
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6887299551_14cd6fd3dc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Cute Pose">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6887299551_f1e295e2ca_t.jpg" alt="Cute Pose"/>
</a>

This month has been marked most prominently by Carnival, in which Nora [dressed up at daycare](/2012/02/17/carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/) as a dwarf (a la Snow White), and then later as an [Andalusian lass](/2012/02/19/carnival-2012-santona/). Overall she's been much more of a pleasure to be around, listening to reason and telling interesting accounts of events.

Under my care, she has had a total of zero bladder or bowel control issues. I haven't had to change a single wet pair of panties this month, with the solitary exception of the night when I forgot to put her nocturnal diapers on, and we had a little 4:00 AM wetness to deal with. I'd hate to jinx it, but if feels like we've crossed a milestone.

Nora loves stories and books, and being read to is her favorite activity when at home with an adult.

One day this month, I was tasked with every husband's favorite chore: buying feminine sanitary towels from the local grocery store. Nora saw me take a packet off the shelf, and immediately asked, "Why does Mommy wear this diapers in her panties sometimes?" Jeez! I wasn't expecting to have That Talk quite so soon. I irresponsibly blew her off with a "I dunno, ask your mother," the old parental snooze button. This girl doesn't know her numbers, colors or letters, but it's like living with Sherlock Holmes, she's so observant!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6901388529_9ae4a3938a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="I scream for Ice Cream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6901388529_e4d163262f_m.jpg" alt="I scream for Ice Cream"/>
</a>

Several times this month, Nora has told me, "Poppy, you no can do this!", and she flings her golden locks with her hand as if she's in a shampoo commercial. It's pretty cute.

One morning, she woke up and was a bit groggy. I asked if she was still asleep, and she responded that she wanted to sleep in her stroller. I explained that it was _beds_ that were for sleeping. In less than a second, she came back with "Strollers, too!" Touché. I was expecting to get through the first three years before I started losing arguments.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6938649623_fbc73c63f3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Smily Zebra">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6938649623_4b8f8fca42_m.jpg" alt="Smily Zebra"/>
</a>

Every day recently, Nora demands to be "read" – though no books are needed anymore – the story of _Little Red Riding Hood_. As soon as the storyteller finishes, she demands that it be told again. Her Spanish grandmother is very accommodating and will gladly tell it over and over to her. Of course, any time information is copied over and over again imperfectly, natural selection can occur. I'm amused that my mother-in-law's telling of the classic Grimm Brothers' tale includes a memetic mutation I introduced: that the grandmother in the story is sick because she went outside without a coat on. In general, Nora loves stories and books, and being read to is her favorite activity when at home with an adult.

It\\'s like living with Sherlock Holmes, she\\'s so observant!

One day we entered the local hardware store, and Nora immediately pointed to the wall full of power tools, like drills and jigsaws, and she said, "Those make a lot of noise. I don't like that." It's true. Whenever she sees me go to our storage closet where I keep the drill, she says, "Poppy, don't make a lot of noise!" Whenever I did have to use the drill this month to install some lights in our bathrooms, she insisted on being as far away as possible with all the doors closed in between us. She said, "I'm going to close the door so that I don't cry." Also in the hardware store, she saw a sewing machine and proudly proclaimed, "_Abuela_ has one like that!" Her ability to generalize concepts and recognize new instances of objects in a similar category continues to amaze me.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6887299551_14cd6fd3dc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Cute Pose">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-28-state-of-the-offspring-address-february-2012/6887299551_f1e295e2ca.jpg" alt="Cute Pose"/>
</a>

The state of the offspring is strong!


