There is ALWAYS something...

Life can't just be easy can it? What fun would that be?

Take today for instance.

Andrew was invited to a friend's house for a fun little get-together with about 8-10 kids he hangs with at school. I was thrilled to see that the time for this shin-dig was 5pm-10pm. Reasonable. I hear that the parties here don't typically start until around 10pm and go until 1-2am. So a non-native family, working on more of a European schedule. Whew. Didn't have to address that whole time obstacle just yet. It's his first outing with friends that didn't involve working on a school project. I've been encouraging him to invite his friends over, but he's hesitant and I don't want to push - if he's not ready.

I'm finding that it isn't that he's not ready it is the fact that his friends are working on a much larger pay scale than we are and he is not overly excited to bring them to our little humble abode. Granted this humble abode costs more than our house payment in the US; but it's about 1/3 of the size. He's also friends with the Ambassador's kids. Sorry. We can't begin to compete with the Greek Ambassador to Chile's home. That house was unbelievable. The house today - even bigger. The girl, Isa, had everyone bring swim trunks and a towel because she had a heated pool. Well, we have a heated pool too, and there is NO way we'd get in - it's still too cold. Come to find out her "heated" pool was INSIDE a pool house. So a heated, indoor pool... Yep. What exactly can we offer these kids at our house? The Playstation 3? I'd buy a ping pong table - pool table - whatever it took to bring these kids to our home. But that doesn't even begin to put us on a level playing ground. We've got nothing cool to bring them our way and I desperately want to know my kid's friends. crap.

Anyway, we were asked to bring soda and or treats to the party. So we stopped at the Supermercado down the street. They were doing some kind of inventory. We waited at the counter with our stuff and nobody came. We waited some more. Finally I went up to someone and said "ready" in english and pointed to the counter. I don't know the spanish word for "ready to check out" - I did say please in spanish. I figured that my pointing at the counter and saying anything was better than just waiting around. It worked. We paid and Andrew chastised me for speaking to her in English. "Mom you always speak in English" - "Andrew, I don't speak spanish". I told him to shut it.

We went home and per Andrew's request, I made no-bake cookies for him to take. I made a double batch so we could have some at home. I scooped them out and noticed that after an hour, they still hadn't hardened. I recalculated and realized that I didn't do a correct conversion on the butter. I added twice as much as needed. They don't look runny - just won't harden up. Forget the stupid cookies. He'll just have to go with soda.

So we head to this massive indoor pool party and I get a little lost. Just a little. I have the good ole Garmin so I know we're close, but I can't find the house numbers and the street is crazy busy and it's rush hour. I see 2 cars in line to get into a gated area and I know were close so I tell Andrew - I bet that's it and we follow them in. Well - it's not. No big, we'll just go back out. Um - no we will not. Apparently, just pulling UP to a gate will not activate a sensor to open it and let you get out. No. Of course not. So we had to back up and find someone to ASK to open it for us.

I went to a house with lots of cars and pushed the button on the gate to ring the house. Luckily, the nana came out to talk to me and didn't try to talk to me through some type of speaker. I started by telling her I didn't speak spanish very good and then pointed to the address on the google map printout I had. She started to tell me where I needed to go and pointed me in the right direction. I had Andrew look up how to say "open gate" on his phone, so I told her that phrase while making an 'open gate' motion with my hands. She was so super nice and said that she'd open the gate for me. Well, I think that was what she was saying...

So we pull up to the main gate and wait. I tell Andrew that I hope she understood what we needed and just then the gate opened. WHEW! Free at last!

We finally find where we need to be, and pull up to that gate. Andrew goes to the speaker and pushes the button. The nana answers and he tells her "Isa" pretty soon I hear him say "si" and he comes back to the car. He said she asked if we had a car. Apparently she spoke to him in spanish - and he understood what she was saying. So my question to him: Why the H-E-double-hockey-sticks and I the one trying to communicate with everyone? He knows more spanish than I do!

His response? "Mom, you've got bigger balls than I do." I was laughing so hard I couldn't reprimand him for his crude mouth. DARN TOOTIN I DO!

