Down on Grandpa's Farm. . . Pichanal

Cristian's Grandpa and Grandma Dimitricoff live on a 20 acre farm in Salta, Argentina! It is super pretty and everything is always really green! They have pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, roosters, ducks, parrots, dogs, and cats! With that said, I'm sure you can imagine how much Nikolas loved visiting his Great grandparents!

Los Abuelos Dimitricoff viven en una finca de 7 hectareas! Pichanal es re lindo y todo esta siempre muy verde! Tienen chanchos, ovejas, chivos, gallinas, gallos, patos, loros, perros y gatos!! Al decir eso, seguro que pueden imaginar cuanto le encanto a Nikolas visitarlos a los bis abuelos!!

Welcome to Pichanal! Here is Mari, Niko, and Maida walking down the dirt road towards Grandpa and Grandma's farm! Bienvenidos a Pichanal! Aca esta Mari, Niko, y Maida caminando hacia la finca de los Abuelos!

Abuelo Lalo (Gonzalo) y la Abuela Yola with Niko and Cristian. Oh and Uncle Saul just had to pop in for the picture! Abuelo Lalo y la Abuela Yola con Niko y Cristian! Y tambien Tio Saul atras.

Los Abuelos! They are so cute!! We had so much fun with them!! They treated us like kings and queens! Los Abuelos! Son tan buenos! La pasamos SUPER bien con ellos! Gracias Abuelos!! Los queremos!
Two of Cristian's uncles and their families live in Pichanal too! It was Aunt Celia's (from the Quiaca) birthday the day after we got there so they came down to Pichanal (about an 8 hour drive) and we had a big party!! Above are the girls! Below the boys! Dos de los tios de Cristian viven en Pichanal tambien, asi que nos juntamos con ellos y sus familias y vino la tia Celia y su familia tambien por su cumpleanos y hicimos un asado GIGANTE! Rico Chancho!!
Below are misc pics on the Farm! Abajo hay algunas fotos mas en la Finca!

More fun on the Farm...

Grandma Yola was making bread and she let us help! La Abuela estaba haciendo pan y nos dejo ayudar!!

Cristian putting the bread in the brick oven! Cristian poniendo el pan en el horno!

La abuela let Niko help feed Martin, the goat! La abuela dejo que Nikolas le diera de comer a Martin, el chivito!

I think Nikolas' favorite (or maybe it's my favorite part) was feeding the animals with el abuelo and just following the animals around! Instead of throwing the corn out, he would drop it at his feet and therefore, the animals we almost trample him. Luckily, el abuelo was there to teach him and help him out! Creo que una de las partes preferidas de Nikolas (o quizas es la mia) fue dandole de comer a los animales y siguiendolos por todos lados! En vez de tirar el maiz, Niko lo dejo en sus pies no mas, asi que lo animales casi lo querian comer a el. Menos mal que el abuelo estaba para ensenarle y ayudarle!

I think of all the 700+ pictures we have of our trip to Argentina, this is my favorite!! There is just something so sweet and special about Nikolas and his Great Grandpa Lalo and it seems to be depicted in this picture! Creo que de todas las 700+ fotos que tenemos del viaje a Argentina, esta es mi favorita! No se que es, pero hay algo dulce y especial entre Nikolas y su Bis Abuelo Lalo y se lo ve en esta foto!!

La Abuela Yaya

We got to spend an afternoon with Cristian's Grandma Yaya (Mari's Mom) his aunts and uncles and cousins.

Pasamos toda una tarde con la Abuela Yaya y los tios y primos de Cristian!

Four Generations! Cuatro Generaciones!

Aunt Rita, La Abuela Yaya, Mari, Aunt Negra drinking mate and gabbing!

Tia Rita, La Abuela, Mari, y la Tia Negra tomando mate y conversando!

Alvaro, Cristian's cousin playing the guitar. He is a taxi driver and was nice enough to take us around to see different people and to the airport. Alvaro tocando la guitarra! El tiene un lindo talento de cantar y tocar la guitarra. Tambien, el es taxista y nos llevo por todos lados y aun hasta el aeropuerto! Gracias Alvaro!

Pablo y Cristian

Cheo, Santi, Pablo, Alvaro, y Cristian jugando la pelota!! Faltaba Javier, Juan, y Julian!