State of the Offspring Address - February 2012


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6777464646_6551fc8503_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Trying on Sunglasses">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6777464646_23cb0e2090_t.jpg" alt="Trying on Sunglasses"/>
</a>

I continue to be surprised at the small town hospitality that I enjoy in my adopted home of 8,000 inhabitants. It has been quite sunny this week, and every day I take my daughter out for a walk in the morning, she complains about the sun. Her blue eyes, like [my green ones](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/6334453509/), don't like bright lights, and we lost [her sunglasses](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/5955940508/) a few months ago. So we set off for the local optometrist.  This optometrist and I have a history. Every few years, I go in there either dissatisfied with my general non-aided vision or with my 20-year-old glasses that I now use only for driving. Each time, she asks for my old glasses, puts them in a magic machine that reads their prescription, and then sits me down in the stereotypical optometrist's chair. She quizzes me on the numbers and letters off in the distance, and each of the three times I've gone in there to get tested, she tells me that my 20-year-old glasses really are still almost my exact prescription, my myopia is so mild that she wouldn't even recommend any glasses for normal life, and that spending more money on other glasses or contacts or anything would be a waste of money. Each time, this has impressed the hell out of me, that a small business owner would encourage a potential customer _not_ to make a purchase.

Practically searching for ways to give her my business, I did break down and get some prescription sunglasses a few months ago, and I am exceedingly pleased with them. They make driving and golf and just regular walking about town much more pleasurable.

Nora was very excited to be going to buy sunglasses, and she had an absolute ball trying on about 25 different pairs, even letting the optometrist put them on her. We narrowed it down to four pairs, and I asked the optometrist if she could set those four pairs aside so that my wife could come in later in the afternoon to make her judgement. (I've learned never to act unilaterally when it comes to fashion, particularly that of my child.) The optometrist told me to just take all four pairs (totaling around 150€) home with me to try on in the comfort of our home, and then return them any time over the next few days. What?? Can you imagine any other business doing that? Wow!

So we did. We have more or less decided, but I thought I'd put up some photos and get the opinions of my readers.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923576165_0254372161_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Trying on Sunglasses">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923576165_43ca7011bc.jpg" alt="Trying on Sunglasses"/>
</a>

Cool blue.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923577363_cfb9a7f45a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Trying on Sunglasses">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923577363_9ac38b8670.jpg" alt="Trying on Sunglasses"/>
</a>

Big red. Nora immediately recognized the logo on the sticker as [Chupa-Chups](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupa_Chups), Spain's leading manufacturer of lollipops.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923579513_71181c29fa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Trying on Sunglasses">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923579513_86615e9f29.jpg" alt="Trying on Sunglasses"/>
</a>

Little Red.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923580909_fe47102d06_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Trying on Sunglasses">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-24-modeling-new-sunglasses/6923580909_d54504518d.jpg" alt="Trying on Sunglasses"/>
</a>

Modern Woman.

Which do you prefer?

After collecting all four pairs, we stopped by another store, and Nora insisted on trying them all on for the entertainment of the store clerk.

What a wonderful amount of trust and freedom given to a small business' clients. I'll be more than happy to do all my optical consumerism there in the future.

UPDATE (2012-03-04): We ended up choosing the last ones, the more modern, adult-looking glasses. Thanks to all who voted.


Modeling New Sunglasses


<img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-23-i-wonder-where-that-plane-is-going/6923468585_19ae0a1fa1_t.jpg" alt="Plane Finder AR" class="post-thumb"/>I've had my iPhone 4 for almost two years now, and it's been at least six months since an app has really wowed me. The last one was surely [Word Lens](http://questvisual.com/), the app that lets you point your phone at some foreign text, and it translates it right there on the screen for you. Okay, to be honest, Word Lens is quite a bit more technologically mind-blowing than the app I'm about to tell you about, but it's been a while since I've pulled anyone over to say, "Hey, look what my phone can do!"  For me, there's always been a bit of a disconnect between seeing a dot in the sky leaving a contrail and actually flying in commercial airliner. Cognitively, I understand that the plane I see leaving the contrail is full of people and flight attendants and luggage and pretzels, but I've rarely ever asked myself, "Hmmm, I wonder where that plane is coming from and going to?"

I have known for some time that the location of every commercial aircraft is known more or less in realtime and the information is publicly available via either the airline or a government database somewhere. However, I've never had much of a need for this information.

Then, someone came along and realized how to best present this data. Your modern smartphone, after all, knows its latitude, longitude, angle relative to the Earth's magnetic field, and angle relative to the Earth's gravitational field. So if it also knows the location of any other object, be it a star or a friend or a train station, it can calculate, using fairly simple geometry, when you are pointing the phone in the direction of that object.

