Play time: winter crafts

As Kesha started growing I found it daunting to figure out where to get craft supplies. I didn't grow up here, so there were no shops I remembered frequenting as a child, and I had not a clue where to even start looking for things like tissue paper, card stock, felt, nor what the words for these items were in Spanish.

As I've become more acclimated to life here with children, I have ventured out on my own and not only found these items, but have discovered that they are relatively inexpensive here as well. Projects have been in full swing and I'm sure, at times, Arturo wishes I had never made this discovery!

So, for you moms out there who live in countries you did not grow up in, know that sometimes it just takes a few solo adventures to figure out where you can get fun craft materials!

Here are a few crafts we have made this "winter" (remember, it's not actually winter here) and a list of the supplies and where I purchased them.


Build Your Own Snowman
This activity was fun because Kesha could be creative and we made all kinds of hats and scarves for the snowmen out of what we had around the house. I originally saw this idea on Pinterest, but I can't find the link to share it here, so if this was your idea. Thank you and please feel free to email me with your link and I'll add it here.

What you need...

• Those round cotton pads that are for cleaning makeup off your face (I bought them at Supermaxi for about $2.00)
• An assortment of buttons/beads for the snowman's buttons
  I already had these at home, but I bought the bag of star beads you see in the picture above at Coral Rio for less than $1.00.
• Sticks for arms
  I got these for free on one of my walks by the river.
• A "carrot nose"
  I used an orange, glittery puff that I got in a pack at Coral Rio. The entire bag cost me less than $1.00. I used the other puffs for other projects and also as an alternative type of button for the snowman.
• "Scarves"
  I used ribbon, felt, string, things I already had around the house.
• Eyes
  Truth, I had my mom send me goggly eyes from the US. However, you can buy them at Coral Rio. A pack of mixed sizes runs about $1.00.

How it works...

• Put a bunch of this stuff on a plate, leave out, let kids play.
• You can also get creative. In the picture below you'll see a "magic wand" we created with some felt and a pom pom.
• Let them use their imagination. Kesha created really tall snowmen and used the scissors to destroy the cool hats I created since she apparently had something else in mind.

Salt Dough Candy Canes 

I love salt dough.

It's easy to make. I almost always have the ingredients. It's hard to mess up. It's versatile. And if kids put it in their mouth who cares.

For this holiday season, we made candy canes. Correction... I made candy canes since Kesha was not home when I did this. Yes, I'm sure there was a better way to use my time.

I used this salt dough recipe, split it in half, then added red food coloring to one half until I had the color I desired.

Recipe
2c normal flour
1c salt
1c lukewarm water
Red food coloring (as needed)

Mix ingredients, split dough in half, add food coloring. Ta da!

After you have you two balls like I did above, you pinch off a bit of each and make a small snake out of each color. Enter twine the two colors and roll. Shape like a candy cane then stick on a silpat on a baking sheet.

Bake at around 200 (f) until done (will depend on size and thickness... ranges from 45 minutes - 3 hours).

Let them cool then hang around the house, on the Christmas tree, etc. Then let your 3 year old find them and break them all by using them a drum sticks. Nice! Here's a picture of them before they were massacred. 

Fresh Eucalyptus Wreath
This one not many of you will have the materials do make this. I do because I live by a Eucalyptus infested river area. We are never at a loss for Eucalyptus leaves. However, since some of you who read this blog are in Cuenca, here ya go....

Get a bunch of fresh baby Eucalyptus branches (it has to be baby or you'll have a hard time manipulating the branches and they won't smell as good).

Start with 3 longer strands. Tie them together to form a circle (I used a gold cord that I had to tie the branches together).

Once you have your basic circle, weave the rest of your branches around the base branches to fill out your wreath.

Adorn with something fun and festive like a red bow, or in our case, red jingle bells.

Your house will smell amazing for a week or so and the wreath will dry and preserve. Also, any leaves that fall off while making the wreath can go in a pot of water on the stove, simmered, and they will help kill germs and clear your nostrils! Great if you have a cold!

Festive Wall Hanging Thing
This is easy, fun, kid friendly, and makes you feel accomplished.

I bought all of my supplies at Coral Rio. I made this for under $5, easily. I'm not going to give you step by step instructions because if you look at the pictures you'll see how it's done. However, I will tell you that to get my circles I traced an espresso cup then hand cut them out.  

Enjoy and happy holiday crafting!

