One of the things I miss the most about living in Nicaragua are the random happenings. It seems like every day in Nicaragua you encounter something that makes you laugh or scratch your head and say really? Therefore, in honor of this wonderful Nicaraguan attribute I thought I would share one of the best random moments we encountered last week in Nicaragua.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Nicaraguan Sister
For the first time since we left Nicaragua over a year ago, one of our Nica family members has come to us! Ena is the pre-school teacher at Colegio Havila, the school we taught at for a year in 2008. She is up here in Seattle for two weeks learning the ways of Excel, practicing her English and learning the ropes of what taking responsibility for the Sponsor-a-Student program from the Nicaragua end will look like.
It was so wonderful to have a direct connection to the people we came to love while living there...not to mention that we had an entire evening speaking in Spanish! I don't think either of us knew just how much we have missed speaking daily in Spanish till we spent the evening doing so. It has also gotten us excited about our potential trip to visit in February at the beginning of the new Nica school year...more to come on that I'm sure.
A couple of my favorite moments with her were as follows:
-Picking her up for our dinner and telling her we need to stop by the grocery store. She promptly said to me, after I parked the car, "Mari Franci, can I stay in the car? There is so much rain and it's so cold!"
-At dinner we miraculously had some Coca-Cola in our fridge. If you ever spend any time in Nicaragua, you will quickly find out that Coca-Cola runs in Nicaraguan's blood. It is their drink of choice and is consumed at any hour in the day with gusto. As Josh excitedly offered some to Ena at dinner the conversation went something like this:
"Ena! We have Coca-Cola! Would you like some?"
"Noooo, Josh! It's too cold for Coca-Cola!"
"What?! But you love Coca-cola! You're Nicaraguan, how can you say no?"
"Josh, Coca-Cola is for when it is hot!"
She did however happily take some orange juice. Not sure how the two are that different but there is obviously a time and a place for Coca-cola and it is not in Seattle!
Ena, our dear Nica sister. Carrying on with the cold theme we took her to Coldstone at the mall. Josh was not thrilled about the idea of going to the mall, but Ena quickly put him in his place when she told him that she needed to see everything she could cause this could be the only time she ever comes to Seattle!
Ena and Me
I'm sure Ena is think to herself "Oh the crazy things the gringos make me do!
It was so wonderful to have a direct connection to the people we came to love while living there...not to mention that we had an entire evening speaking in Spanish! I don't think either of us knew just how much we have missed speaking daily in Spanish till we spent the evening doing so. It has also gotten us excited about our potential trip to visit in February at the beginning of the new Nica school year...more to come on that I'm sure.
A couple of my favorite moments with her were as follows:
-Picking her up for our dinner and telling her we need to stop by the grocery store. She promptly said to me, after I parked the car, "Mari Franci, can I stay in the car? There is so much rain and it's so cold!"
-At dinner we miraculously had some Coca-Cola in our fridge. If you ever spend any time in Nicaragua, you will quickly find out that Coca-Cola runs in Nicaraguan's blood. It is their drink of choice and is consumed at any hour in the day with gusto. As Josh excitedly offered some to Ena at dinner the conversation went something like this:
"Ena! We have Coca-Cola! Would you like some?"
"Noooo, Josh! It's too cold for Coca-Cola!"
"What?! But you love Coca-cola! You're Nicaraguan, how can you say no?"
"Josh, Coca-Cola is for when it is hot!"
She did however happily take some orange juice. Not sure how the two are that different but there is obviously a time and a place for Coca-cola and it is not in Seattle!
Ena, our dear Nica sister. Carrying on with the cold theme we took her to Coldstone at the mall. Josh was not thrilled about the idea of going to the mall, but Ena quickly put him in his place when she told him that she needed to see everything she could cause this could be the only time she ever comes to Seattle!
Ena and Me
I'm sure Ena is think to herself "Oh the crazy things the gringos make me do!
Numbered days
Normally, I am not one to make New Year's resolutions. I generally find them tiresome and silly because it seems like everyone makes the same resolutions, sticks to them for the month of January, and when the dreariness of February sets in they are forgotten altogether.
This year is different. I've made a resolution that I only have to keep till May and I don't have to keep it by myself! The thought occurred to me the other day, that life as we know it has an end date to it! Our days are numbered, it's no longer just a saying, it's actually true! Josh and I have resolved together to take spontaneity by the horns and enjoy the simple things of life to the fullest before our son comes in to the world. Now, I'm not saying that we won't have fun with a child in tow. In fact, some things will become even more fun as we re-see the norm through fresh eyes. But....going to the movies, out to dinner, or popping over to hang out with friends will become more complicated. So while we eagerly look forward to meeting the wee-one, we are determined to also enjoy these last days as just the two of us.