Presenting [Plane Finder AR](http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plane-finder-ar/id390039844?mt=8) (the AR stands for [Augmented Reality](/2009/03/23/augmented-reality-one-step-closer-to-the-holodeck/)). For $2.99, you can point your phone at any airplane you see in the sky and it will tell you the airline, the flight number, the city of origin, the destination, the distance from you, and the current velocity. With only a dozen uses, I have gotten well over three dollars worth of enjoyment out of the app.

Most of the planes that fly over me here in northern Spain are going from southern Spain to the UK, usually with _Ryanair_, but occasionally I'll see one going from Florence, Italy, to Atlanta, Georgia, or from Barcelona to New York City. Although this information is really quite useless to me, it really is an awful lot of geeky fun.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-23-i-wonder-where-that-plane-is-going/6923462329_021bbab445_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Plane Finder AR">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-23-i-wonder-where-that-plane-is-going/6923462329_b71003f734.jpg" alt="Plane Finder AR"/>
</a>

A shot from my living room window. The plane is behind the black box.


I wonder where that plane is going


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6898151111_c1ddb16e3c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Sunset Dock">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6898151111_d94e02cbfa_t.jpg" alt="Sunset Dock"/>
</a>

We've heard from past years that the nearby town of Santoña puts on a good Carnival festival. We were a little disappointed, however, to see that the parade starts at dusk rather than during the day when it's warmer and easier to see costumes. But we decided to give it a chance anyway, so we left at around lunchtime to go have some tapas and spend a lazy afternoon in Santoña awaiting the parade. Nora, of course, was delighted to get a chance to get more milage out of [her Sevillana dress](/2011/09/04/sevillana/).  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901364179_b6c8b93cff_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Meat and Bread">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901364179_3a774b82c3.jpg" alt="Meat and Bread"/>
</a>

A street vendor was selling freshly grilled chorizo and morcilla (blood sausage).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901366225_b56d6d8d03_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Chorizo and Morcilla">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901366225_6ba74b2565.jpg" alt="Chorizo and Morcilla"/>
</a>

My wife and I shared a piece of chorizo.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901369851_42fff4c213_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora in Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901369851_0148bb5343.jpg" alt="Nora in Santoña"/>
</a>

Looking for the next bar.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901371843_73ca80817b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tapas in Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901371843_7e96272cea_z.jpg" alt="Tapas in Santoña"/>
</a>

This bar was tiny and absolutely packed. And for good reason.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901374715_370a24f95c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tapas in Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901374715_168ed0abe0.jpg" alt="Tapas in Santoña"/>
</a>

The skewing of these tapas photos was a complete accident, but I like it.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901376811_face38537d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ham and Cheese, and Meat and Tomato Sauce">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901376811_5d5e87aaed.jpg" alt="Ham and Cheese, and Meat and Tomato Sauce"/>
</a>

Our choice. Serrano ham with goat cheese with Modena vinegar, and a meat and tomato stew with a pheasant egg on top. With a beer and a wine, of course.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901384855_eb6c5f4f9e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Chalk Art - Carnival Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901384855_2665f5258b.jpg" alt="Chalk Art - Carnival Santoña"/>
</a>

Apparently this bear drew some chalk art on the street. The sardine escaping its can to eat a dangling worm was [the official logo](http://www.carnavaldelnorte.com/images/Cartelescarnaval/2012/cartel2012.jpg) of the 2012 festival.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901388529_9ae4a3938a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="I scream for Ice Cream">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901388529_e4d163262f.jpg" alt="I scream for Ice Cream"/>
</a>

Ice cream with my girls.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901390547_b527e5fd9f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ice cream by the sea">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901390547_78dd7959fc.jpg" alt="Ice cream by the sea"/>
</a>

Eating ice cream down by the water.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901391739_12865c444a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Boats and Colindres">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901391739_7b32dedf8c.jpg" alt="Boats and Colindres"/>
</a>