31

I love birthdays. Always have. Always will. 

My whole life I have been the kind of person who puts others first. But on my birthday, it has been the one day that was about me, and only me. 

December 11th was my day. A day where friends and colleagues bring you balloons, flowers, cake, presents... And if these things doesn't happen on that specific day, well, then it doesn't really count because it's not your day anymore. 

I felt this way, that is, until I moved here.

In a collective culture it's never really all about you. 

Why completely inconvenience yourself for something that happens to everyone? Now, this is not to say that people don't do nice things here for others, or celebrate birthdays, but they're not going to break backs to make things happen on that specific day. For example, maybe everyone has to work and Tuesdays are not ideal for parties, or one of your friends has another dinner, so you do it on Friday when everyone can make it.

I also married in to a family that is not big on birthdays.

And let's face it. As you get older, it's not as much fun. I mean you can't really compare your 21st birthday and your 31st, right?

Then add in two children, and nothing is about you anymore. Not even your once coveted birthday day.

Enter giant brick wall we call reality that I slam in to... Yeah. Ouch.

Truth be told, my birthday day was about the worst day I've had all year. Kalah was sick and colicky, Arturo was sick, and Kesha was getting over a cold. I did get a big hug from Kesha and a quick "happy birthday" from Arturo in the morning. 

My birthday morning "selfie"

Although Arturo is not much of a birthday guy, he does make an effort for me, as he knows it means a lot to me. We tried to go out and do fun things, but Kalah was miserable. So, I locked myself inside the house with her and did nothing. She was so sickly I didn't even really get to eat lunch since she only wanted to be held (even though Arturo did bring me lunch). I ran in to our friends MIssy and Tony on the way home to let Kalah rest, and they had left me some flowers with the guard! It was a nice surprise, and very much so appreciated! 

Kalah had a high fever and we made an appointment for her to see the doctor. After the doctor we attempted to go out to dinner with Kesha, who hadn't napped and was grumpy and Kalah who was sick. Kesha whined the entire dinner and Kalah cried. Needless to say we ate as fast as we could. It was not a relaxing celebratory birthday dinner by any means. 

After that we went home and went to bed. No cake, no singing, no presents... I was pretty bummed out.

Cue Thursday.

I had a play date with my "gringa" mom friends who are also married to Ecuadorians. The had ordered an allergen free cake for me and made cupcakes for one of our friends, Karen, who had a birthday just before mine. I got a cake, a candle to blow out, and sung to! How fun! They were so kind and thoughtful, and the cake was wonderful!

Milan and his mom, Amilie, Kesha, and Rafael at my friend Judith's house on Thursday.

Then came Friday...

We had planned to have sort of a Christmas party with our friends. We decided to do hot chocolates for the kids and we were going to do dinner and wine. In my mind I thought of something simple, relaxed, nothing fancy. Well, I showed up at Alex's house and she had gone all out! 

Alex's Pinterest-perfect table setting

Alex's Christmas tree
(obviously has nothing to do with my birthday,
but it is pretty so I wanted to put a picture of it here)

Alex had her mom's housekeeper come help prepare dinner. There was wine and appetizers. The kids ate, we ate, and then... a cake, a candle, and a song! Pip and Arturo had found someone to make me an allergen-free birthday cake too! And oh what fun! We had hot chocolate (well, not me, but everyone else), wine, and cake! What a wonderful evening!  What wonderful friends!

Dinner

Friends having dinner at Alex's house

Juanacho and Joaquin having dinner
(Joaquin is chowing down on a cherry tomato)

Blowing out my candle! 

A shot of my allergen free cake

Making hot chocolates with Alex's daughter Juli.

An "artsy" shot of our hot chocolates.

Slices of allergen-free cake.

"Richie" showing off his hot chocolate.

So, maybe it's not all about the exact birthday day after all. It's about celebration, friendship, special moments, and a reason to get together (and eat cake). The day it happens isn't as important as the fact that a celebration happens. That people who love you take the time to make you feel loved and special, no matter the date.

Thank you everyone for a wonderful 3 days of turning 31. 

I love you all and can't wait for my next birthday!

A big extra special thank you to my parents who are gifting me a new camera for my birthday!!! I am so excited that I will finally be able to take amazing shots of my strange, yet intriguing life, and post quality pictures here on my blog!!!

When a holiday is not a holiday where you live

I've written before about the difficulties of raising a bicultural family. But truth be told, most days I don't think about it.

