Just Call Me Mama Bear

Have you seen the show, "Man vs. Wild"? We had never heard of it til we went to the States this summer and Guapo and the kids were instant fans. This guy, named Bear of all things, is dropped into remote parts of the world with nothing but a few survival tools that can use while he searches for civilization.



We watched episode after episode of Bear eating nasty creatures like still-wiggling snakes, grubs, spiders and raw fish. For me the grossest thing ever was when Bear peed into his canteen and guzzled it down like it was Country Time lemonade.

EWWWWWWWWW.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about Bear lately. I feel a lot like Bear lately.

"THIS WEEK ON MOM VS. WILD: MAMA BEAR IS DROPPED OFF IN DOWNTOWN BIG CITY BRAZIL. SHE IS LEFT IN A SMALL APARTMENT (NO AMENITIES) WITH HER 4 CHILDREN. SHE HAS NO FRIENDS. HER KIDS HAVE NO FRIENDS AND THEY ARE BORED TO TEARS WITH THE FEW TOYS THEY BROUGHT. TO FILL THEIR DAYS THEY HAVE TAKEN TO TEASING, SCREECHING, AND BRAWLING. MAMA BEAR DOES NOT SPEAK PORTUGUESE. SHE DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO FIX FOR DINNER BECAUSE THERE IS NO COSTCO. HER HUSBAND IS TOO BUSY WITH HIS NEW JOB TO BE OF ANY HELP.

HER OBJECTIVE: TO SURVIVE (MAINTAIN HER SANITY AND NOT HURT ANY OF HER CHILDREN) UNTIL THE KIDS START SCHOOL"

Luckily I, like Bear, have a few tools to help me survive.

Tool #1: My Sister-In-Law

Guapo's sister, who served a mission in Sau Paulo, came down to help me the first two weeks. How nice is that? And helpful? You can't imagine how helpful-she plays with my kids, lets me go do stuff I have to do, teaches me Portuguese.

She's the bomb.

We took the kids to the beach this week-here she is with Pedro. Her face doesn't normally look like this, but she was helping me spot men in speedos to take a few pictures for the ole blog.


She was telling me that I was missing this guy running by us:



On that tangent, here are some other men we saw:




Tool #2: The Beach

Long-lasting entertainment for the kids. They just don't do the coutry-club type apartments here like they do in Mexico City. Thank goodness we have the beach. And a beautiful one it is.



Tool #3: Wireless Internet and My Laptop

No explanation or picture necessary

Tool #4: Club Penguin

Ok, I'm not a fan of video or computer games, but my kids have no toys (our stuff doesn't arrive until the end of August at the earliest). So, I let them play Club Penguin and they leave me alone for a while.

Total addicts, but we'll deal with that later (just picture Bear drinking his pee-I'm desperate!!!)

Tool #5: Harry Potter



We left the states on the 16th and I was so sad I was going to miss the unveiling of "Deathly Hallows". Guapo's boss came in to town on Sunday and he brought me a copy!!!

Loving it.

School starts next Thursday.

Bear always makes it, so I'm sure I will too.