Friendship On a Platter

You realize there are two kinds of friends in this world….both have your back in different ways. There are the friends who are loyal, honest and always have your best interest at heart. Then, there are those that also have your back, just on a platter, with a knife, sticking right into it. 😲 Sounds a bit harsh right? I most recently had a discussion with my husband sharing my concerns about how I wish I could change myself and not be so trusting. I trust everyone – because I always look for the best in people. I always go above and beyond for the people I care for, only to be served on a platter – with the Cutco strategically placed where it hurts most. One wise person once told me “You’re too kind” you need to stop. And another wise person advised “Don’t change the way you are because others are assholes.”

I suppose the latter of the two is the better advice to follow.  I always preach kindness and inclusivity to my kids. Unfortunately, I recently, witnessed how easily that can bite you in the ass and how quickly a ‘friend’ can throw you under the bus when they feel cornered or under pressure. “Throw you under the bus?” How do you survive that?

 
You hold your head up high. 

Appreciate their weakness.

Acknowledge their dishonesty. 

Learn the truth about your surroundings....... and remove yourself unscathed.
 
Lesson taught. Lesson learned.

Bless Me Blogger For I Have Sinned...

... it has been over 10 YEARS since my last submission…and THIS FREAKING PANDEMIC HAS FINALLY BROUGHT ME BACK! 

It’s 2020.

2 - 0 - 2 - 0

My last entry was in 2009, when I was a young-ish mom of two and wrote about my daily struggles raising tiny children in a foreign country without my family.  Well, let’s fast forward 10 years and here we are today!  Another spunky addition to the family later, we continue to take on this crazy world together in a not-so-typical way.  Our life in Mexico continued to flourish into an unforgettable experience.  We were blessed in so many ways and developed lifelong relationships that became our ‘family’ away from home.  

Life was good. We were good.

It wasn’t until fall of 2014 when things took a turn and our priorities as a family had to change. Within 6 months apart, my father suffered a massive stroke back in Toronto and my beloved father in law suddenly passed away soon after.  Our worlds changed.  We knew, it was slowly time to make our way back and be closer to our loved ones.  As difficult as it was to make that decision – because we WERE happy where we were – it was time to make the change.

We moved to Toronto in July of 2017, just a few short days after we baptized our Godson Nicolas, in Hermosillo.  None of it was easy.  Our decision to leave was just as hard as the adaptation in the beginning.  When I bring myself back to those first few months, I get anxious just thinking about it. I remember so vividly, our first day back at school, Lexi starting grade one. I parked the car across the street and held her little hand as we walked towards the gates of her new school. I obviously had my ‘this is so cool’ face on and was overly enthusiastic as I gave her a pep talk about how exciting it all was. I knew no one. Not like back 'home' in Mexico, where everyone knew each other and our community was way smaller. She cried. Devastated. She refused to let me go. Her teacher at the time, an older Italian lady, invited me into the school and after several LOOOONG minutes, I finally escaped. Lex was left crying – and I was left heartbroken. Uprooting the kids and having them adjust to a new life wasn’t as easy as I thought – and not a day goes by (3 years later) that I don't question our decision and wonder if we did the right thing.

Don’t get me wrong, life in Toronto has been rewarding in many ways.  I definitely feel like I have a different perspective on certain things, thanks to our experience living abroad for so long.  I can’t say I’m entirely thrilled to be back, nor can I say I’m entirely unhappy.  It’s just different. I constantly tell my kids the following, “Life is an adventure, It’s about living through change, going through hardships, and taking on new challenges - at times we are happy and at times we are not, but it is all about learning and adapting!” Being close to our family and making new friends (and reconnecting with old ones) has been a blessing.  The opportunities my kids have had to explore their talents and try new things have been countless… but I miss life as we knew it – I miss the simplicity of life in Mexico.

Almost fifteen years and a ton of new friends (and ‘family’) later, I have to say, I – Maryann - have probably struggled the most out of everyone, since returning to Canada.

Cristian is now 14.  My adorable little redhead is no longer so ‘little’ anymore.  He’s grown into an incredibly talented, charismatic, smart and hilarious young teen.  He’s doing what he loves most (acting) and really adapted well to his new life. He is the comic relief of our household and has an incredible ear for music.