Holidays, however, are an exception.

The challenges a two culture family faces when attempting to incorporate both cultures in to daily life is fully confronted during holiday season. Especially when a holiday is not a holiday in the country where you reside.

Cue Thanksgiving.

We do Thanksgiving. Like full on do Thanksgiving (I even handmade decorations this year).

Our decorations

I cook (with a bit of help) for 30 or so people. Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, pies... the works.

Our 2013 spread, minus the desserts

We hold a late dinner on actual Thanksgiving day and people typically arrive late and don't stay very long.

Why? Well, because Thanksgiving is not a holiday here. There is no vacation on Thursday, and no vacation on Friday. So, while people in the US are shopping "Black Friday" holiday specials on one of their days off for the 4-day holiday weekend, kids here have school and adults have to go to work.

We eat all of the parts here. Nothing goes to waste!

Even I was supposed to attend a school meeting at 6:30 at Kesha's school. I sent them a polite email informing them that it was a holiday in my culture and we had an important family meal that evening and I would not be in attendance.

This year my invitation asked people to arrive by 7:00. However, I selected my invitation time knowing that most people would not show up until closer to 7:30. And surely enough, people had work, meetings, appointments, evening activities, and most didn't appear at my mother-in-law's house until closer to 7:45. We were finally eating by 8:00. I was in home and in bed by 10:30.

Our 13 kilo (almost 30 pound) bird.

So, as you can see, the Thanksgiving "sit around eating all day while catching up with friends and family from late morning/midday to late in to the evening" is not really a thing. But, it is a wonderful reason to gather together with friends and family and share my culture and holidays with them all (and I know everyone appreciates a giant, 30 pound turkey being cooked for them too).

Some of our friends and family enjoying dinner

Even though Thanksgiving is a lot of fun here, and I love doing it. You do not get the same "once a year super special event" feel you get in the US. It is not cold or dreary here. There are no beautiful red, orange, brown leaves coating the ground. There is no smell of fall or crispness of the coming winter season in the air. It doesn't get dark early in the evening and make you glad you're all together and warm indoors. And those with which I share the holiday do not fully grasp the concept of the changing seasons and all that celebrating Thanksgiving encompasses. For them it is simply another meal with friends and family that happens at some point in November that I might remind them about and extend an invitation to at some point. No one is anticipating it. Looking forward to it. Reminiscing about what this holiday was like for them as a child.

The "ugly cake"

  

Homemade squash pie (aka: pumpkin pie)

I fear that my girls will also lack this comprehension. As they are celebrating something that is from my world, not theirs. However, I am thankful that they get to experience it. No matter what form it comes in. Hopefully what we do as parents will help them build their own memories of what Thanksgiving encompasses, and that doesn't have to be what mine was. Nor do I suppose it would ever be what mine was. In that I take comfort. For that, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.


*This is indicative of my own personal experience

Dear Kesha: a letter to my three year old

Dearest, dearest Kesha,

Three... Three years old. How time flies. How life changes. And how things have changed for you over the last year.

Your 2nd birthday party

We moved, you spent long periods of time in another country, started school, made friends, dealt with mommy being on bed rest, and gained a little sister. Considering all that has happened you've been quite the trooper.

November 2012 wearing your school uniform

The ease with which you handle change is astounding for a child your age. You have lived in two countries, speak two languages, have friends in both languages, travel thousands of miles like a pro, are a loving and wonderful big sister, and are a joy to watch learn and grow.

On a flight to the US

You love pink and sparkles. Hello kitty and princesses.

If it doesn't meet those requirements then it probably won't get worn.

Purses, nail polish, makeup... You love it all and are a girly girl at heart.

Yet, you won't let me do your hair.

You won't even let me brush your hair!

With your princess cell phone

You build houses in our closets, love your baby dolls, and like the idea of helping me in the kitchen and with projects. However, your short attention span rarely allows you to see our projects through to the end. Usually we end up with glue in places that drive me to distraction, or washing dishes calls your name and is more appealing than cutting mushrooms.

Berry picking in Paute

You still love singing (music in general), painting/coloring (anything art related), and dancing. I think you are an artistic soul and I love that about you.

You have grown from a baby to a child over this past year.

You got your first haircut.

First haircut - May 2013

You play on your own, go off with other kids, sleep over at Abuela's, traveled all over the east coast. Yet, you aren't much for doing things alone in front of a crowd... you'd rather lead the pack!

