What!!!

I'm really feeling like a mom of a toddler right now! I read other blogs of mothers writing about these exciting or adventurous (NOT ALLOWED) activities. I have recently, (proudly) patted myself on the back thinking, my two year old never did that! But...I knew it was coming...and if it doesn't happen now it will when they are teens...so maybe it's better to get it over with now.
Here's my story.
I quickly put Edson down for a nap since I was invited over to my friend's house this afternoon to bake bread in a wood-burning oven. I was excited. Less gas. No heating up the kitchen. Wow! I started mixing up the recipe and things were going wonderful. I kneaded it, placed it in an oiled tupperware container to rise for a while, and thought I heard a noise. The thought popped into my head that Edson could have gotten out of bed and...
What??? (Sorry, no picture...Oscar has the camera in Chaco, Argentina...but, I will try to describe this scene as good as I can...) Edson looked up at me with a smile and said..."bibos" (books). All I saw was shreds and shreds of something, everywhere, all over. I ran over to the box of books to see how many he shredded, and thankfully, it was not shredded books, but shredded toilet paper. I started repeating over and over what we use toilet paper for and he did not use it right. He was also very disobedient because he got out of bed instead of taking a nap. He also needed a diaper change right then so I used the toilet paper to make my point explaining once again what we use this for. He covered his hands with his face and then peeked through his hands and said...wahhh (spanish game of peek-a-boo). Like my sister always says...I wanted to laugh, but I also wanted to cry. After a little more scolding, I told him he was not allowed out of bed anymore until he takes a nap. He obediently covered his face with a book, grabbed a stuffed animal and slept.
Then, I walked into the bathroom and saw the rest of the toilet paper job! This part was not yet shredded, so I folded it up into smaller usable amounts that will eventually be taken care of.
So...one of my first "disasters" oops, I mean "adventures" just took place. Edson is just a normal toddler. I wonder what it'll be tomorrow?
Well, I just checked my bread dough...it looks great! As soon as little Edson gets up...were off to bake the bread!

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN...a typical summer day in Paraguay.

Two blogs in one day! WOW!
This week's weather forcast...

Mon Jan 26
Chance of thunder- showers
High 32°C(89°F)Low 26°C(78°F)

Tue Jan 27
Chance of thunder- showers
High 34°C(93°F)Low 27°C(80°F)

Wed Jan 28
Chance of thunder- showers
High 32°C(89°F)Low 26°C(78°F)

Thu Jan 29
Chance of thunder- showers
High 32°C(89°F)Low 26°C(78°F)

Fri Jan 30
Cloudy periods
High 33°C(91°F)Low 25°C(77°F)

Nighttime Beauty

On our way home the other night we stopped to look at this cactus' flower. The neighbors probably thought we were crazy. We all got out of the car to take pictures and marvel at this huge nighttime flower. It is about the size of my hand. They only bloom at night, and I believe, just one night! A picture is never as beautiful as the real thing. It looks so perfect, lacy, and delicate. God shows his beauty even in the darkest night!

Before and After

Oscar loves to give Edson a cut twice a year...a buzz cut! It's been pretty hot lately so we thought he needed to be cooled off. One of Edson's favorite activities is sticking stickers on his face. That's why you see a yellow sticker that says JESUS LOVES ME on his cheek. These pictures were taken in the same place just about two days apart.

Cheese Time...Answers

I was waiting for some more guesses or comments before I answered the last cheese post.

There are 88.2 pounds - 40 kilos of CHEESE!

So, the winner is...heidiannie who guessed the closest. Congratulations...you finally won a guessing game. (Let me work out how I am going to get this fresh cheese with absolutely NO chemicals, additives, preservatives, etc. to you...some day!)

Oscar's neice makes about 4 kilos fresh each day and keeps it in the refrigerator. She uses a natural rennet that she actually makes herself. If you want to know what this is you can look it up here...http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Cheese/Rennet/rennet_preparation.html . She did try out liquid rennet drops (already prepared enzymes or bacterias needed for the cheese) but people didn't like it. She sends us a big Rubbermaid bin full about every two weeks. I usually weigh it and cut it up in 1 kilo blocks and then stick it in the freezer. I have a sign out front that says HAY QUESO PARAGUAY. (It says...there's paraguayan cheese, but it means that we sell paraguayan cheese.)

My kids don't like to eat it plain, but they love it in baked goods...especially chipa (cheese bread).

Such Interesting Flowers

These are such interesting flowers. I have always loved them. They are about 1 foot long and sometimes grow even longer. The plant they come from looks similar to a banana plant. This plant is useless, it's a bother to many gardeners. It grows wild. But, look at its uniqueness. Look at its colors. Why did God create this strange, good-for-nothing flower that looks so amazing?...probably just so that I could stand here and marvel at His creations...and Him.

Edson's weakness

One thing this kid loves is a good, cool watermelon. If he sees anyone, anywhere, eating watermelon he will ask for it. This will become his breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack or whatever...whenever. He can't say what it is yet, so he says..."Este" meaning "this" while pointing and insisting.
He loves watermelon and he loves raw peanuts right out of the shells.