Mia is now 13.  She is still my tiny Mimi, beautiful and strong willed with the most independent personality. She continues to be an incredible dancer and is as imaginative as they get. Mia’s artistic and creative abilities are definitely a gift. She’s had the toughest time adjusting from the three, I hope time will allow her to appreciate the opportunities being in Toronto will present to her.

Lexi is 8. She’s my spunky fireball who keeps us on our toes.  She too, followed her big sister’s talented steps into dance and at a young age has shown us all a thing or two about hard work and determination. She has a heart of gold and is mature and intuitive beyond her years.

So, here we are. A decade later, we are ready to take on whatever comes our way. Lack of ‘TIME’ was the reason I abandoned the continuation of our story all those years ago. Now, I have decided no ‘TIME’ is more perfect than the present - to begin a new ‘chapter’.  With our global situation currently being what it is (unexplainable) and so much uncertainty looming over us, I owe it to myself and my family to continue to document our moments shared, learnt and lived. Social distancing has brought me back! Thank you Covid, I knew some good had to come out of you..... 

Does R-O-U-T-I-N-E Spell Boring?

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Who hasn't heard of John and Kate Plus 8 these days? It’s a TV show on Discovery Channel about a married couple who has two sets of multiples. Kate is a stay at home mom who, in one episode, claims her days with her kids are “Vastly different yet shockingly the same.” It’s funny, because that’s exactly how I feel about my days with my kids and my hubby. The framework is the same every single day, but the conversations and moods are so very different- and often, the country is too. I'm sure we can all agree, the method to ensure each day is the same is by scheduling the day according to a – routine. After all, we are creatures of habit, so it’s ok to follow a schedule. Though it is most commonly said this in babies and children, I think as adults, we too can appreciate a good routine. Think about your comfort level related to activities/events where you are familiar with and know what to expect. Think about knowing expectations. As much as one can argue ‘routine is boring, repetitive, dull or tiresome’ I think it’s what keeps us going….and to those with children – it’s what keeps us SANE! I would pick 'boring and sane' over 'exciting and insane' any day, wouldn't you? (I'm sure V would disagree, as he probably thinks our situation is the latter).

That said, things tend to be a little different for us given the circumstance of my life specifically. While most people plan their days and weeks - I, on the other hand plan our days, weeks AND months (we're already thinking of New Year's people). We live in Mexico, but visit Toronto often enough where our routine gets frequently interrupted. I sometimes wonder if that’s unhealthy for my kids and if I’m doing more harm than good. My goal is to balance their lives with the best of both worlds, that includes living here yet having close contact and memories made with their loved ones in Toronto. Couldn’t that some how be integrated as part of our ‘routine’?

Speaking of routine, I don’t know how this happens, but it seems I tend to lose track of time when it comes to filling in my life on this blog.

Here’s an overview of what we’ve been up to!

December

We went to Toronto for the Christmas holidays and spent three weeks enjoying family, friends and snow! We celebrated our annual Kris Kringle with the girls, went skiing, hung out with my sis, Kris and Joey and of course my kiddos spent a lot of time with their grandparents. 

January

After celebrating my teeny tiny nephew's first birthday, we headed back to Mexico. My 33^rd birthday was fun! We went out for dinner and then to a local bar with some friends for drinks. It was the first time in three years where the room spun fast and I couldn’t remember what I had for dinner, until very late that night when it made an abrupt appearance as I huddled the toilet. Gross. What was I thinking? Nevertheless, it was a good time!

February

This was an exciting month, as I had been training since January to run a 10km race in the San Carlos Marathon on February 15^th. Though my time wasn’t exactly lightening speed (1hr 14mins) I managed to finish 10kms without falling over! Vince and I also went to Tucson for a night and did some hiking and enjoyed a night away sans-bebes!

March

My Mimi celebrated her 2^nd Birthday this month, and I was happy to have my parents and uncle visit to help commemorate her special day! They arrived Thursday March 19^th (on her actual birthday). It was nice to have family here at her piñata. I still can’t believe my little girl turned TWO! Where has the time gone? She’s two, she’s feisty, she holds her own with her bro and she loves…Loves…LOVES to play dress-up. She puts on a princess gown nearly every morning - EVERY MORNING! She loves shoes and playing with my jewelry. She also loves to paint her nails…and she’s only TWO! Can’t wait to see what’s in store!

April

Cristian had his annual spring concert on the 3^rd. It was great! He played the bunny in Alice in Wonderland and danced up a storm on stage. My parents left for Toronto on April 5^th, and soon after, I followed them for an impromptu visit myself. We spent Easter in Toronto and were there to celebrate a ton of birthdays (my dad, sister, Cec, Cath, Den) not to mention baby Larissa’s baptism. I was scheduled to fly home three weeks later, however, the Swine Flu held us back another week. So, what was meant to be a short visit turned out to be a month long holiday!

May

We returned to Mexico May 10^th and are happy to be back to the warm weather and our daily routine. Cristian returned to school the next day (as did the rest of Mexico) and all has been well since. No more flu talk, just taking extra measures to ensure we keep our hands clean at all times and avoiding contact with those who are sick. We’ve been to the ocean several times since our return and the water has been beautiful. We were there this past weekend and rented a beach house for a couple of days just to get away with the kids. C and M couldn’t be happier. They love the beach and can spend hours on end playing in the sand and collecting shells along the shore.

Cristian is now swimming by himself and Mia most recently declared her utmost hate for the ocean (not the beach, just the actual ocean) which is mind boggling considering she loved it just a few weeks ago. Maybe this is her way of getting back at me for taking away her bottle? Heck, she’s a big girl now and doesn’t need to rely on ‘a bottle’ to help her lull to a sleep. There I go, breaking habit…changing the course of her mini-routine. (If only she knew her diapers will disappear next.)

Vince has been well, busy at work and keeping things together. Our next trip to the north will be end of this month for my cousins wedding. I promised I would be there, and will definitely keep my word. Hopefully, it won’t be June-uary weather at that time and we can enjoy the sun and all the great things TO has to offer in the summer!!

So, that’s it. That’s what we’ve been up to……living life by our crazy schedule and enjoying every uninteresting, tedious, mind-numbing moment along the way... See you in a month!

"The Secret of Your Future is Hidden in Your Daily Routine"

Tis' the Joy of Doing Good!

Two years ago, I was fortunate enough to be part of a wonderful experience. It was a day we organized to help celebrate the holidays with forgotten children who’ve never met their parents or who’ve been left behind as young babies and toddlers. This year, we did it a little different. I knew in my heart I wanted to do something special.

I, along with a few close friends, approached a local school here in Hermosillo for children with special needs who come from impoverished families. We asked if they would allow us to organize a ‘Posada’ for their students, the director was thrilled at the idea, and so the planning begun….
WHERECentro de Atencion Multiple Estatal #16 (C.A.M.E.)(It’s a government funded school.)
WHEN
Wednesday December 17, 2008
It was a beautiful day. I am overwhelmed with joy and emotion as I replay the events in my mind and remember the happiness I saw in so many innocent faces.
9:00am
I sought out a ‘clown’ who was kind enough to offer his time – at no cost – and put on a show for the children. No matter what the disability was, everyone enjoyed the music, the dancing and the magic! The kids were thrilled and participated with so much enthusiasm.

10:00am
It was time to hit the piñata and gather candy, with 3 piñatas donated, there was plenty to go around!
11:00am
It was time for McDONALD's!

11:30am
We were able to collect gifts for every single child in the room. Wrapping such a quantity was not fun – but seeing the joy when their names were called out made up for it!

12:00pm
We were presented with a few gifts the students made themselves as they thanked us for our kindness and wished us lots of happiness as we did them!
Then it was time to dance!






I am fortunate enough to have some good contacts here in the city who graciously agreed to donate 100 happy meals! What was so beautiful about this moment was upon arrival of the food, the kids faces lit up like never before. According to the director, most of these children have never had McDonald’s in their lives, and to be able to share this with them meant the world. It also made me see how much we take things (that are so small and meaningless in our lives), for granted. My kids ask for McDonald’s, and off we go. They don’t finish their fries – oh well, we throw them out. These kids, on the other hand, took pleasure in every single bite, every french fry was savored and every mouthful was taken with so much appreciation. Nothing was left to be wasted!

These kids are disabled. Not only do they have the misfortune of going through life always feeling different than others, but they also come from very poor families. In Canada, we are lucky to have a system that takes good care of everyone. Though there are those who live in poverty, it’s nothing compared to other parts of the world. Here in Mexico, the difference between the classes is enormous, and sadly, that means the poor are truly underprivileged and living in conditions that are beyond belief.

My only wish for 2009 is that with the economic disaster that has taken the world by storm – we don’t forget the people who’ve been living in these conditions… all their lives.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Everyone!