Just as we can see Santoña from Colindres, you can see Colindres from Santoña. My house is over there somewhere.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901393727_f6f30eb7d5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Dog Monument">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901393727_6f952d147e.jpg" alt="Dog Monument"/>
</a>

One of my favorite things about Santoña is that they have several monuments to canines, I assume to the dogs that keep fishermen company on long fishing voyages.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901396017_00e30b8304_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Juan de la Cosa Monument, Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901396017_89cc75b6f3.jpg" alt="Juan de la Cosa Monument, Santoña"/>
</a>

A monument to [Juan de la Cosa](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_de_la_Cosa), a native of Santoña who was the captain of the _Santa Maria_ and sailed with Columbus on that infamous 1492 voyage.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901397701_80c495e6e3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sunset, Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901397701_ff7a42f1fb.jpg" alt="Sunset, Santoña"/>
</a>

The sunset was lovely, over Santoña's little beach.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901399633_10b540ddd3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bollard and Boats">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901399633_7a8194119e.jpg" alt="Bollard and Boats"/>
</a>

Bollard and boats.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901405329_ec08de7fb8_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora, with Mommy and Abuelos">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901405329_d28c97274e.jpg" alt="Nora, with Mommy and Abuelos"/>
</a>

Nora's Spanish grandparents showed up late in the day.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901407459_f6188f0506_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Climbing Benches">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901407459_308f98a55d.jpg" alt="Climbing Benches"/>
</a>

Nora had fun climbing these granite benches.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901411913_4299e0e796_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Jumping Off Benches">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901411913_f1f6b2db6c.jpg" alt="Jumping Off Benches"/>
</a>

And jumping off them. See all those benches vanishing off into the distance? She climbed up and jumped off every single one. That'll burn off a scoop of ice cream in no time.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901420065_7b30dd5a3f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sailboat">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901420065_f9b895e96a.jpg" alt="Sailboat"/>
</a>

A lone sailboat.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901425525_dabb40b8c0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sailboat in Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901425525_dd7a10535b.jpg" alt="Sailboat in Santoña"/>
</a>

The same boat, coming into harbor, with Colindres in the background.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901430005_56e84b4d59_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Big Sardine">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901430005_e51619e08f.jpg" alt="Big Sardine"/>
</a>

The giant sardine that initiated the costume parade. It got pretty cold, and I was underdressed, and the music was too loud, so I didn't enjoy the actual parade all that much. I much preferred seeing all the people dressed up walking around the street earlier in the day.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901433187_2488207b8a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Bullfighters on Shoulders, Carnival Costume, Santoña">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901433187_cf154543a0.jpg" alt="Bullfighters on Shoulders, Carnival Costume, Santoña"/>
</a>

This was the very last of 24 groups dressed up for the costume competition, and it was the only one that inspired me to take a photograph. It was men carrying faux bullfighters on their shoulders like what happens after a successful bullfight.

[![Bullfighters  (and bulls) on Shoulders, Carnival Costume, Santoña](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901434967_175f02d6b1.jpg "Bullfighters  (and bulls) on Shoulders, Carnival Costume, Santoña")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/6901434967 "View 'Bullfighters  (and bulls) on Shoulders, Carnival Costume, Santoña' on Flickr.com")

And the bulls followed after. Ha!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6898151111_c1ddb16e3c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sunset Dock">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6898151111_d94e02cbfa.jpg" alt="Sunset Dock"/>
</a>

Overall, it was a very successful day out. Nora wore high heels (willingly!) for six hours and several ambulatory kilometers. She took them off for a couple hours after a bit of an ankle twist, but then demanded to put them back on.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901362383_201e67245f_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnival 2012 - Sevillana">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-19-carnival-2012-santona/6901362383_d9484e5ce7_z.jpg" alt="Carnival 2012 - Sevillana"/>
</a>

My little Sevillana. _¡Olé!_


Carnival 2012 - Santoña


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891250701_d96f3c0f11_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 124">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891250701_53ab051ed3_t.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 124"/>
</a>

