El Sueno de Nuestra viaje en Guatemala

Hacia 2 anos pasado, Queriamos tomar una viaje con nuesta familia a fuera del Estados Unidos.  Nuestra mercado en Colorado tenia un oferta de Mangoes, y comimos uno cada persona. Mi hijo Eliot dijo, "Delicioso! Donde estan los mangoes crecen? voamos a una lugar para recojer mangoes." Aprendimos mangoes esta native de India, y ellos tienen unos que grande de futbols americanos. Pero, India es muy lejos y peligroso. Aprendimos, mangoes crecen circa del mundo proxima de la equador. A este tiempo, nuestras amigos fueron a la Antigua, Guatemala para vivir con sus ninos. Mi amigo dijo, "Vendrias! Yo tengo un refrigerador lleno de mangoes! Y nuestra cuiudad nueva es Bonita. Podrias venir aqui para recojerlos con nosotros!" Entonces, ahoramos dinero y hicimos una plan.

Y ahora, estamos aqui. Vivimos para esta verano in guatemala, con los hijos y muchos magoes. Tenemos una apartamento bonita con hamocas, y tenemos clases en espanol. Estamos feliz aqui. Ahora, nos sentamos en el patio, y estamos escribiendo esta estoria. La fuente esta brotando. Los mosqiutos esta mordiendo, y los ninos estan mirando unas caricaturas en espanol.

Tenemos planes. Manana esta el fin dia de los clases. Despues, vamos a ir a una fiesta del cumpleano para el nino de mi amigo. Este fin de semana visitaremos una fince de macadamias para come panquekes, una finca de mangoes tambien.  Y proxima semana,  iremos a la playa Paredon y el lago Atitlan. Tenemos una semana mas en Atigua tambien. Para el conclusion, monaremos una autobus executive a la cuidad de Maya se llama Tiakl, visitaremos una isla en Belize. Estoy enohado para comer cocos (y mas mangoes) en la playa con mis familia. Mis hijos Aprendian que suesnos son posible con una plan bien.

Mango hunting in Antigua!

We have arrived in Antigua, Guatemala: our base camp for the next 35 days. We arrived after dark and awoke to this new city of cobblestone streets and colorful churches, many abandoned.

Seeing my boys explore an unfamiliar place made our first day here unforgettable. Surrounded by forested volcanoes, this place has hints of our hometown, but so much is different. None of this was lost on the boys, who pointed out every contrast and comparison. They were delighted by the Tuk-Tuk taxis zooming around and troubled by stray dogs who seem to just stand and stare. We walked most of the day in the heat and humidity, trying to stay on the shady side of the street.  As the wonder faded to weariness, we were lost and then found our way home for a long rest and a nice meal.

This started as a question Eliot posed a few years ago, “Where do Mangoes grow? Can we go there?”  And now we are here. We have not seen a mango tree yet, but certainly piles and piles of ripe fruit, and small kids cutting them up with big knives to sell. “How does she balance that big basket on her head?” It has taken years to save and prepare, but we are here. We don’t have many plans yet, but I am sure we will soon discover much of what this place has to offer.

Fruita (the loom)

To celebrate the birthdays, we went camping in Fruita (a desert town a couple hours west).  Everyone got a chance to shred the bike trails, get dirty in the camp, soak in some hot sun and roast a few marshmallows. Not without it's challenges, we all agreed it was a successful trek.

 Talon rode more than any of us. He's a surefire trail rat.

 Big Eliot had the best crashes, one right into his brother.

This guy is a total maniac......sheesh!

Six & Eight

Yep. The years are flyin by! Our baby boy turned eight last week, and his little bro turned six. A decade away from driving and graduation!  Better yet, they're turnin' out to be super cool guys, each in their own way. Happy birthday dudes!

Memories...

A friend asked us to write down some memories as a gift....