Wishing You All a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Parenting 101

IF THE SHOE FITS Sometimes, we try too hard to control everything around us, with good intentions of course!
What do you do when your three year old son wants to commit the ultimate fashion 'faux-pas' according to your ‘I-will-never-allow-my-kids-to-wear-this’ rule?

Little C turned three in September and he already thinks he’s earned the greatest ability any child seeks, the ability to make decisions on his own and firmly stand his ground when his mami says no. It actually started way earlier, but now, it’s more serious than ever.

Great! Cute? I suppose not.

Let’s rewind to happier times when my sweet little boy was just that…sweet and little.

He always use to hold my hand and walk proudly through the parking lot at the mall. He use to give me kisses in the morning and after school without ever worrying his little amigos would see his dire need to get some sweet love from his mami before parting ways.

And now……

He doesn’t want to hold my hand anymore because he is a ‘big boy’ and though he still gives me his morning and afternoon kiss at school, it is with great caution.

Little C has found his strength and has discovered he actually has the right to have his own opinion. I no longer hold the reigns. It started full force when he turned three, but, recently I realized how serious the situation has gotten.

We went shopping a few weeks ago and ended up in Liverpool (a local department store) and were looking at shoes for Mimi (what else!). When all of a sudden, from across the way, I saw my son with a huge smile on his face, running across the aisle (what seemed like a blur and in slow motion) with something ‘flashing’ in his itty bitty hands. I looked down (continue visual thinking in slow motion please) and much to my EVER SHOCKING DISMAY saw the most hideous things in his hand. A pair of black velcro runners with Spiderman all over them and blinking…no… FLASHING red lights in the rubber soles below. I nearly dropped to the ground (slight exaggeration but it goes well with the story) and yelled "NOOOOOOO" as he came running towards me.

Conversation follows...
Lil C - “Mami, can you buy me deese shooz!”
Me – “Oh babe, aren’t they…um… ‘c..c.cute!?’…HOW ABOUT these cool Hi-top Converse over here? Or these awesome Pumas? They’re really nice too!”
Lil C – “No mami, I want deese shooz, Spiderman…look..cool, wit dee lights!”

So. Here I was. Standing in the middle of the store as my world came crashing down. This is when I realized, the awful moment of truth, I can no longer force my son to make decisions he doesn’t agree with. I know he’s only three, but whether he’s 3 or 13 or 30, he is his own person and I am just his mother who’s supposed to listen and support his decisions. Oooh..tough one…isn’t it!?

Anyway, the store didn’t have the shoes in his size. He was disappointed and I was beyond thrilled. We left, and he was sad. This goes back to the story of his birthday party we celebrated two months ago. C wanted a Spiderman piñata, and I wanted Diego. So, I was able to convince him Diego was the dude! My sis made me feel bad. Should I have let him make the decision on his own without my input? Or, not!? I don’t know….

(I totally dig Spiderman, however the party room we rented looked like a jungle, so I thought it would be way cool to have a 'Diego' piñata rather than Spidey hanging from the vines amongst the tigers and lions and bears....oh my!?)

So, back to the shoes….

Two weeks ago, not only was Cristian awarded star child of the week for his behavior and enthusiasm at school, he was also asked to carry the Mexican flag in honour of the national anthem that is celebrated every Monday. He was totally proud of his accomplishment and cunningly used that moment as a tool to ask for 'something he really wanted'.

To be honest, there’s no guide or manual to this. No matter what your degree or the lack thereof, parenting is an entirely different major. You just have to hope every decision you make, every piece of advice you offer, every tear you dry, every smile you return, every explanation you give and every SHOE YOU BUY, is done with, love, understanding, respect and the best of intentions.

We need to learn to pick our battles.

So, that being said, I bought him the shoes. I searched the city and drove around the world. We finally found his size, and as per his request, left the store with his ‘old’ Addidas runners in the box and his 'new' flashy Spidey’s on his feet. Yep, they’re bright alright….and we nearly stopped traffic crossing the street…..

NOTE: I've convinced him these are 'special shoes' and should only be worn at school. Oddly enough, he fell for it. Point for mom!!

THE END!

Geopathic Stress - Fact or Fiction?

People are more aware now than ever of their health. Naturopaths, Homeopaths and any other non-mainstream practice is becoming more and more part of the norm. As hard as we try to exercise daily and eat healthy, there are some natural effects which can be extremely harmful to the immune system and over which we have no control, such as Geopathic Stress (GS).

