Winter has come early

Getting ready to brave the snow.

Carter had to have the biggest snow balls on the block.

Zoey

Hi All,

Meet Zoey puppy. She's a pound pooch from Palm Springs. We think she's all or mostly Australian Shepherd with a broken tail and a full heart! 

Please come visit her.

Macdonald West 

First Day of Kindergarten!

Off the boys went today for their first day of kindergarten. They were very excited to be the biggest kids in the classroom with a new lunch box and clipboard where they will have to check off their lessons completed throughout the week. A friend of mine just called - she saw Ben in his classroom strutting around like a peacock.

Happy early Fall!

Wimax has come to Atenas

Hip hip horrahhhh. We now have high speed internet for the same amount we were paying for dial up. An enterprising gringo set up a system on a hilltop on the other side of Atenas, and I have a microwave link to his transmitter.

Does anyone know the details on how to set up free internet phone service?

Linda's Creation

For those of you interested in the progress on Linda's project for the Charzceks' here are some pictures. The infinity pool perched on the side of the hill is spectacular. This project will cost over one million before it is done and it will be quite an estate.

It's a....

BOY!!!

What can I say? I prepared all weekend for this news so I'm not as devastated as you might think. In fact, in many ways, it makes life a lot easier. Nico, Ben and Sebi really wanted a boy and he'll be their little mascot following them wherever they go, cheering them on at soccer games, etc. Plus, he can occuply the 4th bunk bed and I'll save him one of each of their toys.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, he looks very healthy and everything is on track.

I never imagined my life as one with 4 boys but that's what life is all about, right?!?!

Fred, I hope the photo you sent from your recent trip to Playa Esterillos downloads okay... I thought the other kids would love to see how you look in that speedo I bought you! Happy Birthday!!! You don't look a day over 80!!!

Life of LEX

Update from Lex: A typical weekend day - Swam and I go on bike rides and put little Bonga in the backpack. We take her to Farmers Market, the beach, shopping, - where ever. Bonga goes where we go. She is the baby in our fam.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!! (i'm a day early!!)

I SEE YOU!

FREDDY IS WATCHING YOU ALL - WHERE ARE THE POSTS???!!!

Construction Project

Several of you have asked to see an updated picture of our big construction project in Pica Flora. It is finally beginning to look like a house.

Took the liberty of posting a pic for Ted...due to his lack of communication on the Macdonald-Seed Blog. He's doing great, eating healthy, and living an active life!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEDDY!!

Ted - if you ever check the family blog... you will feel the birthday love coming your way. Please post pictures of your birthday weekend events. We are all anxious to know what happens on Ted Macdonald's birthday!!! 

XOXO - Big Sis # 4 - LEX

Please help Macdonald West!

We launched Fred 4's video business today. Please, please, go to: www.ptavideostore.com or www.bgcavideostore.com and buy just one DVD (or download). This has been 4 years in the making and its success will be defined by users. Please! I'll reimburse you!!! THANK YOU!!

Ted's rental in Cambridge; California entertainers

A WONDERFUL TIME WITH TEAKY AND LINDY

I think these pictures tell the story. So great to spend 16 full days with Linda and Tico. Man, it's so hard to get that amount of quality time together. I can only imagine what you all did with them during your 2 1/2 week visits. We had a blast! First Disney, then camping, them parasailing. Week one was too much! The Life Bonding / Family Building retreat was much needed, and we all found peace in our the creation of our patchwork love quilt. Week three, well, what can I say?! Always nice to get a free car. Wow. Thanks again Linda and Tico for a wonderful time!!!

Report from New York

Continuing the grand tour. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers in the family

Report from Upstate New York

Here is Ana....you think she might be a tomboy?

Report from North Carolina

Here is Lee on her 84th birthday with her oldest daughter. Bill is lawn bowling in the background.

Trip Report

Hello everyone,

In my constant effort to stimulate blog activity, I am going to post a report from every stop on our current trip to the U.S. Here is a picture of a typical family dinner at the Sanchez house (we ate Mariano's delicious steak later that night).

Our visit to Hollywood was great. Sebastian provided a little excitement at the end by hiding my passport in his bed. Fortunately it was discovered two days later and is being mailed to Freddy's in Santa Monica.

Lee/grandma birthday test

Linda and Fred just arrived to help me celebrate my birthday and to teach me how to blog better. Joan and Laura are here too. We are thinking of you all.

I'm pregnant.

Hi Everyone.

That's right. Just when you think it could never happen. Just when you relax into your crazy triplet life that's not so crazy anymore. Just when you finish renovating the house. Just when you go back to a corporate job...