Silvana and our Nikolas. She has a little boy named Nicolas too! Silvana y nuestro Nikolas. Ella tiene un hijo Nicolas tambien!

Veronica and Cristian

Martina and Nicolas

Me, Cristian, and Laura

Cristian and his Grandma Yaya! She gave us a teapot that she had been saving for years for the "right occasion" Everyone has asked her if they can have it or what she was going to do with it, because everyone has wanted it. When we were leaving she pulled out the teapot and gave it to us. She said she knew that the "right occasion" had come and wanted Nikolas to have the teapot. (We are saving it for him of couse, right now he would just break it) What a special day! Cristian y la Abuela Yaya! Ella nos regalo una pava muy especial. Despues me conto Mari que es una pava que la abuela ha tenido por muchos anos! Es hermosa! La tenemos guardada para que la podamos ver todos los dias!

La Quiaca. . .Argentina Part III

One of Cristian's aunts lives literally two blocks from the border with Bolivia. Her husband works in Customs for semis that come and go between Argentina and Bolivia. So, we got on a bus and went up to visit them. It is super cold there all year long! But we had a good trip and it was fun to see them!

Una de la tias de Cristian vive a dos cuadras de la frontera con Bolivia (el tio trabaja en laaudana) asi que los fuimos a ver un par de dias. Estuvo super frio pero la pasamos bien! Gracias tios y primos por recibirnos! Nos gusto mucho poder verlos! y la comida de diez como siempre
(especialmente los noquis, gracias tia)!!

There was a fun park just a couple blocks from their house. Nikolas of course loved it. He's going down the slide with Maida. They also had these really big pots and Nikolas loved getting in them. This one is pretty small compared to some of the others!

Habia un parque a dos cuadras de la casa de los tios! A Niko le encanto jugar ahi! Tambien tenian unas ollas gigantes y le gustaba meterse. Esta es chiquita comparada con algunas de las otras! Se divertio un monton ahi con Maida!

Aunt Celia made a yummy cake and Nikolas and Maida were blowing on it to help it cool faster! La tia Celia hizo una torta bien rica y Nikolas y Maida estaban soplando para que se enfrie mas rapido! Aunt Celia gave Nikolas these cute slippers! He wore them all the time down there and wants to wear them at home too, even though it's like 90 degrees. When he finally lets me take them off, his feet are all sweaty! La tia Celia le regalo unas pantuflas muy lindas! El se las ponia todo el tiempo en Argentina y se las quiere seguir poniendo aca aun que hace mas que 35 grados!! Cuando por fin deja que se las saque, tiene los pies bien transpirados! Que chico!

Here is a picture of us making noquis! Yum! They are one of my favorite foods from Argentina, Cristian's too! We tried to help, and by the time we were all but finished, we finally figured out how to spin them off the fork! Aca esta una foto con la tia haciendo noquis! Nos encantan los noquis a mi y a Cristian! Intentamos ayudar pero cuando por fin, aprendi a hacerlos con el tenedor, ya terminamos.

Ivan, Cristian's cousin played hide and seek with Nikolas! Niko wanted to keep playing and playing, he never wanted to stop, but Ivan was a good sport and kept playing! Nikolas queria jugar todo el tiempo con Ivan, el primo de Cristian. Se escondia atras de las cortinas y queria que Ivan lo buscara. Pobre Ivan se canso de jugar tanto con Niko pero se lo aguanto! Gracias Ivan!!

Sofia, Cristian's cousin is about the same size as Niko and she's 16. She's a cutie! Me parece que Niko y Sofi son del mismo tamano! Pobre Sofi! Pero sos hermosa!

Off to Jujuy...The Reunion at Last

When we flew into Jujuy, Cheo (Cristian's brother) and his cousin were there to pick us up. Nikolas recognized Cheo (from pictures) and ran right to him! After another 2 hour car ride, we finally made it to Cristian's parent's home! Everyone was super excited to see us (well mostly Nikolas) but. . .
Nikolas adapted quickly and easily to everyone and everything (but Cheo was definitely his favorite.) He was super excited about all the attention he was getting! I don't think he was alone or with Cristian or I for even a second! Here are "a few" ha ha pictures with El Abuelo (Grandpa) and La Abuela (Grandma) and Los Tios (Aunts and Uncles).
Cuando llegamos a Jujuy, Cheo (el hermano de Cristian) y su primo estaban esperandonos. Nikolas reconocio a Cheo por las fotos y fue corriendo hacia el! Despues de 2 horas mas de viaje por finllegamos a la casa de los padres de Cristian! Todos estaban bien animados para vernos (bueno, mas que nada a Nikolas) pero bueno....
Niko se adapto bien rapido a todos y todo (pero creo que Cheo fue su favorito) Le encanto toda la atencion que le dieron todos! Creo que no estuvo solo con o con Cristian ni yo nomas por mas que un segundo! Aqui estan "algunas fotos" ja ja con Los Abuelos y Los Tios!

