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!