Today was the big Carnival parade, sort of a "Halloween meets Mardi Gras" thing that is very typical for children in Spanish culture. Apparently I did such a fine job [last year](/2011/03/04/carnival-2011-in-colindres-angels-and-demons/) that my presence was simply assumed as The Official Daycare Photographer. Perhaps in honor of that job, I was also given a leading role in this year's costume theme. About a month ago, I was told by Adela, the daycare owner, that this year for Carnival the kids would be dressed up as dwarves, the daycare employees would all be dressed as Snow White, Adela herself would be the Evil Stepmother, and I, the only parent with a themed costume, would be dressed as none other than Prince Charming.  Either I misunderstood the "only parent with a themed costume" part, or it was later deemed a bad idea, but the other parents had dwarf costumes as well, including hats and beards and rosy cheeks.

Last night, when I was putting Nora into her pajamas, I was hyping today's parade, telling her that we were going to get up early to go to daycare and put on costumes and parade around town. She was very excited, but then she blew my mind. She said, "You're not going to leave, right? [When we went to see the _Belén_](/2011/12/21/nativity-shepherds/), you took pictures and left, and I cried." The accuracy of her long term memory, and emotional sensitivity, continues to amaze me. I told her that no, I wouldn't leave, and that we would come home for lunch afterwards, but that, after lunch, she had to go to daycare while I worked like normal. She agreed.

All 207 of my photos are available in [this Flickr set](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/sets/72157629355953629/). Another parent urged me to also create a Flickr group that he can add to, so I've created [_Carnaval en Colindres_](http://www.flickr.com/groups/carnaval-en-colindres/) for that purpose. To heck with [the Spanish law](http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/lo1-1982.html) prohibiting the unauthorized publication of photos of children. No one seemed to mind last year.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891089211_033dbceb13_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 030">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891089211_cf861655c8.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 030"/>
</a>

Things were pretty hectic getting about forty kids into plastic costumes, but the daycare workers managed admirably.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891091017_b0c64e97e9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 031">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891091017_49abb001b0.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 031"/>
</a>

Eventually Nora spotted me peeking through the classroom windows taking photos.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891097239_1cedf85721_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 035">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891097239_772f88ed72.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 035"/>
</a>

Her favorite comfort toy that she demands every day upon being dropped off is this little worm that lights up when you hug it, called _Gusiluz_.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891148189_d039590fb1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 067">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891148189_6af3213b12_z.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 067"/>
</a>

Adela, the daycare boss, as the evil stepmother. She said she would've carried around a hand mirror as well, but she needed a free hand.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891092259_7b8392af7e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 032">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891092259_d6a02d2ff4_z.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 032"/>
</a>

Yours truly, Prince Charming. It's tricky designing a costume that can be worn on the outside of a bulky winter coat.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891164743_db05d55e19_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 077">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891164743_16466a5fbe.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 077"/>
</a>

This particular dwarf followed me around town, holding my hand, and clutching around my leg when I pulled my hand away to take a photo.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891210055_db83851158_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 101">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891210055_98dea572ab.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 101"/>
</a>

This year, as a senior at the daycare for 0 - 3 year olds, Nora had graduated from the push cart to the rope, except that she didn't stand for that long. That's her on the far right. The only way I got her to hold anyone else's hand was to threaten to leave if she didn't.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891255873_4619ee885d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 127">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891255873_17e717f7d1.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 127"/>
</a>

The kids from another school were dressed all as pirates.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891168315_5c954a291d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 079">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891168315_6f3a95c10d.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 079"/>
</a>

Another school were hippies.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891362665_c24be7583e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 181">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891362665_cdb4d550af.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 181"/>
</a>

Some older kids were dressed as African tribesmen. It's a shock to my American racial sensibilities every time I see how acceptable blackface is in Spain.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891295559_9e53fa2c31_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 146">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891295559_15db8d8afa.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 146"/>
</a>

A band of big dwarves and little dwarves paraded around town.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891343725_31f350a460_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 172">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891343725_3ef4fe7594.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 172"/>
</a>

At some point, Nora figured out that the one year olds in the pull cart had snacks, and actually managed to convince them to hand her some. She never left the side of the cart after that.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891437419_58146f06f1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 206">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891437419_3441fa590d.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 206"/>
</a>

Five Snow Whites, an evil stepmother, and a prince. A couple times I asked if there would be any kissing, to which I responded that my resuscitation services were available should a Snow White lose consciousness, but luckily none did.