El Abuelo Walter

Nikolas loved drinking mate with el Abuelo, even though I don't think el Abuelo drank any. Niko drank it all up! El Abuelo was also really good about never letting Nikolas take a nap! We would try to lay him down and he would come home and come running in to play with him. But he was also really good about wearing him out! I don't know how many times he fell asleep in el Abuelo's arms! (which for those of you who know him, you know that never happens). A grandpa's special touch! A Nikolas le encanto tomar matecito con el Abuelo, aun que creo que el abuelo ni tomo por que Niko se tomo todo!! El abuelo nunca dejo que Niko durmiera la siesta. Aveces el llegaba justo cuando estabamos tratando de hacerle dormir a Niko y el venia y decia, "vamos Niko a jugar" y lo llevaba! Pero muchisimas veces al final se durmio en los brazos del abuelo (y los que lo conocen a Niko, uds saben que eso nunca pasa). Debe ser algo especial que tienen solo los abuelos!

La Abuela Mari

La Abuela Mari was so excited to see Nikolas and even though he didn't like it to much she covered him with kisses as much as she could! She didn't want to miss or waist even one minute of her precious time with him! La Abuela Mari estaba tan animada para verlo a Niko y aun que no le gusto tanto a el, ella lo lleno de besos lo mas que pudo! No queria perder ni un minuto de su precioso tiempo con Nikolas! Gracias Mari por todo!! La pasamos muy muy bien y te agradecemos! te queremos!!Santi (Cristian's brother) loved Niko too! They became great friends from the moment that they met! Santi took Niko with him everywhere he went for the four short days he was with us! Santi y Noelia took him to a super fun park! And they took him on lots of rides on the motorcyle (one of Niko's most favorite things in the world)!! Santi se enamoro de Niko del primer segundo que lo vio! Entro a la pieza esa primera manana, lo vio y dijo, "O mi amor"! Y desde ese momento no salio de su vista! Se hicieron buenos amigos! Santi y Noelia lo llevaron a todos lados, al Parque San Martin, a andar en la moto, y estuvieron juntos los cuatro dias cortitos que estuvo con nosotros! Andar en moto para Niko fue lo mejor del mundo! Le encanto! Gracias Santi!!! y Noe!!! Los queremos mucho! Niko loved fighting with Maida (Cristian's sister)! He didn't want her to hold him or kiss him or anything, so she would grab him and hold him down and tickle him and kiss him, but then he would hit her, so she would playfully hit him back. So, the whole trip the just fought, but they had fun! Maida also took Niko everywhere and wanted to be with him always!
A Niko le encanto pelear con Maida! Nunca quiso que lo alze ni que le de besos, NADA...pero a ella no le importaba, ella lo agarraba y lo besaba y jugaba con el igual!! Se la pasaron peleando no mas, pero creo que los dos se divirtieron mucho!! Ella lo llevaba por todos lados y le compro de todo! Gracias Maya, te queremos aun asi peladita!Niko adored Cheo! He would wake up in the morning and the first thing out of his mouth was "Cheo, Cheo" and then he would go into Cheo's room and wake him up. He wanted to go everywhere with Cheo and that was ok because Cheo wanted to take him everywhere too!
Niko lo adora a Cheo! Cada manana cuando se despertaba Niko, lo primero en salir de su boca fue "Cheo, Cheo" y despues iba a la pieza a buscarlo! Niko queria ir a todos lados con Cheo y eso estaba bien por que Cheo queria llevarlo a todos lados tambien! Niko todavia ve las fotos y dice "Cheo, Cheo"! Gracias Cheo y Claudia!! Los queremos!

