Monday, April 11, 2011





Here we are, back on track. We were able to go on a trip to the city of Ponce two weekends ago with the International Association at the school. We went to the mansion or 'castle' as they call it of a family that made it big in the sugar cane industry. It's called the Serralles Castle with the emphasis on the last syllable. They ran the sugar refinery and made rum as well, which is really big here in PR. It was quite lovely. Then we had lunch and went to the Ponce Museum of Art. It wasn't exactly child-friendly (we weren't allowed to touch anything in either place) but it was nice to get away from the usual routine. We had to take our own car down as well since they only allowed students on the bus. We didn't have to pay for any of the entrance fees or for lunch. That was pretty nice.

Vivian took a little fall with the babysitter a couple weeks ago and got a pretty good scrape on her forehead. Up until now she's been relatively free of injuries involving blood. From the report she didn't cry very much. Vivian is very mellow and loves to be with her Mama. Unless she's preoccupied she gets pretty sad when I have to leave for school. She is gaining weight little by little. Now she's in the 10th percentile for weight instead of the 5th. We got a doctor's note to give to the WIC office so she can get Pediasure milkshakes for babies.

Sylvia is beginning to be able to trace the letter 'S'. I asked her a few nights ago if she preferred speaking English or Spanish. She said, in Spanish, 'Ingles.' I then asked her why. 'Because it's good.' She likes to touch my hair when she's about to go to bed. I asked her what my hair feels like. She said 'it's nice.' The picture of her was taken the day the she and her classmates were talking about food and nutrition. They were supposed to 'be' their favorite fruit by wearing it. Sylvia loves grapes. She even colored the grapes herself.