Mexican Playdate

Today I helped two different friends who were in a bind.  They both happen to have 4 year olds.  I, therefore spent my afternoon with three pre-K kids and Diego.  

Amaya arrived first right after her school got out (3:15pm).  She brought her own two dolls - a very good move considering Isa owns one doll whom she rarely pays attention to.  

Some history:  Isabella is the mother of four children - Pinkie, Bluey, Fabiola, and "I knew her name once, but now I don't remember."  Keep in mind that Pinkie and Bluey are hugely overstuffed bunnies that my sister's boyfriend, Nehman gave Isa and Diego for Eatser.  Miss No Name is a rollerskate doll that Isa fondly calls her sister and frequently prays for.  I'm sure folks at school thought Isa really must have had another sister since she talks about her frequently.

Amaya and Isa proceeded to play most of the afternoon with the two dolls that Amaya brought - they took them outside to swing, fed them, put them to sleep, read them books, etc.  At 5 o'clock, Isa's neighbor friend, Jordi (pronounced Yordee for you gringos) came over.  The three of them played outside, played doctor and asked for lots of snacks.  I've become cooler in the last year and actually had some jell-o that I made and some jell-o pudding snacks of the chocolate variety that were a big hit.  The best was the three Pre-K'ers keeping the chocolate pudding snack away from the lil munchkin, Diego.

Amaya left at 6:15. Jordi and Isa continued the extended play date.  Currently, Isa and Jordi are playing house.  He's the dad, she's the mom.  He is very concerned about the steaks they are buying at the grocery store.  I am cracking up as I type this.  She's concerned about where they are going to dispose of the egg shells, and that they need to find a trash can.  Their children (the two huge bunnies) are hungry and they are about to feed them.  They have gone to the grocery store several times (I guess they forgot some things the first time).  

Jordi was picked up around 8:15, so the 5 hour play date afternoon is over for Isabella.  What a great afternoon! 

Feliz Dia del Padre

Happy Father's Day.

What a privilege it is to have a father who is alive and a part of my life and to have an awesome husband who is the father to my two beautiful brown-eyed kids.  I feel so blessed that I have both today.  We have some dear friends who have not had children and my heart aches for them that they are not parents.  God has his ways and his reasons though we may not understand or agree with them.

For the Father's Day weekend, Bret's folks came into town.  They had the annual Austin- Bryan/Perry family reunion.  For those of you not yet indoctrinated, Bret is a descendant of Stephen F. Austin's sister, Emily.  Stephen F. Austin never had children, so Bret is as close as you'll get to Stephen F. Austin these days.  These folks are Texas proud, y'all.  Bret is 8th generation Texan thus making our children 9th generation Texan (despite their foreign-born mother).  We were unable to make it to the reunion as we opted to go to two very fun birthday parties that Saturday.  

We were, however, able to celebrate Father's Day with Bret's parents by going out to dinner at our neighborhood Carraba's which we frequently walk to since it is just a few blocks from our home.  We enjoyed our dinner with some delicious sangria.  We went to church Sunday morning and then out to eat at Pei Wei with Bret's folks before they headed out to what my dad fondly calls their paradise.  They live on the lake and it is beautiful there.

And now for a tribute to all the papas:

Abuelito tito Juan, Papi - Juan Ignacio Guadalupe Alonso Aguerrebere (otherwise known as Sara Carolina's dad): He is so stinkin' funny, he tells it like it is, he is mus-cu-lar (have you seen those biceps?), he has so much energy he makes me feel old, he makes the best eggs and brisket and he calls me his clone.  Hmm, not sure I want to be a man's clone, but hey, I think it's a compliment, right?

Bret Austin Oliver Learned - otherwise known as Papi in our house.  Have you ever met anyone more patient or easy going?  Pretty hard to beat.  Isa has tested him. He is so loving, so not complaining.  He will come home from a long day of work (and I mean long) and still want to be with his kiddos and play with them and read and read and read (have we mentioned that Isa is a book nerd?).  He is hard working, he doesn't require much (so nice as a wife to not have a high maintenance husband!).  I love him and am so grateful to have a husband and a father to my children in him.

Floyd Louis Oliver - otherwise known as Grandpa.  He makes funny faces at Diego.  Isa likes giving him hugs.  He makes the best pancakes and omelets - that alone is reason to go to the lake.  

Thank you for being an active part of our lives!

