Not quite home yet...

The best part about being back? Getting to hang out with my tía, grandma and uncle

We've been in the USA for over a month now. This moving-back-expat-starting-over thing isn't as easy as we thought it would be. Mami is having "reverse culture shock" and I haven't been able to have much time to myself because of my demanding schedule.

I'm being serious. It's hard work when everyone wants to see you, here's what I mean...

The first few weeks were amazing! We were the coolest people in town. Everyone wanted to see us, talk to us. After all, we hadn't been back to visit in two years.

I took full advantage of mami and papi's welcome back celebrations. I went to bed super late, mami and papi let me do what I wanted (they were very happy too!) I slept in a little tent my tío Tomás gave me, I had family members I didn't know existed come over to see me,  lots of new toys and gifts, then Halloween came around and just a thousand new things going on at once.

To be honest, it was sooo much fun!

Then after a few weeks we packed up and went to stay with my grandma and grandpa in Williamsburg, Virginia. Instead of relaxing, the action started all over again. There was a new house to play in, a new dog, new aunts, uncles, and cousins. Then came Thanksgiving (my first one) and it was like a circus! I even watched American football for the first time and became a Green Bay Packers fan. There were so many people everywhere, and I was never alone. Phewwww!

You have to understand that in London it was just me, mami and papi ALL OF THE TIME. No one else really came to see us and much less LIVE with us.

I think even mami and papi have come down from all of the excitement because I heard her say to papi "I just want to go home. Any home that is ours".

I thought, "But where is home?"

I realised we are definitely NOT going back to London, NOT going back to our flat, NOT going back to my old room, NOT going to see my friends. And it made me sad. Sad because I just want us to go back to how we were, all living together in one place. Don't get me wrong, living with my tía Denise and my Omama has it's advantages, but you need your space.

But being here also means I get to do things I wouldn't normally get to do, like paint with my tía Denise, go out to dinner with my grandma or hang out with my uncle Brad. So it's all worth it in the end, we just have to be patient (not something mami is good at).

Now mami and papi are in the process of buying a car. Can you believe that?! Our very OWN car! Woooo hooo! I'm a city boy and I've only ever been on the tube and buses so this is going to be a whole new adventure for me. We've been using my Omama's car and so far, I love it and who knew mami could drive? I always discover something new about her.

So you see, we may be back "home", but we don't feel at home. We have a long ways to go for that. For now, mami is just enjoying her "extended holiday", meeting up with old friends and making new blogging friends. She's even launching a new blog in Spanish. Good luck mami! Just remember, blogging may look easy, but it's a lot of hard work. I've been doing this for almost two years.

We'll keep you posted on our settling in. For now, we are getting ready for Christmas and preparing for a whole new year!

Have you recently moved to another country or city? Or have you moved back to where you were from originally? How was it for you?

P.S. In case you were wondering, I am still waiting for my toys and bed to arrive. I wish they would hurry up!

Rocking the 'tashe: Movember

We saw this on Perfectly Happy Mum's blog and it was too much fun to pass up!

It's Movember, the month previously known as November as Peggy says in her post when men and women grow hair on their face for a good cause. 

The 118 118 guys will also will donate £1 pound for everyone uploading the photo created to their profile picture on Facebook.

Who cares if November is over in one day.

Go on! Tashe yourself!

Elmocelli

One of my favourite shows is Sesame Street and of course Elmo is my best amigo ever!

Anyway, sometimes at night before going to sleep my auntie Denise will put on videos and tonight we watched Elmoccelli. Well, that's what it sounded like to me when mami said it.

But it turns out that "Elmocelli" is actually Elmo with a singer named Andrea Bocelli and he is trying to get Elmo to go to sleep by singing him a lullaby called Time to Say Goodnight but it's not working.

So funny!

I know how he feels because mami was trying to do the same with me, but I wasn't having it. It's not my fault I'm not tired. I want to stay up and play and so did Elmo. 

Then my Omama said she was going to see Andrea Bocelli sing live next week here in Washington DC. Cool huh? I wonder if Elmo will join him on stage to do this song? I hope so!

