La Serena - Hold on to your socks, it's a long one

This was an amazing long weekend in mid March. It was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done as far as seeing the world goes. We drove to La Serena, which is about 450km north of here on a Thursday afternoon. La Serena is on the coast and is often referred to as the Mediterrian of Chile. We stayed in a condo right on the beach, and since we went right after school started back it was pretty empty, but still very nice weather. There are tons of pictures so you may get annoyed, but it is all worth it to us to remember. And if you make it to the end you can see our favorite road sign.

DAY 1 - Puntos Choros. We drove about 2 hours north of La Serena along the coast to a small fishermens village. The locals also take tourists out into the Pacific ocean to several small islands to see the wildlife. It was the best! And the day was perfect. While we waited for the motor boat we walked on the pier and along the coast to look in tide pools and on rocks (which were covered in sea urchins). Then off to see the lobos marinos, pinguinos, and delphines, or sea lions, penguins, and dolphins, and not to mention all the different types of sea birds. AMAZING!!! We also got to get off on a small island and hike around a little to see the views. I cannot tell you how beautiful it was. The pictures hardly do it justice. Also no pics of the dolphins, those are on the video camera and since we were on a small motor boat in the ocean the video can easily give you sea sickness sitting right in your own home.

You can't go too many places in Chile that do not involve dirt roads. And not just for a few minutes...an hour or two.

A small village we went through on our way there.

The little black spots are sea urchins

I know it is hard to see, but the island with the wildlife on it is in the background of this picture with Mark and the boys.

Hello starfish type thing!

Hello Crab!

Humbolt Penguins

As you approach the fishing village there are huge sand dunes, so we stopped to check them out. Easton had just eaten some oreos, so that is what is all over his face (in case you were wondering).

DAY 2 -- A drive through Elqui Valley, wine country. Of course no samples for us, but beautiful land. We stopped and picniced along the Elqui river, which makes all the grapes possible. Then we headed back to our condo and spent the rest of the day playing at the beach.

A dam and resevoir in the Elqui valley


So this picture was on one side of the road, green and down in the valley and then this picture below was on the other side of the road...and roads are not wide in Chile. There was a huge contrast to the green vineyards down by the river and then the hillsides on either side. At this point the valley was narrow, but it was wider in other areas.

Our picnic spot

Exporing the river

DAY 3 - We returned home with a detour to the Fray Jorge National Park. We all thought this was pretty cool. You are driving in desert, on dirt roads for 20km with the scenery pretty much all the same - brown and dry. And then you enter a national park, and it is still brown and dry. You drive 7 more km and all of the sudden you enter this little parking lot surrounded by green vegetation. We got out and hiked this little 1km loop and in you feel like you have entered a green jungle. Although you are in desert area, there is one small area that because of the mist produced by the cloud cover there is green everywhere. We loved this little national park and how much there was to learn about how these plants got "watered." Great excursion a little off the beaten path.

You can see in the background the desert brown and then the green. It is just the way the clouds sit in this small area that makes the oasis.

And our favorite road sign of the trip. In the words of Mason, "Oh crap."

A Classy Group of Guys

Good looking bunch aren't they? So this event was on Feb. 21st, but I couldn't resist posting this photo of Mason and his friends. They all went to a bah mitzvah together that was for a girl in the 6th grade class. It was quite the event with hundreds of people and a huge party following the actual bah mitzvah. It involved double decker buses that took the kids from the temple to an extremely nice hotel for dancing, music, and tons of food. The party went until 2am, however this group of boys carriage turned into a pumpkin at midnight so they came home a bit early, but happy and full of sugar they came. It was a good experience for Mason, and I was glad he was able to learn about this ceremony.

Little Guy goes 12

Mason turned 12 last month. It was a big event here. We got to go camping in an a beautiful national park up in the mountains. For Mason's birthday he wanted to go camping and fulfill some of his scout requirements (no mention of it from mom or dad, he brought it up all on his own). Pretty amazing kid, right? So our family, along with a good friend of Mason's packed up and drove about an hour up this road that I had never seen the likes of before in all my life. It was crazy, but oh the views! When I say switchbacks, I truely mean switchbacks. WOW.

