batman, his batmobile and his entourage

Halloween was pretty fun even with the broken foot. Dante was batman and had to take his "batmobile" to go trick or treating. It was freezing so we had to bundle up under his costume. we went with our frineds from the neighborhood and made the rounds. I actually forgot to buy candy so I had to hide and turn out all the lights until we were ready to go to avoid disapointed trick or treaters. Dante was freaking out every time the doorbel rang " get the dorr they'll leave they'll leave!!" That totally the pint bud. After we collected some candy then we had some to hand out.

We made a pumpkin with a spider (dante's idea) and one modeled after dante's artwork.

No more monkeys Jumping on the bed!

Dante got really crazy one day jumping off of everything and jumped off the bed and rolled over in pain. Poor little guy. I had to go to work and fede stayed home with him and it didn't get any better so I took him to the doctor and they casted him up.

He was a little frustrated not being able to walk and he was too little for crutches so he had to use a walker. Trying to see him walk on that and hold his hair out of his eyes spurred me to cut his hair. I had to have it fixed by a friend later and now it looks pretty cute. We drew on it to make it look like Spiderman's foot.We had to put Fede's socks over the little cast so that it didn't destroy everything in our house. a few days after getting it Dante was back to jumping off of things and all over the place. He won't use the walker and crawls around all over the place. we wore out 1 pair of pants already. School was hard for him. Especially recess. his cast was destroy totally in shreds after a week and a half so I took him back to get re-casted. The new doctor we saw who was supposed to be better at casting told me he doesn't think it was ever broken so they took off the cast. I didn't know whether to be so relived or totally ticked off. After a day of thinking he couldn't walk on it he was back to walking with just a slight limp. He still favors it a little bit almost one month later.

I think he was kind of bummed when they took it off.

Conference Weekend

I love conference weekend. This year I really wanted to work on helping Dante start to participate in it. We had a bunch of activities set up and he actually stuck around for one session. we made blueberry muffins

We picked out the speakers from a chart of the apostles and when they said certain words he got a treat if he was listening for it.

A funny Dante moment-
Me: Dante, the prophet is talking to you we need to listen to what he says.
President Monson: Brothers and Sisters....
Dante: Mama he's not talking to me. I don't have brothers and sisters!

Fede goes to Moab

Fede and the some members of the branch took a trip to Moab to go off roading. He never does much like this so he had a blast on his day with the guys.

This year has been pretty eventful for Federico as well thus far. He was a "victim" of the 3rd round of layoffs at his work. We were lucky he hung on as long as he has. But soon had another job driving a rundown old truck without A\C hauling water. It was not fun. But he was able to be home more. Then he was released from the elders quorum and called to the Stake high council. That was a shocker. He loves it and is learning so much. Soon after he got his old job back but with a lot less traveling and a raise. However it make my work schedule a lot harder for us. So some ups and downs for him but I'm learning to appreciate it all.
We had a talk in Stake conference this past week that really hit home. The speaker told a story about a chinese man who had his only horse run off. His neighbors came and said, "you poor man what a horrible thing to have happen to you." His response- "It maybe good, it maybe bad. Who knows." A few weeks later his horse returned and brought a whole herd of wild horses with it. the neighbors came and said you lucky man what fortune. He again replied, "Maybe good, Maybe bad." One day his only son was training the wild horses and fell off and broke his leg. the neighbors again came to console him in his trials and said, "You poor man. What will you do without your son to help you? why do such bad things happen to you." He said again, "maybe good maybe bad." A few weeks later war broke out and all the young men from the village left to go fight, losing their lives in battle. But his son stayed home because of his broken leg. While our lives are not nearly so dramatic (although our only son did break his leg...) it has really hit me lately how the bad things so often lead to tremendous blessing and "good things" Come with trials of their own and its all working together for our good.

Dante habla espanol! Por fin!

We were lucky and got Dante into the Dual Immersion Academy here in town for preschool. It is in very high demand. he goes Monday through Thursday for 3 hrs a day and then stays at a friends house until I get off work. It has been great. He likes it so much more than regular daycare/preschool. It is amazing after all the Spanish we have spoken to him and all he never really got it. before all he really would say is mocos, hola, Chau, mira, basta, por favor, and gracias. Maybe a little bit more here and there. But as he's been goint ot school more and more word are popping up. Sometimes he slip sback into baby talk trying to imitate the sounds. Fede has been getting more into it and they have Zorro night when I am at work. They watch old episodes in spanish. We have him help us read the scriptures in spanish now and he's learning the words,
while he doesn't spantaneously speak in full sentences yet he can sing the entire song from Zorro (except he says el blavo zolo instead of el bravo Zorro) and he knows all the colors and numbers and it is adorable to see my little guy actually speaking spanish.

