brief update, lots of pictures

First thing's First: I'm pregnant!! We are all extremely happy! Due date is June 9th!

This blog doesn't get updated very much because we've all been busy! James works all day, Sasha goes to school half day, and I take advantage of the morning to do the assignments for my six classes!
James is pretty happy at work, he's starting to find his place in the team and is learning a lot.
Sasha seems to be happy at school. It's hard for her to leave home in the mornings, but she never wants to leave school when I pick her up, and the teachers say she has a lot of friends. James takes the car to work, so I walk to pick her up everyday. It's a nice, 15-minute walk and my only exercise of the day. Then Sasha and I walk back together and that gives us the opportunity to talk about each other's day.
She has been excited about writing, particularly numbers. Below is a picture of her number-writing. (My numbers are at the top). She also loves to pretend to be the teacher.
In this picture she's the teacher, crossing her legs and reading me a story:




Sasha has found a way to sit through the Baha'i Feast. She packs her backpack with some of her favorite things, and during the administrative portion she works quietly with them. As shown here:



The rest are pictures of a few outings here and there, including a visit with our dear friend from Costa Rica, Jane. We went out for lunch at a really nice place with a huge yard for kids to run around in, sand boxes to play in, and horses to feed. We went with Jane, her husband Brad, and their grandson Federico.

card games, swimming and dancing

Those three activities are Sasha's favorite at the moment.

She loves Ballet. She hasn't taken any classes yet, but we read books about it, watch short ballet videos, and I've taught her the basic steps from what I remember as a child.
When we go to the pool, she challenges herself with something new every time. I posted a short video on youtube of her diving down to the bottom of the pool. And another of her trying to imitate the flamenco dancer from Riverdance.

She dances in her room in front of the mirror, and even has an attentive audience:





She's a pro at Uno, Old Maid, Go Fish, Pick up Sticks, and Crazy 8s.

From here and there...

Here are a few of the last pictures of Sasha and her classmates:






My brother, Ali, came to Boston just before we left for New York. We were so glad we were able to see him as well as his brother and sister, Deany and Carlos. Ali was there helping Deany get moved in to her new home!

from the left, Ali, his sister Deany with her fiance (I forgot his name), and her son Brian, Ali's brother Carlos and his girlfriend with her daughter:





Ali showing Sasha how he carries his daughter:











At the Houston Children's Museum:

The Museum just opened a new section called Kidtropolis. As the name indicates, it is a city just for kids. Children can shop, eat, vote, and even get a job and earn their own money! (all pretend, of course).

Here she's working as a veterinarian:






Here as a waitress:




As a cashier at the grocery store:




In line at the ATM, happy to be depositing some money!



Depositing her checks. The computer registers her card and tells her how much she has in her savings, each time she returns!




Back from Costa Rica

On our way back from Costa Rica, our flight, which was supposed to arrive in Houston around 11 p.m., had mechanical problems and other delays, and didn't arrive until around 4 am!

It started out alright:




But towards the end we were very tired.
And this is not a picture of a pile of bags and sweaters...



...it is a picture of our daughter, covered in any piece of clothing we could find while we tried to sleep in that freezing cold Florida airport until we were notified of the arrival of our fixed plane:



We got home around 4:30 and slept in!

Hanging out at home:






Some pictures of our home: