School's Out for Summer

Caleb's last day of school was also a medals ceremony.

All the medals were alike and each child received one.

For whatever reason Caleb started the event in tears.

But, once the singing began he forgot his woes and joined in with gusto.

He sang the loudest of all the students. Apparently, he is always the loudest and was not just trying to impress his parents.

Then he received his medal. He was excited about it
for approximately 5 minutes, then took it off,
handed it to me and said, "no mas, Mommy."

The whole class.
(Incidentally, by law, all preschool children in Venezuela wear red shirts, elementary children wear white, junior high are assigned light blue and high school wear tan in all schools, public and private -- according to the government, it is just easier that way.)

Caleb with his teachers Margot and Mariolga. He has loved his school and only a week into vacation is already asking when he can go back. Mid-September is not going to come soon enough for either of us.

A Hair Cutting We'll Go

At nearly 18 months old Isaac was finally
ready for his first haircut.

Initially, he was a little nervous.

But, after sizing up the situation,

and proof that others had gone before and survived,

he calmly and cooperatively,

acquiesced.

Ah, the delicious sweetness of success.

Happy 233rd America!

The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays and in my opinion best celebrated with the masses. I love the food, the fireworks, the feeling, the festivities, everything and have been disappointed the last few years not to be able to share all of that with our children. Summer in the foreign service is transfer season so it is rare that US embassies will celebrate the 4th of July, claiming, erroneously, that most families are on vacation or have left the country for good. Sure there is the formal diplomatic reception, but unfortunately families are not invited to this event.

A former US ambassador to Venezuela decided a few years ago that as long as Hugo Chavez was anti-America anyway, the embassy should pull out all the stops and celebrate Independence Day American style. In particular, he wanted a fireworks display that was visible all over Caracas, especially from the President's official residence. Luckily for us, his decision started a tradition of a 4th of July extravaganza just like those back home. We had our very own county fair on the embassy grounds complete with all-we-could-eat food and drink, live entertainment, characters in costume, a petting zoo, bouncy houses, red, white and blue bunting and festoons and culminating in a fireworks display as grand as any we have ever seen.

the embassy all dressed up for the occasion

Isaac getting close enough to touch without actually making contact

playing with the giant pinwheels

waiting for the fireworks to start

finally the wait was over

BOOM!

our lone patriotic decoration (Isaac's hands and Caleb's feet)
we got the idea here

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Baby Update

Caleb and I came to Utah earlier this week for some routine pre-natal screening. The Doctor discovered very quickly that things were not as routine as we had hoped and after some additional tests to confirm his suspicions we learned our baby's heart had stopped. We are sad not to have this little one join our family, but all the more grateful for Caleb and Isaac and the joy and meaning they give to our lives. Many of you have shared your heartfelt sympathy, thoughts and prayers with us and we are very grateful to be blessed to know and love you. Stay tuned for future, happier posts.

On the off chance you're still checking this blog, we'd like to announce:

At least that's what they've told us, but I know sometimes they're wrong so the pinkifying of our universe is still on hold...for now. She is scheduled to make her debut November 13, 2009.

Part 1:Utah

Today is my birthday and as a present to myself, I am finally updating the blog. (Did you notice that sly shout out to me?!?!) As I'm sure you've noticed, if you're still reading us, it appears we have done next to nothing over the last 2 months. But, such is not the case and this post begins a series of updates from our recent past. A disclaimer up front, these are posterity posts and may be less than interesting to 97% of our readership.

We enjoyed 2 fun-filled weeks in Utah during December. It was a whirlwind visit, as ours so often are, but we packed in a ton of fun, seemingly endless visits to family and friends and plenty of blogbook fodder.

Our first night we enjoyed my Mom's last concert performance as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. My Dad retired from the choir last year and my Mom last month so I no longer have a parent who sings with the Mo-Tab. They both had great experiences with the choir and it was always fun to pick them out during LDS Church General Conference broadcasts.
Next on the agenda was a ride on the Polar Express, okay so it's the Heber Creeper all dolled up to look like the real deal, but Caleb and Kenny had great fun! Passengers are encouraged to wear their pajamas (sorry, way to cold for that), everyone is served hot chocolate and they sing and read the story on their way to the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus.

