Sorry it has taken so long to write again but the last week of school was full of activities, parties and many, many more activities..The kids had their end of school performance where Bella danced, Marco did a Judo exhibition and played the guitar. My dad and M.T were here visiting so they got to enjoy the long… performances.. hahaha.

Bella danced a Flamenco and a Hawaiian dance.. She did great.. At the end she bowed so long she wouldn’t get back up. Marco did a Judo exhibition where he earned his orange and green belt, and played the guitar with his guitar class. Over all, we were very proud of our little performers and we are glad they have no fear of being on stage. You can view all pictures and videos HERE. 

 
Marco had his semi-final soccer game this weekend and they beat their opponents 5-1. Marco plays defense and just loves to not only play soccer, watch it on TV, play video games, computer games, collect cards.. He is a real fanatic..His tecnique is getting better but I’m not getting my hopes up that he will be the next Beckham.

But for now he is very happy and the exercise  is good for him..

As a school project, Marco was asked to buy a small plant and take care of it. He was very excited and couldn’t wait to get it home when we bought it. He spent the entire day looking at it and giving it water and offering it cookies. I told him that some plants don’t need water everyday and that it’s not good to give them too much water or they will die. I also let him know that plants didn’t particularly like cookies, to which he responded “How about pizza?”. He also insisted in sleeping with the plant, to which I also had to explain that it was not a great idea!!

Anyway,  after a couple of days he still shows great interest in the plant, and can’t wait to show it off in school in a couple of days.. (the project was actually to take it to school and leave it there, but he didn’t want to leave it in school because he thought it would be too lonely on the weekends and at night, so he asked the teacher if he could take care of it at home).

I will let you know how the plant survives….

Today is the kids last day of Spring Break and they start school tomorrow , but that wont last long because they are off again Thursday and Friday due to another holiday here in the Valencian Community. I’m not 100% sure but I think on Thursday April 3rd (of this year, I think it falls on different dates every year, always after Easter) is a local Alicante holiday called La Mona de Pascua: It is a day where families gather and it the typical Easter cake called La Mona (yes, the monkey, don’t ask).

In the end it just means another day off from work, school, another day to relax and since it falls on a Thursday then, hey what the hell as they call it here “puente” (bridge) to Friday and that day now too becomes a Holiday. See how easy it is.. You guys must come to Spain where between the local, national and pretty soon International holidays will be part of your everyday.

photo flickr happy outcast

Well, as of today at 3 pm its Spring Break, otherwise known here as “Semana Santa” or “Holy Week” or plainly said “Easter’. Holy week is a huge event in all of Spain, there are many processions and celebrations. Very different in every part, being the most famous in the south of Spain.

But for us what this all really means is that school is out for a couple of weeks and the kids get to rest and enjoy the beginning of the great weather to come.. and with Spring Break comes the end of the second trimester and report card time….

For Isabella its still a simple is she getting it or not…and yes, she is getting all of it and then some..Her teacher commented that she was the perfect student, very obedient, very studious and outgoing….(I think there is another Isabella in that classroom and the poor lady is confused).

Marco’s grades are a little more serious because he is officially in the beginning of his school career.. the grading system here is a little different than in the states where the A,B,C,D or F method is used here it goes like this.. Sobresaliente (A), Notable (B), Muy bien (C), Suficiente (D) and Insuficiente (F).. Marco received one A ,guess in what subject??? hahaha yes in English..(Might be the only A we will see from him.. hahah) He got 3 B’s (Math, Spanish and Gym) 2 C’s (Valenciano and Science/Social Studies) and one (D) in art… (poor thing he inherited my lovely art skills!!)..

We are very proud of both of them and have taught them that its very important to study and get good grades but more importantly is to figure out what their individual gifts are and to develop those fully, consciously to be able to share them with the world…Overall, honesty, ethics, and love..

picture google

As you all know Marco although only in first grade already gets homework. He loves the math part and problem solving but when it comes to drawing of painting, he just can’t stand it…I don’t blame him because I can’t draw myself..as much as I try.

Today he had to turn in his homework and last night he fell asleep before he could complete the coloring part..What do we do? No problem, we give it to Bella for her to finish it.. Yes, we are bad parents, Bella finished his homework perfectly. She was very happy to do it, she said she didn’t want Marco to get in trouble.

I know, I know, we are not going to make this a habit and Marco needs to learn how to draw and color and also learn responsibility, don’t worry we are on it!

Bella went on her first field trip to a the MARQ museum (Archaeological Museum) right here in Alicante. She was thrilled to be able to go on the BIG bus without Mama and Papa. She felt very grown up!..

I tried to ask her what she saw and to please give me a brief description of the trip and this is all I got:

“We went on the BIG bus and I sat next to Marina, we met Llumiq (I think, from what I saw on their web page that llumiq is some sort of animated animal that gives them a tour of the museum). Llumiq was very nice, they gave us a ballon, and we made put two shells with clay together”

I asked her if she saw any prehistoric things, to which she replied:

“I told you, I went on the Big bus, they gave me a balloon and I met Llumiq, that is a lot, I’m very tired!”

So there you have it Bella’s first field trip…

It’s not enough nowadays to simple have a birthday party you also need to celebrated in school with all your friends.. Lucky for me I had to go and entertain 23 kids for one hour.. Yes, lots of fun…. I brought them snacks and candy and read them a story..

For the most part they paid attention but really, the rest of the time they spent yelling, screaming, crying, laughing, fighting with each other, asking me questions, telling me they had to go pipi or caca, singing, dancing, talking, climbing, painting, playing with toys, spilling things….ALL AT THE SAME TIME!! I definitely would not make it as a kindergarten teacher for more than 10 min…

Overall, the kids had a great time.. I guess.. and I have a huge headache. I’m glad the next birthday is not until December!! I think I will have time to recover…maybe…

To see the rest of the pics click HERE

Believe it or not, little Marco who is in first grade already gets loads of homework..and he doesn’t like it one bit!! He is great at math and finishes that part fast but the writing ..that takes him a little longer..

Yesterday, I sat for hours with him trying to encourage him…but he is just not interested…Anyone have any tips how I could get him to like homework..hahhahaa

I know, it sounds mean.. I love my kids, and I love to spend time with them. I have really enjoyed the holiday vacation but Marco and Isabella are two young children with a lot of energy, way too much for me..They were actually looking forward to starting school again. Isabella said “I can’t wait to start school, you people here are no fun”, Marco said “I want to see my friends again but I have gym class today and I don’t really want to go”.. hahahaa…

I told my bosses today that my actual vacation started today.. My boss stated if that was so I should pay him instead of him paying me..hahaha.. Ok, so its not actually vacation but I do love going to work, being able to be productive and have converstation with adults..

I hope your beginning of the work week has been eventful..Talk to you all soon..