Of course, when I think of the Hitchings Family I think of the Beach. Our times at the Outer Banks are indeed some of our best memories together. From way back, when I first went, and I was amazed by the laid back vibe of the people-- the wind and waves. I remember Kayaking in the sound with Courtney and Jason, and taking long bike rides to the north into the Wild Horse teritory. And the beach itself, we’d form a procession of wagons and shovels and kites and coolers-- trudging across the beach and setting up a formidable line of colorful gear. Talon, Eliot and Lucas had so much fun walking up and down the line of beach chairs,  getting a snack from someone, a hug from someone, and sunscreen from someone else. I remember building huge castles with Jason and Thomas. We’d head down to the surf to cool off and let the waves tease us. When the baby would tire and cry, I would carry him down the beach for as long as it took to find quiet.  Fast asleep, I’d bring them back and we would lay them in the cool, deep hole and cover it with a towel so they could sleep in the shade. Back at the cottage, we’d shower and play-- watch movies, play cards and eat sandwiches with beautiful tomatoes. The beach week was always the best week of the year.

I loved the family gatherings at Granny’s too. Whether it was Christmas, someone’s birthday, or just because.  When the Watts family got together, the scene was always crazy and fun. The mornings were quiet-- just sitting and visiting with Granny in the kitchen. Then, the rest of the family would start to trickle in. People would come in carrying presents and food. Except for all the little kids, everyone in that family was bigger than life-- and we all looked even bigger in that tiny apartment. Four people would sit on the bed in the living room, two on chairs, two on the stairs, two on the floor with the kids, and Granny in her chair watching it all. The moms would be in the kitchen putting out endless platters of hot food, and we’d eat and laugh and eat and joke and eat some more. The dads would razzle each other over their plates, and the cousins would talk about who didn’t make it and why. After the dinner was cleaned up, folks would startt to depart, and the joyful reunion would fade back into the usual calm of Granny’s place. 

Recital Numero Uno

Eliot has been dancing. He joined a troup with some buddies that does traditional Mexican dances called Folklorico. It's an amazing group of kids with an amazing instructor, Paco. He's a pure professional. I don't know how he does it. The kids practice hard a have a blast.

Diversity has been a theme around here lately. I think we sometimes forget the specialty of our cultural mix here in the US. We tend to focus on the difficulty our differences make, and not the beauty in them.  I am learning to appreciate our differences on a whole new level lately-- not simply tolerating our differences, but celebrating them.

I once asked a good friend of mine what value he most wanted his son to possess, and I'll never forget his answer: "To never look at anyone else and think he's better, and to know that nobody is better than him." That's really it. I am starting to think that discrimination is worse for the bigot than the victim. How hard it must be to live with that hate in your heart!  How much better to just be willing to dance with anyone. I can't get this Michael Franti song out of my head, "all the freaky people make the beauty in the world." Check out my boy!

Sometimes I think

The ARTS should be taught first, and we could take math and history as electives. Check this out. 

http://vimeo.com/19374769

unbelievable

Do you ever get slammed with a feeling of sudden elation? For instance, when you are taking out the trash, or walking home from the bus stop? Everything comes together, the scent, the song (playing out loud or in your head) the view... and you are suddenly filled with so much gratitude that you want to fall to your knees?

We live in a hard world. The injustice is absurd, the corruption, the scandal, the rampant hatred and fear. So many lives and livelihoods are ruled by war, abuse, inequity, hunger and fear. Amidst the horrible suffering, it seems almost selfish to relish in the moments we are relieved from it. But we must. For just as the height of our collective joy is limited by our individual pain, our collective suffering is eased by our individual grace. In other words, we owe it to each other to feel our happiness deep in our bones whenever we get the chance. We need to let it in like a sauna. We're obliged to let the joy sink into our marrows.

It happens a lot on the mountain, or when we're doing the things we love most. When I'm running on a mountain road and they just cut the hay and the sun is going down golden and an owl cruises alongside me for a hundred paces, it swoops in. And when there's enough snow to float and I'm skiing through the aspens with the cold in my nose and a blue sky ripping open, it explodes within me. It still comes easily on a bike, of course, pulsing up a hill or soaring down. The sound turns to color and the colors turn to music. Even swimming, a smoothness like molten pearls envelops me, and the effort disappears into the rhythm. Until I reach the edge of the lane or the trees, the bottom or top of the trail. And I snap back to reality, panting like a hyena with bongo drums in his chest.

