Partying San Pedro Way

This weekend we were in San Pedro for my mother-in-law's memorial-birthday gathering. The family made it a point to invite as many of her friends possible. We had a HUGE cook-out. There was spaghetti, Paraguayan cornbread, chipa, mandioca and asado all cooked with an open fire and in this huge brick oven. The slow-cooked asado was super-delicious. They call it asado a la estaca...barbecued beef on roasted poles or sticks cooked over firewood - a very Paraguayan-style barbecue. It has more of a smoked taste after it's cooked.

We had a wonderful, family time.

My Big Brothers!!!

These are the kind of things my big brothers do to me. They made me put in these false teeth that my grandma sent THEM. Then they made me stand there while they took a picture of me while everyone was laughing...at me! At first I thought it was fun...ny, too, but then...I just wanted them to STOP!
This picture is kind of funny. Now I can look at this and laugh...but, only with my mom. If my big brothers think that I THINK this is funny, then they'll do it to me again. Ahhhh! Big brother torture!
This picture is kind of cute, though, isn't it?

The Heart of a Teacher by Paula Fox

I thought that this was so good. I want to dedicate it to all of us...teachers, mothers or fathers, or whoever works with kids.

Excerpt from: The Heart of a Teacher by Paula Fox

The child arrives like a mystery box...
with puzzle pieces inside
some of the pieces are broken or missing...
and others just seem to hide

But the HEART of a teacher can sort them out...
and help the child to see
the potential for greatness he has within...
a picture of what he can be

Her goal isn't just to teach knowledge...
by filling the box with more parts
it's putting the pieces together...
and creating a work of art

The process is painfully slow at times...
some need more help than others
each child is a work in progress...
with assorted shapes and colors

First she creates a classroom...
where the child can feel safe in school
where he never feels threatened or afraid to try...
and kindness is always the rule

She knows that a child can achieve much more
when he feels secure inside
when he's valued and loved... and believes in himself...
and he has a sense of pride

She models and teaches good character...
and respect for one another
how to focus on strengths...not weaknesses
and how to encourage each other

She gives the child the freedom he needs...
to make choices on his own
so he learns to become more responsible...
and is able to stand alone

He's taught to be strong and think for himself...
as his soul and spirit heal
and the puzzle that's taking shape inside...
has a much more positive feel

The child discovers the joy that comes...
from learning something new...
and his vision grows as he begins to see
all the things that he can do

A picture is formed as more pieces fit...
an image of the child within
with greater strength and confidence...
and a belief that he can win!

All because a hero was there...
in the HEART of a teacher who cared
enabling the child to become much more...
than he ever imagined...or dared

A teacher with a HEART for her children...
knows what teaching is all about
she may not have all the answers...
but on this...she has no doubt

When asked which subjects she loved to teach,
she answered this way and smiled...
"It's not the subjects that matter...
It's all about teaching the CHILD."

High School Field Trip

We are getting ready for this year's High School Field Trip. Oscar and I, along with about 6 other teachers will be chaperoning. I am also organizing the food supply for a 4 night 3 day trip with about 46 students. (This year two of them are ours!)

We will be leaving Tuesday, October 13th at midnight. We will be travelling south towards Encarnacion. This is a study-related trip. The students are expected to take pictures, pick up brochures, take notes, and prepare a written and an oral report as their final exam.

We will be going to the hydroelectric plant-Yacereta, the Jesuit Ruins, Encarnacion, Las 3 Fronteras (the point where Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina touch), The Iguazu Falls - Brazil, the hidroelectric plant-Itaipu, shopping in Ciudad del Este, and a recreational afternoon at a water park.

Here are some of last year's pictures.

Lazy Days For Sasha

This is Sasha's favorite relax position. She loves to lay out on our bench and enjoy the warmer weather. She looks so comfortable!

Time For Edson...Again.

I haven't posted about Edson for a while. Here are a couple of recent shots. He is still so cute and cuddlely. He is talking in Spanish and English. He loves to color on anything (red streaks on his arm), but I have to continually remind him "only on paper". He also painted Sasha's tummy green the other day with a washable marker, at least. Sasha thought she was getting a nice tummy-rub. He loves being outside, playing with Sasha, climbing trees, playing in the sand or dirt, picking flowers (and the wee-tiny oranges that are starting to grow on our trees). He has been playing with Isaías, a friend from San Pedro who is with us for a while. He is learning how to share with a "big brother", and that's not always easy. He has also learned stuff from this big brother...like jumping off the antique wooden trunk onto the sofa. Big brother stops after being warned, but Edson can't remember to be obedient...it's just too much fun to jump.

Yep, he's our little cutie!

A Little Bit of Spring