Spanish for Beginners: Katie's Cheat Sheet

I don't speak Spanish. And we are going to be living there for three whole months (and three days) this summer. I've been working with the online Rosetta stone through our local library, but it's stopping for some reason at the end of the month. And all I've learned how to say so far is "el coche es rojo" (the car is red) and "el niño está saltando" (the boy is jumping) and similar version of the same sentences.

Now, Zach speaks Spanish. Very well. He also speaks four other languages, but now I'm just bragging about him. So, he'll spout off some words in Spanish and look at me expectantly like, "is any of this registering?" And I say, "mis potatas son las mejores!" which is a phrase the million Spanish speakers at my old job taught me one time and the one phrase I always revert to in a Spanish crisis. So, I've had Zach sit down and translate some phrases for me (he doesn't like one of the questions). These are question and answer scenarios that I expect to encounter while abroad.

So, here are questions, in English and Spanish, and we can all learn them together. Except you people who already speak it. You can just go and watch some telenovelas or something. I enjoy La Traición.

Questions I may be asked:
Q: Are they twins?
A: Yes, they are twins.

P:¿Son gemelos?
R:Sí, son gemelos.

Q: How old are they?
A: They are two.

P:¿Cuántos años tienen?
R:Tienen dos.

Q: Are they identical/fraternal?
A: We don't know.

P:¿Son gemelos idénticos o fraternos?
R:No tenemos ni idea.

Q: Are they both boys?
A: Yes, they are both boys (I don't know why people ask this)

P:¿Son machos o hembras?
R:Claro que son machos (no sé porque me piden eso).

Questions I may ask:
Q: How much is this?
A: Too expensive for you.

P: ¿Cuánto vale esto?
R: Demasiado.

Q: Do you have this in a larger size?
A: No, all Europeans are skinnier than you.

P: ¿Tienes esto en tamaño más grande?
R: No, los europeos somos más flacas que ti.

Q: Does this have seafood in it?
A: Yes, all our food, even the bread, has seafood.

P: Esta comida ¿contiene mariscos?
R: Por supuesto, toda nuestra comida, aun el pan, contiene mariscos.

Q: Why?
A: Because we are a coastal region. It's a part of our culture, dummy!

P: ¿Por qué?
R: Porque es la cultura de la costa, tonta.

Q: Oh.
A: That's right.

P: Oh.
R: Ya.

Picture: http://chss2.montclair.edu/spanish-italian/

The End of an Era

Sam, asleep in his crib - this may never happen again

Just a few moments ago we reached the end of an era: the crib. Sam, distressed that he had been laid down for bed before he was ready, just climbed out of his crib.

That's it folks. It's over. And I am so, so sad.

He wasn't hurt at all, by the way. He walked into me at the computer and had a huge smile on his face. As though he were saying, "I bet you didn't expect to see me, did you Mommy? Next time you put a boy down for bed, you'd better make sure he can't climb out." Well, he certainly showed me.

Zach wants to take the sides off of the cribs and turn them into toddler beds, even though they will look like those tall, old Victoria-era days. But he's worried that they'll hurt themselves climbing out. Not an invalid concern, considering how often they hurt themselves climbing things.

So, now Sam is slowing falling asleep watching clips of Cars on youtube. I just couldn't take away his victory and put him back in the crib. And besides, he would probably just climb out.

So how do you get kids to fall asleep without four sides, anyway?

Ben, asleep.

P.S. See, I told you they like to sleep with their boots on.

Your Summer Abroad?

I was thinking about everyone's responses to our Spain trip and I'm wondering where would you want to spend your summer abroad?

If you could just shut your house up and find another place about the same price and all that (no four star hotels and yachts and the like. Unless you can afford that. And if you can, come and talk to me). I'm really quite curious actually. I know five years ago I never would have thought I would be in Spain at all. I probably would have picked Ireland, New Zealand or Austria back then. Who knows?

