Art Classes

Today baby went to her first ever formal art class. The little cafe we like to eat at was offering a childrens art class. They studied pottery and looked at a few books. They then let the kids make a little clay pot. Maleah offered to teach me how to do it after I raved about hers.

Breyssi did a beautiful one with snakes and all kinds of decorations on it. It was great to see them interact with the other children, and the teacher who was wonderful. After the class the cafe made them a little snack and some juice. A fun day for six bucks. It is good to see them offering things like this for the kids.

It was funny because yesterday we told the girls they would be going for an art class today. This morning Breyssi said she did not feel good and did not want to go to the art class. I wrote the teacher and told her that Breyssi was not feeling good and would not make it. Later in the day Breyssi was talking about how she did not want to go to the class because of all the water. I asked her what she was talking about there was no water at an art class. She perked right up and said she wanted to go then.

I think those water boarding um excuse me swimming lessons scarred her for life!

Give Me a Break

I was ordered to put my baby back in school or the family services would take her away from us. Today at school they spent the day making a fathers day card. Yup that is right, I get threatened for them to take her away from her family so that she can spend the afternoon making a card for her Dad! Is that not the most messed up thing you have ever heard?

School Day, Again

We did it. We took baby to the school today. They were very nice and put her in the other class. It is calmer, and the teacher is on top of things. She is also our neighbor and a frequent visitor to our massage clinic when we have students, so it is better.

What we have found out about home schooling in Costa Rica. Are you ready for this? The great ah ha moment here. They have to attend first grade! Yup the quote about all I ever needed to know I learned in kindergarten? Well here it is all I ever needed to learn I learned in first grade. And they mean it.

After the student finishes the first grade you can apply to home school them. At that point they feel the student has been properly "socialized" and it is safe to take them out and educate them at home. That is if you have a "certified teacher" to teach them.

Lots of hoops to go through, of course. The deal is I feel like I have been plunged back 25 years to when we first began home schooling in the U.S. Same old restrictions, same old requirements. Retarded!

We are now figuring out the way to get around all this silliness and in the meantime baby shows up for school every day. Late, with her street clothes and flip flops on, and one notebook in her backpack. But of course her money for the little store and her sizzors, glue and colored pencils, there are priorities after all!

War

We put baby in pre-kinder last year to help her learn the Spanish. She had a great year and a very good experience. This year her teacher was pregnant and miserable. They had a class with too many people and baby was miserable.

A month ago we decided to take her out of the school and home school here. A couple of weeks later we received a visit from a couple of the teachers. They threatened us that they were going to have to turn us into the Family Services here.

Today we received a phone call from the PANI threatening us that if we did not bring baby to school tomorrow they would come and take her from us. They are telling me that they are going to take my baby away if I don't put her in their stupid school.

To say I am angry is an understatement. Big brother is alive and well in Costa Rica. If you are even contemplating moving here take all the same precautions you would take if you were in the States. Right now hubby is out talking to an attorney.

Laid Back Days of Rainy Season

When I tell people we just chill during rainy season, I mean chill! Little Rica above is just a little example of our days here during the rainy season in Costa Rica. It just seems natural to want to rest and sleep while it is raining in the afternoon, so that is what we do.

Usually after lunch we will hang out for an hour or so and then baby will start yawning. I ask her if she wants a story and we head off to the bed. Usually after one story she is ready to crash out. She does not sleep every day, but about three days a week works well for her.

She has always been one who loves her sleep. She will sleep until nine or ten in the mornings. Of course she has nothing on teeny who will sleep until noon. Her boyfriend gives her all kinds of grief about being sooo lazy. I just figure she is still growing or something.

It will sure be a shock to our systems when we go to the states and it is not raining. Of course the way things are going when we hit Texas it will be full of water! Until then we will enjoy our laid back dog days.

Ready to Move Out

Today we made the trek to town. That would be about six blocks from our house to be exact, so not far at all. In fact Benji can walk all the way. We made a quick stop at the Macrobiotica for some sea salt and calcium and magnesium. Then it was off to the Ropa Americana for some great deals on used clothes. We are great fans of used clothing. The little girls are the best little shoppers you have ever seen. They can spot the cute clothes miles away and always end up getting some great deals.

Once we finished there we headed down a couple doors to the bakery to get the kids a quick snack. I was standing there getting ready to ask baby what she wanted to order for her snack. She marched right up to the counter and asked the guy in Spanish if he had any ham and cheese empanadas. He said no only cheese. So she told him she wanted two of them, and two grape juices also. He was just cracking up by this time and looked at me with a shocked look.

For some reason people are always shocked when she starts speaking Spanish to them. They always ask if she speaks English or Chinese. The Chinese will have to come later, right now is Spanish time.

After they got the goodies she went over to the caja and paid the cashier for the snacks. He took her money and handed her the change. When she walked over to us her sister asked her if she got the right change. She said yes and went over to the park to eat their snacks.

This would have to be one of the best things about living here in Costa Rica and raising kids. It is just so easy to take them everywhere, without even having a car. I told baby that it was good to know they could get along on their own. If they had some money they would be able to get themselves around town and even buy their own food and even pick up some snacks at the health food store if need be. It is great!

Socializing

They try to say that home schooler's are not socialized enough. Does this look like they are not getting enough socialization? This was grandson's birthday party and as you can see there was plenty of socialization going on for everyone. He turned two and the girlies helped decorate the cakes, the ball cakes.

And of course there was the mandatory pinata! We do not have a party here in Costa Rica without the pinata. I mean we do not have any party without the pinata. That and of course tons of food and we are all happy and ready to go. Oh yeah and good friends, what more could you ask for? Pura Vida!

Computer Class

Such concentration! Tia Maleah is teaching the kiddo's how to play computer games. It does not take long for these guys to get these games down. Even the baby can tell them what to do and what needs to move where. He is always busy telling them what to do on the computer.

I wrote some key words for Maleah and she has been able to find and play all her own games. I have noticed they are getting harder all the time. When she first started playing computer games she did not like anything too hard. Now I see her playing some that take thinking and planning.

She said the other day that she needs to learn to read so that we don't have to read everything to her and help her. Now that is motivation!

Where's Waldo?

Can you find the two kids blending into the trees here?

These two cannot get enough of playing at the park, and climbing trees, and swimming at the pool. You know these are the kind of things children are supposed to be doing.

Where they live in Hondurus there is no place they can safely play. The roads are dirty and there are rats running around the drains. The drivers do not watch out for children playing. TB is rampant and probably many other diseases we don't even know about yet.

It is a different world, one which most of us will never comprehend or understand. I am just glad to know that my grandchildren can leave and come get all their playing in. Now I just have to keep working on talking their mother into staying in Costa Rica with them.

It may not be too much problem if Hurricane Agatha keeps kicking butt in their neck of the woods. Of course we are apparently the earthquake capital these days, don't know which is more fun out of those two.