Ok. For those of you who have NO IDEA what this is, here’s a brief explanation….
If you think of the earth as a giant electro-magnet, GS occurs when waves of radiation seep from the earth’s core and cut across other natural electromagnetic phenomena such as flowing underground streams, mineral concentrations or fault lines. The negative earth rays become harmful as they rise up through buildings affecting the body’s natural biorhythm and causing something commonly known as ‘Sick Building Syndrome’. The impact on health can be dramatic ranging from insomnia and irritability to serious psychological and physical illness.

TWO YEARS AGO
We relocated to La Paloma. That’s where this story begins. We moved in September and by November I was diagnosed with poor circulation in my leg. I was pregnant with Mia at the time, so clearly this was caused by my pregnancy. Shortly after, I developed a blood clot; hence the daily injections of blood thinners began. Once Mia was born, I figured all would be resolved and my health would kick back to the way it used to be. Well, in the following months, leading to this summer, I’ve had, chronic throat infections, Vertigo, several serious stomach infections, restless sleep, severe mood swings and the list can go on….and on….and on…..

APRIL 2008
My mom came to visit us in April to help me through my slump and lift my spirits. She, along with Asuzena, was convinced the house was haunted. She was certain she heard faint whispering voices uttering a few words one night, as she attempted to sleep in the guest house upstairs. For those of you who know my mom, she has a sixth sense for things like this, so sometimes, it’s hard NOT to believe her. Then, Asuzena would always complain of seeing shadows, and feeling ‘heaviness’ on her legs every time she entered the master bedroom. I laughed. Ghosts! Shmosts! No such thing. All is well, everything is fine!
Then, how do you explain my constant ailing immune system, the kids constantly sick, Cristian always throwing up, waking several times at night crying?
SUMMER 2008
I spent most of the summer in TO. It was nice to be away from the ‘sickness’ and in our other home in Markham, where the air seemed fresh and the mood was always cheery. We were in Toronto for almost 3 months and I didn’t get sick once! NOT ONCE! The kids were also great!

BACK TO MEXICO
We returned to Mexico thrilled to be home! After my rejuvenating visit, I decided things would be better and hoped my health would be brighter! I continued Yoga and even went to see a very well known naturist in the city named Dr. Navarro. I’ve been taking my kids to see a naturopath, and all has been well, so I decided to give it a try myself.

FIRST APPOINTMENT
After my blood was drawn and a pee sample taken, I was called into his office. Dr. Navarro. A short little man, scrawny but seemingly strong, with a kind face and a heck of an office. I felt as though I was in a meeting with the Mad Scientist. Gadgets strewn all around and books covered the walls. I sat nervously waiting to get my results. Surely, they couldn’t be that bad! I mean, I’m very active, I eat healthy, most of the time, and I’m always trying to stay focused and positive about life – even though my mom believed my house was haunted!

So, he sat, and reviewed my results….

RESULTS
- Blood is toxic
- Poor Circulation
- Possible chance of Thrombosis
- Lacking nutrients
- Lactose Intolerant
- Allergic to Corn
- Allergic to Wheat
MY REACTION
“Toxic blood? Why? What does that mean? Possible chance of thrombosis….again? Are you kidding me? Lacking nutrients? Sure, I weigh just over 100lbs, but I’m 5ft tall…what’d you expect? Lactose intolerant? Ya, I kinda figured. Corn? I already knew that. Allergic to wheat? NO PASTA? NO PIZZA? NO CAKE? NO GOOD! NO LIFE! NO SHIT!"
I wanted to cry….

DISCUSSION
Dr. Navarro proceeded to walk around me with some metallic wand type thingy. The following words brought shivers up my spine…… “You don’t sleep well at night. All the nutrients you are taking in are being sucked out of you. You need to change the location of your bed… your room is full of sickness!”

I nearly gagged. This man has never met me before and knows NOTHING about me. He continued to explain that my room could possibly be in a Geopathic Stress Zone, hence the reason why I’ve been sick so often. Hence the poor circulation and the blood clot. After a long discussion and some acupuncture in my ears (to help treat my constant aching stomach), I left feeling overwhelmed.

I did cry.

