Merry Christmas!

  Christmas Eve.

 

 Christmas morning.

For the first time, David and I celebrated Christmas as parents. This was a startling amount of work! Somehow, Gwendolyn's other Christmases have been relatively easy, one in Germany, one when we first arrived in Panama. She was so young, she was very happy with the unwrapping of a present or two. But this time we got a little more elaborate. A few days before, David bought this tiny Christmas tree. We made ornaments, we made cookies, we hung lights, we wrapped presents, we cooked lots and lots of food (two big dinners with friends, one Christmas Eve, the other Christmas day). By the time Christmas morning arrived, David and I were exhausted, and filled with yet a new sense of gratitude and respect for all the wonderful Christmases our parents have given us.

Gwendolyn was ecstatic! This photo shows only a tiny sliver of her exuberance, which lasted the whole day. It was all we could do to slow her down a bit, to get her to take a look at one present before racing to the next. I've never seen her with such manic, joyful energy (which might also have had to do with her utter lack of food all day beyond candy canes and cookies).

To all our family and friends in places near and far, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Cookies

  Christmas Eve day - baking cookies with...

 

Eric,

Issac,

 

 and Niko.

Gwendolyn discovered the immediate gratification of eating flour straight from the container. Getting thoroughly covered in the process.

And here are some of the gooey creations. David's rabbit.

Gwendolyn's Christmas tree.

Christmas at Escuelita

 

Making snowflakes and Christmas trees!

Resting the Belly

 

David took this picture of me as I was brushing my teeth. I didn't realize I've been using the sink as a belly-prop :).

Water, water, everywhere

Nor any drop to drink. Nor to flush toilets with. With all the crazy rain we've been having, it's hard to imagine a shortage of water. But last week authorities were so worried that Madden Dam might break, they opened it a bit, creating a huge water flow on the Rio Chagres, which in turn flooded the Canal with tons of water and all kinds of debris, from floating islands to lots and lots of muddy sediment. The filters at the water purification systems were overwhelmed, and to clean them, Panama City shut off its water for a night and a day. Which would have been fine with a little advanced warning, but no one was prepared, no water was stored, and things came to a virtual standstill. Amazing how important water is to the operation of a city! We did have meetings all day at the STRI headquarters in Panama City, toilets became fuller and fuller, more and more stinky, until finally around 4 pm water was turned on again for a bit, to the welcome relief of all. We didn't get water again in Gamboa for a bit longer, and as soon as we did, we filled up some large containers. It does make one a bit worried about the Canal expansion plans to come, maybe it's a good reality check for the effect this degree of sediment would have on water purification systems city-wide. At any rate, next time we'll be better prepared!

Flower Girl To Be

Isabelina's mom is getting married in January, and has asked Gwendolyn to be a flower girl! Last week, Isa and Graciela brought over the dress. Gwendolyn was entranced. We've since had a series of really rough bedtimes - she has only tried on the dress once, but still asks every night if she can wear it to bed instead of her pajamas. A month is a long time to wait for someone so small!

Rain Rain Rain!!!

We have been getting so much rain in Gamboa! It's the rainiest year on record in Panama (which is really saying something!), and the last few days seem to have been the pinnacle. Yesterday, for the first time since it opened almost 100 years ago, the Panama Canal was closed due to high, turbulent waters from the Rio Chagres. Here is some video footage (not ours) of floating islands, including entire upright trees, passing under our little one lane bridge - where the Chagres meets the Canal - a bridge I suddenly have a great deal of respect for! Meanwhile, we're laying low, staying dry, wondering if the rain will stop.

[Note: The video embedding isn't quite right. Here's a link to see it without cropping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnFB6yMOKy4]

Morning drawing

Pattern and Color

Pattern and color now cover the Gamboa preschool building! This happened when we were out of town, project coordinated by our preschool teacher Damond Kyllo, carried out by the kids. Beautiful!

Floss

Gwendolyn saw me flossing the other day and insisted on trying it herself. Now it's one of her favorite toys - she alternately uses dental floss to (1) clean her teeth, (2) wear as a necklace, (3) wear as a dress (a little bit skimpy as a dress!). I remember her skepticism when we bought her her first toothbrush.

Pirate Party

First year birthdays are big events in Panama. Beth and Andrew have been living in Gamboa 7 years, and took this sentiment to heart. We received a custom invitation (addressed to "Crimson Curls Gwendolyn") to a boat in the Pacific.

After short trip into the harbor on a jetty manned by pirates, we boarded a larger boat and encountered the birthday boy himself: here's Alistair, age 1.

Gwendolyn was fully entranced.

Steering the boat.

Consorting with her friend Freya.

And observing the piñata-attacking craziness from a safe perch with Helene and Eric.

David and I came in costume too.

Here are the Wren and I posing in front of the Bridge of the Americas.

And here's David, sporting the one-eyed sunglasses version of a pirate's patch.

Thanksgiving

Still amazing to us that we've been in Panama a year now. It seems like a just a month or two ago that we had our last Gamboa Thanksgiving.

Again, Justin and Myra were kind enough to host 60-70 of Gamboa's residents.

There was amazing (and plentiful!) food.

 And lots of good, if a bit chaotic, company. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

My dad, my pig!

Gwendolyn spent the whole week in Rhode Island talking about her dad and her pig, both sadly left behind in Panama. She spent lots of time running around the house, shouting "I'll be right back! I'm going to Panama!", often convincing Maddie to join her on these tropical adventures. She found all the pictures she could of her dad and pig (and there were actually quite a few) and showed them to everyone she met. Needless to say, her reunion with her dad and her puerquito was very sweet.

Wonderful Grandparents

Fun days at home with the grandparents coming to an end...

The many attempts at capturing a group photo.

Cuddling up to watch a movie.

Tulip overseeing tractor play.

Guitar practice with Sam.

Dancing in the kitchen with Jess.

And bundling up for the cold outside. But mostly warm wonderful times all together - we'll miss you, Toby and Theo!!!