Mandatory Vacation

Mee-maw, can you read me this entire book?  I love Mickey Mouse.

Me encantan las telenovelas (I love soap operas).

We're monkeys, we're monkeys!!

Mama: Check out those huge (hairy) hippos!  

Isabella:  I like the fishies.
Aren't we cute! 

Right up until Friday, Bret had been working some serious hours.  Then Ike came.  We are fine and have no damage.  But, our home is still without power.  So, what is a family of four to do when on a mandatory vacation?  Get some good family time in of course!

Mee-maw and Grandpa visited us at my Dad's house on Sunday night.  Isabella was delighted.  She asked Mee-maw to read and read and read to her.  Mee-maw happily obliged.  

Abuelitotito Juan has really enjoyed our visit thus far and is spoiling his grandkids accordingly.  He has been giving Isabella a glass of chocolate milk every morning along with two cookies.  Talk about unhealthy!  Talk about Isabella loving it!  She also has become a novela (Mexican soap opera) addict.  She loves to watch them in the evening and you can see in the picture above how she won't take her eyes of the television!  (We don't allow TV at home for those of you that don't know).  

Isabella's been hanging out with cousin Ethan who is also 3 years old a lot this week.  We went over and had a playdate.  Ethan tried to show Isabella how to swing a baseball bat.  She was much more interested in which color ball was being pitched to her and would rather collect the balls than actually attempt to hit them with the bat.  Ethan, on the other hand, is really good at baseball and hits the balls over the fence.  

We also went on a family outing to the zoo.  Isabella didn't like the zoo as much because it wasn't "her" zoo.  By then end she'd forgotten all about that and really enjoyed herself.  We met up with Ethan and his mom, Elise along with some of Elise's friends who are fellow evacuees.  The kids had a great time.  Diego stayed in the stroller for the most part and enjoyed the different little waterfalls along the zoo.  

We have been told that we still don't have any power in our neighborhood, that gasoline is getting hard to come by as are fresh fruits and veggies, and milk.  So, we've decided to stay on our mandatory, unplanned, family vacation.  We have had Bret all to ourselves for almost a week!  What a treat.