Eje Cafetero

PARQUE DEL CAFE

"Huevoneando sabroso ..."

VALLE DEL COCORA

We took a mini 1 hour hike to a river with the boys.  This place is magical and starkly beautiful.

The Quindio Palm Tree - the tallest one in the world

Mati going for a ride in a car in Salento, a little town in the Cocora Valley.

MARIPOSARIO - ARMENIA

FINCA CAFETERA

Running around the finca ... the intensity of his look!

BACK AT THE HOTEL

PANACA

Yes ... there's a Panaca in the Eje Cafetero too!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day 2009 was wonderful.  I spent it with my three boys: Nico made his famous scrambled eggs and toast breakfast and I got a beautiful, Mexican style dress for the beach.  We went to the park and had quality family time.  This past Friday, Mati came home with the present he (or was it his teacher Katia???) had made at school.  Very sweet, made me cry!!

A card that opens up to reveal ...

"Le Plus Beau Collier"

Pour toi j'ai fait cet collier

Il te plaira j'espere

Mais je sais que tu preferes

un collier bien plus beau

un collier bien plus doux:

mes deux bras autour de ton cou.

("The Most Beautiful Necklace"

For you I made this necklace

I hope you'll like it

But I know you prefer

a more beautiful necklace

a softer necklace:

my two arms around your neck.)

This is mami, as depicted  by Mateo.

Wearing the dress the boys chose for me!

Bath Time Fun

Mati and Santi taking their bath together = a lot of drama (Mati doesn't want to share, Santi cries when Mati pulls on his legs, pokes his eyes, or takes away the toy he's playing with, Nico yelling "Mati NO", music playing!!!) but it can also be very enjoyable to watch the brotherly dynamic, as in this photo shoot.  When they are both able to play side by side, it's lovely.  Santi imitates a lot of what Mati does, which outright adorable!!!

I see my brother putting this things on the bathtub wall ... I'll do the same.

Similarities???

Pictures of Santi and his great grandfather, Michel.  Do they look alike?

Ay Mati ...

On Friday afternoons, Nico picks Mateo up from school, an event Mati anticipates with much enthusiasm!  Last night, we were putting the boys down for their bath and Nico was reminding Mateo about picking him up.  Mati said how much fun it was to be picked up by Daddy, and how he preferred it to Mommy picking him up.  The following conversation ensued:

"What did you say Mati?  You don't like it when Mommy picks you up?"

Mati thinks for about 5 seconds, and then says:  "Mommy, you know I love you, but you are not going to pick me up tomorrow, are you?" (Mamita, yo te quiero mucho, pero cierto que no me vas a recoger manana?)

Even More Pictures from the Tios Visit to Colombia

The following pictures are mixed, some from Anapoima, some from Bogota.  Giving credit where it's due, all were taken by my sister or Brandon.

A sick Mati coming back from Anapoima in the tios' car.

Dancing the night away at Andres Carne de Res

At brunch in Bogota

Berkeley

Our week in Berkeley came and went in a wink of an eye!  We tried to squeeze as much as possible in those days - visits to family members, friends and our favorite spots for the boys.  No more one week vacations, I say!!!

The boys were fantastic on both flights.  Going to LA, Mati watched Madagascar (thank you Apple for inventing the iPhone!!) and played with stickers, his cars, and the light switches.   Flying is way to exciting for him to nap and miss out on any potential fun!!  Santi napped about 30 minutes - the rest of the flight, he was happily entertained by the in-flight magazine, which was shredded to pieces and drooled over.  The way back was great for them because we managed to get two three-seat rows, which allowed them to really stretch out and sleep the whole way (night flight!).

Everyday, Mati and Santi bond more and more and are starting to build, what I hope, will be a wonderful brotherly relationship.  Santi is forever entertained by his brother's silly antics and Mati couldn't be happier to have such a receptive audience!!  If Santi starts to cry, Mati is quick to sing to him, which usually consoles Santi right away.  

However, Mati is still very jealous of Santi, especially when anyone woos him.  And sharing ... boy oh boy, that's a hard one.  I can't imagine what will happen when Santi is able to play with any of Mati's favorite cars!!

Santi is super interactive now.  He learns quickly and prompts me to do (or not) things with simple gestures.  For example, we were in the pool and I counted to three before blowing on his face and submerging him.  He was startled by the experience and didn't care for it much.   On the third time, he screamed in protest when I started to count!  People say he looks so serious - I guess pictures don't always capture the essence of a person.  He's very observant, like Mati, but when we play, he's always smiling, often laughing out loud, and very affectionate, also like his brother.

So here are some pictures from our trip.  Enjoy!

Finding his passion for trains ... again ... in Sausalito

At Codornices Park - the only day it was actually warm!

Group hug with Sophia and Sasha (their father did his MBA with Nico) at the MBA reunion picnic.

The silly one!

Getting comfortable there with Sophia!! ;)

Playdate with old friends!

Big boys night out - Giants vs. Dodger game.  It was a rather FREEZING night in SF!!!