I want to hear all the fabulous details of your imaginary summer. Or your real one, if that is a dream come true, as well. So, come on, spill it.

Photo: http://www.ncl-coll.ac.uk

All the Pretty little Houses

We are surrounded by beautiful things here in the Bay Area. It's true. There is some raging natural beauty around her that can really just take your breath away.

California Poppies

Of course, with all this beauty, there also comes a lot of people who want to live here, followed by rents and mortgages that will take your breath away. Really. Just suck it right out.

But the benefit of all this money being in one area is that there are so many lovely homes. And as I was taking the boys for a walk the other day I wanted to share these little houses with everyone. So, here are some photos that we saw on our walk. Enjoy.

What is it about a little yellow house that makes me so darned happy? I think it may have something to do with Anne of Green Gables. She was born in a yellow house. With honeysuckle growing over the door. I just recalled that from memory. I may have revealed too much about myself just now.

Every single time I walk by this gate I love it. I truly love it. That little peak into the backyard, and the roses blooming in the center. I'm probably going to have to copy this some day. I have a big binder full of pictures and scraps of stuff for a house someday. You people who own homes should really appreciate the luxury of being able to nail things into the wall and paint things at your whims. I can't wait. Zach probably can though.

The lovely little gray house with pretty windows. This isn't a very good shot, as I was trying to cross the street with the stroller at the time and their was loads of traffic. But whoever these people are, they have really great landscaping. The pink blossoms are so nice agains the gray, don't you think? There is always a shot of color with several shades of greens. Nicely done.

Again, not a very good shot (do you like the stop sign?) but this may very well be the cutest house outside of Switzerland or Disneyland. The stone wall, the shutters, the groves of trees. It's practically perfect in everyway. And yet, I don't think I could live here, because that much cuteness really must affect your life in weird ways. Like buying a teacup poodle instead of a duck, drinking water from Fiji instead of filtered tap, and starting a collection of cherubs figurines, instead of... not.

So there you go. A walking/sitting tour of houses that I would need to sell one of my vital organs to afford. What do you think the going rate is for a kidney these days?

Spain: A Summer Abroad

After several months of debates, number crunching, daydreaming and pros/cons lists, we have decided that we will be spending the summer in Catalonia, Spain.

Yep. We are crazy. And it is very exciting.

Girona, Spain

Zach will be studying Catalan while we are there. In fact, that is the whole point. Catalan in one of the official languages of Spain, spoken in Catalonia, which is in North Eastern Spain. And no, it is not just a dialect of Spanish, it's as different from Spanish as Portuguese or French.

Market in Barcelona

We are going to be there the entire summer, from June to September. That's actually the only way we could afford to do it, because we'll be subletting our apartment the entire time and it is cheaper to live in Spain than here.

Giant Paella - a favorite Spanish dish

We are still deciding on whether or not to live in Barcelona, the big city, or Girona, a smaller town farther north, near the Costa Brava.

Oh, that's the Costa Brava below, by the way. Ya. Ya, I know.

Costa Brava

Zach is going to be studying for the month of July and then we are pretty much free for the rest of the time. Isn't that kinda incredible and amazing? Of course, we are still limited by funds. Of course. But we've been living frugally for a quite a while now to have some money for this. So, hopefully we will be able to have a little bit of fun over there. Hopefully a lot if we are smart. Because there is so much fun to be had.

Tapas

So, now all we have to do is decide where we are living, find an apartment and get over there.

Oh, and learn Spanish. I really need to learn Spanish.

Little Boys are Weird

Sam and Ben - my little weirdos

I am constantly reminded of how odd people can be. Especially little people, like my little people. Ben and Sam are so weird. If you have any doubts, then please read the following list of actual, I'm-not-making-this-up, unembellished toddler actions:

Ben - he ate all of these oranges

• A while ago Ben and Sam arbitrarily switched cribs. One day they both just wanted to sleep in the other crib.
• Somersaults - where they fall flat on their backs and get up laughing
• Pretend to be asleep so we can say, "1, 2, 3, Wake up!"
  
