So I listed it for sale on MundoAnuncio, a classified site here. It actually got a lot of responses, considering the thing won’t even start . . . but no one was actually willing to come out to San Juan to see it.

The car sat. Irving’s cousin (the same one who cost us the motorcycle) stole a couple of things out of it to sell.

It sat some more. And finally we managed to sell it to someone we know who lives fairly close to us. And, in true Guatemalan style, it was a sort of barter deal. Here’s what we got for the car:

- Cash (in two payments)
- Labor (the guy is a builder)
- A 20″ Panasonic TV, nearly new
Too bad they didn’t have a washing machine to throw in . . .

Not bad for a car that won’t even start! (that should be “wouldn’t” since they put in the new computer and it now runs)

I’m very relieved to have one less piece of stress around!

L-R Top: Papa, Mama
Bottom: Dorian, Dante

He then decided the artist should be included in the shot with his work.

And then we went back to school. Dorian insisted on doing three reading lessons today. “I need more words, Mama!” He said. It seemed to finally click today, he was reading his new words off faster and faster and was SO excited that he was able to do it and do it well.

It was fun. I don’t spend nearly enough time with my kids, and when I do, I’m usually stressing out about work still. School is guilt-free time because it’s time invested in their education, not just hanging out or something. Maybe that shouldn’t make a difference, but in my addled mind, it does.

We started out with a singalong and the boys actually sang with me! They usually request songs at bedtime, but they just listen to me sing . . . this time they got right into it and I discovered that they knew most of the words. Time to dredge up a few more childhood tunes.

After that, we did a body parts game to recap what we were learning when Mama got too stressed out to deal with anything but writing and they both did great. Then we settled in and did some workbook stuff, colors and shapes, which is a bit simple for Dorian, but he enjoyed helping Dante figure things out. We looked around the room for circles and found plenty of them! Locks, the laundry basket, my lip balm, all circles!

After stringing some foam beads and doing some sorting stuff, we finished up with a reading lesson. It wasn’t a long school day, but we all enjoyed it.

After kids, though, something changed. I touch the boys all the time now, it’s maternal instinct, a quick rub of the back, a pat on the head or a kiss on their soft little cheeks that usually elicits cries of “EW! Disgusting, Mama!”

But I also realized that they need that touch as much as I do. When I’m buried up to my neck in stupid writing assignments, Dante comes and lies across the back of my chair, so he’s like my cushion. He lays there and rubs my back for a while, or he sits up and combs my hair (his new favorite pastime) or just runs his hand up and down my arm as I’m typing.

Dorian isn’t nearly as physical and never has been, but he still comes in and leans against me for a second or pretends he has to punish me for some invisible crime (“you blinked and I said not to!”) and the punishment for that crime is a bunch of rapidfire kisses all over my face.

And, when Dorian’s plumbing is acting up and he’s in pain, the first thing he asks for is a stomach massage to ease the bumps out and get things moving again. For him, touch is healing.

As stressful as it is to work at home, it’s also wonderful because I get these amazing kisses and cuddles all. day. long. Who could ask for more?

Enter a laundry tub and two milk tins.

And some socks stuffed with beans.

Then we played bean bag toss, which sounds tame, but really isn’t in our house.

If you believe that orbs are ghosts, apparently our house is full of them! (you’d never believe we have a maid AND it’s raining with all the dust in here!)

Warp speed, please!!

See? Told you this was no tame game of tossing . . . note the beans spilled all over the floor from a burst sock!

Oh, and we’re taking suggestions for rainy day activities! Leave a comment.

They start this from the very early morning and continue all day. I’ve actually written about this before, but the other day they did something so cute that I had to blog about it again!

They each came in with a laundry basket turned upside down and with a pen stuck in it and said, “Happy Birthday! It’s a giant birthday cake!”

Dorian, on the other hand, is like me. He needs information and lots of it. He wants to plan everything out ahead of time and since I know that, we make a point of telling him things ahead of time. He is very curious about Canada and here are just a few of the questions he’s asked recently.

“Do they have bread in Canada?” Answer: Yes! And your Gramma makes really yummy bread! (“Like in the bags? I’m gonna have to try that!”)

“Is Canada a city or a country?”

“Where are we gonna sleep? Do they have beds or do we sleep on the floor?”

“What color is the airplane? Can we go in a Ben 10 (green) airplane?”

“What if I get thirsty at Grampa’s house? Do they have water or juice? Or just milk?”

“Does Gramma know I can’t drink milk? Do they have soya?”

“How big is Canada?”

He’s also been corresponding with my dad via email and they’ve been planning out their treehouse and some sightseeing trips in my parents’ boat. Dorian is VERY excited about this. He recently asked my dad if they could put a flamethrower on top of the treehouse and told him that it was best if they didn’t put a trapdoor in it because he might fall through and hurt himself.

The other day, he said, “When we go to Canada, I’m gonna build a house like Bob the Builder, and we’re going to touch butterflies (taking them to Butterfly World) and see flowers and we’re gonna go in a boat on the WATER and see animals! And we’re gonna slide!” Then he turned to Dante and said, “So, Dante, are you gonna slide and touch butterflies and see animals?” in a very excited voice.

And in true Dante fashion, his little brother replied . . . “Yup.”

The boys were enthralled!

(please excuse Dorian’s hair, he’d just bathed)

“Plethosaurawha….?”

Thanks, Caroline! You’ve kept my boys very busy on these rainy afternoons!