What's Up Wednesday ~ August Edition

It's time again to wrap another month with the August edition of What's Up Wednesday.

What we're eating this week.......

My version of skillet shrimp, spaghetti, chicken & rice, chicken tacos, & pizza.  

What I'm reminiscing about.......

Our Disney trip last November.  I think about that trip a lot.  It was so great.

What I'm loving........

Homeschooling Brook

It does take planning again on my part, but I am thankful to have time with her even though we aren't always doing something together.  I know the time is going by fast watching my girls grow up.

What we've been up to...........

We spent last weekend working on letters to be mailed to donors to announce we are returning to the USA.  We printed 75 copies of a 2 page letter, each of us signed every one, and we stuffed and stamped envelopes.  It was a family affair!

What I'm dreading.........

I am confident in the decision to return, but honestly dreading many of things that come with it, such as expenses, saying goodbyes here and making decisions for the future. 

What I'm working on.........

We have still been working on obtaining visas to stay in Colombia for a few more months.  Sounds crazy to do all this work and expense for less than 3 months, but it is necessary.  We will be glad to have that behind us, but still have at least a few weeks before we could have them.

What I'm excited about........

In contrast to "what I'm dreading", I am also excited about new beginnings in Memphis....new house, car, schedule, and things I don't even know about at this point. 

What I'm watching/reading........

I've been trying to watch a Hallmark movie every Saturday.  Last weekend, Isabella and I watched the Hallmark movie "When Calls the Heart".  I was also pretty happy to find an episode of "Parks and Recreation".  

I am slowly reading (how I read everything....slowly) the book called "The Best Yes" which is about making wise decisions when we have so many demands.

What I'm wearing.........

Jeans and a t-shirt or sweater.....depending on if the sun is shining or not!  When the sun is shining, our high 60's weather can feel our version of "hot".  But when the sun isn't shining, it is usually pretty cool around here, but to the Colombians, it is very cold.  

What I'm doing this weekend........

Isabella has a half day of school Thursday and is off school Friday because the teachers have a retreat.  That is like our Labor Day I suppose because she will be in school on the US holiday. We hope to go to the movies Saturday and see Edwin too.  We have only seen him once since we have been back in Colombia.

What I'm looking forward to next month.......

We don't have many big plans for September, but I am looking forward to hopefully having some more clarity for what's next for us and we will celebrate Avery's birthday.

What else is new.........

Super random, but planning an itinerary for New York City and thinking about pricing and selling things from our apartment.....everything must go!!  (well, most everything ;)

August Funny Fotos

I took a few days off from blogging, but here is your monthly edition of funny fotos!

And trying to end this with an inspirational thought for your day....

Friday Favorites

My awesome manicure by Brook!

Monday night, we went to dinner and to see the new Bourne identity movie with our team.

Tuesday night, Isabella and went to the game room in our building and played air hockey.  We really did have fun after she finished all her homework!

(By the way, I didn't take many pictures to document this week)

Wednesday, my favorite thing was staying inside all day long.  I always enjoy at least one day like this a week if I can.

Thursday nights, Avery and I go to a community center and tutor Colombian kids in English.  Last night, we talked about days of the week, months, and seasons.  Many times I would just rather stay inside as a family, but I do enjoy the hugs and smiles from these kids each week.

So there are some of my favorite things, one thing from each day this week.

Happy Friday!

Weekend Wrap Up

We've made it to another Monday.  They sure come early.  Here's what we did over the weekend:

There was a City-to-City conference in Bogota this weekend that MTW helped sponsor.  We went early Friday night to help with food preparation and to eat dinner.  Once the introductions were done for the conference, my plan was to come on home for 2 reasons.  The conference itself was to last 3 hours (all in Spanish) and also I walked out the door when Isabella came home, so I wanted to be home Friday night with the girls.  When I was done with my part, I tried to get a taxi, but had no luck.  So I walked to the Transmilenio (bus) station, although I didn't have on my most comfortable walking shoes.  I waited 20 minutes on a bus to my stop.  I decided to go to another stop (because we live between 2 stops), but that bus was sooo full.  I then decided to walk.  I left the station (which I had already paid to enter), took off my shoes, walked in my socks down the sidewalks of Bogota in the dark (remember it is dark early here). I thought, if my family and friends could see me now! At this point, it had been 45 minutes since I left the church where the conference was being held and I could still see it across the street!  I walked to the next bus stop and thought I would see if I could catch a bus from there.  I entered the station and waited about 5 minutes.  I had texted Avery by this time.  He saw the message, called me and told me to wait there. He was able to get a taxi from the church, I walked out of the bus station back to the street and he came to pick me up and we went home.  So I arrived home one hour and 15 minutes later after I left the church, which is 2 1/2 miles from our home.  I felt like I had been out all day, so it didn't take long to decide I wasn't going back for the Saturday morning session of the conference. Anyway, here is a photo from Friday night:

So Saturday, we did nothing. Well, I ordred pizza for us to have for lunch, watched a Hallmark movie and did school planning for Brook next week. It was pretty relaxing.

