Jehovah's Witnesses and Scorpions

I don't have any photos today. We cleaned this morning, weeded Abuelitos' little garden, and helped Abuelita make yummy enchiladas for lunch.

We found a couple scorpions in the house today! I don't think the ninas had ever seen one! Laurel found one while she was sweeping the kitchen. Then I found one on the stairs that I had just swept an hour before! We don't know how they got in, but we are all wearing our shoes inside the house now!

Guess what I got to do today--I spoke to some Jehovah Witnesses in Spanish! They came and rang the doorbell, but neither Abuelito nor Abuelita were home. I ran down and looked through the peek hole in the gate. I figured it was Abuelita's visiting teachers. I opened the door and soon realized who they were. Two very sweet women. Both their names were "Irma." We chatted for a little while about Jesus Christ. They gave me a pamphlet that they said went along with the Bible. I asked if they had heard of the Book of Mormon and offered them one (we brought several in Spanish). I'm not sure what they said, but they weren't jumping at the opportunity. But they were very nice. After they left I was wishing I'd have taken a photo of me with them! =) That's something you don't get to do everyday--chat with JW's in Espanol!

At the Beach with Kooyman's (in San Diego)

Olivia and Tessy. We arrived at Torrey Pines Beach around noon and stayed til about 5. Great day at the beach!

Ellie and Elle

Whitney and Abby

Laurel insited on taking this pic. I'm glad she did 'cause I think it's kinda cute. =)

Brianna, Hanna and Laurel, heading out to boogie board.

Tessy and Olivia

Elle playing with a crab exoskeleton!

After playing at the beach we joined The Kooyman family at Melba and Jerry's home in Del Mar for a Birthday/pizza party for Jerry Kooyman. This is the home we all evacuated to during the 2007 fires. Good memories here!! It was so fun to come back and visit.

Mexico City Temple + Family History

Yesterday we got everyone up fairly early and drove to the Mexico City Temple. The traffic in the city is crazy, so it took about 2 hours to get there.

There was a stake center right next to it inside a locked gate all the way around. We were able to take the ninas into the stake center where they waited for Maho and me while we did some temple work. Afterward we all ate lunch there at the cafeteria next to the MTC.
Notice the Mexican flag there next to the temple.

When we were done at the temple we walked across the street to a church history museum. We got just past the front desk and the first photo we saw was one we were all very familiar with--a photo that hangs here in la casa de los Abuelitos. It's a poster size picture of Abuelita's parents and grandparents, who were among the very first members of the church in Mexico. Along with their photos was a brief history of what they did to help the church along. Abuelita had never been in this museum, and she cried when she saw it. She had to stifle her tears for us to get this photo! =) Awesome, huh?! The man that's in color in the photo still lives in a little town called Tepecoculco. He is the ninas' great grandfather--the John Wayne of his village. He's 97. We will go visit him toward the end of our trip. The ninas will get to meet this great grandpa for the first time.

We also went to a historic area in the heart of Mexico City called Chapultepec. Here's where everyone stopped for a Paleta break.

This is driving through the city. On our way from the temple to Chapultepec, we saw a HUGE gay parade. My goodness. What a contrast from where we'd been.

More Circus Pics

The Elephant standing on one leg on a stool that rotates. I'd have taken photos of the ninas and photos of the tigers there, but my camera wouldn't work til the end!

"Mama buying dope." (Labeled as such by Maho) I'm buying circus tickets on the street from this guy.

Another fun day in Tula/ San Marcos

Today we did some fun stuff. We started by walking around the heart of Tula where the streets are lined with all kinds of little shops. Maho took us into the Mercado and reminisqued of his days as a nino selling bags with his dad and brother to all the merchants there.

We stopped at this little shop and ate tortas. Wow! Yum.

(I couldn't get all the photos from today to upload. I'll try again tomorrow.)






I really enjoyed that torta! We fed our whole family, with drinks, for about 11 bucks!

Afterward we drove to the neighboring town called San Marcos where Maho attended Kindergarten, and years later, 9th grade. He has Aunts and Uncles there. He showed us all his old stomping grounds.

Next we bought tickets to a Circus. Maho took a picture of me buying tickets from a guy driving around in a decked out circus-announcing car. He labeled the photo, "Mama buying dope." Nice. Tickets to the circus cost less than ten bucks--for our entire family! And we had awesome seats!!

The circus was great! The ninas had never been to one that they could remember. Our favorite acts were with 5 huge tigers; and an act with an elephant.

Tonight Maho and I went with his parents just up the street to a family's home/business where they make and sell Mexican food. It was such a humble little place, as most these establishments are. But the food.... wow. I had enchiladas. They are unlike anything you'll find in the states (unless, perhaps, you stumble apon a hole-in-the-wall place such as this). They are fried slightly and served in a bowl covered with salsa--almost like a soup. Topped with crumbled queso fresco and Mexican cream. It was sooooo good!

