Three cheers for Bethany!

Congratulations to Bethany! Not only did she give birth to her second beautiful daughter only 6 weeks ago, graduate from her Ob/Gyn residency, move into a new home, AND study for and pass her board certification exam - all while continuing to be a GREAT mother and wife, (if that isn't enough) she also received an award this weekend - Most Outstanding Chief Resident! (along with $500 cash) And if you don't think combining all of the above, along with the personalities involved in her residency isn't an almost impossible feat - think again! My only regret is that I wasn't there to see her receive the award. Sorry, Bethany. I'm SO PROUD!

High Council

For those of you who are unaware, the church in Mexico City is pretty progressive. I'm on the High Council. As is Claudia. Dad-the-bad goes to the meetings and brings us our assignments. Pretty cool, huh?

Wish Ryan a Happy Birthday! Some great, funny, even some sad memories of Ryan . . .

Making a getaway out of our little apartment in Chicago crawling down the hall and turning to laugh at me (6 months)
Catching a bumblebee with his bare hands (12 months)
Crying non-stop from East Texas to Katy
His persistence at learning how to ride a bike that was WAY too big for him (money-saving idea by dad-the-bad)
Having to put the front bike tire in"time out" because of unsanctioned bike rides
Dodgeball on our trampoline with half the third grade
Calling every store in Houston looking for a specific pair of shoes, which he purchased himself (age 8-10)
Trying to sell a mouse he caught in our house to the pet store -the neighbors dubbed him "make-a-buck-Ryan"
Buying Bazooka bubblegum by bulk and selling it to kids at school
Lots of friends!
Our misadventures climbing Mt. Olympus
Playing basketball with him when I was pregnant
Catching him and his friends trying to play hookie from school
Pudge - and quite a few little dents
The paper route
Yelling "Hi Mom!" to me in the halls at Taylor High when I was subbing
Countless trips to Brazos Bend and climbing "our tree"
Countless basketball, soccer and baseball games - a great athlete
Surfing, surfing, and more surfing
Breaking his surfboard
Throwing up in the trash can at the Dome Run because he just had to beat me
His band playing "Gimme Three Steps"
Visiting the Gavanchos' in Peru
His wedding day with his beautiful bride
Running the St. George Marathon
Parties at his house
And many more! Happy Birthday, Ryan! I love you. You're the best son EVER!

All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten

Apparently, the Mexican government really believes this. After providing every document they had required, they are now asking for transcripts of all of my grades since Kindergarten in order to obtain my medical license here. Either that or someone is looking for a bribe. Any ideas?

Top 10 Reasons Poodle should spend Christmas in Mexico

I realize that I can't compete with the cute nieces and nephew, or with Bethany, Carrie and company, BUT there are a few perks to coming to Mexico for Christmas. These are only the top 10. There are SO many more!

10. Ethnic cuisine - such as tacos al pastor, barbacoa, caldo tlapeño, taquitos, and for the more adventuresome - chapulines, huitlacoche, escamoles or gusanos de maguey. An amazing variety!
9. Private bedroom (downstairs) complete with attached walk-in closet, private bath, maid service, and a chocolate on your pillow each night.
8. Opportunities for service - tons of smiling Mexican children from the Refugio (street kids) or orphanage, just waiting for someone to come play with them or take them to the zoo. And/or play Santa for a needy family and take them Christmas presents! The list here is endless.
7. Archaeological ruins - adventure into history with a trip to Teotihuacán, (one of the seven wonders of the world; Mexico's biggest ancient city with a pair of spectacularly large pyramids), Templo Mayor (the exact place the Aztecs (mexicas) found the eagle with the snake), and Cholula, with the world´s widest pyramid. We even know a renowned archaeologist that can give us a tour.
6. Balet Folclorico - a two-hour festive blur of costumes, music and dance from all over Mexico. Even grandpa liked it! It's amazing!
5. Beautiful parks, including the Mexico City zoo, which happens to be free, located beside a lake with paddleboats and canoes; also Desierto de los Leones, in the beautiful mountains of Mexico complete with horseback riding, trails, hiking and picnic tables. (Also a monastery built in the 1500's)
4. Temperate climate - never snows, never gets hot. The temperature ranges between 58-65 degrees daily with typically no rain in December.
3. Museums - too many to name; art (Frida Kahlo's blue house, Diego Rivera's murals), history (renowned Archeology Museum, Palace of the Fine Arts, Chapultapec Castle, National Palace, to name a few), artifacts, and the Zócolo with live Aztec performers.
2. Shopping, and lots of it. Mercados galore, with a host of artesanians, paintings, artifacts and jewelry. We could take a quick trip to Taxco for silver, or to Puebla, a quaint little town known for its' pottery, painted tiles, and colonial buildings. (The home of the famous battle of Cinco de Mayo)
1. And best of all - it's FREE!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, my love! It's been a great 32 years. You're worth the move to Mexico - and that's saying a lot!

Love, Susan

Gracias, Jefe!

The grocery stores in Mexico City hire men to work in their parking lots for tips helping people park their cars. We call them jefes. I particularly appreciate these guys who: guide me in and out of the parking space, preventing injury to my car and others; escort me to the store under their umbrella when I've forgotten mine on rainy afternoons (typical); and stop all the cars going with the flow of traffic when I'm driving the wrong way and make them let me in - all for the bargain price of 10 pesos (about $1.00), or whatever change I happen to have in my purse. Thanks, Jefes!

They pulled it off!

Lindsey and Brandon are married! She not only organized the entire wedding, they made their own cheesecake wedding cake and alligator groom's cake, which most of us believed was impossible. The wedding ceremony was beautiful and Lindsey looked radiant!


A few thank you's to:
Lindsey, for organizing the entire event,
Brandon, for making the best groom's cake EVER!






Grandma and Grandpa for allowing us to invade for a couple of nights,
Brad and Sidona for travelling from Montana just for the wedding,


Heidi and Kay for hosting the shower and family party, and for taking us in, helping with the babies, and treating us like royalty for almost a week.










Carrie for traveling without a husband with two babies, and being a very good sport about it.
Jennifer, for giving a fabulous toast, and putting up with the hectic wedding schedule.











Bethany and Brandon for traveling with a newborn, a 2-year old, and surviving the loss of the "yucky wee wee."Ryan and Brianna for providing entertainment for dad-the-bad and Caroline during the shower.








Poodle and Fernash for rearranging their events to accommodate the hectic wedding schedule.
And for Spencer and Laura, for giving up their rooms and playing with Caroline and Devin. You were life-savers!

Thanks to everyone who came and made Lindsey's wedding a wonderful event! We love you!