Then we took a quick road trip to Roosevelt, UT, for the boys to visit Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa. Driving conditions on the way back were fairly treacherous, but we made it home in one piece and it was a good visit -- especially for Isaac who had never met his only living Great-Grandpa.
A highlight of the trip was our visit to the Salt Lake Children's Museum. If you live in UT (anywhere near SLC) and have kids, this is not to be missed. Even our boys, both under 3 at the time, really enjoyed the exhibits and could have stayed all day if hunger and fatigue hadn't prevented them.



In the midst of all the fun, we also closed on the purchase of our first home. It is in Austin, TX, and we just had renters move in this week (hurrah!). It is in a wonderful, family-friendly neighborhood, close to great schools, shopping and the major artery leading into downtown Austin. We bought the house without ever seeing it, but had the world's greatest realtor and when we went to visit it finally a couple of weeks after closing, were delighted with our first home. We were in Texas just long enough to open a bank account, apply for driver's licenses, power wash the house, do some yard work and catch a sunset from our "new" backyard.

We had lots of snow while in Utah and Caleb definitely got his fill. He made a snowman, well sort of, out of just what had fallen on my parents' upstairs deck. We made the mouth out of licorice and had to keep replacing it as it melted away from the cold and liquid of the snow.
Christmas Eve and the wee hours of Christmas morning were spent in the Emergency Room at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (this is our second Christmas since becoming parents that we have spent in the ER -- the fact that we have only been parents through three Christmases suggests we don't have a great track record), because Isaac was severely dehydrated and needed some perking up. Christmas morning was slightly subdued as a result, but there was still plenty of merriment and the boys ended up with quite a haul. Caleb enjoyed handing out the gifts probably even more than opening his own. The youngest mobile person in the family passes out the gifts on Christmas morning, and Lyman, my youngest sibling, was only too happy to relinquish the honor that has been his for the last 20 years.



We shopped and ate (and ate and ate and ate) and played and sang and visited friends who were home from places far and wide from California to China. Isaac spent a lot of time working on his walking (a skill he has since mastered) and we made many, many visits to Costco sometimes for no other reason than hot dogs and berry smoothies. Next stop, Colorado.

T.I.V. Tuesday

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of Chavez's election as president of Venezuela. Accordingly, late Sunday afternoon, he declared Monday, Hugo Chavez Day, a national holiday closing all schools, government offices and many businesses. To commemorate the day, he took over the television and radio stations as well to address his devoted and not so devoted followers. While he spoke, the streets filled with pro and anti Chavistas banging pots and pans, setting off firecrackers and generally wreaking havoc in demonstration of their respective allegiances.

February 15 is a referendum in Venezuela to determine if the current law regarding term limits will stand. If the measure fails, Chavez will be out of office with no chance for re-election in 2012, but if it passes, he will likely die in office. At this point it is unclear what direction the vote will take, but the opposition is worried. In anticipation of this truly momentous event, there are daily protests in and around Caracas, usually violent, with tear gas used rampantly. The country is on the verge of economic and political collapse and the conventional wisdom is that regardless of the referendum's outcome things in Venezuela will go from bad to worse.

I have often wondered how a people allowed some of the world's most infamous leaders/dictators to become so powerful. Of course their rise didn't happen overnight and their ultimate objectives usually only became clear after it was too late. But, they all had to start somewhere and often with a peaceful and quiet ascension to power. The referendum on the 15th will not be a military coup or a violent government overthrow, it will be a simple vote for or against Chavez. Though the outcome remains uncertain, I fear we are on the verge of literally seeing history repeat itself here in Venezuela. Happy Hugo Chavez Day indeed.

PS I know the blog has been pretty political of late. Come back tomorrow and I promise to post much lighter fare and not mention Chavez or Obama or tear gas for a whole week at least.

Caleb is 3!