If you get a chance check out the video, but in the meantime here are some of the words to the lullaby:

Time to say goodnight

Relax and close your eyes
You need to get plenty of rest

You've got a full day tomorrow
Playing games
Dancing and saying the alphabet 

To be fair to Mr Bocelli, it really is a nice song. I am going to ask mami to play it again tomorrow.

What is YOUR favourite song before going to sleep?

Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon: Riding in style!

I've got my very own carrito or wagon! It's a red, two seater Radio Flyer Pathfinder with seat belts and cup holders.

Seriously, this ride is soooo cool! Mami takes me out on long walks along the leafy paths and we collect pine cones, sticks, acorns, flowers, rocks, leaves, berries and anything we find along the way.

These wagons have been around for a long time - even mami had one when she was a little girl aaaaaages ago.

Mami and papi got this one at Walmart for $74 and it was really easy to put together. I helped papi hammer in the wheels and in 10 minutes we were out the door.

The day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday here in the US and I hear there are lots of sales going on. I have a good feeling that these wagons are going to fly off the shelf!

Now I'm off to find someone to take me out for a ride. Uncle Brad maybe? Or better yet, Uncle Jeff!

He-Man and Ninja Turtles: New old toys!

This house is full of new things. Well, everything here is new to me. Everything is different. So different from our flat in London. Some days I feel lost and miss our home.

Last week mami was searching for some of her stuff from before moving to the UK in one of the super big closets at grandma and grandpa's house. This closet is so big, you can can WALK into it, and then walk around IN IT. 

She found lots of things, all pretty boring. Shoes, clothes, towels, things for the house. So boring even I didn't want to see them. She was very focused on her boxes when I spotted a plastic box on a bottom shelf. 

It had a bunch of colourful toys in it. I mean, I know toys. But I had never seen these before and I pulled the box out and dug in. 

Mami was still looking at her stuff so she didn't see me. Then I said "Mami, mira. A turtle". And I showed her the turtle that was dressed like a ninja. "Oooh, Ninja Turtles, I remember these!"

Then she looked down at the box, and instead of telling me to put them back, she took some of the other plastic figures out and smiling she shouted "Oh, that's HE-MAN!"

HE-MAN? I thought. Who is that?

Then she looked at me and sang out "HEEEEEEEEE-MAN, Masters of the Universe"

"Yeeeeeah!" I said back still not knowing what we were talking about. But then she showed me HE-MAN. He's the guy in the underpants, boots and lots of muscles on his tummy. So funny! I guess he was some sort of super hero when mami was little.

"These must be your uncle Jeff's old toys, Little M" she said to me.

"Yeah" I responded. Then I asked "Papi toys?"

"Maybe the HE-MAN is papi's. He is from a looooong time ago"

A long time ago is right! The date on the back of the toy said 1981.

WOW! Papi must me an old, old man. And I had no idea that papi played with toys too! He never mentioned anything. Then again, he never told me he had been a baby either and now I go and find out he used to wear nappies.

Amazing the things you find out when you do a little digging. I wonder what's next?

Little M Bakes: Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies

FINALLY I got back into the kitchen. Woooo hoooo! Mami isn't very good at baking, but she does try!

I'm happy to share with you our latest creation: Thumbprint Cookies. My auntie Denise used to make these when she was little and I wanted to try them. They are so easy to make and even yummier to eat.

Here's what you need:

1 cup margarine

4 egg yolks

1/2 cup of sugar (mami used 1/2 cup of Splenda)

1 tsp of vanilla 

Any kind of jam - we used sugar free strawberry jam

2 cups of flour

A big mixing bowl

A mixer

A baking sheet

How to make them:

Preheat oven to 325 F or about 160 C

Cream margarine and sugar in a bowl. Add egg yolks and vanilla until it gets fluffy (mami accidentally put in the whites too, oops!)

Then you stir in the flour and mix it all up. Put flour on your hands, and roll the dough into medium sized balls (not too big, not too small)

Put each ball on the baking sheets. Then take your thumb and PRESS into each one leaving your print

With a spoon, fill each of the indented spots with jam. Put into the oven for 25 minutes or until brown

When they are done, take out, let cool and then EAT!

They are super easy to make and fun too. We got a little messy, but that was the best part. 

Mami is going to make Candy Cane Cookies soon, so come back for those.