But lately, this formidable serenity has hit me when I'm just hanging out. When Talon makes his little brothers laugh, when Cora smiles at her book. Riding on the Cruiser bike with the Dog trotting along. Even in the classroom, when I all the kids find focus or one finds understanding. It's like everything is trotting along normally, and time seems to slow way down. I feel like I'm inside a smile or a sunrise. Or a commercial. Then the colors fade back to normal and the sounds regain the familiar slight muffle, and it ends.

Like a clue in a scavenger hunt, one moment like this reminds us that we're on the Right Track. I used to be satisfied with a couple every year, or a month. But I think some people perceive life like this quite often, and that appeals to me. Amidst the darkness and eternal lonliness of our humanity, the pursuit of happiness (or it's pursuit of us) is.... compelling.

Marble Peak

My boss filmed this. Awesome.

skis are a nice way to move across the planet...

Great weekend of snow surfing. Cross country with Cora, Talon and Eliot's first run together, and Me in the mellow back country. Skis are such a nice way to move across the planet, I like how you can balance on them and slide down, across, and even up! Dem Ski boards is Good boards!

Wimpy Kid.

Eliot- I got the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from the library (hands it to me, it's all taped together)

Me- The same one Talon got at the library?

Eliot- Yep

Talon- It's really good Eliot. There aren't many books where some kid goes to church and says "peace be with Holly Elizabeth Hills" to the girl they like in middle school and then calls her and says, "Hi Holly, this is Greg Heffley, you might remember me from a very special Peace be with you." That's funny.

Talon-- Daddy, What's a wimp?

Me- Um. Kind of like a weakling. I mean, a wussy.

Talon- What's a wussy? It it kind of like a Dummy?

Me-- No not really. It's someone that loses in a fight.

Talon- You mean they would just get swung around the room?

Me.-- Well, no. I mean, a wimp probably wouldn't want to fight in the first place.

Lucas-- Diarrhea WimpyKid!

Eliot- So if you don't want to fight you're a wimp?

Me- No, actually you're tough if you don't want to fight. A Wimp, I think, is just someone who doesn't want to try hard at anything.

Eliot and Talon- Oh, OK

Lucas- WimpyKid! Diarrhea WimpyKid!

Why we teach

Teachers are awesome. Even if we're cheesy sometimes. Seriously.

Beto (Rhymes with Play Doh)

So yeah, we picked up a dang old dog about a month ago. He's a C.B.D mutt they found runnin on the road in Silt. (C.B.D. stands for Colorado Black Dog) He had a rough start to life but he's turnin out to be a real good dawg. Lucas crawls around on him, and Eliot likes to hug and kiss him. He's been running with me, and it's nice to have a companion out there. Cora's favorite thing is watching him play on the trail and the dog park, then watching him pass out at our feet while we read in the living room. I think he's gonna work out good.

Can I get a Wtness!

Awesome Weekend with the cousins. Dan and I took the boys to Sunlight, where Andrew and Mason worked in carving the toe edge and Talon and Eliot enjoyed their first and third days of Lift-serve respectively. While epic and historic (see video-- Talon's first taste of Big Air) ), it was just another day with my pals on the hill. White Heaven.

Autumn Freedom

Note to Self: Go With the Flow

Sheeeesh. It sure sometimes seems like we are on the brink; like our fortune and livelihood are held precariously in the balance. Like this time in history hinges the future. Everything, reality, bearing down like a backpack that gets heavier with every step.

There's the election, all of it, and the economy, and war, and global warming, and the terrorists, and our failing schools, and the energy crisis. Indeed, we are threatened.

And yet, amidst it all, there is still the simple joy of the moment. The beauty of ones we love, the deliciousness of food, the honesty of music, the laughter of the kids. Sometimes I forget. That life is stronger than death. And that good is stronger than evil. And that despite our suffering and uncertainty, there is always clarity and peace right in front of us. Reminding us. To notice.

