My Chilean kids

Isaac will be 6 months old in 2 days.  How did that happen?? All of a sudden he isn't a newborn anymore - he's a big, strong, happy baby who loves to eat his fingers (must have learned that from his sister), laugh when people get too close to him and stick his tongue out.  I'm totally in love.

Today, I realized how Chilean my family is becoming.  Sadie is starting to love fish - our new favorite called Pegagallo (I have no idea what it is in English), and Isaac's second food of life was zapallo (also not sure what it is in English, but it's a kind of pumpkin that I had never seen before Chile).  Sadie responds "Bien" when asked "Como estas?" And when we get home from our errands she immediately says, "Hola, Carmen!" It's very sweet.  I think her Spanish is better than mine.

So, let's back up a minute because yes, Isaac has started solid foods.  I forgot how incredibly inconvenient this is and frankly, I have been dreading it.  However, it is SO adorable watching him realize there is something in his mouth, and the reactions are of course priceless.  He's definitely more into it than Sadie was at first, which isn't surprising.  The main problem for me is the fact that now I have to spend more focused time with him, which is difficult with a 2 year old running around.  Also, I have to MAKE the baby food because the options here (in Antofagasta) are about 1/100th of what they are in the states.  Let me be clear, the baby food aisle at Jumbo is a couple of shelves of ONE BRAND of jarred baby food.  If you are unfamiliar with the current options in the states, let be just give you a brief summary: there is a full aisle at Target dedicated to baby foods of all kinds - jars, pouches, plastic containers, snacks, bars, cookies, teething biscuits, just to name a few.  Within all these kinds of foods, there are about 20 brands, many organic ones with options like "stewed lentil, spinach and lamb."  It's gourmet, it's easy, and it's organic.  Because of the HUGE lack of options available, I am almost forced to make the food.  (insert huge sigh here).  Yes, yes, yes, I know it's healthier and these current conveniences haven't been around for all time, BUT this is my blog so I get to complain ;)

I did find ONE kind of organic baby food at Jumbo (same brand as everything else, and literally only this one type - apples, bananas and peaches mixed).  I bought a couple so we will see if Isaac likes it.

And now, for the pics :)

Sadie's Second Birthday

Sadie is two! What a great adventure she has taken me on this past year.  All the way from Houston to Santiago to Antofagasta.  All the way from barely walking to running and jumping like it's her job. All the way from an only child to a sister.  What a year.

The funny thing is I didn't plan a single birthday party, but yet, Sadie got to celebrate three times - three cakes and three birthday songs.  When we were in the US, my wonderful family in Houston threw Sadie a surprise birthday party with a homemade chocolate cake (YUM) and lots of presents followed by a mini dance party :)  It was so special for us, and I was so happy that Sadie got to celebrate her birthday (since I hadn't planned anything for her in Chile).

Then Sadie got sick.  She got very sick.  A whole week she was suffering from the flu, and on her birthday, I had to take her to the doctor. Talk about timing.  My darling friend and her two boys came over to babysit Isaac, and when we came back we decided to throw some dinner together for the kids and sing Sadie happy birthday.  I had made her a cherry pie that morning, so I was so excited there were a couple other singers besides just me and Isaac (who is not much of a singer) to sing (Steve was working late).  Sadie loved it.  And I thought, I'm so glad she got to celebrate her birthday on her actual birthday!

Then, today we were finally able to leave the house (and enter into the world of OTHERS) to meet friends for a pool day.  We ordered pizza, and they surprised us with a birthday cake and a fun birthday hat for Sadie (see pic below).  See how happy she is? Apparently, Sadie is super into her birthday.  Who can blame her? Who gets 3 cakes?!  We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends here.  It really melted my heart.

My Granddad

My grandfather passed away December 27th, 2014 at age 93. Below is his obituary. Please note I have edited it so that there is not any "identifying" information.

Loyd passed away on December 27, 2014. He was born on September 23, 1921 in Idaho, the third child. His twin brothers passed away in 1987.

Loyd's earliest memories were of riding horses, first behind his mother and then as transportation to school and work on his father's ranch. From the age of 16 Loyd was active in the logging industry. Starting in the Potlatch logging camps as a log chute greaser, he developed the skills and knowledge of the woods that would lead to 75 years of harvesting timber. He and his brother ran a pole yard in Clackamas followed by owning their own sawmill in Klamath Falls. They moved to Lebanon in 1953 where they started Logging Company cutting timber in the Sweet Home area and trucking it to Cascade Plywood in Lebanon. Loyd retired in 1971 but continued to harvest his own timber and subdivide his land until 2013. 

In 1942 Loyd moved from Idaho to Portland to join the Coast Guard. While attending a dance, he met his future wife, Betty. They were married on February 28, 1948. 

Loyd was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting in eastern Oregon and fishing with his children, grandchildren, and friends. He raised cattle, sheep and horses and in his later years he loved watching the ducks and fish on his land. 

Loyd was preceded in death by his daughter, Patti, and grandson, Todd. Survivors include his wife Betty, daughter Vicki, grandchildren Matthew and Alissa, along with 5 great grandchildren.  

In lieu of flowers the family asked that memorials be made to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.


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Because I am unable to attend, I have written the below to be read at the celebration of life.

First of all, it breaks my heart that I couldn’t be there today to celebrate Granddad’s extraordinary life.  Thinking about many friends and family gathered together reminiscing and exchanging anecdotes puts a smile on my face.  

My granddad taught me a lot about life.  His strength inspired me, and his generosity amazed me.  He was the kind of man who would not only track down a pony so that his granddaughter from the city could learn to ride, but also help her up out of the dirt when the horse ran away with her.  As I grew up over the years, I realized that if I didn’t know something, I just needed to ask Granddad, and he would show me.  For example, he taught me how to shoot a gun and clean a fish.  He showed me how to bait crab traps and then curse when I didn’t get it right.  All skills that I later learned really impressed boys. 

One of my favorite things about Granddad was how he loved singing at random times.  Whether we were eating, driving, or just sitting around talking, a song would pop into his head and out it came.  My favorite song, from the short list of appropriate ones, was his good morning song. I sing it to my daughter every day when I get her out of bed.  It will always remind me of him.  I think he would be happy it is being passed down.

I am lucky to have had a chance to know my granddad for 32 years.  I went from a child watching him talk politics and logging with a whiskey and water in his hand to an adult joining the conversation with a cocktail in my own.  I finally understood why he worked so hard so late into his life. It was for us, his family.  It was his way of telling us how much he loved us.  What I really want to say to him and to Grandma today is that I love you both so much, and I feel overwhelmingly appreciative to have you as my grandparents. Thank you.