Nietas

Lately I've been buying costume jewelry from street vendors for my granddaughters. I really don't know why, other than I'm a sucker for the little kids selling them, and that I have the two most adorable granddaughters on the face of the earth, and they love girly things. (I also have an incredibly cute grandson, but since I would like to maintain my friendship with his father, I don't buy him jewelry.) But last night the little trinkets came in handy when I needed props for a program we were putting on at church. Thanks Mabel and Caroline.

Walmart

Today while shopping at Walmart some sort of siren went off. As most people were ignoring it, I thought nothing of it - until a police officer came up to me and asked me to leave the store. Since he had a gun and I did not, I complied. On the way out I asked him why he was making me leave, and he responded that there was a fire. Outside with the other people who had been ushered out I found out it was just a fire drill. Big difference. Can you hear my sigh of relief?

Magnificent Monarchs

The mountains of Mexico are the nesting grounds of the monarch butterfly. Each winter in mid-november, millions of monarchs migrate from the Great Lakes area to central Mexico. They return in mid-march, although different butterflies, as the lifespan of the monarch is only six weeks. Scientists have not figured out how they know to go to the exact same spot every year. They nest in the branches of tall fir trees, which bow under their burden and give them the appearance of orange leaves. They flutter through the sky in a blizzard of orange and black. We made a trip to see them today. The pictures below do not do them justice. It is truly a spectacular sight!

These aren't leaves - they're butterflies - millions of them. You can see how the trees bow under their weight.

This is a picture of the flurry of butterflies. Beautiful!

For $10 (US) you can rent a horse to hike up the mountain and for $6 more a guide to show you the best butterfly spots.

Truly, one of the hidden treasures of Mexico!

Getting lost

When I arrived in Mexico City a friend of mine told me the only way to get to know your way around is to get lost alot and find your way home. I'm doing a very good job getting to know my way around Mexico City - and it works!

Notification

Interesting fact about Mexico City: The only thing required for a driver's license here is that you pay a fee. There is no written, oral, driving competency, vision screening, or literacy exam. You simply pay the fee and they give you a driver's license - which explains alot!

Feed The Women

The third monday of each month a handful of women in Mexico City get together at Ora Hernandez's home to cook a hot meal for 200 poor elderly women. The volunteers represent as many as ten different countries, including Greece, The Netherlands, India, Thailand, The Phillipines, and of course, those of us from the good old US. After cooking the meal, we take it over to a Catholic church and serve the hungry women. Ora has been organizing this effort for the past twelve years.

After the meal, every woman who has had a birthday during the month is honored with a small gift and cake. Everyone sings "Las mananitas", the official birthday song of Mexico. (Ora is the lady in the white apron.)

Meet Perla. Although she speaks only a Phillipino dialect with very little English and no Spanish, she comes every month and can out-work any of us. She also crochets six coasters for every single woman in our church unit (ward) for their birthday. And she is the first to volunteer her famous Phillipine noodle dish when somebody needs a meal brought in. She is my hero!

VALENTINES

Yesterday was Valentines and my husband told me he was giving me a "hair appointment" for Valentines. Which I already had planned myself. So I was a little disappointed - until he came home with a lovely box filled with foot care items - fragrant salts, lotions, and soaps. And he gave me a foot massage with them. That was the best Valentines ever!

More car trouble!

The other night I was sure my car had either developed a seizure disorder, or had had a spell put on it by one of the witches in Tepoztlan. I tried to drive home after being out with a friend and my car wouldn´t let me in. Each time I tried to enter, it started honking at me, lights blinking - then sirens would go off. The entire street was peering out their windows wondering whose car this American lady was trying to steal. The unlock button on my remote did nothing. My husband couldn´t figure it out either. Well not at first.

Turns out I had an extra remote in the deep abyss of my purse which I had inadvertently set off when I tripped and fell on my purse. It was to a "second alarm system" the car had that I didn´t know about. Oops!