So, I tell myself. Keep moving, and try to notice the magic as much as the mischief. For there has always been tragedy and pain, and there always will be. But we move on. Keep moving.
Consider all the possibilities, but know that you don't know. Keep moving. Stay as close as you can to this second. The one you are living right now. Move on. You've had a nice day, wine, a hearty soup, and the company of many fine humans. Rejoice in the moment. The future is filled with fear, but right now, there is love. There is hope.

Talon's First Photogrphs

Uncle Jason gave Talon a Fisher Price digi-cam last Christmas. We just figured out how to upload. So here's a few of the best from his five-year-old-eye.

Talon on the mini-tall-bike!

Check it out, it's two kiddie bikes-- one on top of the other. My pal Devon made this and little T kid-tested it. In his words, "it was scary but fun"

Beachin'

It's been a hot summer boy, and the Carbalandlubbers are ready to visit the sea once again.

Thanks to B-Wayne and Linda for providing the cottage, year after year, from which we can C-H-I-L-L.

Destination: Outer Banks, North Carolina. Land of the first Wright Brothers Flight -- and the famous Brew-Thru Drive-In Beer Store.

So till I post again, we'll be there.

What My Kids Like .... For Now

A couple weeks ago, my man Jake came for a visit. He makes movies for PIXAR, and for the last few years he's been working on the newest film, WALL E. After it's release, they gave him leave to visit friends and family. So he came on the train with WALL- E goodies, and took the boys to the film. Eliot sat on his lap for the whole movie -- and Talon was transfixed. Talon became WALL- E's biggest fan.

It went quickly from discussing the finer points of the film, to drawing the robots over and over, to, "Daddy, people don't know it, but I'm really a Robot inside. And I can do things.."

"Really?"

"Yep. And I have a directive."

"Oh?"

"All robots have one, mine is to search for robot parts and build more robots"

Wow. So we found an old drill case and began searching for machine parts, or taking other things apart (ski bindings, sprinklers). When we though there were enough, Talon was ready to build. I figured we could make a cool robot statue with some hot glue, but Talon didn't understand.

"I want our robot to do stuff, like follow me around and look for dinosaur bones"

I told him that it would be tough to build a robot like that-- that it would take a lot of school and college, but he's going for it -- and still collecting parts in the meantime.

WALL E the robot had a friend in the film, a cockroach. Talon found a plastic one amidst his toys and carries it everywhere. But the antennae broke off and I fear it may get lost -- so if you're wondering what he needs for Christmas, he'd love a six-pack of plastic roaches. And of course more robot parts.


As for Eliot, he is neck deep in the fascinating world of insects. Early on, it was a love-hate relationship. He would scream when he saw one, but be unable to take his eyes off of it. Now, it's pure love. He 'adopts' every bug he sees -- including worms and spiders. If one of his makeshift terrariums are unavailable, he'll carry the bug in his pocket, or his clenched fist, until he finds a 'home' for it. Of all the bugs, 'whoawy poawies' are his favorite. He's collected thousands of them. Each night at dinner, when we say what we are thankful for, Eliot always expresses his gratitude for one bug or another. Last night, it was "dead beetles" He helped his momma collect a tin of worms to fish with, but then refused to let them be used as bait. Here's a kid who can fall on his face on the sidewalk, get up bleeding and smiling --- but cries like a wild animal when his mom tried to put a worm on the hook.... Awesome.



And little Lucas (Lukito)? He likes his mamma. At first, I thought it was just breasts that he was into, so I did a google image search to try to find some suitable enough to post on this blog. But after looking at pages of internet breasts, none of them seemed right. I realized I couldn't just post a picture of any old breasts (or young ones). Lucas loves only his mamma's breasts. And I can't post a picture of those girls. More accurately though, he loves his whole momma -- as much as any human could love another. He loves her so much that he cries whenever he's away from her-- he just cries and cries. But when she goes to him, his faces changes from utter despair to one of complete contentment. Here she is 7 months pregnant. "the good old days" for little Lucas -- when he was still surrounded by her. She's a great mom, and casually drops whatever she's doing to nourish him when he needs it. Are Talon and Eliot (and Dad-O) jealous of Lucas' constant affections -- not really. She's enough woman for all of us.