Summer Fun

We had a great summer. Lots of fun with friends before school and work started.

We went hiking with a bunch of friend ont eh monument. Sadly this was dante's first hike. Yes we are losers. w elive in one of the best areas for outdoor adventures and yet we do none of that. ever. I am trying to change that
(see trathalon post to come -I am waiting for photos form my sister)

Hiking Devils Kitchen on the Colorado National Monument

Dante's first sleepover with his best bud/pretend brother Owen

Swimming it up in the new backyard

Swimming in Palisade with Fede and Owen. One of the benefits of Fede being out of work for a while was getting to spend time together after a year of barely seeing him.

Dante's new little friend is Presley. She is adorable. He goes to her house now that I am working. and they go the same preschool. She is a feisty one and they look like brother and sister (or sisters according to some people-Dante's hair has gotten sooo LONG!)

Landscapring in July

Fede and I worked really hard this summer to finally finish our landscaping. We are so happy with the results. I made a box garden that turned out great. We had some one help us with the sprinkler installation but we did the rest all on our own. It was amazing to feel like we could do it all on our own.

the fruits of my labor

Basil

Tomatoes

If life happens and you don't have a camera did it really happen?

We lost our camera in Argentina in March and so the photos I have put up since then have been courtesy of friends. So much has gone on and I haven't been up to blogging it forever. I finally decided on a camera after much deliberation and I have not been disappointed I love my new camera. It felt so weird not having a camera. We had to use a disposable for about 3 months. It felt bizarre using one. The pictures were so bad we started just letting Dante play with the 2nd one.
We got the new camera in August and then I started working again shortly after so at that point it was no longer about not having anything to post but no time to do it. I have barely had time to talk to my husband. It has become a matter of priorities. But here it is a Sunday night, Dante is sick (so I am not working tomorrow) and Fede is in Oklahoma and I find myself having a desire to blog again. So bear with me on the long overdue update in our lives.

The biggest event in my life currently: My job

I started teaching at a technical college here in town called Intellitec College. It kind of happened as a fluke but it has been an amazing experience. Fede lost his job in april then even though he found another job in July it still looked like I might need to go back to work if possible. I posted my resume halfheartedly (I totally love being at home and dreaded going back to work) and they called me out of the blue.
Fede got his old job back but now that I love this job I will stay on. I teach a variety of courses in the business career. So far I have taught accounting/quickbooks, the entire microsoft office suite, and business communications. I love teaching. Almost as much as I love learning new things helping others learn new things is amazing.
Many of my students are at a tech school because school just isn't their thing. It is fun working with people so different from me (I would have stayed in college forever and they complain about being there for 16 months!). It is a crazy schedule and takes so much energy. It is an accelerated course so I teach a 5 hr shift in the am and from 6-11pm at night Monday through Thursday. Here is my first class for accounting. I get so attached to my students!

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Young Women Hike Peak with Banners to Call for a Return to Virtue

Meridian Magazine : : Church Update: Young Women Hike Peak with Banners to Call for a Return to Virtue

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Dante's 4th Birthday

I love birthdays! and for me the 4th Birthday is a big one. And Dante was talking about it for months.

me-"when is your birthday Dante?"
Dante- "Spider man"
me-" no what day is your birthday?"
Dante- "My firty fist!" (that is may 31st)

We had a SUPER fun party. it was awesome.I and the signs using vintage spider man covers I found online and had printed up for the party. IT looked so cool! We started out making capes and each kid gt a superhero mask. Then we ate pizza.

Once a gain I could not have done it without my awesome neighbor and friends. Melissa made a fabulous superman cake. We had a super hero training camp complete with obstacle course. Spiderman web tunnels, frozone Frisbee throwing, Mr. incredible power kicks, super leaps, Hulk jumps, Robin Rolls and then the Bat Cave. We had so much fun the Robin Rolls were a big hit and even Federico coun't resist and had to get in on the action.

it started to rain right towards the end of the obstacle course so we had to hurry it up and eat cake without being able to light a candle. It was over in lightning speed but it was still a blast.

Four has been interesting. He has discovered his assertiveness and not to my great joy! he is getting smarter and tries to outsmart us all the time. He may actually believe he is spider man. he gets immersed in his own imagination.

The other day he was looking at his hands then at the wall, then at his hands looked at me. "Mama, i need peanut butter."
"oh, to eat?"
"no to make my hands sticky like spider man."
Note to self hide the peanut butter!!!

well I've gotten by so far with very little drama form this little guy maybe its time for some.
4 may be an interesting age for us. We shall see....

Dante's Preschool book

Dante had a great experience this year in our little co-op preschool. He loves his little friends.

here's some pages form his scrapbook i did for him
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