
<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/22846203560_ec5660b3d0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Maybe if we put our heads together we can figure out how to have fun in an airport!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/22846203560_c160b82a58_t.jpg" alt="Maybe if we put our heads together we can figure out how to have fun in an airport!"/>
</a>

Our November was primarily dominated by the run up to and execution of a whole-family trip to the United States to visit my family for Thanksgiving. However, plenty of other things happened first, so let's get to those. On November 1st, All Saints Day, we took a lovely long walk on a nearby beach (we actually walked there from home) at Golden Hour.  <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674078869_c1dd0d490b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Throwing rocks at sunset">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674078869_e91301d477.jpg" alt="Throwing rocks at sunset"/>
</a>

Ian, doing his favorite activity in the world: throwing rocks.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674084859_10b6829d1b_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Golden Hour Beach">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674084859_9c41693746.jpg" alt="Golden Hour Beach"/>
</a>

Out at dusk in short sleeves in November, with Tía Belén.

### Fútbol Prodigy

Ian continues to impress the heck out of me – perhaps I'm biased – with his soccer skills. When he's got the time to set up a kick, he favors his left foot, but if the ball is coming to his right, he doesn't hesitate to kick it with his right foot. He's quite accurate, even when the ball is moving as he kicks it. He's already improved greatly since this video was recorded on November 7, 2015.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6VprHpwrxgw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### I do

One day this month when I was dressing Ian, I asked him some question, maybe "Who wants to go to the park?" and he kept saying, "I do, I do!" Even after the subject had changed, so I had the idea to record him saying that as if he was getting married, you know, potential video to play embarrassingly at his wedding...

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C1NeKHNDqQ0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Silly Morning Boy

And then there was some more morning dressing shenanigans. He can be so expressive, even if all his words can't be understood.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tsd2x05Z3C8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Walking Home

Sometimes I like to reflect on what parts of my daily routines I will miss in the future, and then record them for my future self to reminisce about. This video is a very common example of Ian and myself walking home after dropping Nora off at school. If that little toy car had an odometer, it would have dozens of kilometers on it.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-ZfUwEg7B0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

### Rotten Teeth

Nora's mouth is a mess. I took her to the dentist on November 11, and the dentist identified, and showed me with the little mirror, that two of Nora's molars (baby teeth, luckily) were completely rotten and needed to be pulled. While we were there, the dentist noticed a rotten incisor that was already pretty wobbly, ready to fall out, and decided to go ahead an pull it. In retrospect, it turned out to be a great practice run for the molars. We convinced the dentist to let us wait until after we returned from the States to pull the molars.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24055291536_ef0780bdb1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Flouride Gel">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24055291536_8b42c5b811_z.jpg" alt="Flouride Gel"/>
</a>

Who doesn't remember those faux-strawberry fluoride gels you have to sit awkwardly with? Ugh!

### Paula's Birthday Party

We are fully into the "get together with all the classmates for every birthday" tradition. Nora used to hate going to these things, but she has come around now. She doesn't mind missing one if we have other plans, but she doesn't immediately refuse if we don't.

A lot of being a parent is telling your kids what to do and what not to do, nudging your kids, like a hockey stick pushing and blocking a sliding puck. When you spend all day every day doing this, you can get the sensation that your kids are constantly doing what they are not supposed to, because you feel every time they bump against your ruleset. It feels like not a meal goes by where the inappropriateness of spoon throwing doesn't come up.

Well, it was very eye opening to experience what other six-year-olds are like. Granted many of them were boys, which is still sort of a different species, and there was some mob mentality in play, but they were pushing and shoving and punching and throwing and generally being monsters, and their parents, when they did raise an objection, were immediately ignored. Amidst the chaos, my children seemed like absolute angels.