So, this weekend we took advantage of a lovely warm winter weekend in Seattle and walked around Discovery Park with my brother and sister-in-law. Discovery Park holds a special spot in our hearts as it's the place where Josh proposed to me 4 years ago and it's just as beautiful as it was back then. The day was topped off by a gorgeous sunset on the Seattle waterfront as we waited for our table at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
Rain boots and puddles...a match made in heaven.
Elias and Theresa - Spontaneity partners in crime
Sister-in-law whom I love!
Spontaneity...check. Hanging out with people we love....check. Resolution accomplished once over.
This year is different. I've made a resolution that I only have to keep till May and I don't have to keep it by myself! The thought occurred to me the other day, that life as we know it has an end date to it! Our days are numbered, it's no longer just a saying, it's actually true! Josh and I have resolved together to take spontaneity by the horns and enjoy the simple things of life to the fullest before our son comes in to the world. Now, I'm not saying that we won't have fun with a child in tow. In fact, some things will become even more fun as we re-see the norm through fresh eyes. But....going to the movies, out to dinner, or popping over to hang out with friends will become more complicated. So while we eagerly look forward to meeting the wee-one, we are determined to also enjoy these last days as just the two of us.
So, this weekend we took advantage of a lovely warm winter weekend in Seattle and walked around Discovery Park with my brother and sister-in-law. Discovery Park holds a special spot in our hearts as it's the place where Josh proposed to me 4 years ago and it's just as beautiful as it was back then. The day was topped off by a gorgeous sunset on the Seattle waterfront as we waited for our table at the Old Spaghetti Factory.
Rain boots and puddles...a match made in heaven.
Elias and Theresa - Spontaneity partners in crime
Sister-in-law whom I love!
Spontaneity...check. Hanging out with people we love....check. Resolution accomplished once over.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Preggers and 2010
2010 = Looking forward to a new adventure of becoming parents!
New Years was pretty low key for us this year. We spent it eating great food, watching awesome entertainment (Avatar for the boys, The Blindside for the girls) and watching Josh get super excited about seeing the fireworks exploding over the Space Needle from the comfort of our apartment patio. Okay, so our view of the Space Needle is pretty microscopic, but if you glance back and forth quickly enough from the real view to the view from the television you can almost mix the two up enough to trick yourself in to imaging the "real" view is pretty awesome! Here's to the New Year and all that it holds for us!
Oh the joys of awkward pregnancy pictures.
From highschool buddies to soon-to-be mommies!
New Years was pretty low key for us this year. We spent it eating great food, watching awesome entertainment (Avatar for the boys, The Blindside for the girls) and watching Josh get super excited about seeing the fireworks exploding over the Space Needle from the comfort of our apartment patio. Okay, so our view of the Space Needle is pretty microscopic, but if you glance back and forth quickly enough from the real view to the view from the television you can almost mix the two up enough to trick yourself in to imaging the "real" view is pretty awesome! Here's to the New Year and all that it holds for us!
Oh the joys of awkward pregnancy pictures.
From highschool buddies to soon-to-be mommies!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wee-One King
We are having a boy! Holy Cow were we wrong! December 23rd was my 20 week appointment and both of us were so excited, not only to find out, but also to see just how much the wee-one has changed from the ultrasound at 8ish weeks. We both marveled as the tiny little legs and arms came into view and as we saw the ribs and spine. My Doctor kept saying "You take amazing pictures! She (the ultrasound tech) just got all the different views of the heart and brain so clearly!"
Spine and Ribs
Finally came the big reveal...It's a boy! My first response was one of shock but also pure excitement for Josh as he will have a little buddy to pass on the traditions of hunting, fishing, soccer and all things boy that he loves so dearly. Not to mention the fact that since Josh is the only King boy left, the pressure is now and forever taken off us in having to carry on the family name!
The other thing that has been interesting and amazing to me about discovering that our baby is a boy is the mental shift that comes in realizing what it is. On the one hand, I am excited to have a boy because I love boys. I grew up with four of them and there is a passion and energy for life that boys have that is simply refreshing. Not to mention the fact that our son will some day be an older brother, hopefully to a girl some day. I have an older brother, a wonderful and talented older brother, with whom I have had a very special relationship with for most of my life. My dream was always that one day, if I had the honor of having a daughter, she would be able to experience the same type of relationship that my older brother (and younger brothers) have shared. Now, that dream will hopefully become a reality.