Just like last year, I was astonished at the work and planning and creativity that went into the costumes. I was very impressed and had a good time.

After doffing our fantastical plastic overgarments, Nora and I headed to the grocery store for our normal daily bread and food purchases. She demanded to ride on my shoulders the whole way there, and then, when we got inside, insisted that she was tired. I said, "Well sit down, then," and she began demanding a place to sit down, but I ignored her, figuring the floor was sufficient, and went about my shopping. When she switched to Spanish, another shopper pulled out a crate of milk for her to sit on. Rather than sitting on it, however, she expressed just how exhausted she was by trying to use it as a pillow, as if she was unable to hold up her own head. When we got home, however, she ate all her lunch but finally succumbed to exhaustion on the stroller ride to daycare.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891442577_c32caa806d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 208">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891442577_f660fc4099.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 208"/>
</a>

Sooo…sleepy…

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891250701_d96f3c0f11_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 124">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-17-carnival-2012-in-colindres-snow-white/6891250701_53ab051ed3_z.jpg" alt="Carnaval 2012 - La Cucaña - Colindres - 124"/>
</a>

Prince Charming and his favorite dwarf.


Carnival 2012 in Colindres: Snow White


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035172559_ed40d21001_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Beans and Wild Boar">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035172559_86429e6c52_t.jpg" alt="Beans and Wild Boar"/>
</a>

Learning the words for the meals of the day is difficult any time you change cultures, whether you change languages or not. In different parts of the US, for instance, the word "dinner" can either refer to the meal at midday or in the evening. It took me years of living the UK to realize that "having tea" doesn't only refer to imbibing an infusion, but can often refer to the evening meal. In Spain, most people eat three main meals each day, but there are words for five meals. Confused? Let's have a look... 

### Desayuno

Noun: **_desayuno_**

Served: **wake up - 12:00 PM**

Verb: **_desayunar_**

The first meal of the day. i.e. breakfast. It's even a compound word, like "breakfast", since _ayuno_ means "fast" (as in not eating), and _des-_ is a negating prefix, so you're literally "un-fasting". Unlike the US or the UK, the typical Spanish breakfast is very light and completely devoid of protein. The most common breakfast is a _café con leche_ with some type of pastry or cookies.

I always assumed that Spanish farmers or other people that do long hours of manual labor in the mornings probably eat a heartier breakfast, but I know a few of them and they don't.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6400762223_289961cec5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Erik's Thanksgiving Apple Harvest Scones">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6400762223_43aa8b1513.jpg" alt="Erik's Thanksgiving Apple Harvest Scones"/>
</a>

A typical Spanish breakfast: coffee with milk and a pastry.

### Almuerzo

Noun: **_almuerzo_**

Served: **11:00 AM - 1:00 PM**

Verb: **_almorzar_**

This one is complicated. [The dictionary says](http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta?TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=almuerzo) it's "food eaten in the morning or midday". Spanish-to-English dictionaries always translate it to "lunch" and there are those who use it synonymously with _comida_, but I think the best English translation would be "brunch". The few times I've had one, it was more substantial than a simple snack or tapa, and left me with no desire to have lunch afterwards. It's normally served at around noon, or just before.

Interestingly, _almuerzo_ breaks the etymological rule of thumb that most Spanish words starting with _al-_ came from Arabic. This word comes from the Latin word for "bite".

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6887888215_fd7ee0d6c9_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sunday Almuerzo - Eggs and Bacon in Tomato Sauce">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6887888215_ab47d50843.jpg" alt="Sunday Almuerzo - Eggs and Bacon in Tomato Sauce"/>
</a>

A typical Spanish _almuerzo_: a concoction of fried eggs, bacon in a tomato sauce, served at noon with plenty of wine.

