Five round-trip flights, 200,000 frequent flyer miles used, a bunch of sleepless nights...Dave's last trip to Chile is over. That is one dedicated Dad who made all those sacrifices so the boys could experience all that they have here in Chile. The countdown for us now begins. .

There have been a lot of new firsts here in Chile (besides skateboarding on a ramp for the first time):
Tj lost his first tooth in the elevator
Living in a building with an elevator
Experiencing their first earthquake (6.2)
Learning Spanish and attending a bilingual school
Wearing an uniform to school (mom really likes that)
Discovering Nutella
Taking piano (Cole) and playing with the big boys at the YMCA (Tj)
Skiing on a Volcano (Chillan)
Running down a Sand Dune (San Pedro de Atacama)
Going to Children's Theater productions (in Spanish)
Eating A LOT of ice-cream
Watching "Bob Esponja" and other children's tv shows in Spanish without complaint
Learning to fall asleep with the sound of squealing buses and disco music going on outside
Playing in the water and sand of the (very cold) Pacific ocean

and the list goes on. . .

A fun weekend with Dad (his birthday celebration). Few places in the world you can ski one day in 6 inches of snow and head to the beach the day after!

Dave got here right on time for Tj's first tooth!!!

The weather may be cooler (50F), but the sun has been out in Concepcion the past few days. We have been really lucky with the weather this winter, thank goodness. Although balloon volleyball can keep them entertained for awhile, nothing beats heading to the U and playing boats in the waterfall with leaves!!!

As I reflect on our past 6 months living in a fairly small apartment by Texas standards, but a fairly large one by Chilean standards, and count the number of toys the boys have on just two hands, I found this article interesting. Although there is still the typical fight to get them to help (that hasn't gone away), the boys are keeping themselves busy (as I type) playing soccer/ volleyball with a balloon in the hall way (since the noise of a real soccer ball in "apartment" living was outlawed months ago). I wonder if I shouldn't get Dave to donate 1/2 their toys before we come home.


http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2012/07/02/120702crbo_books_kolbert?currentPage=1

Eramos companeras en la Universidad de Concepcion hace mas de 15 anos. Este semestre pudimos ser colegas. Monica Tapia Ladino....te agradezco por todo!!!

My students threw me a party last night! Celeste's father went all out on the asado, and all students come to celebrate. I was so touched...although exhausted after spending a day in Santiago (down at 8am and back at 8pm).

The competition for 2013-14 Fulbright Scholar grants is now open. The application deadline for most programs is August 1, 2012. U.S. scholars and professionals can learn how to present their credentials at www.iie.org/cies.

Nice to see pilots still taking time to get kids psyched on flying!!