Nacho, not just a cheesy chip

Hi folks.

Well, nothing fantabulous has happened lately, just stress and hoping that all this will work out.

I'm on the road to success, I think. I have an au pair job for the afternoons, chatting with 3 boys: Javi (11), Alvaro (9) and Nacho (5). Their mom, Helena, is about the coolest lady, now that Catherine is gone, in Spain. Sometimes, we just sit and chat for an hour or so while the kids do their own thing. They all speak English and have spent the year in London, so thye have British accents, which is adorable, for the kids that is.

The other day, Alvaro and Javi and I were at the park and I warned them of some dog poop in the grass. Alvaro immediately ran right through it, on accident. I laughed and told him what he did. Javi turned around and said to me, just like Harry Potter or someone, "Oh, don't mind him, Alvaro's a great poo-steppah." It was hilarious.

That day, we also had a soccer ball juggling contest and played on the playground. I earned instant respect as I juggled the ball over 15 times in a row. The boys' faces were amazed and Alvaro kept sying, "wow." I guess their just not used to athletic girls. But really, I felt they respected me the minute I met them. It was a whole different feeling with the last 2. Alexis was fine, but obviously not obediant and Louise was nice in a way that screamed manipulation. The Matas, my new family, get mad at each other, but don't hit so much or whine at me, they solve it themselves. And my job isn't to solve arguments, it's just to talk. Helena intervenes if the kids are acting up.

Nacho, the littlest, is my fave, I must be honest. He gets a little whiney sometimes, but it's easy to make him stop. And sometimes he just gets this wicked little smile on his face and starts poking Javi, who won't hit him because he's protecting his little brother and Nacho knows just how much he can get away with. Or, sometimes, when I'm playing with the older two, Nacho will just go in his room and start singing softly to himself and do a puzzle or take the scooter and ride up and down the smooth hardwood floors. He's just fun.

Other than the Matas, I've got some pupils to teach English to on Wednesdays and I'm going to coach at a basketball camp this week, starting tomorrow... in spanish! We'll see how it goes. Hopefully all the kids will fall madly in love with me and want me to teach them english all year. There are also a couple coaching opportunities for the year that might work out

Oh, and Helena is a huge Sex and the City fan and has every episode, which she let me borrow! She's so generous. Yesterday she gave me some medicine just becasue she thinks it's a good one and that I should have it if I need it. She used to be a sports nutritionist and worked in the ER so has been giving me tips on what to eat and drink during all the hard practices.

I guess that's all I've got for now. I hope all is well back home.