### Comida

Noun: **_comida_**

Served: **2:00 PM - 4:00 PM**

Verb: **_comer_**

Translating best to "lunch", this is the primary, and largest, meal of the day, eaten at midday. However, what the Spanish call "midday" is not what an American would call "midday". In Spain, they eat their lunch between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Most shops are closed during this time and reopen at 5:00 PM until about 8:00 PM. While the noun _comida_ and verb _comer_ mean "lunch" and "to have lunch", they are also more generally used to mean "food" and "to eat", and there is rarely any confusion.

Traditionally the midday meal consists of two courses, one of which normally requires a spoon to eat, like a soup or legume stew, the other is usually rice (e.g. _paella_), pasta or a small serving of meat. All restaurants assume that you will be having two courses. In daily home cooked practice, however, one course is all we ever eat.

Last time I checked, nutritionists and dietitians agree that it's healthiest to have your biggest meal in the middle of the day like the Spaniards, rather than at the end as the Americans do. It may be healthier, but it can make it difficult to become productive again in the afternoon, especially if there was any wine involved.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035172559_ed40d21001_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Beans and Wild Boar">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035172559_86429e6c52.jpg" alt="Beans and Wild Boar"/>
</a>

A typical Spanish lunch: beans with wild boar, followed by...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035174261_7b933bc2ed_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Venison Fillet">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6035174261_bd8147fb65.jpg" alt="Venison Fillet"/>
</a>

...a steak with fried potatoes.

### Merienda

Noun: **_merienda_**

Served: **5:00 PM - 6:00 PM**

Verb: **_merendar_**

This is another in-between meal – like the _almuerzo_ – and best translates to "afternoon snack". I never really heard it used until I became a parent and saw that every Spanish child has an afternoon snack of some sort, be it a piece of fruit or a small sandwich. From what I can tell, most adults don't eat the _merienda_, but I suppose the word could be used for some British-style tea and cookies.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6021547730_7556ae9200_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Tapas in San Sebastian">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/6021547730_85f96cde10.jpg" alt="Tapas in San Sebastian"/>
</a>

A typical Spanish _merienda_: a small serrano ham sandwich.

### Cena

Noun: **_cena_**

Served: **9:00 PM - 10:00 PM**

Verb: **_cenar_**

The final meal of the day is strangely similar to the US or UK breakfast: high in protein. Eggs are a common ingredient, often in a _tortilla de patata_ (Spanish omelet). Meats and cheeses are often included. If you go out to a restaurant, sandwiches and hamburgers are a common supper.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/2098961912_d84e518037_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Finished Tortilla">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-16-a-guide-to-spanish-meal-names/2098961912_4fcdcd0144.jpg" alt="Finished Tortilla"/>
</a>

A typical Spanish dinner: [_tortilla de patata_](/2007/12/09/bocadillo-de-tortilla-de-patata/).

If there's one thing Spaniards love, it's food, and I think it shows in their language. Of course no one ever eats all five meals, but no matter what time of the day you get hungry, you've got a Spanish noun and verb to use.


A Guide To Spanish Meal Names


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811433889_1f8ac1395c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Nora with Mitten Puppets">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811433889_9bc80f0b02_t.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
</a>

My grandmother, Joyce, knitted some mitten puppets for her great-granddaughter, Nora, for Christmas 2011. As often happens with presents not made in Chinese plastic molds, they got a little passed over on [Christmas morning](/2011/12/26/a-basque-christmas/), but we've found them and the weather has finally gotten cold enough to necessitate insulating hand gear, so we put them on her yesterday. It turns out to be extremely difficult to actually get her thumb and pinky into their requisite holes, but she does enjoy the faces on them.  Thank you very much to my grandmother, Joyce, of [crafts](/2010/12/31/cards-by-joyce/) and [off-roading](/2006/09/17/joyce-goes-to-minnesota/) fame, for these wonderful mittens. The photos that follow are for you…

…and for any catalog modeling scouts that may stop by.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811433889_1f8ac1395c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with Mitten Puppets">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811433889_9bc80f0b02.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811434695_31457fbef3_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with Mitten Puppets">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811434695_e9b83c067b.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
</a>

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811435391_927f9d0cc4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora with Mitten Puppets">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811435391_b486100be1_z.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
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Hands up! This is a robbery!

