12 years ago today

 the. best. day. ever.  

throwback- a month before we married

Yesterday we left the kids with a sitter and went on a long day date (I love those) to Museo El Castillo. It's a beautiful castle museum right here in El Poblado. We took a picnic and it was so so quiet all we could hear were the birds.

          Taking our anniversary selfie after finding a large mirror and      
                                no one to take our pic

One of the things I love most about Dan is the empathy he has for others.  I think it gives him the ability to understand different cultures and love people the way he does.   

12 years and 4 kids later here in Colombia! 

Tis the season of celebration and love

What happens when you're craving pumpkin pie the entire month before Thanksgiving and the country you're in doesn't sell pumpkin?! 

Why, naturally you go out and stuff yourself with crepes full of nutella.  

The girls had their school performances and music performances this past week.  They really know how to ring in the holidays here.  Lots of music and dancing and celebrating going on.  From what we hear it lasts until the middle of January (the fireworks in the middle of the night I hope do not).

 
This is Sophia before her school performance.  They don't play around when it comes to color and sparkles here (for everything).  The more the better.  Not what we're used to but it's been fun!

   
     Amigas!




    Esme and her teacher.


With the girls out on a nice long school break we headed back up  the gondola to Angeles de Medellin.

 
This time we brought Lauren- one of the associates at Dan's law firm who is visiting.



     Some played a little soccer

 
     And this cute girl taught Emerick how to hula hoop

 
       And this guy was the perfect volunteer

 And this line of kids really REALLY tried to jump the rope together several several times.

   And we found random horses to ride

The kids even helped Dan put Emerick to sleep by walking and singing.  Check out the vimeo link below to hear them.  

http://vimeo.com/80941159

If your family is looking to give to a charity this holiday season or anytime Angeles de Medellin could use your help.  Please email me at cassiestewart12@yahoo.com and I'll tell you how!

Jennifer comes to visit and all things art!

Our close amiga, Jennifer, came to visit this past week.  She is full of energy and happiness and we loved spending time with her here. Being the artistic soul that she is we thought it was no better time to head downtown to visit art museums and Medellin architecture.  

    Exploring Botero's art in style

 

 

    Sitting in an old beautiful catholic church

  We headed to Guatape again...to feel the breeze on our faces

 
    And this time we zip liiiiined!  
   (here's Ava)

Not going to lie- I was scared!  As you can see below Jennifer is a pro and helped me laugh all the way through it.

 
Plenty of sight seeing and make believe games near El Penol          

I pretty much hope that in 25 years I have the spirit of a 20 year old just like Jennifer

     Out to eat with just 1 of the 4 bambinos on her last night in     
    town.  
    Te amamos!

Celebrating Dan's 37th in Sante Fe Antioquia!

Sante Fe is an old colonial town, former government seat of Antioquia, about 80 km north of Medellin.  It was a Colombian holiday on Monday and it also happened to be Dan's birthday so with no school and no work we headed out for another adventure.

An impressive piece of architecture- this suspension bridge (Puente de Occidente) is one of the oldest in South America.  It was built in the late 19th century.