Drawing to a close

We're cleaning out the fridge and the cupboards, packing up the suitcases, and looking under beds for lost Legos and socks.  The adventure is coming to an end.  I think we're all a little excited about heading home, back to familiar faces and things, but it's also a little sad as we say good-bye to people and think about the things we will miss.  We've made some wonderful memories.  Thanks for visiting and following along on our adventure. 

Over the last few days I've thought about some of the things I'm excited to be going back to, and some things I am sad to leave behind.  Here are a few, in random order.

11 things I look forward to:

1.  My own bed.2.  A hot shower.  Warm just doesn't cut it. (Although I'm sure this won't seem quite as desirable when I'm back in 95 degree weather.)
3.  Peanut butter, whole wheat, Mexican food.
4.  Sam's Club and my van trunk (i.e. once a week grocery trips)
5.  The family pediatrician.
6.  Running/walking/biking in my neighborhood without stoplights
7.  The garbage disposal and dishwasher
8.   English
9.  Other children's books besides the 20 we brought
10.  Friends
11.  My kitchen pots and pans and well stocked pantry


11 things I will miss:

1.  Having my family all to myself.  Spending almost every evening together.
2.  Pastries, fresh bread, fresh empanadas, dulce de leche, alfahoras.
3.  Walking 3 minutes to get fresh bread, fresh pastries, fresh empanadas, fresh produce, the supermarket,  the pharmacy, etc.
4.  Having my bathrooms cleaned, floor mopped, and laundry done for me.
5.  No phone calls
6.  Having Bryan do the grocery shopping
7.  No to-do list.  No schedule.
8.  Not paying for gasoline
9.  Public transportation
10.  Free health care
11.  The friendly people we've met at church, at parks, on the bus, etc.

And now for a few pictures from the last couple days:

We went by the National Library.  It didn't have a children's section, so I decided not to tour the inside while trying to keep five kids quiet.  It was a funky looking building, so just playing around the outside was good enough for me.

More time at the playground.  We met an English speaking mom from Mexico, staying here with her two boys while her husband works.  Her seven-year old played tag with the kids while we visited.

This "Floralis Generica Homenaje" sculpture is in a big park and seems to be a postcard-worthy, tourist-must-see landmark.  So we went, although there wasn't much to do but walk around a bit and take pictures.

We're hoping to make another sight-seeing trip downtown tomorrow before we catch our evening flight.  So I might have one more Argentina post to make... from Tennessee.