This Halloween brought to you by your muchacha...

Well, trick-or-treating wasn't a total bust. I think we got too early a start since we didn't see any other kids until about halfway around the neighborhood. We were a little timid at first because some of these houses are HUGE. We're talking like 4-5 million dollar homes here. Patrick said that one person's driveway was more expensive than most of the houses since it had a Cobra?, a Ferrari boat and a restored classic car. Starting out we weren't sure if they were a trick-or-treating kind of culture, but we figured the houses that had decorations were a safe bet, and they were. Almost every house we went to had their muchacha (maid) handing out the candy. Does that seem weird to anyone else but me? I guess I didn't realize our neighbors really live like that. Everyone here acted like it was totally normal. One maid would hand out the candy while their other maid took the kids trick-or-treating. Where was my maid? Oh yeah, she left without cleaning the bathrooms or mopping the floors today, but that's a whole 'nother story. The kids brought in a decent haul, but now we'll see if they even like the local flavor of the candy. Chile is a very popular flavored candy with the kids here...sound good to you?

Fiesta de Halloween!

We went to the school fiesta de Halloween last night. We didn't have much time to drive home from school, take showers and get into costume before having to drive all the way back to school for the party, but we got it done. The kids were very excited to (finally) wear their costumes. 

Ella's was the most fun because we did the black eye make-up, glitter and black lips...plus her long black wig. She looked like a totally different kid! Her costume came from an actual dress shop here in Cancun and it was a little expensive, but it is so lovely.

Kaley was a fairy and went a little overboard with glitter. Her mood went downhill after I found her painting her own fingernails black and then told her she had to take it off since it didn't go with the outfit. She was crying and then complaining and crying some more. She didn't want to take pictures and complained she was too cold outside. What?! 

Jackson was just happy that he got red socks to wear for Spiderman boots. He did a couple Spidey poses. His buddy Max was also Spiderman so he was happy about that.

The party was a fun experience. There were tacos and tamales for sale and also a delicious treat called marquesitos. It was like a waffle cone rolled up with fresh parmesean cheese inside. YUM. Two please!

All the kids were excited about the Haunted House and couldn't wait for it to open. Mind you, none of them have gone into a Haunted House before, so I don't know why they wanted to go so bad. In the end, Jackson chickened out once he got to the beginning of the line and Ella and Kaley went in with Patrick. No Haunted House for me, thankyouverymuch. At the exit I met a shaking and crying Ella and Kaley rushing to cling to my leg. Needless to say, they were NOT excited anymore about the Haunted House. Scarred for life I'm sure. They did enjoy the pumpkin "fish pond" though.

On our way out Ella and Jackson pointed out the altars they had made in school for Day of the Dead.

The costumes at the party ran the gamut, but mostly were on the gory/bloody/scary side, which is traditional here. It was fun to experience the holiday in a different culture, but we were tired and left before the party even ended. I will have more to share tomorrow after trick-or-treating tonight.

Fall

I am mourning Fall.

Much as I love wearing shorts in December and laying out by the pool in February, eternal summer gets a little monotonous. I miss the changing of the seasons. I miss wearing sweatshirts and jeans and cute jackets and boots. I miss apple cinnamon scented candles and making chili and having to wear socks. I miss days that are 

sunny with a chill in the air - perfect football weather and that little nip at your nose and hot chocolate and apple cider.  I miss real trees with real leaves that change color. I know I may not get a lot of sympathy and I'm not saying I want to suffer through a whole winter of cold weather or shovel snow or anything, but I do miss fall. 

Cancun has been teasing me lately though. The closest we have been getting to fall here is rain, rain and more rain. It has been overcast and windy and thus more "fall-like" but the sun always shines through before long and of course it is usually pretty warm outside, rain or shine.  I have been wearing my jeans, not out of necessity, but out of principle (and with the cuffs rolled a couple times).

Here is the view from my window today, a little windy, but still sunny. It is the end of October and the kids are still swimming when they get home from school.

Oh Fall, how I miss you.

Halloween Teaser

It's Halloween Week! Let the festivities begin. On Thursday the kids have a party at school and then on Friday we will trick or treat around our complex...at least I think we will. Rumor has it that they follow the American tradition of Halloween here on the 31st and then the Dia de los Muertos festivities the following 2 days. I'm not telling just yet what the kids are dressing up as since I will post pictures after the party on Thursday, but here are a couple hints. Enjoy!

Progress Reports

On Friday the school had parent-teacher conferences. With three kids at 2 teachers apiece it was a long day! I did learn a few things about my kids that I didn't know. From Kaley's Spanish teacher: "Kaley needs to get to bed earlier because she is falling asleep almost everyday in class," from Jackson's English teacher, "Jackson is finishing his work early and is sometimes a distraction for the rest of the kids," and the big one from Ella's Spanish teacher, "She needs a private Spanish tutor." 

Ella already does after-school tutoring, but it is in a group of mostly native Spanish speaking kids needing help with other aspects, so I am not sure if she will continue with after school AND do the private tutoring as well. She starts the private tutor on Monday, so I will have to report back as to how that progresses. Jackson and Kaley's teachers are not as concerned with how the Spanish is coming along since their classes are learning letters and sounds from the ground up anyway. 

On a more positive note though, Ella's English teacher is very happy with her and she is far and away the most advanced in her phoenics awareness than the rest of the class. Both Ella's teachers did say that she is attentive, eager to learn and intelligent. Oh and I got a kudos from Ella's Spanish teacher for having to translate the directions to her homework every night, explain them to Ella and then help her write the answers. The good thing about that is that it is helping me learn some Spanish too.

So as far as I can tell, we're making progress.

Proud Mama

Ella, Jackson and Kaley are attending a bilingual school. The native language is, of course, Spanish, but they spend half the day learning in English too. They are learning more and more Spanish everyday and it is really fun to see them start to speak another language. Recently the first grade, primero grado, had a poetry recital and below is a video of Ella reciting her poem. In Spanish. The poem basically says that she loves her mother. Her mother is the best. Her mother is the prettiest. Her mother is the coolest mother on the planet. Oh, and her father got a shout out in there too. Okay, too bad I didn't understand the whole poem, but I was definitely a proud mama.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em

So, I have started a blog. 

Moving to a new city and starting over has been hard and communication with friends and family not as often as I'd like, so I have started a blog to keep up with our family while here in Mexico and to vent my musings, frustrations, observations and anything else reflecting on our life and adjustment in Cancun.

Come along...I'm sure it will be  a fun ride.