As my niece would say, “G-Ma and G-Pa are here.” Another round of grandparents, more complimentary dinners, more books and toys, more sweet rooftop swimming pools, and of course more love are on tap for the week.
When I picked Ouest up from school on Thursday her teacher informed me that she should wear all black the next day. All black. I knew immediately this was going to be a problem so I took Ouest straight home and handed her over to Ali. Before they walked out the door to go shopping Ali asked me, “What is this for?”
“I have not got the slightest idea.”
And so it goes for us, the gringo parents of two Mexicans.
Two hours later they returned with a skirt and shirt, but no socks. So at eight o’clock that night I was wandering the streets in search of black socks. My first attempt resulted in me bringing home navy socks. Not close enough apparently. So out I went again, returning this time with two pairs, just in case.
Ali and I later reflected that between the entire family we do not own a single item of black clothing. Well now we do, but before Thursday night we didn’t. I’m not sure what that means, but I do know that Ali used to wear a hell of a lot of black back in Chicago.
In the morning while getting dressed Ouest looked down to see the blue underwear, not black, that Ali had put out.
“Me not get in trouble for my blue undies?”
“No honey, blue undies are okay. I promise.”
Lately she’s been saying this sort of thing a lot. I was walking down the street with her the other day and bought a bag of shelled peanuts. As we continued on I cracked open peanuts and threw the shells along the curb.
“You not get in big trouble for that?”
“For what?”
“For putting peanuts in the street.”
“No Ouest, I don’t think anyone will mind.”
We’re not even sure where this comes from. Neither of us uses the saying, “You’ll be in big trouble…”
Though now that I write it out I realize that we do say it in joking terms. “Oooh, Dolly is going to be in big trouble for getting make-up all over her head.”
So I guess I’ve solved that question myself haven’t I?
This sweet girl is a few years older than Ouest, but Ouest tells us about her nearly every day. She gave Ouest a bracelet the other day, so the next time I was with Ouest and we saw her I made sure to ask her name. Miriam, it turns out. Then today when we showed up Miriam was on the swings.
Ouest exclaimed excitedly, “There’s the girl me love.”
“Who, Miriam?”
“Yeah, the girl me love.”
“Remember her name is Miriam.”
“Okay.”
She then ran over and said, I imagine, “Hola, girl me love.”
When Grandma and Grandpa arrived I was quite proud of both Ouest and Lowe for not mentioning toys, books, or the big red suitcase in the corner before Grandma did.
Cliff-diver, or suicidal bridge jumper? Tough to tell based on the form.
“What cliff-diver? Did you see this hermit crab?”
Notice the photog here.
Ouest hadn’t seen these skates in a year, but she never forgot them. They are all she wanted Grandma and Grandpa to bring with them. Oh, and they brought our nephew’s old Razor scooter along too. Things are getting a little insane around here now.
This is about as close as I’ve come to a picture of either of the grandparents so far.
11 Comments on “Grandparents”
I love that photo of Ouest and Lowe holding hands! Very sweet!
OMGORSH! Those little legs in the little black kneesocks just KILL me. TOO CUTE.
All black, because the “Day of the Dead” (Halloween) is coming up. It’s a BIG deal in Mexico. Next thing you know they’ll be taking Ouest out to picknick in the Cemetery! (It honors your forbears.) Proud of you guys, Ouest and Lowe are turning into REAL little Mexicanos! 🙂
I don’t think that’s it. That’s over two weeks off still. This week they were focusing on Columbus Day, or Dia de la Raza, so I have to assume it has something to do with that. But I’ve no idea what that would have to do with it.
I, for one, am very interested in what’s with the black too… Jeff
Ouest’s hair is so pretty, it’s getting really long. It seems like overnight Ouest has many hairstyles. And Ali’s new haircut is darling! Really cute on her.
Ouest looks so cute in her new black clothes.
Ali’s haircut? Methinks that’s her mom, Ouest’s grandma! She is very young looking and modern, for sure. 🙂
You got it Emily. 🙂
I checked with my Mexican Side of the family and they thought perhaps it was due to the passing of:
a) Someone close to the School
b) Someone once close to the School
c) Someone important in that part of Town
d) Someone close to someone in the School
or any combination.
Apparently not unusual for class specific dress to be requested, as per custom.
I guess I’m going to have to try and ask the teacher on Monday to clear up the mystery.
Oh how lovely yo have a doting grandma around! That photo of Ouest with the Candy Land set up is so sweet. And the one where she is wearing the truckers hat she looks JUST like Pat 🙂