to celebrate 22 months....

So 22 months ago we moved to Argentina.. It comes the time of year for us when school is ending and many of our friends are venturing off to new locations (for their mom or dad's job).. heading home (done with expat life).. etc..

It is a rough time of the year.. last year I didn't feel it like I do this year.. I have more connections now with the friends I have made here and I find myself very sad at the prospect of staying longer... (though thank GOD) for some awesome friends who are staying.. (I would name them all but I tried and found out that the list is long and I am way blessed)....

but now back to my whining.. LOL.. I hate change and I hate having people I really like leave.. so to make myself feel better I was thinking of all of the things I love about living here and things I am thankful for in general.. so here are my 22.. :)  some with pics.. some not..

1.  The weather is great here.. I know this sounds so stupid.. but it really is.. I mean we have rain, cold, blah, but they are short in compare to the GREAT days of perfect blue skies with beautiful temps... and a slight breeze off the rio, nothing better.

2.  The meat.. I won't lie, Texas ain't got nothing on Argentina.

3.  Wonderful and amazing landlords!!  The landlords here are notoriously HORRIBLE.. we had heard stories and they actually scared me.. I have friends who are in houses where the landlords are just the worst and meanwhile I am over here with a landlord that brings me blueberry jelly because I like it alot.. borax because Cora wants it for a craft project and we cant find it..

4.  provoleta.. grilled provolone cheese which has been seasoned to perfection..

5.  Alvear.. there is an Avienida Alvear in every town you go to from Buenos Aires to my tiny neighboring town of Benevides.. it is always where all of the action/shops are.  It is somewhat comforting..

6.  Friends.. let me say that I am damn lucky.. beyond lucky to have an amazing set of friends here in Buenos Aires. When I arrived some 22 months ago I had promised myself that I would not be open to finding friends as leaving Texas was so brutally hard for me.. but then I met this girl named Janet and the whole rest is history.. I am thankful..

7.  Lincoln School.  I am so thankful for the girls to have such a wonderful place to call home for them during the day.. They have such great friends that are kind, caring, loving, funny and 'get them'.  they also have great teachers and counselors.. They constantly tell me time and time again how happy they are at school...

8.  Food markets.  22 months ago there was nothing going on in the food market scene worth talking about.. but somehow in the past year it has become all the rage here.. organic, local, Mexican, Venezuelan.. just pure awesomeness is happening..

best Colombian rice and beans EVER

9.  Bagels.. yup.. 22 months searching, finally found them.. hot damn

10.  Netflix.. I really have binged watched here.. Argentine TV just is not good..

11.  city life..

12. small stores.. yes we have Walmart and yes I can shop a big grocery store.. but there is something magically about having to go to the separate shop for everything.. meat, chicken, veggies, bread, pharmacy items.. :)  it is like an adventure

13.  meat.. it is worth a repeat

14.  PAL.. (parents at Lincoln).. so grateful to work with an incredibly talented group of ladies and gents to make the school a better place for the kids..

15.  coffee.. they do it right!!

17.  dulce de leche.. sweet caramel like yumminess served with everything.. at first you try and resist, but then it just lures you in and makes you love it.

18.  travel.. for without travel and the most awesome husband who coordinates it all, I would not get to try delicious things like a wheat husk drink with peaches in Chile

19.  Family..  These ladies (plus a few not pictured) ground me and the girls.. they are forever there when I need them.. my kids love them and talk about them constantly.. I feel lucky to have them in my life..

20. My mom.. let's just say she has seen me ugly cry via skype and somehow always knows just what to say...

21. Randomness.. this city is so random.. on one corner you will have an upscale boutique with clothing only the very wealthy can afford and on the next corner you will have a local 'ferreteria' (hardware store) with a gentleman behind the counter who has been there for all of his 80+ years.. it never ceases to amaze me the small shops here that are tucked in all sorts of odd spots around the city.  The neighborhoods that confuse me with their delights of a row of stores just selling mannequins and on the next block it will be a row of shops selling nothing but party supplies.. the variety in the city never ends!!

lastly....

22.  Family.. my family.. the four of us.. that have managed to become closer and learn more about each other this past 22 months.. and for that I am most thankful...