Update

Gabriela is loving to dress up in princess dresses and pretend play! Lately she has been talking a lot about Queens and loves when I tell her pretend stories. One of her favorite things is dressing up Mommy and putting makeup on her. She tells me to "close your eyes," "keep them shut," and "que linda Mommy." I never thought I would be getting a make over from my two year old daughter!

Gabriela has started cooking with me. I let her spice the meat, stir, crack eggs, and add water into the bowl! She loves it and it gives her something to do when I am preparing dinner. Of course it can get messy at times, but we usually try and clean up before Daddy gets home! Baking is her favorite and she loves licking the bowl! We don't have a dishwasher here and hand wash all the dishes. This is always something she loves to do and it helps me out! She will spend thirty minutes at the sink using half the bottle of soap and only wash two plates!!

Halloween In Argentina!!!

Every year I am always missing being in The States for Halloween. Nobody celebrates it like the U.S. or has the great costumes! This year I decided to invite Gabriela's friend over for a mini Halloween party. She had eight people over, and they all wore costumes. This was the first time any of them had dressed up for Halloween. Jessica came over and dressed up as a clown and also painted their faces. We had games, candy, cupcakes, and pumkins for each of them. The best part of the party was taking the kids trick or treating! It was great because they don't do that here! The kids did not know we bought the candy previously and gave it to some people we knew to hand out!! They just thought it was great going to peoples houses and stores saying "trato o tuco"for candy! I will never forget the smile on there faces or our friends who were giving them candy. Nichy had a game that night so we took the kids to the club for trick or treating also. Apparently Gabriela was the big talk with the broadcasters at the game because she had her costume on. I am trying to get a copy of it! All of my friends keep telling me she was on television a lot!!

Getting In a Routine

It is always hard the first week I arrive to learn how to relax and embrace the slower lifestyle. Since we have arrived I joined a gym, and Gabriela started pre-school. I really had mixed emotions about Gabriela starting preschool. I love being home with her and have never had problems getting her playdates and interaction with other kids. Also, I feel like she has a long rode ahead of school and didn't want to start too early. However, it is only three hours a day and she goes three times a week! It was a great situation for us, because the teacher Jessica was Gabriela's babysitter last season. She is wonderful and so good to Gabriela.

Each day I pick up Gabriela she is singing a song or counting in Spanish. Gabrieal is speaking more and more Spanish everyday. It will be interesting to see if she will continue to speak English or only use her Spanish. She makes complete sentences in English and can pretty much say whatever she needs. Her Spanish is mostly words, songs, and a few short sentences. Daddy took her to pre-school today for the first time. When I picked her up she asked "donde esta mi dada."

Since we have been back we have been going to weekly asados and hanging out with friends. Nichy will be home for two weeks so I am hoping to have our weekly dates nights! This weekend The South American tournament starts. Last year we were the champions. Quimsa is not playing well this year. They stacked the team with "all start players." Which looks good on paper, but they are not meshing well.

We made it!

My dad took Gabriela and I to the airport on Wednesday. On the way there he said "Morgan this kinda sad because this might be the last time you and Gabriela live with me." The last two years we have been living with my Dad when we come back. We bought Lindsay's house and moved all of our stuff the week before we left! Who would think when you are thirty one you would be sad not to live with your Dad anymore!! I know he has loved having us stay with him in the summers. He and Gabriela are very close and everyday she always ask "where is Grandpa?" She will answer herself by saying "is he on the Tumblebus," or "is he playing softball." I can honestly say I feel like I have the best Dad in the world and Gabriela has the best Grandpa!! She is going to miss all the icecream Grandpa would give her and justify it to me by putting bananas on it!!

Gabriela did great on the flight. She had a small meltdown in Oklahoma City. One of the airplanes took off, and she started screaming crying! I think she thought it was the airplane she was supposse to get on to see her Daddy! I quickly assured her we had a different airplane to get on. We traveled from Oklahoma City, Houston, Buenas Aires Int, Buenas Aires airport, and arrived in Santiago Del Estero! Each airport Gabriela would say "I want to get on another airplane." All week I told her we were going to get on an airplane to see Daddy in Argentina!!

