Sweet Boy and Good Girl

We got to church this morning just 5 minutes late. Which is actually early for us. Which is terrible, I know, especially since I'm the Sunbeam (los Rayitos del Sol, my little rays of sun) teacher and really, really, REALLY should already be in the Primary room helping keep order at the official start time for church. But really, we usually start late anyway. Justified? Sigh...no.

As we pulled up in front of the building, a mini panic attack hit me. I couldn't remember if I pushed the button to close our gate before we drove away. So Z had to go home and check (only 5 mins away, and yep, it was closed), and also we forgot the "tse-tses", which is what the twins call their blankies. Those are helpful to have during the last hour of church, when everyone's together for the main worship service and little 2-year-olds get extra restless.

Usually Bran and Nuala go to Nursery (la Guardería), which is the class for children under the age of 3, but the Nursery teachers were out of town today, as were the other Nursery attendees, so we just kept the two of them with us. (It's major holiday time here, licencia, when loads of people are out of town, usually at beach houses.)


Anyway, Nuala and I hopped out and Bran and Z zipped back home. Later, Zachariah told me of the anguish Bran felt at the separation. All the way home and back to church, he was sobbing, and saying, "Opa, Noona! Noona! Opa!!" Opa means "oops/oh no!/uh oh!" It was just so cute to hear. He sure loves his sis. He was so sad that she had left him, poor little guy! Or he was bemoaning the fact that no doubt she had escaped the van to something much more fun...

And I have to add: Nuala was SO good in Primary. Only 2 of my 4 Sunbeams came today (licencia!), but since 3-year-olds can sometimes be slightly high-maintenance, I was a little worried about having a 2-year-old there as well, especially MY 2-year-old. She can be a tad high-maintenance and rascally, too, especially when I'm paying attention to other small children. But she was very well-behaved! Sat on the floor and colored a little bit, and then pretty much sat in her big chair next to me and quietly listened the whole time! She gets so serious sometimes...it's hilarious!

ALSO (and this was extra cause for concern with having Nuala there), my class was in charge of Sharing Time. Meaning me, since the two 3-year-olds were as helpful as you would expect two 3-year-olds to be ;) I totally thought Nuala would try to run up to the front with me, etc., etc., but she just stayed there perched on her chair, holding her baby doll. Not a PEEP from her. Just watching everything very intently. And Sharing Time went fine! (Sharing Time is when all the Primary kids, ages 3 to 12, are in a big class together, and sing songs and have a lesson about gospel principles. Then we split up into our own classes...me with my 3-year-olds.) She was very good in our small class, too, after we split up, and only had one minor tantrum. She is just growing up way too fast! This time next year she will OFFICIALLY be a Sunbeam, instead of just a crasher...wow.

Off-topic, but I really am glad I get to do all this stuff in Spanish. It's very helpful to me, AND I know it will help me appreciate doing it "just" in English when that time comes again. Seriously, if I was teaching Sunbeams in English, I probably wouldn't put as much preparation into really knowing the details of the lesson (even though I should put just as much prep into it, I know!), because it's easier to just wing it in your native language. You already know stories or are familiar with the church phrases that may be used, but with another language, often I find myself having to think about how to say something, or go look it up, since it's not everyday stuff...same with the Relief Society lessons, and giving a talk. Even if it makes me nervous and part of me wishes I didn't have to do it, I always am really glad to get the opportunity. Primary, though, doesn't make me nervous anymore, even Sharing Time. I love our Primary :)

(these pics are just of them snuggled up and getting warm after swimming)