I'll have to check back in four years to see what a monster my six-year-old son has turned out to be.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23453211824_cf81071326_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paula's 6th Birthday Party">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23453211824_99060b0bff.jpg" alt="Paula's 6th Birthday Party"/>
</a>

Ian totally held his own with the six-year-old boys. In the giant bouncy play area, they were also pretty courteous to stop pummeling each other when Ian came around to avoid accidentally elbowing him in the face.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24081445255_73e67cf4a0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paula's 6th Birthday Party">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24081445255_a25993be3e.jpg" alt="Paula's 6th Birthday Party"/>
</a>

The girl side of the table.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23785786170_4f8ac20b5c_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paula's 6th Birthday Party">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23785786170_7bbfd929ec.jpg" alt="Paula's 6th Birthday Party"/>
</a>

Plenty of sugar.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23713643269_31ae3ed517_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Paula's 6th Birthday Party">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23713643269_9d38b6d63b.jpg" alt="Paula's 6th Birthday Party"/>
</a>

Ian and his friend, Mara. Siblings of the two girls on the sides of the previous photo.

### Violin Lessons

Nora finally began her violin lessons. She goes for thirty minutes twice a week to a municipal building where a strict British woman teaches her and five other kids, some older, some younger. It took them several weeks of learning to hold the bow before they were ever allowed to pick up the violin. The parents have to sit through the entire class so that they know what to make the kids practice at home. The teacher demands that the students practice for at least ten minutes every day, _and she makes the parent keep a log of each practice session_.

The great part of the class is that each student is given a municipal violin to practice on.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23455038073_192c2c15aa_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora Violin Lessions">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23455038073_d214397a96_z.jpg" alt="Nora Violin Lessions"/>
</a>

It's hard to judge, of course, but so far Nora says that she likes the class. She doesn't hate it, but she is reluctant (as every child is) to stop what she's doing to practice each night. Nobody _likes_ instrument practice.

### Photo Grab Bag

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674132939_44da471e74_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Eating Peanuts in El Tablon">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/23674132939_a948543137.jpg" alt="Eating Peanuts in El Tablon"/>
</a>

Eating peanuts at the closest bar to our house is always a fun pastime.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24015842146_57cc93cc45_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Naked Hacker">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/24015842146_0ba0c104e1.jpg" alt="Naked Hacker"/>
</a>

One day I caught this Naked Hacker trying to work out my password at my desk.

### Conclusion

Due to the immensity of information, I've decided to put our Thanksgiving trip, which spanned the end of November and the beginning of December into its own post. Even when bored in the Munich International Airport...

...the state of the offspring is strong!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/22846203560_ec5660b3d0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Maybe if we put our heads together we can figure out how to have fun in an airport!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-30-state-of-the-offspring-address-november-2015/22846203560_c160b82a58.jpg" alt="Maybe if we put our heads together we can figure out how to have fun in an airport!"/>
</a>


State of the Offspring Address - November 2015


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469775412_3c435a35f4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469775412_9d1bb9cafa_t.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

During our visit to the United States for Thanksgiving, we took a little day outing to a local farm, called [Mimosa Hills Farm](http://www.mimosahillsfarm.com). They give riding lessons and even have a special program to help people with mental disabilities from the local state institutions. We had a wonderful time.

When we walked into the barn, Ian pointed at each and every horse, declaring "I want _montar_ that one! I want _montar_ that one!" Nora was quite a bit more timid. If her brother hadn't gone first, she might have chickened out about riding the horse. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469775412_3c435a35f4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469775412_9d1bb9cafa.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

They had lots of different horses, including this one with some sort of mutation that made its hair curly and hypoallergenic. And I mean _all_ of its hair, from mane to tail to eyelashes to its fur. It was very interesting to touch.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/23949948944_977d59828e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/23949948944_32a704bf3b.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

Enjoying the view.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NaiXAQSO-cY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Nora was nowhere near brave enough to feed the goats. Little brother to the rescue!

The horse that the children rode was an old mare from England named Rosemary. She was about as gentle as a living horse can be. Perfect for giving rides to kids.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24551874896_c64692c137_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24551874896_015b3481b2.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

Safety first!

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24210307059_0c243fbe97_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24210307059_a083c18677.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

Ian rode around a little path in an inclosure, always accompanied by Crosby, who grew up at the farm. He had a _BLAST!_ He did not want to get down when his turn was up. He would have contentedly ridden around in circles for hours and hours.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24578067255_bd7a021194_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24578067255_6419299346.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

Nora, who actually reached the stirrups, was more timid, but admitted afterward to really enjoying it.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469932462_e71fb962a4_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Ian and Nora leading a horse">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469932462_42d1f103d9.jpg" alt="Ian and Nora leading a horse"/>
</a>

After riding, it was back to the barn for Rosemary...