Top ten things I learned in Cuernavaca

10. Although I may be a good guesser on exams, I am not an advanced spanish student.
9. There are two kinds of students in Cuernavaca; young college students and nearly dead. And
then there was me.
8. You have to be careful explaining medical terms in spanish.
7. Las mañanitas (the birthday song of Mexico)
6. That they call Cuernavaca "The city of eternal spring" but it actually means cow´s horn.
5. How to make mole (a mixture of chicken, chocolate, and picante sauce, with other extraneous spices; in my opinion a shameful waste of chocolate calories.)
4. How to spread your food around your plate so it looks like you´ve eaten more than you have.
3. That even though the large freeway sign says "Periferico Norte" with an arrow pointing in that direction, doesn´t necessarily mean that periferico norte is in that direction. Sometimes they take 4 or 5 years (or longer) to take signs down after they´ve put them up for a detour.
2. That there are lots of brujas (witches) in Tepoztlan.
1. The meaning of the word golpe (dent) - Always pay for parking in Tepoztlan.




Me and Vanessa (my favorite classmate) in front of the "alternative medicine" display

Me making mole at our cooking class

My friends from University of Utah - Dan, Jessica, Jake and Jordan.

Beautiful view of Tepoztlan from atop the pyramids.

Mi familia mexicana - Roberto ( they gave him beer with his meals), rebecca, me and Perla (my mexican "mama")

Funny Story

Yesterday I drove with some students from the University of Utah to Tepoztlan to view the pyramids, which happen to be on top of a mountain. I parked my car at the bottom along a cobblestone street and we hiked up the mountain. (It´s beautiful, by the way) We returned a couple of hours later and there was a note on my windshield as follows:

Si no tiene para el estacionamiento, espero que tenga
para arreglar el golpe.
Gracias.

¿Que pasó?

The first person to figure out what happened will receive an Amazon.com gift certificate or a free souvenier from Tepoztlan, whichever you prefer. (It does help if you know spanish, but a dictionary would do.)

Regalos

Yesterday in Tepoztlan I purchased some jewelry for my daughters/daughter-in-law - necklaces, bracelets, and earrings (dangly) - all red/orange chunky. Each daughter may choose one. Please post on this blog (if you are a daughter or daughter-in-law)which item you prefer and I will distribute them on a first-come, first-served basis.

No necesitan ayudame!

Hoy you fui a cambiar mi clase de una clase menos alta. Necisito aprender el básico. Y yo no puedo llamar Ashley o Ryan cada dia.
Muchas Gracias Ashley, Ryan, and Bethany!!!

Ayudame! Ayudame!

Estoy in Cuernavaca por dos semanas para aprender español. Estoy in una clase de cuatros estudiantes: un mujer que es estudiante de español de la universidad de Iowa que estudiaba español hace 6 años; un mujer que es estudiante de epañol de la universidad de Utah que servió un mision de Argentina, un hombre que es estudiante de español de la universidad de Utah tambien, y servió un mision de San Antonio (español); y yo. Ayudame!

My Favorite Furniture

My favorite piece of furniture arrived from San Antonio last week, and even though they packed it in a special crate, they chipped a piece off the beautiful black finish. Interestingly, though, I don´t mind - I asked a piano tuner to come tune it since it had just been shipped. He thought my piano was a Boesendorfer (sp?) which is a piano that costs easily $100,000. He spent hours tuning it (I never thought he was going to leave) and it now sounds unbelievable! It actually sounds like a $100,000 piano. So what´s a little chip in the finish?

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

So I love our new home. The construction is incredibly sound. There is 2 feet of concrete between floors, which means you can jump, scream, or have a wild party on one floor and nobody will hear you on the next floor. Which is great UNLESS - you happen to accidenetally lock yourself in the closet in the basement floor when your husband is on the main floor. Enough said.

Lost and Found

We´re finally unpacked and moved in. The amazing thing with moving is that you get to inventory all of your belongings and, believe me, you find things you never realized you had. such as:

32 (yes, I counted them) Books of Mormon (I believe these were all from dad calling the mission president in SA and begging for BOM´s because he had some people he was dying to give them to, and he couldn´t find any extra around the house. Pretty obvious he never gave them out.