POST APPOINTMENT
I called Hilda (one of my Mexican BFFs – Brenda is the other) and shared my experience. Her response?
“Maryann, you have to move. He said the same thing to Claudia, and look what happened to her.”
(Note: Claudia was a friend who passed away 3 weeks ago from Cancer. She suffered for two years and lost her battle in her hometown, Saltillo. She leaves behind a husband and an adorable 3 year old boy – very devastating.) She too had been to see Dr. Navarro… and he told her the same thing....

PRESENT DAY
We moved!

We’re in a beautiful new neighbourhood called La Jolla. We’re way up in the mountains now and have a beautiful view of the city. So hopefully, any Geopathic Stress waves that may be out there, won’t find me here! The house is gorgeous and the best part is, we have all our own furniture now! We’ve been here almost a month, and I've been feeling incredible. I’ve been continuing Yoga and Pilates daily and seeing the naturopath as much as I need to. I’ve also given up eating dairy, and carbs (bread, pasta etc…) and feeling great as a result of it.

Some may believe, others may not. If you follow Feng Shui this is all related. Negative energy is all around us. Constantly. We just need to find an approach to prevent it from affecting us in a way that might cause harm.

I laughed at my mom, and made fun of Asuzena…… though there were no ghosts in the house, there undoubtedly was something transparent that seeped through the concrete walls and founds its way towards me……of that, I am a believer.

MORAL OF THE STORY
Just because you don’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there!
Anything is possible. Better to be safe…than sorry!

THE END

Where in the World Are the Perri's?

HOLY SH#T! I’ve been writing my blog since we moved (over four years ago) and it’s never taken me this long to update an entry. Here’s a summary of what’s been going on....

AprilSick. Between, the kids, Vince and I, we were passing around some serious stuff. Colds, stomach viruses, chronic constipation (Cristian), you name it we had it. So there’s my excuse for not writing the month of April. Although, the month did start off nicely with an unexpected visit by mom who decided to spend nine fun-filled days with her favorite little people (Yes folks that also included me!) Of course, the fun was cut short when the sudden bout of sicknesses began during my mom’s visit.

May/ June/ JulyAs the end of the school year was fast approaching, and our trip to Toronto was nearing, I was busy planning & packing…planning & packing! Cristian’s school festival was the evening before we headed to Toronto for my nephew’s baptism. So, aside from the nerves I had for my son’s first onstage choreographed performance, I was also stressed about our 12 hour travel the following morning. Needless to say, the concert went better than I ever imagined as my son strutted his stuff in the most bizarre costume (I still, till this day, have NO IDEA what he was supposed to be!?) It was a cross between Pinocchio, a Dutch native dancer and a Russian?!? Whatever he was, he looked super cute and danced his little heart out on that stage. I was sitting front row and was so proud to see my little dude busting moves I didn’t know he was capable of doing! He was the leader of his group and all his classmates were following his tiny feet as he concentrated on the choreography. He made it look effortless!!

Our trip to TO the following day was something I won’t discuss. It was in the past, and let’s just say it’s better left there. Now…move on……
We spent nine lovely weeks in Toronto, enjoyed our house and spent lots of quality time with friends and family. It was great being with my sister almost daily and having the kids around their cousins and close friends.

We made the trip back to Hermosillo on Sunday July 20th and I have to say, it was probably the best Perri family voyage ever! The kids were amazingly behaved and though Mimi had a few feisty moments, Cristian was like a little man the entire way. He ate peanuts, watched movies and even had a nap!
My little traveler!

So, here we are. We’ve been back for over a month and so much has happened since. That alone is an entirely different story and requires a whole other entry, but the result of the ‘happenings’ have made us look for a new house and MOVE!! Yep, we’re in process of moving to another house in a beautiful community called La Jolla!! We’re super excited and can’t wait. (Pics soon to follow.)
I’d also love to post some new pictures of the kids, but my camera, along with all the cables, are packed and ready to go….you’ll have to wait another few weeks!

So, between packing, taking care of the kids and my new job….OH….that’s right, did I mention I have a new job? I’m working for a school called Corporate Languages and giving classes to two very well known entrepreneurs in the city. One is the General Director and franchise owner of McDonalds in the State we live in and the other is the governors nephew and a well-known shrimp exporter around the world. He asked if I'd be interested in exporting shrimp to Canada. I pondered the idea for a bit and even came up with a great business name for myself.... 'The Little Shrimp'!

Good one...eh!
Perri family - Out!
Here's a sneak peak of C&M...
Cristian & Mia at Joey's baptism.


Mimi & C visiting the farm!



Mia playing in the pool at nona's house!