Nothing much happening around here besides spending time with Grammy. This morning we saved a couple of caterpillars from the sidewalk and got to listen to Ouest say the word caterpillar, which was fun. And this afternoon we let the kids crack open a piñata that Ouest had gotten at school yesterday. It was one of her classmates’ birthday and Ouest got an invite a few days earlier, despite the fact that it was just a classroom celebration. We sent along a small gift as per instructions, but when I picked Ouest up from school she was the one loaded down with birthday crap.
That picture below is of the kids having marshmallows for the first time. Pure joy. After that small package of marshmallows they were done, back to tearing the house apart. Ouest asked if she could have candy once more that night, but Lowe never mentioned it again. Reminds me of Ouest and french fries. We never gave Ouest fries, and she never asked. When she got to be about three she showed some interest so we put a few on her plate. She ate a couple and the rest sat there. Now when we get fries with our meal we give her some as sort of an inside joke—because it makes me and Ali laugh to find those fries sitting there untouched every time.
Of course ice cream is another matter entirely. Once we settled into Mexican life ice cream became sort of a necessity. I mean, how do you deny ice cream when it’s 95 degrees and sunny outside every day? It’s there to sustain life. Today wasn’t that hot, but we were driving past a Dairy Queen anyway, so…
Lowe has learned the word vanilla, and he is quite proud of it.
Meanwhile Ouest surprised me by knowing the Spanish word for watermelon today.
“Ouest, do you know what watermelon is in Spanish?”
“Andía.” Sandía.
“That’s right, great job. I didn’t think you were going to know that one. How did you know that?”
“From the song we sing in school. Andía, andía, andía…”
She’s been singing this Spanish song for the past week and we’ve had no idea what she was saying. Then today we just stumble on the answer. We still don’t know the rest of the song, but watermelon is a start. I tell you life will be a lot easier when she starts to nail down that S sound. Right now she just leaves it right out of words.
“Hola, cómo te llamas?” Strangers ask her name at least ten times a day.
“Wet,” she has finally started saying. She’s always known what they were asking, but has been too shy to reply. She’s just now starting to give them the answer, Wet.
Oh, the confused looks we get.
9 Comments on “Vanilla”
Ah, yes! I think I know this song she is singing at school (and hope I am not mistaken). It is called “La vibora de la mar” and it is a mexican childhood classic. We would hold each others hands and go round and round singing this song. It goes:
A la víbora, víbora
de la mar, de la mar
por aquí pueden pasar
Los de adelante corren mucho
y los de atrás se quedarán
tras, tras, tras, tras.
Una Mexicana que fruta vendía
ciruela, chabacano, melón y sandía.
Verbena, verbena, jardin de matatena,
Verbena, verbena, jardin de matatena,
Campanita de oro dejame pasar,
Con todos mis hijos menos el de atras
Tras, tras, tras tras…
Será melón, será sandía
será la vieja del otro día
día, día, día, día
El puente esta quebrado
que lo manden componer
Con cascaras de huevo
y pedazos de oropel
pel, pel, pel, pel
Translation for you, thanks to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_v%C3%ADbora_de_la_mar
Thank you so much, this has to be it. You made my day. I can’t wait for Ouest to get home so we can sing this with her. She’ll be stoked as well I’m sure.
You are very welcome! Please share a picture of Ouest and Lowe when they sing it with you guys 🙂
Big Boy Haircut!
Please be careful with those little caterpillars. some are poisonous and one innocent looking little thing sent a friend into anaphylactic shock. Don’t touch them, just look.
Your vanilla looks totally exciting to me! Here in PA, we are doing pumpkins and foliage, and you have the beach, icecream, and watermelon songs! Your “wet” story reminds me of my little friend, Aspen. When she told me her name at 3, I thought she said,”Aspirin”. Her sister got mad and thought we were making fun of her when my girls called her,”Aspirin”! Lol!
Love the foosball table photo.
Are you missing the boat yet?
Some days. But not really. These summer breaks away from the boat are fun. Getting to know a city intimately instead of just using it as a stocking up point is a nice way to cruise as well. If we were leaving the boat to go back to the States for five months a year I think I’d feel quite a bit differently, but with this we get our travel and adventure fix without the hassles of boats for a little while each year. Although when we left the boat this season I remember Ali saying, “Next year let’s find a place we can stay on the boat all year.”