We are so proud of her she is working so hard. She also scored an 80 two 60s and a 9. We are unconcerned about the 9 it was in a test given to her entirely in English. I have no idea why they did that.
It is way too soon for anyone to expect her to pass a test totally in Spanish.

If you have read our blog you know that Yamile has had little formal education. She did not learn to speak until she was 5 and did not really attend school until she entered the Casita de Nicolas in Medellin when she was about 6. While there she had to have several operations so she missed a lot of school.

We are pleased that she is gaining foundational academic skills in Spanish.
 
Since our adoption of her and her cousin/brother Jorge we chose to speak primarily to her in Spanish. Recently since she is more comfortable with us and her life we have started pairing English and Spanish and she is slowly picking up phrases.
 
I an not expert on language development in second language learners but I do know a bit. Social language, the ability to hold conversations with others takes about 2 years to develop. Understanding of academic subjects, math science etc takes about 5-7 years to develop. Given this understanding there is no way anyone can expect Yamile to do well on a test in English.

Now for some info on Jorge- he is silly as ever- he wants to go to the zoo we just have to decide when. He also wants more Christmas decorations for our house.

We are going out to a Colombian restaurant tomorrow- yuppee

Our family except for Yamile (thankfully) have been having a terrible time with allergies. I couldn’t sleep.Jim’s throat has been hurting. Jorge poor baby has a drippy nose and is sneezing and sneezing.

On a more positive note the kids are very much in a Christmas spirit. They are enjoying decorating the house it is a work in process. They also love singing Christmas songs their favorite goes a little something like this, “navidad, navidad hoy es navidad es un dia allegria y felicidad”. It is sung to the tune of jingle bells but means something entirely different. Christmas, Christmas today is Christmas, it a day very happy? and joyous. I really like it.

Our phone and our internet went out on Thanksgiving so I could not write. It went fairly well. Jim was on the phone with comcast and at&t for a long time that day but other than that. We had a ham which I put in the crock pot with some oj, chicken broth, garlic cloves and honey. It was amazing we have been eating it ever since. We also had turkey breast- it was good but not as good as the ham. We also had Colombiana soda, green beans in a casserole, whipped sweet potatoes, cheeze broccoli and rice, fresh cranberry sauce made again with OJ corn, and pumpkin pie.

What was really neat was that we each did a thanksgiving prayer. Jorge went first his first line was not really understandable but then he said thank you Jesus for our food. Yamile thanked God for her family and food, I thanked him for our friend, family and food, and Papi also thanked him for his food.

Yesterday we started decorating for Chrismas. The kids decorated their Christmas stockings. We used glitter paint, it was really messy.
We only have a small, small tree, it looks good though because we bought new really sweet ornaments, blue and silver stars, red globes, a little mouse and little peguins. I’d like a bigger tree but don’t know where I would put it. I also want some more decorations but it will have to wait. The kids needed new coats and some new winter shirts.

Our phone and our internet went out on Thanksgiving so I could not write. It went fairly well. Jim was on the phone with comcast and at&t for a long time that day but other than that. We had a ham which I put in the crock pot with some oj, chicken broth, garlic cloves and honey. It was amazing we have been eating it ever since. We also had turkey breast- it was good but not as good as the ham. We also had Colombiana soda, green beans in a casserole, whipped sweet potatoes, cheeze broccoli and rice, fresh cranberry sauce made again with OJ corn, and pumpkin pie.

What was really neat was that we each did a thanksgiving prayer. Jorge went first his first line was not really understandable but then he said thank you Jesus for our food. Yamile thanked God for her family and food, I thanked him for our friend, family and food, and Papi also thanked him for his food.

Yesterday we started decorating for Chrismas. The kids decorated their Christmas stockings. We used glitter paint, it was really messy.
We only have a small, small tree, it looks good though because we bought new really sweet ornaments, blue and silver stars, red globes, a little mouse and little peguins. I’d like a bigger tree but don’t know where I would put it. I also want some more decorations but it will have to wait. The kids needed new coats and some new winter shirts.

Our phone and our internet went out on Thanksgiving so I could not write. It went fairly well. Jim was on the phone with comcast and at&t for a long time that day but other than that. We had a ham which I put in the crock pot with some oj, chicken broth, garlic cloves and honey. It was amazing we have been eating it ever since. We also had turkey breast- it was good but not as good as the ham. We also had Colombiana soda, green beans in a casserole, whipped sweet potatoes, cheeze broccoli and rice, fresh cranberry sauce made again with OJ corn, and pumpkin pie.

What was really neat was that we each did a thanksgiving prayer. Jorge went first his first line was not really understandable but then he said thank you Jesus for our food. Yamile thanked God for her family and food, I thanked him for our friend, family and food, and Papi also thanked him for his food.

Yesterday we started decorating for Chrismas. The kids decorated their Christmas stockings. We used glitter paint, it was really messy.
We only have a small, small tree, it looks good though because we bought new really sweet ornaments, blue and silver stars, red globes, a little mouse and little peguins. I’d like a bigger tree but don’t know where I would put it. I also want some more decorations but it will have to wait. The kids needed new coats and some new winter shirts.

The kids are missing my mom they woke up this morning and were looking for her asking when she was coming back. I felt so sad for them. We really need to be closer to family. I feel like the kids are missing too too much.

They have been so silly today. They woke up late 10:30am. I was in shock. They never get up this late.  They helped clean their bathroom. We played, they did a little school work.They took an hour long bathe and seemed like they could not get enough food. They had bagels and coffee for breakfast, then they ate two puddings each, some spaghetti, rice krispie treats, chicken, tomatos, ice cream, pretzels, cookies and a little candy.

I can not wait until papi comes home. I miss him a lot. Sadly, he will e going away again for at least two days before Christmas. Oh no.

PS. Send some prayers out to Genece and family who are getting ready to meet their 3 new additions.

Life has been amazing, my mom is in town and she is GREAT with these kids. They love her so much. Yamile told the daycare people that her abuela was in town and she likes to be called gramma. It was pretty cute. She has made spaghetti for the kids again tonight they were in their glory. Yamile ate it and a pork chop, oh my goodness. Jorge is going to stay home with my mom tomorrow, he is really looking forward to it. They are just having a great time, I can’t say anymore.

My mom is in town, the kids are having a blast. They really love spending time with her. Yamile forgets that she does not speak Spanish and goes on very long tangets in Spanish and my mom just listens to her and thinks its great. Jorge is walking around very tired b/c he does not want to go to bed b/c gramma/abuela is here.

Abuela or gramma is now here in Houston YAY. We are all so happy. The kids have been very silly and excited. We took her to Saltgrass when she came in. It was close to the airport. She gave them lots of videos and they are practicing their English with her. She is going to make Spaghetti with meatballs tomorrow for dinner. Delicio as Jorge likes to say.

Oh, the nickolas’s party was a lot of fun. Lots of families from Colombia. The kids had a great time. Thank you Nickolas. We got Nickolas a kids laptop like the ones the kids have and love. I hope he likes it.

I am getting quickly tired of trying to teach Yamile how to tell time. She is still having lots of trouble with o’clock and thirty (e.g. 2:30) yet they are starting half past. I chose not to do that homework with her. I think it just confuses her more. I am going to work on it this weekend with her.

On saturday night we have our first party. It is for Nicolas a boy at Jorge’s school. They are from Colombia and the mom Mercedes introduced herself to me two weeks ago.

Here is Jorge’s goodnight qweeeeddddddggggggggggjjjjjjjjjjmmmmm,lf fffffffffffffff ffff f fff