It was rural, but not too rural. There was a campsite (for tents only) with BBQ pits dotted here and there. And even a toilet and sink, with running (don't drink it though) water. And it was all kept very nicely. So we camped next to this rushing river in the mountains and enjoyed. Also you must remember that seeing the stars here is amazing. I look up and think of God everytime. For one requirement Mason had to cook two meals, so for both dinner and breakfast, tinder and wood were collected and fires made. I love to camp and this was no exception (OK, I do not like the cleanup when we get home, but technically that is not part of the camping right, it is at home not at the site). We took two cars and after breakfast and breaking down camp I headed down with Easton and Mark took the older boys on a hike. Which he took some really good pictures of, but when he went to get them off his phone happened to loose everything (I mean phone went blank of ALL data, a sad day). So no pics of the hike but a couple others.

Sunday was his actual birthday and we celebrated at home with a favorite dinner, presents, and cake. Mason is growing up and becoming more independent. He is able to do a lot more than I give him credit for. He is a good kid that chooses the right in often very difficult situations. He has been put in a very hard situation moving to Chile, school has proven difficult, but he is doing it. Despite the bumps he just keeps on going. Mason has a good sense of humor and quick wit. He loves to read, swim, and run. He loves to hike and camp. And even though he is getting older he will still give me hugs. Mason has done some things here that have made me so proud to be his mother. I am grateful for his example and his testimony of Christ. Happy 12th little guy!

Do you see the switchbacks? There are three here, but it goes on and on and on.

Becoming Official

The whole work visa process is just that, a process. And lucky for us we barely did any of it. Deere has a company they work with that does most everything for us. So this was the last step. Going downtown to the International Police Station by taxi because you cannot park down there and then walking about 10 blocks to the Passport/Visa building, and then home by taxi. I mention the taxi becuase the kids liked the idea of riding in taxis. So these are a few pictures of our last step in becoming official in Chile.

Waiting, I had in my purse a bag of tricks - magazines, small toys, and snacks.


Walking downtown


Photos and finger printing. A messy business. Since Mark had done all this the month before, he was the offical photographer and document signer for the kids.

Bits and Pieces

What do we do normally? Pretty much the same as in the states. In the summer we got up late, stayed in our PJs late, swam in the pool, played with friends, played outside. All those things. Plus struggled with the language. Got depressed. Tried to get to know people. Tried to figure out how to cook, clean, pay for things, etc. with new language and available things. Then we hit the three month mark and life has been looking better. Still struggling on some days, but others are busy and good.

Once school started the kids started sports and clubs as well and that has been great for the kids and making friends. The week school started our nana started too(what they call the maids here, but maids here are different than what you think of in the states). Veronica speaks only Spanish and she knows how to talk to Americans - slowly. I have improved so much in my language because of dear Veronica. The Nana cleans, yes, but she is becoming part of our home. So the first three months I was here cleaning overcame me. Because it is so dry here (since we moved here it has rained once, in November, for 15 minutes) there is dust everywhere. I mean everywhere and there are ants like you would not believe. I spent 3-4 hours every day cleaning and this was not enough to keep up even half way. Then came Veronica...and I will be spoiled when I get back, yes. But I do still clean the days she is not here, but for only about an hour a day. It is fantastic. On Wednesday morning I went to the LDS temple just because I could since the nana also helps with the kiddies. It is definitely a perk.

We wake up early, I take the kids to school. I run or walk, depending if I do with a friend or not, pushing Easton. I spend time Easton. I take care of bills, organization, church calling with the teenage girls, grocery shopping, etc. I spend time waiting...a lot of time waiting...in traffic and at home. The repair man coming in the morning can mean the morning, the night, or the next day. It is always a guessing game. And I have time to read most days. I get on the computer more often here to check blogs, facebook, and email. It is my life line.

The kids go to school, have after school activites 3-4 times a week. They finish at school anywhere between 2:25 and 5. There is alot of homework. Time to play. Kids ride bikes to friends houses. We eat dinner later here, around 7 or 7:30, but that is early compared to the Chileans who eat around 9-10pm. Chileans don't sleep alot.