Sucking his thumb
There was a part of me, just for a brief moment, that thought about the promises the Lord gave me before this pregnancy and wondered about the name and why I don't get to use it with this child. But immediately these two thoughts came to my mind: 1) The name is still a promise, one that gives hope for future children, knowing that one day I will meet the little girl this name is for. 2) The Lord has answered another desire of my heart in having this little baby be a boy in that he will be an older brother, will carry on the family name for the Kings, and will be someone with whom Josh can pour into. For all those reasons and more my heart rejoices in having a boy.
Our joy was multiplied even more as we shared the news with our parents and family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We went out and bought two onesies to wrap up for our parents to open in front of the fam. On Christmas Eve, my mom was so excited she dropped the box on the ground before she even knew what it was. When she pulled the navy blue onesie with Batman and the saying "Hanging with a Hero" on it, I think she too for a moment didn't believe we were having a boy...while she was hoping for a little femiminity she will be a wonderful grandma to a little boy, seeing she's already had so much practice with them!
What?! It's a boy!
Grammi to a superhero!
The onesie we found for Josh's family was perfect. If any of you know Josh, he has always been a HUGE fan of Superman. So we found the perfect little onesie with superman on it as we knew it would be the perfect hit with his family. Once again, our announcement was received with extreme joy and excitement and was only furthered as Josh's Mom gave us a gift of a Superman piggy bank she has had for quite some time waiting for us to have a son. Apparently, the wee-one is destined to a life of loving super heroes!
Spine and Ribs
Finally came the big reveal...It's a boy! My first response was one of shock but also pure excitement for Josh as he will have a little buddy to pass on the traditions of hunting, fishing, soccer and all things boy that he loves so dearly. Not to mention the fact that since Josh is the only King boy left, the pressure is now and forever taken off us in having to carry on the family name!
The other thing that has been interesting and amazing to me about discovering that our baby is a boy is the mental shift that comes in realizing what it is. On the one hand, I am excited to have a boy because I love boys. I grew up with four of them and there is a passion and energy for life that boys have that is simply refreshing. Not to mention the fact that our son will some day be an older brother, hopefully to a girl some day. I have an older brother, a wonderful and talented older brother, with whom I have had a very special relationship with for most of my life. My dream was always that one day, if I had the honor of having a daughter, she would be able to experience the same type of relationship that my older brother (and younger brothers) have shared. Now, that dream will hopefully become a reality.
Sucking his thumb
There was a part of me, just for a brief moment, that thought about the promises the Lord gave me before this pregnancy and wondered about the name and why I don't get to use it with this child. But immediately these two thoughts came to my mind: 1) The name is still a promise, one that gives hope for future children, knowing that one day I will meet the little girl this name is for. 2) The Lord has answered another desire of my heart in having this little baby be a boy in that he will be an older brother, will carry on the family name for the Kings, and will be someone with whom Josh can pour into. For all those reasons and more my heart rejoices in having a boy.
Our joy was multiplied even more as we shared the news with our parents and family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We went out and bought two onesies to wrap up for our parents to open in front of the fam. On Christmas Eve, my mom was so excited she dropped the box on the ground before she even knew what it was. When she pulled the navy blue onesie with Batman and the saying "Hanging with a Hero" on it, I think she too for a moment didn't believe we were having a boy...while she was hoping for a little femiminity she will be a wonderful grandma to a little boy, seeing she's already had so much practice with them!
What?! It's a boy!
Grammi to a superhero!
The onesie we found for Josh's family was perfect. If any of you know Josh, he has always been a HUGE fan of Superman. So we found the perfect little onesie with superman on it as we knew it would be the perfect hit with his family. Once again, our announcement was received with extreme joy and excitement and was only furthered as Josh's Mom gave us a gift of a Superman piggy bank she has had for quite some time waiting for us to have a son. Apparently, the wee-one is destined to a life of loving super heroes!
A World of Twinkling Beauty
Wednesday night we partook in some of the fine sights of Christmas the greater Seattle area has to offer to carry on with the Christmas spirit. The Bellevue Botanical Gardens transforms in to a wonderland of flora and fauna re-created by thousands of twinkling lights. It was quite amazing to walk around and marvel at how distinctly the displays reflect the real thing!
Monday, December 7, 2009
Jack Frost Nipping - 18 Weeks
I am 18 weeks which translates into 2 more weeks till we finally find out what the "wee-one" (our term of endearment) is! I have really started to feel the baby moving in the last week. I think I've actually been feeling it for the past couple of weeks, but didn't want to label it as such since what do I know? I've never been pregnant before. Its is really like nothing you've experienced before realizing and feeling that what is inside of you has grown enough to make such a physical impact...and the movement is just beginning!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)