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469748602_713fd9205e_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mimosa Farms">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-24-a-visit-to-mimosa-farms/24469748602_dfc3b87658.jpg" alt="Mimosa Farms"/>
</a>

...and then grooming.

<iframe width="505" height="284" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pphdrh0vn8U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thank you, [Mimosa Hills Farm](http://www.mimosahillsfarm.com), for showing my kids an excellent time.


A Visit to Mimosa Hills Farm


<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959666361_e7db28f800_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image post-thumb" title="Nora on top of the world">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959666361_e83e5e58bf_t.jpg" alt="Nora on top of the world"/>
</a>

One of [our favorite local hikes](/?s=pico+nieves) is the _Pico de las Nieves_, a mountain that we can see from our house that is only about as hard to climb as ten flights of stairs. On November 8th, we decided that it was time to take the kids there. It was a beautiful day with plenty of visibility, which made it a perfect choice. We packed a picnic lunch and hopped in the car and headed up.

Ian, unfortunately, has gotten quite sensitive to motion sickness, so we had to stop and get out of the car for 5 minutes about four times during what would normally be a 25 minute ride. Poor guy. <a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23933998732_5d019c7cb1_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora and the Heart Shaped Forest">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23933998732_30fd393051.jpg" alt="Nora and the Heart Shaped Forest"/>
</a>

Nora got a big kick out of the Heart Shaped Forest, my first photo of which has been one of my most popular photos on Flickr over the years.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959666361_e7db28f800_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Nora on top of the world">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959666361_e83e5e58bf.jpg" alt="Nora on top of the world"/>
</a>

We finally made it to the top! That grove of trees down there to the right of the square was where we would later picnic. The mountain out there in the sea is [this infamous beast](/2015/08/24/hiking-mount-buciero/).

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23414004054_703eac70d7_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Hold on! It's windy!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23414004054_43a416aa7c.jpg" alt="Hold on! It's windy!"/>
</a>

Hold on kids! It's pretty windy! (Ian was _not_ happy about posing for this photo)

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23746553360_be6e9967bc_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="What a view!">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23746553360_021c49b735_z.jpg" alt="What a view!"/>
</a>

More comfortable with Mommy's hand to hold.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23415531813_9e5024e62a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Hermitage Girl">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23415531813_6a23c59a42.jpg" alt="Hermitage Girl"/>
</a>

Nora enjoyed climbing around the steps of the hermitage that sits atop the mountain.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959882401_606ceaec2d_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Precipitous Fun">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23959882401_5eb23a6680.jpg" alt="Precipitous Fun"/>
</a>

Precipitous fun.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/24042312755_4b0f7ba6b0_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mountain Family Portrait">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/24042312755_65724d5ed7.jpg" alt="Mountain Family Portrait"/>
</a>

Family tripod portrait. (the best of about twenty attempts)

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23414114434_09682649d5_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Sunny November Picnic">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23414114434_0f4f726fed.jpg" alt="Sunny November Picnic"/>
</a>

Picnic time, in short sleeves in mid November.

Ian was fascinated by all the rocks available for throwing. He actually launched one from the top of the mountain before we could stop him and I watched it roll at least 200 meters bounding down the steep grassy slope.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/24016220216_6044930f70_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mother and Son Hikers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/24016220216_2cd8951e3a.jpg" alt="Mother and Son Hikers"/>
</a>

Mother and son, mountain people.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23415562853_888fdf0c91_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mother and Son Hikers">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23415562853_9c6a8e8db4.jpg" alt="Mother and Son Hikers"/>
</a>

There were also some horses roaming freely around that held Ian's interest, but he had about as much luck getting close to them as he does with pigeons in the park. This is a great view of the cliff face and hermitage on top.

<a href="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23934188362_b77cc94d0a_o_d.jpg" target="_blank" class="flickr-image" title="Mountain Crocus">
  <img src="https://d1js6qm6cshi0v.cloudfront.net/oldblog/2015-11-08-pico-de-las-nieves-with-kids/23934188362_3e980449dc_z.jpg" alt="Mountain Crocus"/>
</a>

It was a great day. We love the _Pico de las Nieves_!


3 posts from November, 2015