I'm baaaack!

Hola mis amigos!

We’ve been wrapped up in ourselves here lately, so I apologize for the lack in updating. Here’s what we’ve been doing…

Sohl son and Little Sohl Gal had an open house at Sohl son’s Spanish Immersion school, where we got to see artwork from the kids from birth to age 5. Then we had a Thanksgiving feast in the courtyard, family-style, where we pass the food around the table. We sat with the families of two of Sohl sons’ friends. We enjoyed turkey, potatoes, cranberry sauce, veggies, cornbread muffins, and pumpkin pie for dessert. And, in a European twist, unrefrigerated boxed milk to drink. (They also have unrefrigerated eggs here… I don’t know…)

My Sohlmate and I attended Sohl son’s conference, where his teacher shared with us how well he’s doing. He shares, participates, and is cooperative with the kids. He’s also doing very, very well with his Spanish, and the goal she set for him is to begin using more Spanish phrases and sentences, rather than isolated words. We’re also supposed to encourage his written language, as he often chooses not to express himself that way.

Sohl son’s creativity is high, and he often spends long periods of time completing self-designed projects. She said he really loves tape, and will build structures with tape, string, or blocks, and often encourages other kids to join him.

Little Sohl Gal is a charmer, and loves to go to “school.” I usually take her Tuesdays and Thursdays, and she runs right in to get started. Her teachers are amazed with her vocabulary, often stating how easily understood she is. Another parent let me know last night that he always looked forward to picking up his son, because besides the hugs from his own child, Little Sohl Gal made sure she hugged him, too.

Young Sohl’s up to about nine and half pounds, and is extremely tolerant of his often-overzealous siblings. They love to “help,” from singing him songs to calm him (often the Spanish colors song), to helping find clothes and blankets for him, to retrieving his car seat or other dropped items. Each morning at school, Sohl son announces Young Sohl’s arrival, and Little Sohl Gal runs her own version of interference, often telling Sohl son’s friends that it’s “her baby,” and that they, “can’t touch.”

Last night we went to the only remaining drive-in movie theater on the Iberian peninsula, and were treated to Madagascar 2. We met our neighbors and a few other friends there, and grilled out before the movie. We learned two lessons: the first, bring blankets in November, because it’s cold; and the second, have food ready before it gets dark.

I’ve set a goal to try 70 Spanish wines before leaving, and I am really enjoying this task. Our local grocery store afforded me my first taste of sherry wine, the manzanilla. Phew! I thought I had mistakenly taken a shot of vodka or something! There’s a reason why the sherry wine glasses are so tiny. Right now my favorites are tinto roble, and this new wine that is from right here in Cadiz.

I stopped by the gypsy market the other day, and grabbed two bufandas (scarves, which are huge here in Spain) and a medio kilo (a ½ kilo or 1.1 lbs.) of olivas negras and of aceitunas con almendras (green olives with almonds - sounds gross, I know; but super extra tasty!). The gypsy market is somewhat like a flea market, where you can buy anything from bras and underwear to lentils to a pair of leather boots and a new dress. Of course you can also pick up your daily ration of caracoles (snails) and tiny gambas (shrimp).

Pictures tomorrow, friends!