Think you can make them? Of course you can, mami did!

Greetings from Williamsburg, Virginia

Here we are just three hours south of Washington, DC in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Since moving to the US from the UK we have been living with my Omama near Washington, DC. Now we are here in Williamsburg where papi's parents live. That's my grandma and grandpa.

Not only do they live here, but just down the road in Jamestown was where the FIRST permanent English settlement in North America was set up waaaaaaay back when the English were finding new places to take over.

In Colonial Williamsburg you can still see some of the original buildings and see how life was back then.  Some things have been remade, but people live there and they dress like the olden times.

The ladies wear long dresses and the men wear funny looking shoes with white knee high socks.  There are Union Jack flags everywhere along the main street - that I recognised instantly!

Williamsburg is right between Jamestown and Yorktown and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. Who knew?

There is lots for families to do - so if you are ever over this way, it's worth a trip.

Even Prince William's grandma, Her Royal Highness, the Queen HERSELF (and Prince Philip) came by a few years ago to check it out on the 400th anniversary of the first English colony in North America. Yep!

Here's a list of things you can do when you visit:

1. Busch Gardens Williamsburg: You don't have to wait for the summer to go. The day after Thanksgiving they open up their Christmas Town so just in a few weeks I will be making my way over. Besides I need to talk to Santa. NOW.

The entire park is decorated for Christmas, there is singing and even snow (but it's not real). Mami loved it! It reminds me of the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. You can purchase tickets on their site and follow on twitter @BuschGardensVa

2. Colonial Williamsburg: I've already said it, but just walking down the main area you can get a feel for how the colonials lived and they do cool re-enactments too

3. Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center: This is one place I haven't been yet, but mami and papi have. We are going next week so I can't wait! Here you can experience the first settlements, go into the old homes, see how they cooked and made everything from sticks, leaves and rocks.

4. The College of William and Mary: There is a big university right in the middle of Williamsburg. It is the second oldest university in the United States (and no, it's not private!) The campus is really pretty now during the autumn

5. The Williamsburg Winery: I don't think I need to say too much, but it's a grown up favourite. I know that grandma and grandpa like to go there. They have tastings and you can have parties there too. I'm pretty sure it's on mami's list of "things to do"

6. Williamsburg Premium Outlets: Do I really need to explain this one? SHOPPING. OUTLETS. SALES.

Believe me when I say there is lots to do. We go exploring in the woods, today we even saw some deer! We throw rocks in the James River, collect acorns and pine cones, and the leaves on the trees are bright yellow, red and orange. It looks so pretty!

I'm only just getting started over here.  So far, I'm loving Williamsburg!

And while I'm here, I'm sending out postcards. So leave us a comment below if you want me and mami to send you one or just say hi.

Cheers from over here!

A very big FAMILY

You know how I keep saying everything in the USA is big. Well, you know what else is big?

MY FAMILY! And it's only a part of it, I have more in Chile that I will see next year.

Man oh man! I have lots of uncles and aunties. Too many to name here. And then I have TWO grandmas and TWO grandpas, Then there are mami and papi's friends who are like my family. Oh and there is also Jenna and Duke.

Everyday I get to play with someone new. I always thought my family was just me, mami and papi. But boy was I wrong. Oh no, my family is so much more than us three.

Where should I start?!

There is Omama - that's mami's mami
Tata - mam

A capital city: Washington, DC

So BIG!

Look, I wasn't kidding when I told you that everything is BIG here in the USA.

Not that you can't buy big things in the UK, but this is something else!

Here are some of the BIG things I have now:

• A BIG refrigerator - it's so big mami forgets what she put in it
• A BIG washing machine and BIG dyer - we can do LOADS of laundry
• A BIG bathtub. So BIG it scares me a little
• My uncles BIG car 
• The shopping trolley at the supermarket is so BIG mami can't steer it properly
• And very BIG leche - that's milk! It's so big I can't take it out by myself when it's full

It's not a litre of milk. Oh no, it's GALLON of milk. And it's all for me.

AMAZING, right?!

On another note, I have been super busy and doing new things everyday. That's why we haven't been around much. After all, we don't even have a house or car yet!

We have to share everything here. But mami says soon "we will have our own things".