More pics from the Pyramids

After walking around at the pyramids we all went to a Paleteria and got Paletas (yummy Mexican popcicles).

This is a pic from the pyramids of the village where Abuelitos live.

Pyramids in Tula

This is the top of a pyramid. These pillars are believed to be Toltec warriors which held up the temple.

More photos to come tomorrow.

This is a playing field where the people played a sport similar to volleyball with a very bouncy ball, but they hit it back and forth with the side of their hips. Maho had to have a photo here. This is where he'd have spent most of his time, had he lived in those days!

Bizarro Laurel

We went shopping this afternoon and Maho found this package selling glasses. He was teasing Laurel that it looked like her. We were laughing so hard as we had her pose next to this picture. Ha! Laurel's much cuter!

Some photos of Abuelitos' home

Ellie and Abuelita in her kitchen.

They have potted flowers, tomatoes, and herbs on their front porch and on the steps going up to their home.

The next photo (Brianna and Tessy) is taken from the front window. They have a huge security wall that surrounds their entire property--a very common thing to do. From outside the yard you can only see the top of the house. It is very private.

They don't have a big yard, but they make such great use of the space and have vegetable plants growing beautifully on the edges of the grass.

In Mexico it is very difficult to get a loan to buy or build a home. So most people build as they have the money. Abuelitos took 4 years to build this home. But now they don't owe a penny on it!

Isn't it charming? The inside is so colorful. Every room's a different bright color, sometimes with two bright colors in a room.

Tessy is standing in another corner of the yard. You can see more veggie plants behind her, a peach tree above her, and a net tied from a pole on the ground to the roof over top of her holds the start of a vine that will soon be a lovely green canopy.

Finally in Mexico

Got up yesterday at 4 am (having slept only 2.5 hours!), got packed, loaded up, ate complimentary breakfast at the hotel, changed some dollars for pesos, crossed the border, got permits for the ninas and I to stay in Mexico, and were finally truly on our way around 8 am. It was a pleasant drive with no incidents whatsoever. This photo is at the halfway point in Matehuala, Mexico. We stopped here for lunch. We finally arrived a la casa de los Abuelitos just before 9 p.m. This is a fairly new home for them and it is just so charming!! I'll get more photos today in the daylight. Here's the fam just getting ready to eat some yummy dinner. Abuelitos are at the head of the table. Erika is also in the photo (between Brianna and Whitney). She is their cousin who was going to school here for a semester.
Their home is in Tula, which is just northwest of Mexico city. We are clear down into the heart of Mexico. It has been an eye-opener for the ninas. The buildings and homes are so different--all made of bricks and/or concrete, many of them very run-down and not well maintained. And building codes are few or none, so you can imagine how odd some of these homes a businesses look. Quite a mishmash.

There are stray dogs all over the streets. Last night we fell asleep to the sound of dogs howling and barking. We woke up, though to the songs of birds I had never heard before. That was fun.

The tempurature here is just like that of San Diego--cool and balmy. It is lovely.

Laredo, Texas

Swimming at the hotel in Laredo. The best thing about this hotel, which is really nice, is that Maho got it using his hotel points from his travels, so it didn't cost us a thing! It's hot and humid here. Right around 100 degrees.


While Maho was across the border getting the car permit and such, we girls walked to the mall (very close to our hotel). While Laurel shopped at Forever 21, I took the rest of the ninas to a play area. We also stopped at Claire's and Bath and Body Works, where Tessy must have tried every tester in the store!! We all walked out of there rather fragrant!
We leave first thing tomorrow morning for Mexico City (near there). We are staying 5 min from the boarder. And for all you worriers, don't! Maho has gone back and forth a couple times. It is very safe. We will be to la casa de los Abuelitos before nightfall tomorrow.

White Sands Dunes in New Mexico

This place is so incredible! Near Las Cruces, NM, it is an area full of these massive white sand dunes. We stopped here before heading to Laredo yesterday, June 20th. The dunes are formed by a combo of 3 factors: gypsum (a mineral), hot dry climate, and wind. Gypsum dissolves in water, so when it rains, the water washes the gypsum in the mountains down to a lake below. Then as the hot sun evaporates the water in the lake, small crystals form a little crust on the lake's surface. The wind blows the crystals off, forming the dunes. So fascinating to see and play!

The ninas and I took turns rolling down the dunes. We had just put sun screen on, so after rolling down, we looked like sugary gum drops!


Tessy. She's wearing Papa's hat because it was so hot (100 degrees) and BRIGHT (with the sun reflecting off the white sand), the ninas without sunglasses could hardly keep their eyes open!

Ellie borrowed Laurel's hat. Sorta big, eh?

More Fair pics

Up, up and away on the sky ride.

On the sky ride.

The ninas got to waterpaint.

This guy is a one-man band. He was amazing. Took requests and everything, and really sounded like a whole band! He had "back up singers" too, with a mic that made his voice sound like there were 3 of him harmonizing!

Can you believe this rooster?! There were so many interesting chickens and roosters!