more fun in Mexico...

We are still in Mexico having fun. So get ready for a ton of pics... I am catching up for the last few days. This picture is funny because the covered patio is the place where the carseats get the most use (when the kids are playing in them). Most of the time we fit 5 or 6 people in the back seat of the car and there is no room for carseats. They are not very common here. Even new cars dont have a latch system and the seatbelts are not the automatic locking retractor belts designed for carseats. So here the carseats rest.

Here are my kids going crazy in the back seat of the car because they have never been in a car without being strapped into their carseats. I think I have done a great job of just rolling with the punches and recognizing things that I cannot change and then moving on.

So today we went to this park at the University where Miguel used to attend school. This park is absolutely beautiful. The pictures speak for themselves. And we pretty much had the whole park to ourselves.

Anya continues to be clingy and whenever someone else is holding her and she spots me, she cries. Thats why she doesnt look so happy here, but she was having a blast before she saw me.

As we were walking through the first part of the trail that runs through the park, Erin asked me if we were in a jungle. Did I mention that their Tio Jose (12) and their Tia Vivi (almost 11) are great helpers. They always hold the kids hands when they are walking and Jose helps carry Anya a lot too.

Erin was looking at some interesting bugs in the grass.
Anya finally let me put her down.

And David wouldnt be David if he didnt find a stick and try to poke the fish in the pond. :)

We saw some cute turtles hiding on the rocks in the lake.

I am not sure what kind of flower this is but its definately unique.

Anya spent the rest of her time in the park resting on the shoulder of her Abuela.

The kids are really enjoying the company of their Tios and love visiting with their Abuelos.

David is always running off to the next thing.

After the first park, we went home to take a potty break and then we walked to the neighborhood park that is about 3 blocks away. We have gone there a number of times since we arrived because we can just walk to it and because the kids have so much energy!

Thats about all for now but I will keep posting from Mexico. We will be here for another 9 days and then its off to Virginia to see Grandpa!

Traveling...

We made it to Mexico! I flew with the kids by myself this time. And somehow managed to make it through 2 flights then immigration and customs with 3 small children, all of our luggage and 3 carseats. Surprisingly I only broke down and cried twice. This was the only moment all day that they were calm (none of them slept on the plane) so I thought I would take a picture. But we are all here safe and sound and loving our vacation.
The kids love the giant wash tub that their Abuela bought for them.

Here David and his aunt Vivian, a.k.a. Tia Vivi, are jumping on the beds (while Erin is sleeping of course)

Anya has not had much practice with stairs and was still crawling down backwards until she just woke up one day and decided that she was going to go down the stairs like the big girls. After she did it the first time, she practiced her new trick 4 or 5 more times to make sure she had mastered it.

Their aunt Liliana, a.k.a. Tia Lili, had a birthday this weekend and we arrived just in time for her birthday party and the delicious catered taco bar. Here the taco guy is roasting the pork and shredding it with a big knife.

Here is the birthday girl and the other guests waiting in line for their tacos. They were sooooo good. I broke my diet and ate an ton of tacos (exact count undisclosed).

Here Erin is performing karaoke (to a Hanana Montana song of course).

Then today we went to the pool and let the kids swim all afternoon. I know I am biased but I think Anya makes a great beach babe.

Here she is sitting with her feet in the pool alongside her Abuela.

The girls loved swiming with their Abuelo too. I should mention that their Tia Vivi and Tio Jose helped a lot with the kids in the pool since they are both older and excelent swimmers.

Here David and Jose are about to get in the pool.

As always, David has to pose for the camera. What a silly boy.

He did it!

David is officially potty trained! He is 3 1/2. We have been working on this for a long time and we thought he would never be fully potty trained and he IS! He is such an easygoing kid that the usual prizes (stickers, candy, toys) didn't really motivate him much. He enjoyed going to pick out a toy truck at the dollar store after he had reached his goal, but he didn't do it because of the toy truck, he did it because he was finally ready. I am so proud of him and so excited too. He is just so proud of himself. I can't remember the last time I had just one child in diapers. It's weird but I remember feeling a renewed sense of confidence as a mother after Erin finally learned to go potty and I have to say that it feels great to having done it the second time as well. It just occurred to me today that if Anya learns as young as Erin did then by this time next year our house will be diaper free! Now THAT will be a day of celebration. :)

Kids club...

The kids were being mysteriously quiet the other day so I peeked into their room to see what they were up to. They were having a private meeting in their little "kids club" that they had created on Erin's bed. They were also sharing a bag of pretzels.


Anya is such a climber. Her new favorite place is on top of the kitchen table. Every time I turn my back she is perched up there again. This time she took the top off of the yogurt and smeared it all over the table, but was as happy as could be. I can't seem to keep her feet on the ground.