Done. Back home to my english haven. At home in the states, when Greg was gone and Andrew out with friends; Alex and I would have usually had a date to some fun restaurant. Not here. Bean and Cheese Tostadas and some TV are on the agenda... Quality time - just in a different way.

On a side note:

I am anxiously awaiting news and updates from my family in Missouri about the birth of my brother Randy's first little baby. I am so excited for him and Casey, but hate that I am missing out. I'm connecting through Skype for updates and hopefully, a first visit with my new little man - Colton.

Pucon: Day 5

PUCON: DAY 5 Sightseeing!

FINALLY - something Mom can do :)

Pucon is about halfway between the ocean and Argentina. So on our day of sightseeing, we decided to head opposite of the ocean (gasp) and more toward the Argentina border. There were several waterfalls, a couple of national parks, and a lake area that I wanted to see. We also threw in our swimming gear just in case we decided to stop at a Thermal pool.

It was raining (surprise, surprise) so we knew much of our sightseeing might just be out of the car window, but we were ok with that.

Stop 1: Ojos del Caburgua (Waterfall)
We had to get out of the car, but it was only a short walk to an amazing "Laguna Azul" and waterfall.

Stop 2: Largo Caburga (Lake Caburga)

We took photos from the car for this stop. The rain had picked up and there were not any trees along the beach to shelter us. Still a beautiful area. It would be nice to head that way again in better weather. I don't know if we will - seeing as we have such a short time to explore this country. It's hard to justify going to the same place twice. But for my friends in Chile - a MUST go in the warmer, dryer months :)

Stop 3: Parque Nacional Huerquehue (Parque National Park)

The drive up to this national park was stunning. I didn't get any amazing shots due to the rain, but I am telling you it was green and lush and looking down over the valley spotted with barns and pastures - absolutely stunning!

The switchbacks were ever so 'eerie' with the looming fog. 

And a little unsettling with the stray cattle, pigs and goats along the side of the foggy, narrow, winding road. 

We finally arrived at the park. Greg stayed IN the car to take the picture, and made us GET OUT in the freezing cold. 

We did get to see a select few of Chile's National Tree: Araucaria Araucana (often called the Monkey Tail tree). It is a beautiful evergreen tree with almost a succulent type leave on the spindly branches. 

Parque Nacional Huerquehue runs along side Largo Caburga - opposite of the beach were we first stopped. We found out, upon arrival, that this is actually a hiking park; with hikes ranging in length from 2 hours to 3 days. There is a short little path along the Largo, we were told that we could do in about 5 minutes. We opted for that, as we were NOT dressed for anything longer in that weather. 

It would be amazing to hike through there - again, for my resident Chilean amigos :)

Stop 4: Lunch at Volcaburger

The little burger place in downtown Pucon - has THE best french fries in all of Chile! Order fries here and you get those thick-cut potato wedges that are not in anyway 'crispy', but at the burger joint in Pucon - REAL AMERICAN french fries! YUM-O! But bring cash, they don't take cards there. 

Stop 5: Ojos del Caburga (well almost)

We headed a few minutes outside of town to a fun little 'village' looking place - a tourist trap, I am sure. But waaay cool. Alas, it was closed. However, on the way to that little place, we crossed the funest little one lane wooden bridge.

We basically crossed the bridge to get to the little village, found out it was closed and then turned around and went back across. It was VERY narrow. I could have touched the railing with my hand as we drove across. It crossed a pretty large, fast moving river. It also seems that they are building a REAL bridge to replace it. Probably not a bad idea. This one was pretty rickety. 

Stop 6: Cuevas Volcanicas (Volcanic Caves)

Well, again - this was an attempt to see the volcanic caves. As I mentioned before, the cabin we stayed is was within minutes of the volcano. We were not sure if they'd be open, but we thought we'd check it out, seeing as they were really not far out of our way.

We never found out if those caves were open. We got about half way there and the road looked like this:

Slushy, slippery, black volcanic sand. This is a photo taken just before we got stuck. Nope. Unfortunately, not a single photograph of the boys pushing from the front and me standing on the back bumper (snowy mud flinging up at me) as Greg tried to guide us out of the ditch. We got out. Promptly decided that was about enough excitement for one day (it was bitter cold) and headed back to the cabin. 