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  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811436425_dc3d5ec302.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
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  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811438143_2e6de5ea4e_z.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
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  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-mitten-puppets/6811437429_20802187b4.jpg" alt="Nora with Mitten Puppets"/>
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Mitten Puppets


[![Talking with abuela (thumbnail)](https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2012-02-03-talking-on-the-phone-with-abuela/6812921259_5ce76ed6d6_t.jpg "Talking with abuela (thumbnail)")](http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/6812921259 "View 'Talking with abuela (thumbnail)' on Flickr.com")I've been focusing [lately](/2012/01/26/union-rep/) on Nora's English, as my readers are more likely to understand her, but I thought I'd post some videos showcasing her Spanish development. One of Nora's favorite pastimes is talking on the phone with her abuela (Spanish grandmother). There are times when Nora is entertained with some other task and won't even take the phone, but there are other times where they have spoken for more than an hour, once to the point where Nora got a little hoarse. It's very much a stream of consciousness sort of conversation, with Nora at the helm, and her abuela interjecting comments here or there to keep up the flow, sticking around long after I would've bored of the conversation.  The first video is from a few mornings ago. Nora talked quite a bit about her friends at daycare and about how some of them can reach the sink and use the bathroom by themselves and others cannot. Unfortunately that was before I got the camera. In this video, you can see a very minor manifestation of Nora's manipulative tactic that prolongs these calls; begging "Don't go!" when the person on the other end of the phone makes one of those, "Well, I've gotta…" comments that we all use to end conversations. Sometimes her dramatic performances make it seem like the person on the other end of the phone is breaking her heart by hanging up. She's got her Spanish grandmother and aunts wrapped around her little finger…as a little girl should.

She talks about taking her computer (she mispronounces _ordenador_ as _denador_) to work, and also staying home to work like I do. She also mentions the "Mommy took a big bag of money from work!" allegation that I mentioned [earlier](/2012/01/20/state-of-the-offspring-address-january-2012/), adding the spurious claim that her mother "hides her money on the floor under her computer". I did search for said treasure, but in the end, I had to conclude: Myth BUSTED. Her _abuela_ playfully tries to get her to give up some of the riches, but Nora counters with evidence that her _abuela_ already has money in her wallet.

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Let me provide some context for the second video. Nora's _abuela_ is currently out of work on medical leave because she has a problem with her knee, and she has to go to physical rehabilitation a couple times a week. Also, Nora went to the doctor yesterday with her mother because her mother's got an ear ache, so a lot of their conversation is about doctors and medicine.

They discuss _las barracas_, general term for carnival rides or booths that trucked into small towns in Spain during that town's holiday week. Nora remembers them well from the time she spent with her Spanish grandparents over the winter solstice holidays. [Sometimes](/2010/09/21/nora-go-round/) she likes to ride them, but she has a very low tolerance for noise and centripetal force.

At one point she switches gears to talk about _Parchí­s_, a Spanish board game that is a cousin of the game I know as Parcheesiâ„¢ (they share a common [Indian ancestor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachisi)), that Nora and her _abuela_ like to play together.

Her gestures are so hilarious in this video. I'm sorry it's so long, but the cuteness refused to wane enough for me to stop recording or make an editing cut.

<iframe width="505" height="314" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gflg26LE5pY?cc_load_policy=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What blows me away most about the current stage of my daughter's mental development is just how observant she is at noticing causes and effects and intuiting the motivations behind the agents in her world. Of course she probably asked her mother "Why are we at a the doctor?" about seven hundred times when they were there, but she has understood the reasoning and generalized it to "when someone is sick or part of them hurts, they go to the doctor to get cured". The daycare workers tell us that her verbal and reasoning skills are considerably more advanced than her peers. And yet, her ability to identify colors, numbers or letters are at about the level of a sleepy dachshund. No doubt those abilities will arrive soon, but it's truly fascinating watching her develop. I'm enjoying every minute of it.


8 posts from February, 2012