We arrives in Buenas Aires at 9:00 a.m. and drove about an hour to the other airport. When we got there we found out we would have an 6 hour layover which turned into 8 hours because the flights were delayed! I was so upset and almost started to cry! Then I realized Gabriela was fine and I should be happy too! She ran around the airport playing, we ate, and she took a nap. The last flight was aweful due to turbulance, and when we were landing Gabriela started crying. I think she was just done with traveling! However, as soon as she saw her Daddy her eyes lit up and everything was fine!

Ready To Travel

Gabriela and I are preparing to go back to Argentina! We stayed longer than expected due to the Tumblebus! Things are going great with the business and I am nervous to leave. However, I have my Dad managing it and great workers. I am worried Gabriela is going to really miss the Tumblebus. She gets to go on it everday and usually does one class a day!

Lately Gabriela has been asking to see her Daddy. When she gets in trouble or hurt she will cry screaming "Dada Dada." It breaks my heart and I can't wait until we reunite! This has been the longest we have been apart since we had Gabriela. I am so excited to return to Santiago Del Estero and see our friends. This is the first time we are returning to the same city. I don't have the unknown feeling and know what to expect!

We bought Lindsay and Andy's house! The plan was for them to close on their new house this week and move this weekend. Things did not go as planned, and they are closing next week! I went to Arkansas this week and moved all our stuff out of storage into their garage. Nichy and I will have a house to come home to in December and lots of unpacking to do!!

We miss Daddy!

Nichy is back in Argentina and we are ready to be with him! When he first left Gabriela was telling everyone her Dad is in gone playing basketball! We were at Chick Fil A and she was playing with another little girl. When they were in the slide you could here Gabriela say "come on lets go to Argentina." The mother turned to me and said "that is quite a desitination for a two year old." I quickly told her that is where her Daddy was! We are going to be living in a different apartment this year but it is in the same location. Hopefully we will be leaving in a few weeks!

Life has changed for Gabriela and I. The new daily routine is waking up, reading only one book, eating breakfast, and going to the Tumblebus! Gabriela usually does the first class and then she and Grandpa go hang out. I teach three to four classes a day! It has been a blast and a great learning experience. The business is doing well and we have started booking a lot of parties! I have hired great workers and start training them this week. My Dad will manage the business while I am gone. However, I will be back more often this season!

Gabriela loves the Tumblebus and now climbs on everything! We had a cookout and took the bus to Lindsay's the other night. She loved it because the kids were not running around the house like they usually are. Lindsay and Andy's new house is almost finished. We are hoping to be moved in the end of this month!

Summer Update

As always summer has gone so fast. We have a lot going on in our family right now. My brother, Addie, and Jude moved back from Wisconsin. Zac started a new job and his company sent him to Nigeria for a contract. He will be back and forth for the next 18 months! He will be home next week for the first time and will get to stay a month. I can't wait to here all his stories. He is living on a compand which he compared to jail! Andy and Lindsay are in the process of buying a new house, and we are buying their house! Nichy and I started a business The Tumbleville Express. It is a mobile gymnastics gym that services daycares and does birthday parties. We are really excited and already getting business! The biggest highlight of the summer is Nichy's parents visiting from Panama! This is their first trip to the United States, and they are having a blast. They will be here until August 10th. Nichy took them to Arkanas today so they could see where he went to college and lived for six years! I couldn't imagine my parents not knowing where I lived or went to college. My mother in law arrived and was in the kitchen cooking within 10 minutes. She has taken over the kitchen and cooking a lot of Panamanian food. Nichy is in heaven!

Gabriela is getting spoiled by her Abuela and Abuelo. She calls Nichy's dad "Nicho" and Nichy's mom "ita." Everyone morning she wakes up and ask where is Nicho? I am already dreading the 10th when they have to leave. She is going to miss them so much. Before they arrived Gabriela spoke mostly English. Now she is starting to speak more Spanish but still speaks a lot of English. Everyday there are new words and something new. Her latest phrase is "hey guys." She has been having a lot of playdates with her cousin Jude. Today they played on the Tumblebus and Jude asked if he could take the bus home with him!

Gabriela loves her Aunt Lindsay and hanging out with her. She always comes home with makeup on, jewelry, and has learned a new dance! Thanks to Lindsay Gabriela had a fourth of July outfit this year. Last year Mommy didn't realize she needed one and she was the only child in pink at fireworks! This year she fit right in!