Javi :)

During October, the weather went back to being cool enough to open windows.  Opening windows is fun, because it allows the fresh air in, and somehow makes you feel a little bit more free.  BUT, one downside is that all the noise tends to float up into everyone else's apartments!  We are on the first floor and of course, with the three boys, we are always loud.  When we've got the windows open, I try to keep the noise down; but sometimes, it's impossible.

Our apartments are built in a cube, with 2 apartments on each floor.  There is a "patio" in the middle of our building, which is accessible only from our apartment and from our neighbors'.  It's a patio that is open all the way up to the sky, so if you look out any of the kids' rooms' windows, you can see directly into our neighbors' windows.  If you look up, you can see all the neighbors windows on the floors above us... and all their hanging laundry.  It's a patio that is not open to the street at all.  It's completely enclosed... so, our noise echos.  Lucky for us. :)

Javi is the guy in the middle

One day, we had all our windows open and I think our neighbors could hear everything.  The noise attracted the attention of our neighbors next door.  We have 4 single guys living next to us... University students.  Well, one of them stuck their head out the window and the boys saw him.  They started a conversation and from then on... they've been fast friends.  It's kinda funny; b/c when we moved in, they all told us that they didn't speak any English.   We see them often as we are coming and going, and we usually chat with them in Spanish.   I noticed after a couple days of the boys calling out for "Javi" that he began speaking to them in English!  He's always been very kind with the boys.  I always ask if the are bothering him, and he always tells me no.  He says he really enjoys kids... and secretly, I think Javi is practicing his English with my kids!!! haha... :)

He has become a great friend (especially for Weston), and he has helped us a great deal from ordering pizza for the first time, to helping us turn our electricity back on after it's gone out.  There have been many days when Weston heads over to Javi's to get help with his homework when Momma has no idea what the words are. :)  He has been great.

I often send treats over for him... brownies, cookies, muffins, cinnamon rolls, etc.  It's just my way of saying thank you. :)  He went home one weekend (to the coast), and came back with clams as a gift for us.  It was the sweetest thing!  They were alive, so he cooked them for us that day and brought them to us... actually, he showed ME how to cook them.  I had no idea how!

Wow.  Ok, I really don't even like the SMELL of seafood, but this was really good!  I had to at least try it!  Wes ate most of it, but each of us tried it.  MMmmm... it's good to broaden your horizons, ya know?

I think most of you have heard that we are planning to move to a different part of town in January, and we will miss having Javi next door.  Even Carolina goes to her window and calls out for Javi. :)