Our Spanish Ward

Most of you are aware that our family goes to the Spanish ward in our stake. We've been here for almost a year and we absolutely love it. It's been a wonderful experience for our family and has really done wonders for our Spanish! Everything is done in Spanish, even our Home/Visiting Teaching. And don't forget the nursery, which Jaxon is now a part of! :)

Last Sunday was Jaxon's first time in "la guardaria", and although it's still a month early, there was just no way he was going to sit through another Sunday School lesson no matter how many books and other distractions were in his bag. It was fun to see him interacting with other Spanish speaking kids and adults. I've since had to teach myself several nursery songs in Spanish so I can practice them with him throughout the week. Let me just say, that "Once There Was a Snowman" isn't nearly as exciting in Spanish as it is in English.

English: Once there was a snowman, snowman, snowman, Once there was a snowman, tall, tall, tall!
In the sun he melted, melted melted, In the sun he melted, small, small, small.

Spanish: This was a snowman, snowman, snowman, from pure snow it stood!
He was in the yard, yard, yard, and the heat from the sun melted it.

See what I mean? Our snowman meets an abrupt end in Spanish.

And instead of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes", in Spanish it's, "Head, Face, Shoulders, Feet." Taking that "knees" out creates quite the drop, especially during the repetitive "shoulders, feet! shoulders, feet!" part. Bet you didn't realize how physically demanding Spanish is, huh? ;)

Anyway, back to the ward, Travis and I also gave talks last Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. It was the first time I've ever had to give one in Spanish, and it was quite the experience.

Attending this ward has been one of the best decisions our family has ever made. We feel very loved and welcome there and truly feel like we fit in.

La Nieve

Jaxon has a love/hate relationship with snow. We bought him snow pants thinking he'd love to romp around and throw it up in the air and try to eat it. You know, like normal children. But he's not a big fan. He'll poke and prod, but he'll never walk into it on his own, and when I put him in it he's crawling back to the sidewalk. Yes, crawling, since he maintains no balance on the snow.

Yet as soon as we're inside he cries and begs to go outside again.

As a result, we've only "played" in the snow a couple times this winter. He seems fascinated by the stuff but doesn't actually like to be in it. (This video was taken a couple months ago.)

Maybe we should move to California. We're looking forward to spending some time there this spring when we take Jaxon on his first trip to Disneyland! Until then, looks like we'll just have to wait out the snow.

(Heartily enjoying the distraction of graham crackers and juice...)