We have some wonderful friends that took us to the mountains over the weekend. I dont know where we went or how we got there, but it was so nice to get out of the city. It was kind of an overcast day, but it was still beautiful. We did a little hiking, although we didnt make it all the way to Bear Cave, which is in one of the pictures below. We bought a crate of apples for 60 pesos (about $6 US dollars). They are so yummy. Thanks to the Garza-Flores family for an amazing day!
Since we arrived, we have had a couple milestones occur. Well, at least little moments that can't go unnoticed in our family.
Luke started taking steps the week our house was packed up in July. While in the hotel the first two weeks we were here he gave up crawling all together. Now he is a total walker & runner to keep up with the kids.
Carter has started school. For the first time he is away from me--he wouldn't even do that at church in nursery--so this is huge.
Logan learned to ride his two wheeler. It only took a couple hours and a couple times going around the loop we live on. He is a super-duper bike rider!
Chloe lost her first tooth. She woke up and said the tooth fairy didnt leave her any money. I gave Tyler "the look" and asked her if she was sure. She said she only got 25 pesos, no dollars. :) I will have to talk to the tooth fairy about that!
Independence Day in Mexico is on September 16th. It is a huge holiday. The kids were out of school Monday, the day it was observed, and Tuesday, the actual day. Our Stake threw a big party for FHE on Monday night. As you can see from the list, written by Chloe, who I have turned in to an obsessive, compulsive list maker, we were supposed to dress up. If you cant read Chloe's writing or her spelling, the note says :
Tonight Party
at 7:00
Dress Up
Hurry and Go
find a place to sit and enjoy
then go home and go to bed.
Later she added at the bottom:
Yes or No
Si o no
In the pictures below, you will see our version of the traditional clothes. Tyler and the boys are wearing ponchos--basically a sarape with a slit in the middle to fit your head through, (sarape is pronounced su-raw-pay with the su sounding like "su" from suck). I am basically wearing a shawl. I dont know what a Mexican would call it, but that is what I will call it. It can be worn around your shoulders like a shawl or tied around your waste. Chloe is wearing a little Mexican dress. She was so excited to wear it. The rest of us look ridiculous, but she loved everything about it. They actaully sell the same shirt and skirt Chloe is wearing in womens sizes, but I opted for just the shawl. I know, I know I am such a party pooper!
The stake went all out for this activity, including air jumpers, a spin the wheel kinda game, and three amusement park type mechanical rides. This one was a dragon, kind of shaped like a ship that went back and forth. Chloe and Logan loved it. I stayed on the ground with Carter and Luke.
This is Chloe with two girls from our ward, Vania (sounds like Vaughn-yuh) and Niktel (sounds like Nick-tell). I have no idea if I am spelling those right, but Chloe had a blast with these girls. Vania is 12 and has become Chloe's best friend at church. She always comes up and gives her big hugs and is very kind. Vania's whole family has been very welcoming. Her mom, Veronica is an english teacher in a public school. She has fast become a dear friend of mine. Her husband is in the Bishopric. They have 3 other children. The sweeetest family. Niktel is 11, and is becoming quite attached to Chloe as well. I dont know as much about her family yet, but they are very very nice people.
This ride, that Carter and Logan are pictured on, had 4 little cars for the kids to sit on and it went around & around & around. They literally had to push and run to get the ride going--we are definitely not at Disneyland. :)
At the activity they had tons of food. Tacos, tostados, gorditas, frijoles, corn on the cob, pazole (soup), and postres (desserts). The corn was rubbed down with a mixture of mayo, chili pepper, & some kind of cream. I say some kind of cream, because no one can tell me what it actually is. All I know is that it is not sour cream, or whipping cream. At this point I am not a big fan of mayo and chili pepper on my corn. But, hey, maybe it will grow on me. Gorditas are made with a fat tortilla sliced open like pita bread and then stuffed. These particualr gorditas were stuffed with beef, potatoes (my fav!!!), and some kind of chili pepper seasoning. They weren't too spicy and they weren't fried like the tacos and tostados, so I enjoyed them. Pazole is a red soup--that is all I know about it. I asked someone about it & I was told that it is usually very good soup with corn in it, but it was being served cold that night and that I should wait to have some nice and hot. The postres included rice and milk pudding mixed with cinamon and raisins on top, small fruit cups and little muffins with whip cream on top. Can you guess what was served to drink--TANG!!! It was such a fun experience, the only problem was that there was a sepearte line for each item. That is 7 lines and the corn line was as long as the other 6 put together.
Chloe and Logan didnt want to leave. But Carter and Luke had been asleep for over an hour in the stroller. We havent fingured out why everything starts so late here, but that seems to be the schedule they are on. School meetings/functions dont start until 8:30. And short meetings, emphasize short, end at 10:30. I have usally been asleep for a while by the time 10:30 rolls around. We figured we lucked out this night when the activity started at 7:30. Woohoo!
