Argentine Civil Ceremony

F 1.17.14

• when couples want to get married in Argentina, they must have what is called the civil ceremony in order to make it legal; religious ceremonies are optional and have no legal status 
• p.s. a few fun facts: did you know that foreigners don't need a special visa to legally get married here? just need proper immigration status...and that the couple must do a blood test within 7 days before the ceremony to check for venereal diseases? and they're not allowed to wed if tested positive?...and that gay marriage was legal in 2010? Go Argentina!
• this takes place at what is called "registro civil" and is similar to a courthouse ceremony in the States (I imagine)
• some couples choose to also have a church ceremony and/or reception in the afternoon or at night (remember this wedding we went to?) 
• funny enough, our very first civil ceremony was of our friends, Fredrik from Sweden and Yayoi from Japan, who are living and working here as expats
• the ceremony was at a registro in our neighborhood and began at 2pm
• we arrived early for photos and chatting

• James met Maxim for the first time, born 1 week after James

not a great photo, but Maxim, you're adorable...will have to add more the next time we get together...
also the photographer took some great shots, so would like to get some of those 

• about an hour after arriving, we were shown into one of the rooms
• the bride, groom, and witnesses sat in the front, with the guests behind, then the judge entered

• apparently translators are allowed, but Fredrik and Yayoi's Spanish is very good, therefore they were able to get married in Spanish! (something I couldn't do...especially with a tough judge...good thing she lightened up a bit after the first question: "For what are you marrying?" ...ughh....por amor!)
• James was a stud throughout the whole ceremony

he does the creepy "eyes open a little" sleeping...always keeping an eye on everyone...maybe he'll be in the secret service someday

• the couple said their I do's aka sí 's

Jake was one of the three witnesses - criteria to be a witness: must have an Argentine address and be able to understand Spanish

• and finally a kiss and some signatures to seal the deal

• throwing rice, rose petals, confetti, etc. at the couple is traditional here, but only OUTSIDE

throwing rice is prohibited

• preparing James for the rice throwing

• felicitaciones to the newlyweds! 

• along with the marriage certificate, they received the little red book in Fred's hand, which is the libreta de familia...where things like births, name changes, vaccines, etc. are recorded
• their Spanish teacher told us that she has kept her grandparents' little books as mementoes...what a great keepsake of their Argentine wedding for Fred and Yayoi!

beautiful couple!

• Jake took the day off, so we escaped the heat and went home to feed James, nap, and watch a movie before dinner later that evening
• we went to a place I'd been dying to try, Sucre, in Belgrano
• I want to go back just to try the rest of their amazingly concocted drinks 
• it was like chemistry lab meets swanky bar

• little James fell asleep in the cab ride over and napped while mom and dad tried some magical potions

• I ordered the Té Julepe As which consisted of zubrowka (a grass vodka), mint, lemon, hibiscus soda, and apples...you bet I asked for a spoon to scoop out that fruit! ...amazing (p.s. James had a bottle for dinner, don't worry)

• Jake's drink was even cooler

• he got the Bruma Isleña, which was like an old fashioned with bourbon, homemade angostura bitters, syrup, and vanilla oak smoke
• you'll have to ask Jake to better describe it, but basically, the chemist bartender lit a piece of wood, trapped the smoke in one glass, then poured the mixed drink in and set it over another glass of ice water to chill...what?! a whole sensory experience...Jake said it was tasty and that he'll have to learn how to recreate it (oh dear)

• so the innovative drinks set the tone for what was to come...and evening of delicious appetizers, bread, fish, meat, desserts, and of course great company among friends

• we loved celebrating you two! again, CONGRATULATIONS!!! and thank you for a wonderful day!

meeting mommy's students

W 1.15.14

• we met mommy's students from her adult conversation class for coffee and James was such a little charmer

• I kept saying how nice it was to have someone other than his parents hold him!  
• it's good for him to socialize and get comfortable around other people...prepare him a bit for his big move to the States where all of his family will want to hold him, snuggle him, play with him...we can't wait!
• so far, he's doing pretty well around others...
• afterward, James hung out with this guy outside while we went in to pick up some empanadas to take home for dinner

• thanks for meeting us ladies!  remember to come visit us in Chicago someday ;)

New Year's Eve 2013

Tu 12.31.13

• for New Year's Eve, we were invited to our friends' house for sushi and fireworks

James holding on tight for the cab ride

• we arrived in the early evening for drinks, appetizers, and a little dip in the pool

• James enjoying the change of scenery...what a beautiful pillow!

• he (we) also loved the crafty decorations Yayoi made...cranes and horses for the new year

• Jake enjoying the new year jams...doing a little dancing :)

• 2014...year of the horse!

• Yayoi did such a beautiful job with the table setting and presentation of everything

• YUM!!!

• the champagne was flowing and sushi was bountiful

• and James was a champ...ate at 9pm...napped while we ate, then woke up right in time for midnight when we all cheers'd with our designated beverage

• the fireworks that scanned the city skyline were incredible...and lasted over an hour!  we had an amazing view on the 18th floor

W 1.1.14

thanks for a great evening Fredrik and Yayoi! (...and for sharing some photos with us)

• here's to a happy, healthy, and fun 2014! 

feliz año a todos!