• Give kisses when they hurt the other one in some way (as long as they are not still upset)
• Climb everything. Everything.
• They love to wear the boots that are two sizes too big. Especially to bed
• Make me put on their jackets, even when we are staying inside
  
• Bring me dvds that they want to watch. Usually, The Wiggles, Cars, and Sword in the Stone, but Ben has really wanted to watch A Bridge Too Far.
• Will guide me by pushing and pulling to sit with them or look at something or just go somewhere
  
• Bring me books to read, everything from Dr. Seuss, language dictionaries, and cards.
• Sam likes to stack the DVDs he's pulled off the shelves
• They like to knock everything off any flat surface like the couch, tables or bookcases for no apparent reason.
• Eat things off the floor but turn their noses up at proper food
• Eat dirt. And love it.
• Sam doesn't like to be without a diaper, to the point where he'll freak out in the tub. We've taken to putting swim diapers on him and he is happy with that.
• Ben is an exhibitionist. He would rather not wear clothes and likes to occasionally removes his diaper.
• Pull the dirt out of my potted plants.
  
• They will defend each other if another kid starts bothering one of them, even if they were fighting just a moment before
• Sam is an early bird
• Ben is a night owl
• They are just so, so silly

Sam's silly face

There are more. Lots more. Little quirks and oddities that make them my adorable, weird little boys. Ya, I guess they are not weirder than any other children, but still! Our opinions may differ in other areas, but I think you will all agree with my hypothesis: little boys are weird.

And wonderful.

Completely Ridiculous and Silly...

...but, all the same since we got home our visit, I have been desperately wanting a dog for the boys to play with. On the night we got to Phoenix, we let ourselves in quietly and put the boys down by themselves to pleasantly surprise Zach's family. What happened was that Quincy and Harry, the family dogs, came running in from two different directions and scared the boys into dirty diapers. They would have nothing to do with them for days, running into our arms if the dogs even came close.

Beagle

But, time moved on and half-way through the visit Ben was laughing at being hit hard in the chest by Quincy's insanely, powerful tail and Sam was riding Harry like a horse, as I have already shown in previous posts. They loved them! Both boys thought both dogs were glorious. Whether or not the feelings were mutual is anyone's guess.

So now, here I am, wishing that I could give my adorable, lovable toddlers their own adorable, lovable (though probably much less so) dog. Of course, this is impossible. Absolutely impossible. Because we are living in a place that forbids pets of any kind. Even fish. They probably would even be upset with sea monkeys or a chia pet. And for you rebels and hippies out there who are saying that we should do it anyway, well there is a large and terrifying fine for those who would dare to defy this rule. And there are probably a lot of snitches who would sell us down the river without even thinking about it.

Wheaten Terrier

Oh, and unless we get kicked out for some reason, we're going to be here for the next 4-5 years. So, this all totals up to the fact that the boys will probably be about 6 years old before we can even start to think about getting them a dog. Or any fake pets for that matter.

And yet, here I am, looking up and researching good dogs for my little boys. And I've found one. Actually two. Ya, see Zach wants a beagle:

Lovable, adorable, full of energy, shed like mad.

I want a wheaten terrier.

Lovable, crazy adorable, full of energy, no shedding, require lotsa grooming.

They are both breeds that the internet says should have lots of energy and need lots of exersize. Which sounds like Ben and Sam. Perfect. And they are both cute, but I guess I'm just dissapointed with beagles ever since I learned that they usually sleep in and not on their doghouses. Terribly upsetting. So, if anyone wants to weigh in on this completely silly and ridiculous debate and give us your two cents, by all means, feel free. But, if I don't get back to you right away, please forgive me. I'm researching how one toilet trains dogs. I really have to figure this one out.