I love food. I love to eat. I eat when I am happy. I eat when I'm sad, homesick, bored, stressed, or depressed. I love to get together with people and go out to eat. I love food--that is probably why I need to lose 20 pounds. One of the comfort foods that I seem to be eating a lot of since I arrived in Mexico is potatoes. Good old white, full of carbohydrates, potatoes. I like mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, funeral potatoes, potato salad, potato wedges, french fries, tator tots, and hash browns. You name it, it doesnt matter, I will probably eat it if it is made with potatoes. In this far away country it reminds me of home--potatoes still taste the same, no matter where they are grown! The only problem is the aforementioned--they are full of carbohydrates--and not the good kind. I have tried sweet potatoes, but I do not like them with butter, brown sugar, or melty marshmallows. I only like them salty. So does anyone out there have any good salty, sweet potato recipes. For the sake of my love handles, please share!
Here in Saltillo there are lots of fast food chains and restaurants that we have in the US. Carl's Jr, McDonalds, Burger King, El Pollo Loco, KFC, Dominos, Pizza Hut, Subway, Chili's, Applebee's, and of course Starbucks. Most of the time, the food tastes mostly the same, but there are some big differences as well. Happy Meals come with toys from movies that have been out for a while in the States, like Shrek the Third. I think that is what they are giving away now. El Pollo Loco, is a little different here than in California--of course, it is way better here. Basically, the only thing you can order is chicken. No burritos, no salads, no nuggetts, no french fries. The only sides you can order are beans (yummy), rice (yummy), or cole slaw (not exactly the same as we are used to). Each order gets fresh, warm, melt in your mouth corn tortillas (flour tortillas aren't an option). There is a salsa bar which includes a mild pico de gallo type salsa, thick avocado salsa (my favorite thing), and a roasted tomato hot, hot, hot salsa. Plus fresh cut limes, jalapenos, and home made tortilla chips. It is so yummy. In California I would have never ordered pieces of chicken, but here that is the only thing you do. So we order chicken with beans and rice & make our own melt in your mouth tacos/burritos.
However, as yummy as the tortillas are, our family has been craving some good old pizza. We have been warned that Dominos and Pizza Hut are nothing like the ones in the states. Mister Pizza is a very common chain here, but I am not ready to try Mexican pizza. So, we asked a friend and she told us there was a place called Peter Piper Pizza and that is the ONLY place to get pizza. I think there may be Peter Piper Pizza joints in the states, but not in California, and the one here in Saltillo is like a Chuck E. Cheese, minus the stage and show, (bummer, huh). Well, we have been treating ourselves to pizza like once a week now. We actually haven't taken the kids there yet for a sit down meal, (and hours & hours of video games), we just order and take it home. It is pretty good. This is our typical order, one thin crust pizza with tomatoes, bell peppers, & onions (this one is for me) and an extra large pizza with thick crust with ham and pineapple (this one is for Tyler and the kids). Who knew, you can good get pizza in Mexico!!!
Thank goodness!
Now, that craving for chinese food will absolutely have to wait until we come home for Christmas--there is no way I am trying mexican style chinese food. If any of you are sitting down to some yummy orange chicken, think of me!!!
For everyone who got the email to view the blog, I just wanted to let you know that we have gone private. Now, only people who are invited can view the blog--kind of a privacy, personal information thing. I have been thinking about it for a long time & finally decided to just do it. If you know someone who wants to view the blog, all I need is their email address, so send it to me!!!
We are having lots of fun in Mexico, but I dont really want my babies pictures on the internet for all to see if you know what I mean. Leave me a comment sometime and let me know you were here! Peace out!
Okay, I know I am totally late posting first day of school shots, but I am still adjusting to living in this stinkin' new country. Colegio Americano requires Chloe to wear this to school everyday except Tuesday which is her sports day. On that day she gets to wear the required sport shorts & shirt. She is adorable.
This handsome boy was so excited to go to school his first day. Course, I cried the moment I had to leave. I still just can't believe that my babies are growing up. Logan's favorite days of the week are Wednesday and Thursday because on those days, he doesnt have to wear this uniform, he gets to wear his sports uniform. Logan says that this uniform is way too hot. You see, none of the classrooms have air conditioning (or heating for that matter). Plus, he has to wear a school apron over his uniform everyday as well.
We are alive. Mexico didnt swallow us whole or anything. We have just been so busy I havent had time to post anything. Hooray our "goods" arrived three weeks ago exactly. Of course, Johnson Bad Luck caused us to get the red light in customs and have our load searched and our delivery delayed, but we got it eventually. Hooray!!! Yipee!!! It was like Christmas. In this new place where everything is totally unfamiliar, it was so nice to have little pieces of home. Well, actually all of our home. It was an amazing feeling, (now I feel like I am officially a totally materialistic person), but I don't care. I am so happy to have my own bed, my own couch, and all the things that make the kids happy.
It took two full weeks to get our phone set up and the internet working. Now, we are connected again.
Our first night in our new casa was Saturday August 16th. It will be 3 weeks this Saturday. Two days after we moved in the kids started school. This private school, Colegio Americano, is the best in Saltillo. But, it is very demanding of students and parents. If you think you have a huge school supply list, you cant even imagine the supply list down here. It cost nearly $900 US dollars for three students. And technically two are in preschool. That doesnt even include the price of uniforms.
I will blow your mind later with the prices of everything here.