Sunday, we headed down to United for chuch and went out to eat for lunch.  We are working our way trying out restaruants in the area. Yesterday we went to a unique, comfort food restaurant.  Avery and I had been there a couple of times, but the girls had never been and they liked it. Once we arrived, a group from church came in to eat, who were mostly all ECA teachers.  So, Isabella's world history teacher was at the next table.  Our good friends, the Beckers (who have 3 kids close in age like I am with John and Lynn), were with the group.  They ran out of room for the youngest at their table, so I said to send her to us.  Gabbie sat with us, but most of the time, she actually fell asleep and rested her head on the table.  

Gabbie looking very tired

Our comfort food.....tomato soup, onion rings, french fries, chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese and a grilled cheese.  Not Colombian food at all!

And for dessert....fried oreos and the "Brookie" (brownie, chocolate chip cookie, and ice cream)

The Brookie was actually pretty decent and the best brownie/cookie I've had in Bogota.

An inside look at the fried Oreo.  It felt like we were eating food from the state fair and it tasted like an Oreo inside a beignet.  Needless to say, I didn't eat anything else the rest of the day!

I did meet with my good friend Sarah at the mall afterwards and got some hot chocolate though.  It was good to have a visit with my friend one-on-one.

Today is pretty routine here.  Isabella is already on her way to school.  Tonight, we have a team social (dinner and movie) to celebrate a teammate's birthday, so we will go to that, but the girls will stay home.  

Happy Monday!

Friday Favorites

Our day at Andre Carne de Res with the girls and just for them to experience that place.

Homeschooling with Brook

Brook is learning to draw the world free hand.  This is her 1st day drawing of Canada.

Baking with Brook

And, Isabella made an A on her first geometry quiz!

A view of my emotions some days while balancing two different countries right now.....

So maybe that wasn't a favorite thing, but nevertheless, something to share!

Laughing on the couch for an hour while watching this Jim Gaffigan special was just what we needed this week.

Hope your weekend is filled with some laughter!

Bakiing with Brook

In my ideal homeschool week, I would like to have Brook in the kitchen with me at least one day a week to help me with dinner prep, baking, or something along those lines.  This week, she helped me make Peanut Butter Breakfast Bites.

She enjoyed helping me make these.  

A very similar version to this is Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars.

This recipe is in bars instead of bites, and the preapation is slightly different, but I'm sure taste very similar as it has the same ingredients.  It looks to be a good quick snack at any time of the day.

Andres Carnes de Res

Good morning!  Today I am blogging at Bogota Bridges with pictures from our outing yesterday to Andres Carnes de Res.  Just for bonus, here are a few more photos I didn't put on our other blog:

Outside the restaurant 

A video of when we first entered...

The girls enjoying their strawberry juice

which is served in a bowl!

My lunch...a delicious steak, criolla potatatoes, and an arepa

(our appetizers are shown on the other blog)

enjoying dessert

I also ordered a Lulo juice

Isabella ordered a hot chocolate.

This was on a table in the restaurant....rose petal art

A photo bomb of Clara and Angela and explaining what a photo bomb was to Clara

Weekend Wrap Up

"The feast day of the Assumption of Mary, also known as Assumption Day, is the principal feast dayof the Virgin Mother Mary, according to Christian tradition."

It is Assumption Day in Colombia, which means today is holiday, which translates to NO SCHOOL!! Colombia has the 2nd highest number of holidays in the world (18), behind India, which has 21.

Now on to our weekend wrap up:

Isabella had a senior high girls even after school Friday and got home around 6:30.  Friday night was low key for us.  I watched the Yankees baseball game, which was Alex Rodriguez last game and the Yankees won!  

Saturday morning, we Skyped with our Iranian friend and his wife who live in Belgium.  We are so thankful to maintain this relationship after meeting 2 1/2 years ago.  They are an incredible couple and I hope all my American friends can meet them one day.

Isabella babysat Saturday afternoon and I stopped by the store on my walk home.  I bought our favorite papa criollas (the small potatoes), onion, a lime, a bottle of Lulo juice (which I drank quickly!) and a diet coke for $4. Seemed cheap to me, but I promise you, it wasn't easy.

I took a shower and was in my Santa pajamas by 5pm.  Life is sure different here!

Then I sat at the desk and found this Hallmark movie on my computer to watch.

Sunday, we went to the English church again and went to a pizza place for lunch.  We had always heard good things about it so we tried it out yesterday.  We enjoyed the marguarita pizza, as the other types were a little to strange to us gringos!

We walked down the street to a cute bakery.  This area of town has a lot of restaurants that we can try on Sundays.

The girls got red velvet cupcakes.  This is the only cupcake place I know of and the first time I've seen Red Velvet cupcakes.

I got some hot chocolate and Avery and I shared this Belgian chocolate. 

A piece of Belgium :) Good thing I had some chocolate in me because it took us an hour and a half to get home....11 miles people!!!!

Oh, and pretty much, my weekend looked like this.  Colombian's version of Vapo Rub and some good 'ol Walgreens brand allergy medicine!

Today is a full day of a morning trip to Pricesmart and a team luncheon at one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to in my life.  I'll post on that later this week.  

Happy Monday!!