Eli and I went to Venezuela for a week to visit the family. My aunt Betty was the only one who had already met Eli but for the rest of the family, it was the first time. She did good when I think of all the new people she met in such a short period of time. The only pattern that Eli had during the entire 5 week trip including Colombia, was that she would be very shy at first, not lasting this shyness more than five to ten minutes of meeting someone. But once she had passed that stage, nothing would stop her. Eli is such a social, easy going and friendly girl that everybody loved her.
We had a very nice family time in Caracas. I'm so glad I saw my grandma who is 99 years old! Yes, she is 99 and with a better memory than a 40 or 50 year old person. She knows where things are, she remembers family member's phone numbers and she is still pretty good at matching names with faces. I wish I had her memory and vitality. Abuelita Virginia does not cook anymore but she eats very well. Anything she wants, she eats. She loves candies and can finish a bag of them in a couple of days. No pains, no aches. She is still very strong. God bless her and keep her this way for many more years.
A few things that I want to write about Eli before I forget:
-Last weekend she picked out her first pair of shoes by herself. We went to a children's shoe store and she grabbed a pink pair of sandals from the rack. I didn't pay too much attention because I was not sure if the size would fit her next summer so I grabbed them and after looking at something else put them back in the box. But Eli found them again, brought them back to me and said: mama, para mi. Me gustan. So I decided to have her try them on, she loved them and they were not as small as I had thought. They were cute sandals for summer time so we bought them and Eli left the store wearing them.
-Yesterday Eli was with Greg in the house while I was at a doctor's appointment. I don't really know what the deal was but Greg said to her: Eli, no es no. And she said back to him: No es si! Greg said that he held his laugh but once she was gone, he could not stop laughing.
-Eli is accepting again some lactose products such as cheese and yogurt. This is so good for all of us. We still have her drinking soy milk on a daily basis which I don't mind but I really hope that she starts tolerating dairy products again.
_She has learned to pray at night. She knows the entire prayer so I just follow her and let her lead.
_Eli knows a few Spanish children's songs such as "los pollitos dicen pio, pio, pio" y "arroz con leche" and she is speaking both English and Spanish very well. She speaks Spanish at home and I brought from Colombia a few cd's and videos that will help her develop the language.
And here are some pics of the trip. Eli, this is the journal or diary I am creating for you. And I will be printing it too. Love you.
My cousin and God child Andres. He and my uncle picked us up in Cucuta, Colombia and then we drove all they way to Caracas.
With tio James on the way to Caracas
Aqui esta Eli con mi tio James almorzando en el camino y de via a Caracas
En el carro durante el viaje. Eli se porto muy bien. Ademas Andresito le compro un par de peliculas de ninos para que viera en el camino
Mi abuelita Virginia.
Eli y mi abuelita tuvieron un par de encontrones pero al final ya se abrazaban y daban besos. Lo que pasa es que la Srita Eli no es tan santica que digamos y entonces veia a mi abuelita acostada rezando y ella le halaba el pelo o le pegaba en la cabeza y mi abuelita no se dejaba y le daba un coscorron de regreso.
At my aunt and my uncle's book store
Tia Betty en la libreria
Aunt Betty found some manual arts for Eli
Con la tia Betty
Ayudando como siempre
Grandma Virginia
Andrecito y abuelita
Tres generaciones
The three generations
Viajando hacia la playa
As soon as Eli got off the car and saw the pool, she started undressing herself
En la piscina del edificio cerca a la playa
Con tio James
Here she is wearing my swimsuit! Yes it was mine when I was her age
Este vestido de bano fue mio cuando yo tenia su edad!
Con la tia Mariana
Con JuanFer, hermano de Andres
Cerca a la playa
Juan Fernando
Enjoying the beach
Miss Ladybug
Descansando
Back to the school
Opening a card from Gradma Joyce