Here we are. We just found out and are in total shock to say the least. It's still early (I am six weeks - due date is December 19th) so you never know. But yesterday we saw the heartbeart (yes only ONE heartbeat!) so it IS real.

What can I say?

Neighborhood swim

We invited kids from the neighborhood to swim today. Here is a picture of Jeronimo, who lives on our property, with his one year old daughter, Nicole.

Hey Fam! I just came back from Cabo, Mexico. Went for a few days with some friends. Went on a boat around the tip of Baja...and this was the hatch to the ladies bano... I liked how it was written half english / spanish (my style),...and the fact that it was painted pink!

Where is everyone? No one is writing or uploading pics.... especially Sally!!! Get on it girrrl!!

XXXO

Marching for Babies

Next Saturday, we will join the March of Dimes for their annual walk for premature babies. If any of you are interested in being a sponsor, check out our site:

http://www.marchforbabies.org/NicoBenSebi

As you probably remember, the boys were born all under 2 pounds and we are very grateful for their survival and good health.

Thanks!

love, Susie, Mariano, Nico, Ben, Sebi

Trip to Florida, 1984

I came across this picture from the trip we took to Florida in 1984 to visit Dad for the last time. This is the trip where we drove straight through, with the kids sleeping in the back of our new Oldmobile station wagon. It is one of my fondest memories.

Playground Fun

First time going down the slide, alone. Very fun!

Our New Shower

Well this is what Shawn and I have been up to for the past month. Remodeling. Swamie (Shawn) tiled this shower all by himself. I had to shower at the gym for 2 weeks!!...but it was well worth the wait. Check it out!!

Typical Morning

This blog needs some action so I'm giving you all a taste of what goes on most mornings here. Freddy and Sofia are preparing my hair for an important meeting. At least my hair will be ready.  

SUSIE and FREDDY --- HAPPY BARFDAY!!!!!!

Happy Birthday

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Susie and Freddy.

What a big day is March 27. I think I will celebrate by going swimming.

Loch Ness Marcy

The newest addition to our family: an otter! We observed it yesterday fishing in our pond for about an hour and a half. Cora (our dog) was going crazy trying to get to it. But everytime she came close the otter would duck underwater and pop up 20 feet away. Very confusing for the dog - and entertaining for us.



Honestly, I have never seen an otter in the water before and I was pretty convinced it was a giant snake. Once Carter talked me out of my giant snake/loch ness monster hysteria and we verified that it was an otter I think it is really cool and I hope it lives close by so we can watch it all year long. Maybe we will even see some baby otters?!



Anastazia wasn't all that interested in the otter. The pond, though, that was really exciting. So exciting that we had to stop her from trying to go in the water on several occasions. I think swim lessons are in our future.

How we're spending our Spring Break this week...

Ahhhhh, the joys of little boy seeds!

F4 & F5 Carvin' it up at The Cove

Yeah, we're just a couple of California boys enjoying a little bit of skate time at the end of a sunny day....

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Just living the swinging bachelor lifesyle (matress on the floor, frozen pizza etc). I'm getting out of Salem and am moving into Somerville in May (to be closer to the Boston MFA of course). We just found a place and I'll be living with 4 or my closest friends (perfect number for a book group). I haven't checked the blog for a week or so and I can't believe how many posts there are!

WHERE'S TED?

Sexy Lexy is BAAACK!

Fam! I am overwhelmed with Joy with all the activity that has taken place on the Macdonald-Seed Blogspot! I have been procrastinating on writing because I dont have any pics to upload. So, I have dug through my emails to find pics people have send of me. Random images - here is a great pic of Shawn with his eyes closed... and another pic of me and my girlfriends at a BBQ.

XOXOXOXOX

OMG!!!

I just remembered it's right around Sus and Fred IV's birthday... Is it the 21st? Sorry if I'm off a day or two, but I hope you have/had a great time on your 25th and 29th birthdays, respectively. Please send photos of the wild parties!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

FYI, all posts by "John" are written by Ann.

Our new house

We just bought this house in Larchmont, 30 minutes outside of New York. Unfortunately, we don't have photos of the shag / leopard-print carpet, the metallic wallpaper, and the 1970s kitchen (it's all pretty special!). We probably won't move until June 1, as there is obviously a lot of work to do, but we're looking forward to actually having a guest room for visitors!

nat photos

Here are a couple of photos of Nat in Korea. The first is her with her great aunt ("Emo") and the second is on the old wall of Suwon, the city where John's parents live.

I love this website!

www.freerice.com

Wish I'd thought of this! I'm a level 36-37, but I'm sure some of you braniacs in the fam can score much higher!

N-to the A-to the T