Caleb turned 3 today and we have gone to Curacao to celebrate. He'll get lots of sun, sand and hammock time as befits an on-the-go three year old who seldom finds time for quality rest and relaxation. We took cupcakes to his school where he wore a birthday crown and was sung Feliz Cumpleanos. His teacher asked me if we celebrated turning 3 with a trip to a Caribbean island, what in the world would his gift be when he turns 18!! Only 15 more years until we find out.

When Caleb was born, our lives changed forever. We became people our younger selves would not have recognized who delighted in reading board books, playing enless games of peek-a-boo, learning the lyrics to every song Disney ever composed and generally making fools of ourselves trying to encourage smiles and giggles from our little boy. He is joy personified and we are lucky to be his parents. A Caleb-filled future looks brighter than we ever imagined and we are eagar for it's unfolding.


Stay tuned for pictures of Curacao and Caleb when we get home from our Caribbean getaway!

Happy First Birthday Isaac

Dear Isaac,
Today you are 1 and we are celebrating. We are so blessed to have you in our family. Mommy and Daddy and your big brother Caleb love you as much as it is possible to love anyone or anything. We delight in your smile and your laugh. We are impressed by your sleeping abilities, your voracious appetite and your unfailingly good humor. It seems impossible that you have already been with us for a year, but equally impossible that you have not always been with us. We look forward to many more birthdays with you and all the days in between. Thank you for choosing us!
All our love,
Your Family

Day 1

Day 366

T.I.V. Tuesday

Happy New Year to all of you. Yes, the blog has been silent for more than a month, but that ends today. I've been reading your posts over the last 6 weeks, though not commenting, and that too will change.

4 years ago I spent Inauguration Day working in an office building just Lafayette Park away from the White House. I watched every second of the swearing-in ceremony, including the star-studded entertainment and the inaugural address. I could see the bleachers lining Pennsylvania Avenue from my office window and watched as President and Mrs. Bush walked the last few yards back home. That evening, I donned a ball gown and attended an official inaugural ball. It was a glorious day -- not just because I am a political junkie, but because I am a devotee of democracy and the Republic that is the United States of America.

Today, though thousands of miles from our nation's capital, and with a less than optimal view of the action, I am nevertheless carried away by the spectacle and history of this day. I can imagine the crush of the crowds, the palpable excitement, the anticipation of history being made and I long to be a part of it all. I look forward to Barack Obama's first address as our 44th President. I have hope in him and his ability to bring us together as a nation. I hope that he will not be defeated by the heavy expectations the nation and the world have for him. I am confident in his ability to succeed and anxious to watch his presidency unfold.

I cannot help but contrast today in America with last week in Venezuela. President Hugo Chavez, also a democratically elected leader who enjoys a 60% approval rating, who too brings throngs of people into the streets (though often in protest), who has brought sweeping change to his country, addressed his people in the Venezuelan equivalent of the State of the Union last week. All local programming was suspended to carry Chavez's address, much like in the US, but in this case it was not by choice -- the last television station that expressed opposition to Chavez was stripped of its ability to broadcast and forced to shut down. There was no pomp and circumstance, just a speech before the National Assembly that started at 2:00 pm (three hours after the scheduled start time) and lasted for...7 and a half hours!

Now, don't get me wrong, I like a good speech. I watch the State of the Union every year -- regardless of the speaker's political ideology. I've even read many from the past that I wasn't around for in person. I've read inaugural addresses of many past presidents as well, even the longest, given by William Henry Harrison in 1841. Harrison spoke for over 2 hours in the freezing March rain without an overcoat. He died just 31 days later from pneumonia. Historians say there was no connection between his speech and his death, but just to be safe no president since has ever come close to matching Harrison's record-breaking oration. I thought of Harrison last week and the dire consequences that followed on the heels of a much too long speech. For the record, I don't wish Chavez to meet an untimely demise just because he is long-winded, but it seems only fair that after nearly 8 hours of speaking without a single bathroom break, at the very least a painful urinary tract infection is in order.

God bless America on this day of days when we are able witness the peaceful transfer of power to a man who in one way or another we all participated in selecting. I for one am hoping that man keeps his speech stirring, yet brief.

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