3 Pirans from Brazil They´re stuffed, mind you, but they are truly Piranas.

20$ bill - stuck in an old Christmas Card from grandma to lindsey.

1 dried bouquet of roses from Bethany´s wedding (by the way, do you want them, Bethany?)

12 old bras - at least

1 large leather whip (yep, the kind you beat people with)

4 large stuffed frogs (pink or green)

2 Young women statues

1 crocheting project half finished (I believe this is Linsey´s. Perhaps Brandon can finish it for you)

So, if you´re missing any of the above items, let me know ASAP, or they´re going out in the trash (except for the $20)

Back in Mexico

After a wonderful vacation in Houston visiting my kids and grandkids, I´ve returned to good old Mexico. We moved into an empty house (until tomorrow when the movers arrive.)

Yep, we´re really Mexicans, and if you don´t believe it, take a look at the bright orange house we just spent a good part of our life savings purchasing.

This is a picture of the inside - living/dining room

And here is a picture of the view from our living room:

And my very own kitchen ( without Mario)

Christmas Plans
Thanks to "super planners" Ryan and Brianna we actually have Christmas plans for this year, a well as food assignments. Please take note:

Friday, December 21 - Lindsey and Harper arrive. Dad also arrives. They will rent a car and go to Ryan's where we will stay for a few days before Christmas.

Saturday, December 22 - Ashley is bringing Landon to Houston where everyone may meet him. Ask Ashley what time they will be coming. We will meet at Ryan's and decorate cookies/make goodies for caroling on Christmas Eve. Dad will spring for good Texas BBQ. We will be making sugar cookies, peanut clusters and truffles. If we have time, we could play basketball or baseball at the park.

Monday, December 24 - Poodle arrives! Yeah! We will meet out at Ryan's to go caroling to friends in Katy. Carrie and Bethany will bring petit fours and eclairs. We will visit Stewards, Gebauers, and anyone y'all suggest.

Tuesday, December 25 - Christmas Day. We plan stocking exchange at 11 am, Christmas dinner at 1 pm. Ryan has planned a great dinner with the following assignments:
Turkey - smoked by Doziers
Ham - Ryan
Funeral potatoes - Brianna
Rolls - MOMTHEBOMB
Veggies and crackers with dip - Poodle
Spinach salad - Fernash
Cranberry Salad - Bethany
Dessert - Bex and MOMTHEBOMB

When we say dinner is at 1 pm, it is actually at 1 pm. Ryan has invited the missionaries, so prepare your food for 14-15 people. Brianna's parents are arriving at 5 pm, so we need to be finished, hence the 1pm timeframe.

Thursday, December 27 - Ryan, Brianna and her parents (Patty and Dave) will be going to Brazos Bend State Park. Anyone is welcome to come along.

Sunday, December 30 - Devin Michael Funk will be blessed at their sacrament meeting, which is at 11:00 am. The Chapel is on Braeswood Drive.

Monday, December 31 - New Years Party at Ryan's - We do not have food assignments, but will post them if you tell us if you're coming. They will invite Suzy and Josh. You may invite anyone you wish, per Ryan. Just let him know.

Any other activities anyone would like to add - please let me know, and we can arrange them and coordinate via blogdom.

I'm so excited to see everyone!!!!

Thanks to Ryan and Brianna for generously opening up their home and for being super organizers.

New Address
Well, it's official. I finally moved out and will not be sharing an apartment with Mario any longer. We closed on our home in Houston a few weeks ago, and closed on our home in Mexico last night (after a very boring hour of listening to a notary read six legal-sized single-spaced typewritten pages in spanish - the only part I understood was the part that said I now owned 50% of the home.) We then celebrated with caldo at Vip's and sat in front of our new fireplace talking. I'm so excited!
Please come visit!

Happy Birthday Poodle!

Today Brittany is 27 years old, a successful physics teacher, and still gorgeous. She will be spending her birthdy coaching the swimming team tonight. What dedication! I hope they win! We love you, Poodle! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Love, MOMTHEBOMB