During this past year you have potty trained yourself (basically), stopped nursing, and started falling asleep on your own for naps (this has happened recently). You are speaking long phrases in both Spanish and English, expressing yourself very well in both languages. I have heard setnences of up to 11 words in one language!

With your new baby sister - June 2013

You can count up to 16 (then go back and forth between 16 and 17 forever). You know all of your colors, you've realized we have first names (and you use them... like calling Papi "Papi Arturo"). You summersault, spin and twirl, dance on your tippy toes, change entire outfits all on your own, basically shower yourself and brush your own teeth. You've even made your own dinner (with a bit of help with the hot pot)!

You are still a skinny little thing, weighing in at 30 pounds (but you are getting to big for me to carry comfortably, which breaks my heart). You are too tall for 3t clothes, but 4t pants fall off of you... what a conundrum! Must be all that running around you do!

Playing at a park in Kirkland. Tutu and all.

You can now almost swim and started equestrian classes this year. We tried putting you in ballet, but you just wanted to watch. We will try again next year.

You have been in a serious whining phase for some time now, which drives your father to distraction. It can even get to me and my "patience of steel" at times. Hopefully it will pass soon.

Your 3rd birthday

Although you are three at times it feels like you are going on 13. You are strong willed and opinionated. You and I clash frequently as our personalities are very similar. There have been many tears from both of us as we grow, and many apologies as well. Although we will find our way, these bumps in the road are rough on us both.

You are growing so fast. I blink and you are no longer the tiny little baby I brought home from the hospital. I blink again and you're out of diapers. I blink again and you're sleeping over at someone else's house...  Time is moving far too quickly for me, but I am so proud of all you are, all you are becoming...

3 years old with your cousin Rafaela

I love you, and love, and love you, aaaand love you Bugsy, and can't wait to see what this next year brings!

Mommy

Recipe: allergen free chocolate cake

You may or may not be aware of the fact that I have had to be pretty much allergen free since Kalah was 3 weeks old. She is intolerant to dairy (both cow and goat), soy, nut, and egg proteins as well as gluten intolerant. It has made for interesting eating. 

However, we have figured it out and life goes on and you simply adjust.

One thing I have truly missed are desserts. After all, who doesn't love a really amazing scoop of ice cream, or a brownie, or whatever sweet treat to round out your day.

Well, I no longer long! I have finally created an amazing, delicious, sweet, crave fulfilling, allergen and gluten-free, vegan chocolate cake! WOAH!

Want in on the secret? Here's the recipe!

Ingredients for cake

• 1¾ cups plantain flour
•  2 cups granulated sugar
•  ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (mine was simply ground up cacao and had no other ingredients)
• 1½ tsp baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 2 tbs of chia seeds ground and mixed with 6 tbs of water
• ½ cup cream of coconut (I used Goya)
• ½ cup non-dairy fat, melted (I used solid palm oil)
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup hot coffee (I like coffee so I made mine strong!)

Ingredients for frosting

• Non-dairy fat, at room temperature (i used solid palm oil)
• Powdered sugar
• Cocoa powder
• Vanilla
• Coconut cream
• Coffee

Instructions for cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch pan (or line with parchment paper circles) and set aside.
2. Grind chia seeds in a food processor or coffee grinder and mix with water, let stand
3. In the large bowl of a standing mixer, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add chia mixture, coconut cream, melted palm oil and vanilla extract and beat until smooth (about 3 minutes). Remove bowl from mixer and stir in hot coffee with a rubber spatula. Batter should form a ball and not "pourable" (this is because of the coconut cream, which will make the cake melt and caramelise. If it is too runny your cake will not set).
4. Pour batter evenly between the two pans and bake on middle rack of oven for about 35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs attached.
5. When out of oven allow cake to sit for 5 minutes then spread the frosting on the top
6. Allow to cool, then serve and enjoy!

Note: This cake should turn out gooey if you put the frosting on when it is warm. If you would like to wait until the cake is cool to put on your frosting you will get a normal cake with a more standard style frosting. 

Grinding Chia Seeds... even a preschooler can do it! 

Our ground up seeds.... they don't have to be perfect.

What they look like after being mixed with water.

Instructions for frosting

1. Start with your room temperature fat, add in powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
2. Add vanilla, coconut cream, and coffee until you can blend it well and the mixture is spreadable.
3. Add additional ingredients to your liking and mix until you can easily spread it over the cake 

The final product (this is the frosted cake)

I will one day learn to take better pictures of what I make. For now, it is what it is. You can make the cake yourself and revel in the real life gloriousness that is this allergen-free vegan cake! 

