts they'd like to give to 

Uncle Will:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Enjoy your gifts!