We threw lots of extra logs on the fire, made hot cocoa and bundled up in blankets while we watched Pirates of the Caribbean. A great ending to a fantastic week.

Pucon: Day 4

PUCON: DAY 4 Zip Lining

It was COOOOOLD and POURING RAIN on Wednesday afternoon as the boys prepared for their zip lining adventure. The were grateful that mom bought those $300 waterproof jackets (I got a smokin' deal on them at the outlets in Anthem, AZ). They layered up and added snow pants on top. Now they were ready to face the elements at 20mph on a wire extended in the treetops. 

They had an amazing time. 

Apparently the rain makes it even faster. The boys commented on how they had to turn their faces to the side otherwise the rain would hit them in the face so much that they couldn't see. Part of the draw was to see the river and beauty of the forest - it was a blast :)

What a fun adventure!

We rounded out our day by heading to an Argentinean restaurant for dinner where they grilled the meat outside. The smell was to die for. 

We ordered the special sampler platter for 4 and ended up with enough food for 2 meals. 

Here the boys are devouring the fired, four-cheese appetizer.

Now for that pile 'o meat

Holy Cow! 

The black sausage thing on top is Blood Sausage. I've never tried it - but you know the boys (specifically Andrew) convinced me to.

Bottoms up! The verdict: It wasn't really so bad, but I can't get over the fact that it is coagulated blood. Gross. Once was enough for me. 

Everything else was divine. The pork - yum! Lomo - delish! Ribs - hello! I didn't really try the kabobs - the kids devoured them. But I of course loved the choripan. 

Such a fun day! I didn't go zip lining. Too cold and my fear of heights kept me on the ground. I miss out on all the fun... But I read book 2 that day - so not so bad :)

*And please forgive the hair in all of the photos from this trip. It WAS raining folks! Naturally curly hair REALLY frizzes up in the rain...

Pucon: Day 2 & 3

PUCON: DAY 2

RELAXATION AND REJUVENATION! Not much to report about this day. We spent the entire day bundled up and reading in the rain. We went out for lunch at a great little pizza place after browsing through some shops. After seeing a few things around town, we headed back to the cabin to veg some more. It was a well needed break from real-life.

PUCON: DAY 3 "Dieciocho" 18 of August - Chile's National Independence Day

The one day that was partly sunny and no rain - IT WAS PERFECT!

Greg and the boys headed 10 minutes up the mountain to the active volcano "Villarica" to ski down the side of it. Pretty cool. Skiing on an active volcano.

The guys were intending to rent chains for the truck tires, but when they went to the rental place, they were told that they wouldn't need them. So they headed up. About 3 minutes from the ski place, they started sliding. They slide down hill sideways on a very narrow road surrounded on either side by deep ditches, into oncoming traffic. They were able to get turned around unscathed and found another rental place that put chains on their tires. They made it the rest of the way easily with chains on.  

You see the 'cloud' above that mountain? It is actually gasses from the top of the volcano. 

Andrew and Alex on the tiny little lift. They said it took forever because it was so small. They had to wait in line a lot.

There was a fun area that was built up for doing tricks. There is lots of GoPro video of the kids snowboarding on rails and jumping off ramps. 

Andrew is in red

Alex in black

They said it wasn't the greatest ski hill they've been to - but it was wicked cool to snowboard on an active volcano. 

It was such a beautiful day, that when they got home, they drove me up to see the volcano. I've never seen an active volcano - I thought it was pretty "wicked cool" too!

You can see the gases really well in this closeup shot:

And don't let the sunshine fool you - it was bitter cold! My eyes were watering in this picture:

The boys were sizing each other up after that last photo when their dad mentioned that Alex may be just as tall as Andrew.

Oh, and Scooter got to see the volcano too!

We headed back home and Greg started up the grill. It was Independence Day after all and Chilean tradition requires Choripan! YUM!

Alex entertained and befriended three cats that came with the house. They didn't like our dog, so they couldn't come inside (besides, mom's allergies and cats don't get along). Alex made sure they felt loved even though they were outside. He fed them daily and even named them.

I think there was a Mowerton, I'll have to ask Alex the other names...

While the boys were off snowboarding/skiing I found time to read one of three books that I would get finished that week. Sweet, Quiet, English-Speaking, Bliss....