family

• Garbanzo had another well baby check-up today, and all is good.  He’s still a little guy, but not in a bad way.  Between 10-25 percentile for weight, 25-50 for length, and 25 for head size.  I know this is info mostly for the grandmothers.

• I was interviewed by Blog Coach a few weeks ago, and the interview went live today.

Today at lunch, Chickpea asked for one of her favorites, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich taco. It’s exactly what it sounds like - peanut butter and jelly rolled up in a tortilla. And she actually calls it a peanut butter and jelly sandwich taco - she doesn’t omit the word “sandwich.”

So anyway, as I was making her “taco,” this was our conversation:

CHICK: Can I have some of that yellow cheese from America with it?

ME: You mean the cheddar cheese? You want it on your taco?

CHICK: Yes.

ME: That would be kinda gross.

CHICK: But I want it on the side. Then it wouldn’t be gross.

ME: (hesitating) Okay…

CHICK: And can I have some ketchup?

ME: Chick, that would be really gross with peanut butter and jelly. Trust me.

CHICK: No, not the spicy kind, the regular kind! (they make several types of ketchup here, one of which is spicy)

ME: Well, regular ketchup would be gross, too.

CHICK: No, it would be good, because it would be on the side. Trust me.

So we sat down for lunch, and then…

CHICK: Can I have some sausage? (”sausage” is her word for Ranch dressing. I don’t know why.)

ME: What?

CHICK: Yes, on the side. And don’t say that would be gross, because it won’t. It will be delicious.

And so today, Chickpea’s lunch was peanut butter and jelly rolled up in a tortilla, with a side of cheddar cheese, ketchup, and Ranch dressing. And every bit was eaten.

Okay, and just to top off the randomness - Kabob is currently watching Nacho Libre, one of his birthday gifts. Chickpea walked in and saw a scene of people in the Catholic church. She then asked, “Ooh, are they having a luau?”

To her, a house church type of fellowship is the norm. She doesn’t remember the sit-in-chairs-and-watch-a-guy-at-a-pulpit kind of church anymore. Apparently, to her, that looks like a Hawaiian beach party with a pig on a spit.

Quite the past few weeks it has been.

Kabob turned 30 last Friday.  We are now the same age for approximately six weeks.

His beloved grandfather passed away the week before. Kabob was pretty close to him - Garbanzo is named after this wonderful man that was loved by many. His memorial service was livestreamed to us via Skype, so Kabob was up from 2-5 a.m., “attending” the service.

In times like this, technology really is such a blessing. We praise God for things like Skype.

We went out on a date last night - first one in I don’t know how long - and we celebrated Kabob’s birthday, grown-up style. In that we didn’t have to cut each other’s food before eating it, and we got to complete sentences.

We went downtown to hit up the one store in this city of 3 million people that sells Dr. Pepper. They were closed. So then we went to dinner, where I had a chicken caesar salad - at least I think I did. The only think chicken caesar salady about my meal is that chicken was involved. And for dessert, we hit up the oh-so-dignified, brand new Dunkin’ Donuts. That’s right, my friends. Yet another American chain restaurant we never patronize in the States, but somehow manage to see as a shining ray of hope while living overseas. We had donuts and split a coffee for dessert. So romantic.

This week is our official vacation time. We’ve bought season tickets to the local water park (yet another thing we’d probably never do in the States), so we hope to be there at least three days this week. We also need to renew our visas, so we’ll be visiting the country next over for a day or two. They have pretty beaches and bacon, so I’m sure it will be fun. What more do you need for a family getaway?

Life continues on as usual here. Last night, Kabob and I remarked how much easier and better the second year overseas is than the first. We’ve heard this from other expats as well. You miss people and things, for sure, but not everything is strange and a stressor. I think we nailed it well last night - the first year you spend in mourning over the American life you’ve left; the second year, you find your life overseas. That’s exactly how it feels for us.

I’m off to enjoy the rarity of two children sleeping at once.

Tonight, as we were playing make believe on the couch…

CHICK: Okay, Mommy, I’m going to be in trouble, and you’re going to be in Spanish.

ME: What?  You’ll be in trouble and I’ll be in Spanish?

CHICK: Yes.  It’ll be fun.

ME: Why will I be in Spanish?

CHICK: Because Spanish is good.