Nadia, Nadia played a ton with Niko, but we don't have even one picture of her with him! She was super busy with her theatrical performances, that she was gone a lot. But we got to see her perform and that was really fun! She also is not the type to be posing in front of the camera (maybe that's why we don't have many pictures of her!) Below is a picture of her from one of her performances! She is also in a band! Talented girl!
Nadia, Nadia jugo un monton con Niko pero no tenemos ni una foto de ella y Niko (menos esa que esta arriba con la abuela tambien). Ella estaba ocupadita con sus teatros que muchas vezes cuando sacabamos fotos, no estaba! Pero nos encanto ver su teatros! Tambien esta en una banda! Tiene muchos talentos esa chica! Gracias Nadin por todo!! Te queremos!

Rosario is one of the sweetest girls I've ever met! She is always helping and serving other people and she is just super nice and considerate of others! She was always making sure we were ok and that we were having fun! She is definitely the peacemaker in the Dimitricoff home! She is also really talented! She makes really pretty jewelry of all types! She made a necklace for me, each one of my sisters and my mom! She loved playing with Niko and was always there to play with him especially when no one else was around!
Rosario es una de la chicas mas dulces y amorosas que he conocido en mi vida! Ella siempre esta ayudando a otros y lo hace siempre con una sonrisa! Siempre esta pensando en los demas! Siempre se preocupaba por nosotros y nuestra diversion!! Ella es la "pacificadora" de la casa! Tambien tiene muchos otros talentos! Hace unos collares y aritos de diez! Son re lindos! Hizo un collar para mi y para cada una de mis hermanas y mi mama! A ella le encantaba jugar con Niko tambien y siempre estaba, especialmente cuando nadie mas estaba! Te queremos Ro!! Gracias por ayudarnos tanto y por hacernos sentir bien siempre!! Sos hermosa!!

Our trip to Argentina...Part I

Where to start. . .
I have been debating about whether or not to "blog" our trip to Argentina because we literally have over 700 pictures!! And the thought of going through them and deciding which ones to use is way to overwhelming!! However, this should be way more fun that working or cleaning right? :) Here goes...
Donde empezar. . .

He estado pensando si quiero de verdad "blog" todo nuestro viaje a Argentina por que tenemos mas que 700 fotos! Y solo pensar que tengo que elegir cuales fotos queiro usar me pone de los pelos! Pero, esto debe ser mucho mas divertido que trabajar y limpiar, no? Asi que. . .

Remember this picture! You'll see a"similar one" ha ha on our way home! Nikolas did do really well on the airplane, much to my surprise. We got to put him in his carseat from here to Houston. But, on the flight from Houston to Argentina (12 hours) we had him on our lap. As if that wasn't already bad, we had a grumpy old man sitting right next to us!

Acuerdense de esta foto! Van a ver una "parecida" ja ja al final! Me soprendio pero Niko se porto bastante bien en el avion! En el vuelo de Houston a Argentina (12 horas) tenia que estar encima nuestro! Y como eso ya no era suficiente, tuvimos un viejo malo a lado!

When we got to Argentina, Cesar's super nice brother picked us up at the airport and took us to the bus station were we got to go for a 2 hour bus ride to Mercedes. But it was worth it because we got to see some friends we love from the mission! We love the Capaccio family! Thank you for letting us stay with you! We had so much fun!

Cuando llegamos a Argentina, el hermano muy bueno de Cesar nos busco en el aeropuerto y nos llevo a la terminal de colectivo para ir a Mercedes a ver algunos de nuestro queridos amigos de la mision! Nos quedamos un dia y medio con los Capaccio. Nos sentimos tristes que no pudimos ver a mas amigos! Gracias Daniel, Cristina y chicos por recibirnos como familia y por aguantar nuestro bicho (Niko)! Los queremos mucho!!

Otilia, the cute blonde on my right (and her husband Narciso) got baptized when I was in Mercedes! She is still as cute and sweet as ever! I love her like a grandma!!! Her daughter and son-in-law are on my left.

Otilia, la rubia linda a mi derecha (y su esposo Narciso) se bautizaron cuando yo estaba en Mercedes! Ella todavia es la mas linda y dulce del mundo! La quiero como si fuera mi abuelita! Fue bueno poderlos ver tambien a su hija y yerno(los Charcar).

Stay tuned for the next episode. . . "Off to Jujuy"

Esperen atentamente el episodio que sigue. . . "A Jujuy"