Things I have learned......

You cannot go from 5th gear to 2nd gear at interstate speed. Although it is a very effective way to CLEAR the traffic behind you.....Mark tells me it is not good for the vehicle.


"La bota" in Spanish is NOT "the boat" instead it is "the boot". This was explained to me by the travel agent that I was buying boat tickets from to go to Uraguay. She was very nice to not laugh .....until I laughed first.


The people who work at the immigration office OR the other 2000 people in line at the immigration office DO NOT care who I am, where I am from, or that my country is a world power. Hmmm......

The Barbie Store

I did better this month on "mystery day".....check it out! We had a hoot at the Barbie Store. This is a store that has a beauty shop, huge "Barbie House" to play in and a pastry shop.

Mystery Days

The girls had mystery day this week which is a day that I choose (never a set day of the month) and I also choose a place to take them that is fun and a surprise. They do not know where we are going UNTIL we arrive!

Ok, so I learned a huge lesson because my girls are still not over the trauma of mystery day 2 months ago. Why? Because I chose Recoletta Cemetery. Ok, in hindsight it was not my brightest idea but it is a huge tourist attraction here in Buenos Aires, history lesson and a day out all wrapped in one. Olivia was....well....how do I say.. mortified that I would bring them to a cemetery to walk around (it is like a city) and see, well dead people. Claire was peeking in the doors at the graves...she thought it was cool!

(photo of the girls standing in front of the grave of Eva "Evita" Peron

Fun day!

Claire...you crack me up!

I can't possibly post every hilarious thing my girls say because they keep us in stitches but this was so funny from Claire that I have to post it!

Olivia is going through this very "7 year old" phase of Independence and attitude (where does she get this?....MARK!!!) and now, when she doesn't want to talk to answer you , she will spell it. Example, instead of saying "no" or "yes" she will just say "N-O! or Y-E-S!" I know some of my fellow Mom's are trekking what I am saying!

Claire tries so hard to be as big as Olivia that she often mocks her words, etc. SO...here goes the funny part.....Claire was trying to have an attitude and answer smart like her sister and she put her hands on her hips, rolled her eyes and said "O-N". After a strange look from both Mark and myself, Claire said "Dad ....what does O-N spell?" Mark replies "ON....I think you meant to say N-O".

Flat Stanley

We have our very first visitor here in Buenos Aires....."Flat Stanley"! (yes, there is a story)

The 1st grade class in White Hall read a book about "Flat Stanley" and his adventures so they have sent him on trips to visit people. We were asked if he could come here and we are just fun showing him the town!

"Flat Stanley" went to school with Olivia, Uruguay, Kansas Steak House and we still have some other sites to show him before we put him in an envelope and mail him back to White Hall!

We are gonna get him drinking mate before he leaves Argentina!

Claire is 5!

Claire turned 5 on Monday and had a GREAT Birthday! We had a virtual party with Memaw and Pepaw via SKYPE. They were able watch her open her gifts, blow out candles and even eat her cake. It was fun!

Thank you to EVERYONE who sent her notes, cards, and emails to wish her a great day! She loved everyone one of them. Mark and I really appreciate your efforts in remembering Claire.

Now.....if I can just figure out how to stop her right here at 5.....she is growing up way too fast! Big sigh.