So as spring comes out and shows her colors in this dusty oil town, I continue to surround myself with the things that I love (plants, coffee, baked goods, good music, dance) and I'm resolved to make my little balcony into something straight out of Paris! Yes! Here's to shocking the ghetto and patriotic folk! Freedom Fries anyone? (hehe). Anyhow, I am aware that it sounds strange but I found myself searching the web for "aggressive climbers," and I'm not talking about my brother. I've found things that anyone in their right mind wouldn't plant, and place them in containers on my balcony (Boston Ivy for example). My grandma kindly reminded me that this plant kills things and tears down walls but here's the thing...I live in what they call an "extreme weather corridor." I've seen it go from 90 degrees in the day to below freezing and hailing the next, so to those plants that survive, well, it's not for the weak of heart (or root as it were). The hearty fellows I settled on are Boston Ivy and Coral Honeysuckle. I have a sweet climbing rose who lost her tag so...I know she's pink and that's about it;-) She's sweet but not very aggressive so I'm placing my hopes in my Boston Ivy boy. I've also planted my kitchen herbs (Thyme, Sage, Rosemary and Oregano) in whatever container that I can find in the apartment and am so so excited about a purple heirloom tomato that's blooming now. As you can imagine, since my balcony is the greenest thing around and a bit out of the wind, it has been seeing a lot of company in the form of wasps, lost cats and strange bugs that I'm not quite sure about. The wasps are bothering me of course so I'm hanging stuffed paper bags in anyplace they seem to take an interest (they say the insect is territorial) and it has been working at least when they run into one of my bags.
As for the munchkins! Aramis just 'graduated' from pre-school, ending the year and starting the break for the summer. He's chattering away now in English and in Spanish. He can carry a conversation mostly in English though. Him and Issabella just finished the soccer season and received trophies for their efforts at the Andrews Community Center. Aramis's interests are very boyish: Spiderman, Iron Man, Super Why (A newer PBS character)...pretty much anything with a cape and super-powers. I can't help but smile when I'm up having my first cup of coffee and Spiderman comes from behind the wall in his underwear to spray me with web and then run off. He's growing so so fast and most people say that he looks like my side of the family. I agree in attitude and skin color but in terms of height and weightiness, he seems to be taking after his father. The boy has large feet and is getting pretty hard for me to even lift but is just the sweetest little guy ever.
Issa (Issabella) is loosing teeth and also growing like a weed. She resembles daddy's side of the family through and through, although some folks say she looks just like me (?). If I were tan and lanky I would agree. She is more active than Aramis and is learning reading, writing, Spanish and mathematics at the local school. Since she was accepted into the dual language program we've seen her become more comfortable with speaking Spanish at home and I do my best to speak Spanish at all times with the kids. I'm pretty sure that I slaughter the grammar but hey, at least I'm fighting the good fight. As for her interests, well, she is in LOVE with the movie "Frozen" like most kids her age. I saw it in the theaters with the kids and I actually liked it too. I'm trying to be understanding as she sings "Let it Go" one hundred times a day. I was just about to tell the kids that I was going to go throw myself off the balcony if I ever hear that song again but was met with a scornful glare from my husband before I got the sentence out. I have to admit that I remember when The Little Mermaid came out and I sang some of those songs till they were dead and my parents didn't breathe a word of discouragement...I keep on telling my self that I'm strong enough to handle this;-)
Efrain and I are puttering along in this little town and are adapting to Texas perfectly. There are times that I miss family or more greenery but the people are so nice here that it makes this dusty town almost charming. Whenever we get a chance, we hop on over to Balmorhea State Park, or to Odessa or Midland for dinner. This summer we are planing a trip to Mexico and I'm praying to see the ocean in Oaxaca to soothe my soul after being landlocked for a year. A part of me would like to just set up camp down there for half of the year and then live in North America the other half but I'll have to find some kind of a Master Plan to make it work out school and work wise.
As for the munchkins! Aramis just 'graduated' from pre-school, ending the year and starting the break for the summer. He's chattering away now in English and in Spanish. He can carry a conversation mostly in English though. Him and Issabella just finished the soccer season and received trophies for their efforts at the Andrews Community Center. Aramis's interests are very boyish: Spiderman, Iron Man, Super Why (A newer PBS character)...pretty much anything with a cape and super-powers. I can't help but smile when I'm up having my first cup of coffee and Spiderman comes from behind the wall in his underwear to spray me with web and then run off. He's growing so so fast and most people say that he looks like my side of the family. I agree in attitude and skin color but in terms of height and weightiness, he seems to be taking after his father. The boy has large feet and is getting pretty hard for me to even lift but is just the sweetest little guy ever.
Issa (Issabella) is loosing teeth and also growing like a weed. She resembles daddy's side of the family through and through, although some folks say she looks just like me (?). If I were tan and lanky I would agree. She is more active than Aramis and is learning reading, writing, Spanish and mathematics at the local school. Since she was accepted into the dual language program we've seen her become more comfortable with speaking Spanish at home and I do my best to speak Spanish at all times with the kids. I'm pretty sure that I slaughter the grammar but hey, at least I'm fighting the good fight. As for her interests, well, she is in LOVE with the movie "Frozen" like most kids her age. I saw it in the theaters with the kids and I actually liked it too. I'm trying to be understanding as she sings "Let it Go" one hundred times a day. I was just about to tell the kids that I was going to go throw myself off the balcony if I ever hear that song again but was met with a scornful glare from my husband before I got the sentence out. I have to admit that I remember when The Little Mermaid came out and I sang some of those songs till they were dead and my parents didn't breathe a word of discouragement...I keep on telling my self that I'm strong enough to handle this;-)
Efrain and I are puttering along in this little town and are adapting to Texas perfectly. There are times that I miss family or more greenery but the people are so nice here that it makes this dusty town almost charming. Whenever we get a chance, we hop on over to Balmorhea State Park, or to Odessa or Midland for dinner. This summer we are planing a trip to Mexico and I'm praying to see the ocean in Oaxaca to soothe my soul after being landlocked for a year. A part of me would like to just set up camp down there for half of the year and then live in North America the other half but I'll have to find some kind of a Master Plan to make it work out school and work wise.
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