email update 3/7

Saturday was a loooooong day for us.
we had our first cycle of sleeping, getting dressed, and eating as 5.
there are some 'homeworks' we got from MFH that were david's job - explaining showers was the first. It is common in places where water is at a premium to use more effective means for washing - mainly they shower by pouring the water than having it pumped through a showerhead. So David got to go in an explain to rey. But then we had the added joy of the lack of hot water. We find it refreshing - the water is not COLD, it is just cooler than body temp and that can be not very pleasant for the shortest and blondest members of the family. Let's just say that the provincial charm is wearing off in that particular dept. Rey was a trooper and just took care of business. coop washed what appears to be half of himself, and henry HOWLED through the shower.

We ate breakfast of more omlets, mangoes, papaya, mango juice, and BACON (there is an endless supply of bacon at this hotel which almost makes up for the cool showers!) and then got ready to go to Enchanted Kingdom. Ramah (social wrkr), her husband Erwin, their MOST ADORABLE daughter EC (will attach a pic), and Dess (Rey's social wrkr) drove us out to this great theme park. We found all the rides where men scream like girls. we found all the rides where you get soaked. We found the snack bar. we even found shade. all in all it was wonderful but hot and STICKY. We had a ball, and i know that scientifically having the brains of these kids releasing some 'good' hormones while sharing an experience is an essential building block for family.

I forget that we are conspicuous here - Imagine being a small quaint town and having the crew from "Jersey Shore" show up? that's what i feel we're like - the cultural differences of body language and how we use our hands to speak (oh, and the "come here" sign in USA is VERY DIFFERENT here- NOT in a good way *ahem*) . I have made the mistake only 50 million times. I was asked if Cooper's hair is his natural color (thank GOD they didn't ask me the same thing)

Then we headed upcountry to see the Marcos' house (we actually went to tour the land and see the cool volcano and the crater, but the road ends at the Marcos' - now called "Peoples' Park".) Dess was brave enough to risk his life to take pics from the side of the road. We used the opportunity to have a word with the blond mccauleys as they were soooooooooooooooo burned out they got to that point of no return. I was just praying that we'd get back to our hotel quickly. (seriously, they were crazy, i know that Barclay understands me right now!!!) Rey was asleep. smart boy: non culpability.

The poverty here is difficult to explain. There are BMW showrooms and fancy gated communities and then miles and miles of corrugated tin patched shacks. barefoot children playing on the side of the road. I wasn't comfortable rolling down the window and snapping pics like i am on safari, but hopefully i can capture some on film. Trash all over the sides of the road in the poorer areas.

We came home, swam, and then ate room service. It looked like way too much food when it came, but Rey is 11, so there you go. we have a little left for snacks and whatnot. I will be increasing the grocery budget asap. then bed. David and i can BARELY make it to 8:30 and then we're awake at 3:30. not really worth fixing. SO GLAD I BROUGHT STARBUCKS with me. and filters. :)

The three boys are figuring their way together. Three can be hard, especially with the jealousy and 'fair' issue between Coop and Henry. I saw henry struggling to hold on to rey, and i had to just say 'you can just hug him, honey' - and he threw his arms around rey's waist. It's not like he hadn't been hanging on him every moment, because he has been great; he just couldn't decide at that moment how to read rey's body language. Rey's new phrase of the day is "boys, no fighting" and i think "AMEN!".

We brought Tangeos (little shape puzzle things), an ed emberly drawing book, and a friendship bracelet kit. Rey is really interested in all of them, and i am sure they are great stimlulators. he likes to make things with his hands - i may have to drag him to Washington for art even when i am NOT teaching. just for the experiences of making and following directions!

do me a favor and go get in your bed for a second and just LOVE it. love your pillow and your yummy bed. i miss mine, can you tell?

today we go to the mall. QUIT LAUGHING AT ME!!! i know you know how much i LOVE the mall. NOT! well, this will be a good one, rey wants sunglasses and needs flip flops. :) (and he wants a bike. not on THIS trip, honey.)