Christmas 2013

Sa 12.21.13

• we had to take James to see Santa, of course
• the city of Buenos Aires creates a "Parque Navideño" at a park in Recoleta, not far from our house during the month of December

• we remember running past this last year and thinking how strange it seemed to see elves in shorts and Christmas decorations strewn about in the extreme heat on a sunny summer day...in December...all very strange, but we thought it'd be fun for James' first Santa experience

• the grass may have been dead but the park sure was alive with holiday cheer

• our main objective was to meet Santa, so we got in line right away

• luckily the wait wasn't long because in this 95+ degree weather, we were H-O-T!
• we got in, snapped a couple shots and were outta there

• photo courtesy of the BA Ciudad Navidad facebook page

• this was a fun photo opp with an elf in a snow globe...do people decorate with snow globes in BA?

• then we checked out the rest of the scene

sadly no one took the stage in the 20 minutes we were there

• James posing with both the Prince of Peace and a piece of majestic, machismo art

• goes nicely with the North Pole, wouldn't you say?

• we had some last minute shopping to do, and a hot, hungry infant who just barely made it to the Recoleta mall in time where we found AC, shops, and food
• btw...right when we walked in we were greeted with cool air...and a Santa seeing kids right in the middle of the mall...ok, so that would have been a more comfortable Santa experience, but the park was WAY cooler!

tree outside Recoleta mall

• now that James met Santa (and told him his wish list, which consisted of milk and cuddles) and we finished our shopping, we were ready for Christmas!

Tu 12.24.13

• Christmas Eve and getting into the spirit with holiday tunes, cookie baking, and of course a Christmas apparel...
• Grandma Feauto brought along the cutest little "My First Christmas" outfit...I mean look at the behind!

• James preparing for our Skype date with Grandma and Grandpa La Liberte, Uncle Noah, and Aunt Tiffany

• all the excitement got him sleepy

• although he slept through gift opening, we know he's super excited to sport this lil' suit at Uncle Mark's wedding in May (thanks Grandma and Grandpa)!

• amidst all the excitement, mom and dad were trying to order dinner...just a simple pizza on Christmas Eve (trying to make it a tradition?)
• but...I'm not sure if you see the screen, but CERRADO means CLOSED...and all the places we called or tried online were closed...kinda forgot xmas eve is celebrated more here than xmas day, and therefore most places were closed

• James was like, "Well at least I got my food!"
• and Jake and I resorted to salad, frozen pizza, and It's a Wonderful Life

W 12.25.13

• Christmas tree inside, sunny and summer outside...James, your next Christmas will be VERY different from this one

• after a bit of sleeping in, James was just too excited to see if Santa came
• so we got some cinnamon rolls and coffee ready...and saw that the reindeer had eaten some of the carrots and Santa drank his milk and had some of his cookies (he left the pan dulce because let's be honest...it's a little dry and not that good)

• James opening his first gift:

• and daddy his (mid-cinnamon-roll-chew):

• James' red bear from daddy's co-worker (he LOVES it!)

• ...and a book for James (he got three, but I think this one might be his favorite)

• daddy got mommy a necklace...ooo! nice find, honey!

• and the gift that mommy didn't know about because daddy picked it out himself at the San Telmo Market

• best buds

• it was the perfect first Christmas morning together as a family of three

• before long we had to get ready for church...here we are taking the elevator from our apartment (maximum capacity = 3 people...or 2 adults, a baby, and a stroller)

• walking across the park to church...really only took this shot because of what's in the background...sunbathing ladies

• James and the church's nativity scene...luckily he didn't cry like this through the whole mass (he was great until communion!)

• then it was time to go home and put the men Jake to work, as is the Christmas morning Greer family tradition (no, I didn't let him get out of it just because we're not back home...sorry, and thanks husband!)

• Jake was busy making scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes, fresh fruit and mimosas (I helped him out with the cinnamon rolls...because my mom always makes these anyway)

• what a spread!  James is ready to eat with his super cute bib on (thanks Aunt Jenny!)

• we spent the rest of the day enjoying our Christmas presents, and finishing up some Christmas cookies to bring to dinner later that night

• ...and we found the cutest little bundle under the Christmas tree...

with his new ornament from Grandma Feauto...a horse, of course! 

• I think we'll keep this one...he's pretty great, and the best gift we could've asked for this year!
• growing up, my dad always made us line up our gifts and tell the video camera our name, age, and what we got for Christmas
• so we made James do the same...come on, humor us son!

"My name is James and I'm 5 weeks old and I got three books, a red bear, and a monkey!"

• after some Skyping with the Feauto's (*not pictured: super cute Adidas track suit for the little guy (from guess who) along with some other sweet gifts from Grandma and Grandpa) we had to pack up and get ready to head over to some friends' house for dinner

• we felt blessed to be able to share Christmas evening with friends, another expat couple and their two sweet babes, one of which, little Alex, was born just a couple months before James
• here are the little guys at just over 1 month and 3 months old:

• and our funny/sad attempt to try to get a side-by-side comparison shot...haha

• and there's big sister Gretchen getting in on the fun!

• and I'm still thinking about that meal and how I need to start making more meat...we had the best lomo with stuffing, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding, salad...I'm drooling...and they sent us with leftovers!...oh my goodness...
• Dawn and Jon THANK YOU! we had a great evening celebrating Christmas in the presence of friends...something always treasured by expats during holidays
• MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  FELIZ NAVIDAD!