WARNING: As this cake contains coffee do not consume it at 8:00 at night right before you attempt to go to sleep (right Pip?)

Served on a platter ready to consume!
(no, this is not figs as someone on Facebook guessed)

For those of you in Cuenca here are the sources of my ingredients:

• Cocoa powder - Supermaxi (double check the ingredients list, but I found one with no dairy and no soy)
• Plantain flour - Supermaxi (it's right in the flour section and runs like $.90 per bag)
• Palm oil - Supermaxi (it's with the margarine, comes in a white bag, and is also about $.90)
• Baking soda - This one is a pain. I actually brought mine from the US. They sell it at some pharmacies, you have to ask around. They sell it in limited quantities. 
• Chia Seeds - There is a new health stand at Supermaxi Las Americas. They sell them there. It is the same name in Spanish and English. If you live on the other side of town try downtown. There are many natural health stores that carry them.
• Coconut Cream - Supermaxi (it is where they sell the baking supplies. It is very pricey at about $5 per can)

Give me patience

Sometimes I get lost in the difficulties of parenting. I am constantly reading, reminding myself, trying to be better, but at times my adulthood gets the best of me... May I have patience and remember what is truly important.

From: https://www.facebook.com/ElephantFamilyPage

6 Months Old

My Dearest Kalah May,

You are my youngest. My last. And time is flying by.

2 weeks old

A whole half year has passed since you joined us, and now, I can hardly picture you as a newborn. Your big sister puts your newborn clothes on her dolls and I can't fathom you being that tiny. You have grown in to a delightful, strong, peaceful little girl, who brings joy to the face of anyone who crosses your path.

Women and men alike coo at your site everywhere we go, and everyone loves making you smile and laugh. And oh how you laugh!

2 months old

Your sister delights in your presence and loves you to a fault. Her kisses oftentimes turn in to crushes, her hugs to smothers, and her play to shrieks that startle you... But you two get along beautifully and your face lights up the room when you see her. Not even your Mama makes you that happy.

Sleeping comes to you fairly naturally. Your naps are short, but when you go down you stay down. Nighttime still finds you waking two times or so. But overall, you're a good sleeper and I am so thankful for that!

I have struggled with keeping my diet just right to keep you from throwing up and having massive body rashes. Every time I think you're better and ease up I find out I'm wrong. It can be frustrating, but we're charging ahead with breastfeeding, as in the end, that's what I feel is best for you... best for us as a team.

3.5 months old (first time rolling over!)

You first rolled at 3.5 months, and gained the ability to roll in both directions around 4.5 months. You are good at pushing yourself up and can pull up your rear end as well, practicing the tucking position you will need for crawling. Even though you can't crawl, you can still manoeuvre yourself enough to surprise me if I walk away from you momentarily, only to return to find you in a completely different location... it's amazing how efficient wiggling is as a form of locomotion. You grab for toys and pull them toward you, can move objects from one  hand to the other, and are starting to understand peekaboo.

First foods happened recently with granadilla, papaya, and banana topping the list. I even let you try a bit of squash. You grab at our plates during meal time and hunger for a taste of whatever we are putting to our lips. Cups of water, herbal teas, anything we'll stick on your tongue you'll lap up. You are so fervent for a taste it's almost comical.

5.5 months old

Vocal, responsive, interactive, are all adjectives that describe you perfectly. You are so aware of what is around you, you love listening to me sing, and you want people to speak to you, play with you, and include you in life. I can't wait until you are mobile so you can interact even more... I think that will bring you great joy!

You also got your first teeth (bottom two) at around 5.5 months. Since then you do everything with your tongue out. I love it and will miss it when you stop.

Halloween - 5.5 months old

Life has been fairly typical since we returned from the US. We have mostly spent our time at home and in and around Cuenca. You celebrated your first Halloween and pretty much slept through the party. We also celebrated your first Fiestas de Cuenca by spending a lot of time wandering around in the markets, listening to live music, and hanging out at the park. You liked the park the best (naturally).

I always say the first year of life is my favorite. So many changes occur. You learn so much in such a short period of time. Everything is amazing. And things change over night. We are so lucky to have you in our lives Pickles. You amaze me.

6 months old

I love you and love you and love you and love you.
Mommy