On the weekends we do all the things we needed to do during the week but didn't. Little maintance things, cleaning out the storage area, shopping, lessons for church. Traveling and sight seeing. Which, even with all the work travel Mark has done, we have been able to do much of. We have seen amazing things and had experiences that are truely only available here in Chile. We have made amazing friends, who have taken us in and made this whole transition work. It has been our miracle to move here and at church find families that have taken us in and we have felt immediately close to. And they have kids, who are mostly boys that are the same ages as our boys. The Lord had a hand in it all.

And here are a few random pictures that I just wanted to share.

See the little signs. They tell about the comic books you can buy from the kid's comic book store. They have been drawing comics since we got here and every once in a while I spend a quarter to purchase a comic.

Warriors live here. And often attack without warning.

Architects often find there way into a long afternoon.

Hiking occurs often on Saturday mornings. Since it is all within minutes. This picture has our home in it. It is smack in the middle and white with a tower. I spy...

Hiking behind our neighborhood. Oh that view!

Making empanadas.

Love this picture...oh Easton.

Easton is Three

So my baby is getting big. And his little personality is developing and I love having conversations with him. We celebrated his birthday on two different days, since Mark was out of town. On his actual birthday we went and ate dinner at McDonalds and had ice cream at McDonalds. This is Easton's biggest request to eat at McDonalds, and then the added bonus is getting an ice cream there. Best thing ever for Easton.

The rest of the celebration occured the four days later when Mark returned. And it is always a treat when dad comes home from the states because he takes an extra suitcase to fill up with all the things we miss. We opened presents, went out to eat, had cake, and spent the day together as a family.

Easton is the baby and his brothers and parents spoil him as such. And oh those big brown eyes, with the long, dark eyelashes. They melt you. He is so cute! And it is a good thing! He is happy and smiles a lot, but when that kid is tired or hungry, careful he becomes a terror (church is always interesting with this kid). He can make a mess of anything, but loves to help as well. Everytime I am in the kitchen he grabs a chair and pulls it over to cook with mommy. Too bad he won't eat all that he cooks, Easton would eat peanut butter and jelly for every meal if allowed. He and Mason have a little thing about making brownies. Mason is always the brownie maker, but he took it upon himself to always include Easton. It is a sweet moment everytime to see those two together. Easton can rough house with his brothers (and he can hold his own when it comes to teasing). Easton is obsessed with puzzles; being outside; the beach; and Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Toy Story, and Cars. Easton has an amazing imagination. With a car, small animal figurine, or little Star Wars character he can sit and just talk and imagine. I love listening to his little stories, it makes me smile. We love you Easton!

This picture cracks me up.


Do you see how cute this kid is? I know I am biased, but oh well.

Banos Colinas

A few days before the start of school the kids and I headed into the Andes toward a volcano. High up, near the Argentinan border is a hot springs that is the result of this volcano. It was a true Chile trip, in that involved being on a dirt road, high in the mountains, with nothing to keep you from falling off a huge cliff other than being cautious. But the drive was amazing, the canyon and it's fast flowing river, huge mountains, and the volcano were awe inspiring.

We went up with several other families. You literally drive up to where you think there cannot possiblly be anything out there and then there is a little toll booth to pay your enterance fee. It cracks me up because out in the middle of no where are these little shacks waiting for your fee. And then the hot springs...and mud baths.

So the view was great, the company was fantastic, and the mud made my skin glow. There were a series of about 8 or 9 baths. Starting at the lowest it was pure grey mud, up to a pool that you could barely put a toe in it was so hot. The kids had fun with friends, loved the getting dirty, and said it sure stinks. It was an experience to say the least. We were glad to share it with our wonderful friends.

So I took this just so you could see the only structures up there. The little guard structure in the background to pay your fee and the bathroom/showers. And all these people in the middle of no where.

You can see a couple of the pools and then the parking lot in the background

The very hottest pool, which has absolutely no one in it.

My cute boys

A picture of the volcano. This was taken on the road up to the springs.

The women and a couple of the kiddes, I know beautiful with the mud masks, right?

The source of Banos Colinas