Punta Cana

Perk #1 to living in South America: THE BEACHES!!!  A short trip from Caracas and we landed in Punta Cana.  We were in beach heaven for a week.  We stayed most of the time at the Club Med.  Despite the Internet promises of a wonderful Kids' Club, my boys wanted nothing to do with it and preferred to spend their time on the beach - digging holes, playing tag or just swimming and collecting shells.  Our good friends from Caracas happened to also make it to the DR and we hung out with them for a couple of days before coming back to, as Santi says, "Boring Caracas!"

Playing tag with Daddy

Tennis lessons to hopefully help secure our retirement

First scuba diving experience: Santi was scared he was going to be eaten by a shark!

Collecting sea shells

Bernard, the pet hermit crab.  The boys took such good care of him!

After a good 8 hours on the beach and in the water, Santi's eyes were starting to get a little red!

Boyisms

I know I haven't been keeping the blog regularly, so here are some recent boyisms to bring some humor to y'alls day.

1.  Mateo wakes up in the morning.  His room is sort of dark and since he's scared of the dark, he relies on little brother to provide emotional support!  He calls out for Santi who had already awakened and was playing.  Santi goes to Mateo's room and very matter of fact tells him, "Mati you really need to learn to wake up by yourself!"

2.  Birthday parties are a BIG deal for LITTLE people and so Santi is dreaming of his.  He has two things very clear: First, he wants to have lots of lollipops; and second, he wants gum at his party!

3.  Santi is shy and reserved.  The complete opposite of his show-off brother.  But recently he has surprised us with his moves.  He is totally and completely fascinated by Michael Jackson.  He can hear MJ's music over and over again and he is now letting loose with his dance moves!  We need to film him so you can see because it's really "Santi as you've never seen him before!!!!"  We are seriously considering having a Michael Jackson themed birthday party for him!

Isla de Margarita

About a month ago, some very good friends of ours invited us to Isla de Margarita, an island to the northwest of Caracas. It was a VERY relaxing weekend, the boys played in the pool just about all day while the adults ate and chatted!  On Sunday, Santi was very upset to return to Caracas.  He even asked if there was any way we could bring his teachers to Margarita so that he could go to school there (!!!!!).

Santi and Jose Daniel

Dani with Jose Joaquin and Jose Daniel

Having fun with the outdoor shower

The house and grounds

Huevoneando sabroso!

Santi not happy we had to go back to Caracas

Two down ...

On Valentine's Day, Mateo shed his second tooth.  He was more excited this time because he hadn't swallowed it and proudly carried it in a little tooth shaped box that hung from his neck.  He decided not to write a note to the "Tooth Fairy", deciding that whatever she decided to bring would be good enough for him.  Of course, there were questions: is the tooth fairy a mouse, is she only a girl or are there also boy tooth fairies, what does she do with all those teeth, does she bring chocolate money or real one, and if it's real money she brings, would it be Dollars or Bolivares?

My Valentine Kings

Boys in the Pool @ Breck

I told you guys I would take advantage of fast Internet connections!  Here's the last installment of pictures from our ski vacation.  It's so surreal for me to see the boys in their bathing suits, playing in the water while the snow, freezing temperatures and wind were on the other side of the window!!

Our last morning :(