Maya in the Plaza

Yesterday, while I was talking with my aunt from a coffee shop in a nearby plaza (in Valencia, Spain where we've been for the past several weeks), Maya and Noah were chasing pigeons and otherwise playing. Maya spent a particularly extended time belting out some adorable made up song from the church steps…she was singing for probably upwards of 20 minutes. About 2 minutes after we walked away she looked into my eyes and asked me very seriously “mommy, was I singing beautifully” and I replied “well, I loved hearing you sing”….which she took as affirmative, though her ability to carry a tune is highly questionable…she then continued “but, if I was singing so wonderfully, why didn’t anyone give me any money?” At which point she opened her fist to reveal the coins (tip) that she had spirited from my table at the coffee shop (I had paid and tipped when I ordered), which she had been jingling as she was singing, as the beggars/ buskers do all over town.

Valencia

I know when Haim asked us to accompany him to Valencia he pictured his family strolling the old quarter with him, stopping for tapas after a long day's work, bundling together and snuggling to keep warm from the chill....The reality is more constant middle-of-the-street tantrums from Maya, a scary (we went to the Dr, he's fine), rattling cough from Noah, and drizzly weather that really just makes you want to stay inside.
Needless to say, this has been a difficult adjustment emotionally for Maya, and Noah is battling a cold/ bronchitis and jetlag....thank goodness I had him going to bed at 7 in Miami, so he only stays up till about 1am here...yesterday was better, though.
With Haim's first day at the office, the kids and I started finding our rhythm, Maya had only 2 minor tantrums, and Noah was asleep by 11:45. Maybe it won't even drizzle so much today!

Park time

Maya's 4th birthday

Maya turned 4 today. The day started with her waking up to crepe paper decorations all over the house (I love decorating with crepe paper), and a gift to open from me. We then took a walk downtown to the grocery for some last minute party supplies. At around 11, 4 friends came over for some crafts, cake and chocolate fondue, and some play time in the yard.

After a bit of a rest, Eve and Frank came over to play with Maya and her gifts (Maya was getting a bit frustrated with Noah's "helping" her play) while Noah and I went to get Haim from the airport. The evening ended with a family dinner of Maya's favorite, macaroni and cheese, and of course, birthday cake.

Nature Class

Chicken Patrol

This morning I was doing dishes around 6 am and I noticed one of the bunnies running really crazy figure 8's in the yard...I watched for a bit, and then stepped outside to see if there was any particular reason for the behavior, but I didn't notice anything. Several minutes later, as I was finishing my task, I noticed several of the chickens had flown over the fence of the chicken yard, and into the main area...about 5 of them were in a U shape with a large grey cat at the center...but these birds were not afraid in the least....instead, they were escorting a slinking cat off of the property. I was in shock...and of course proud of my girls....that's probably what was driving the bunny crazy...it was only about 15 minutes later that I realized I had missed a great photo-op.

At the rodeo

Yes, we do have rodeo in South Florida...

Halloween

Noah turns 1!

Yard work

Pumpkin Patch

Our Street

A while ago we planted trees up and down the street we live on...

Hanging out

Sidney's Birthday

Puff's release

The only chicken which we ever really considered a pet (as opposed to beloved and respected farm animal) was Puff, a polish crested named for the yellow puff-ball on his head when he was a chick.... problem was, if you re-read the last sentence, is that Puff turned out to be a "he"....a rooster that is. As Puff hit puberty, his presence threatened to out us, and our flock of "illegals." While I'm generally not opposed to eating our animals, since Puff had "pet" status, I had pro missed Maya that we would not eat him....however I was also having a hard time adopting him out, and a friend who was planning to process and eat him had a hard time connecting with me to pick him up.

What to do with Puff??

Well, our local Costco happens to have a flock of feral chickens...mostly roosters actually...so I finally decided that this would be the best, and fastest solution for Puff. He was released into the company of a lovely bantam hen with 3 chicks, and about 6 other roosters.

Little Marci

Enjoying Left Overs

Rosh Hashanna dinner

Maya and Carla

Central Park Zoo

Chocolate Cupcake

Noah "finger painted"

Tubing down the Ichetucknee

Water Park day!

Up up and away