Weekend by the Bay

The Olivers Go to San Jose

It's me, Bret, back for my second guest appearance post on Monday Consulting.  True to my nature, I'm going to describe our recent Bay Area trip in short and sweet order.  Thanks to my mom, the little kids stay in Houston, and the big kids go to San Jose.

Thursday

Sara to Stanford shopping center with Tia Evelyn, champion shopper

Dinner at Blake's, the formerly happening steak restaurant, with Tio Fred and Tia Evelyn

Friday

Downtown San Jose

Jog to Plaza Cesar Chavez and around downtown

Late breakfast at Peggy Sue's

Stroll through the farmer's market in San Pedro Square

Tour St. Joseph's Basilica Cathedral

Fries and brews at O'Flaherty's

Cruise up I-280 to San Francisco

Check in to hotel in Union Square

Dinner at Medjools, Mediterranean tapas in the Mission

Good hangout time with cousins: Mary Edna, James, Sophie and Julian

Saturday

Breakfast at Sears Fine Foods: great french toast and eggs benedict

Head across Golden Gate

Hike and picnic at Mt. Tamalpais: Gravity Car, Old Mine Road, West Point Inn, Nora, Mt. Davis and Hogback home

Drive back to San Fran

Dinner at the Stinking Rose in North Beach, home to everything garlic

Coffee at Cafe Trieste

Meander around North Beach, out Broadway to Embarcadero, down to Market Street, back to Union Square.  Grab another beer at Foley's Irish pub, watch the 20-somethings dance it up to dueling pianos.

Sunday

Drive back down to San Jose and fly home, always sad to end a good trip.

Photography Subjects

Back in April I took Photography 101 at the Leisure Learning.  We received our spiffy digital SLR camera a year ago and I feel like I know so little about how to take full advantage of how to use it.  Part of it is that I want to get a cool big lens to take better close up pictures.  But, part of it is that I think I need to practice more.  But, that requires time and diligence, like everything else.  

Here are my subjects and some photos with my manual setting.  Clearly I need to continue practicing.  If you look beyond the high over exposure, you will see my adorable cuties, Isa and Diego.  

PS.  Isa is wearing a blue bow because she insisted that the dress was blue and that a blue bow was in order.  The funniest part was she got so many compliments at church that morning on her PURPLE dress that by the end she conceded that her dress was not in fact blue.

Pascua 2009

Happy Easter!  We had a great family-filled weekend in San Antonio.  We started our weekend by going over to a friend's house for an Easter egg hunt.  Isabella and Reese had a great time finding eggs, re-hiding them and finding them again.  Meanwhile, Diego would sit for good whiles at a time entertained with  just one egg.  Matson on the other hand couldn't sit still and loved going for the dirt or anything that wasn't good to put in his mouth.  Friday evening we drove to SA and arrived to freshly made pound cake that my mom made.  Can we say yum?  

Saturday morning I was given one of my favorite treats - time alone with a book, a cup of coffee and a comfy chair.  Nani took Isa to the park while Diego napped.  Bret went golfing with his dad.  If you haven't read it yet, I recommend you read Nap Time is the New Happy Hour.  It's hysterical.  

Saturday afternoon we went to the Easter egg hunt at my parents' church, Holy Spirit.  It was a cold, drizzly, gloomy day, but the kids had so much fun.  The hunt was well organized into various age groups.  Isa was a pro this year.  Uncle Christian had a blast as well.  After the egg hunt, there was a race involving spoons and eggs that you pushed on the ground.  Christian called it mini-golf.  The best was saved for last - pinatas.  Isa loved hitting the pinata and has become quite proficient at it after so many parties lately.  After all the candy gorging, we went to the gym to work out.  I don't think the kids really worked out though because when I went to pick them up from the Child Center, they were comatose in front of the TV watching Enchanted.  So much for getting exercise in!

That evening my mom made a scrumptious meal of pesto shrimp pasta, spinach salad, and flan. Abuelito-tito Juan, Tia Concha (my dad's sister who came in from Mx City), Tia Fia, her sweet boyfriend, Nehman,  and Uncle Christian all came over to enjoy dinner.  We had a great time hearing my Dad's ridiculous jokes and playing cards after dinner.  

Easter Sunday we celebrated the resurrection of Christ by going to Mass and then going to Abuelito-tito Juan's for a non-traditional Easter meal of brisket, delicious guacamole and other delicious goodies.  Uncle Christian provided the entertainment by setting up a pinata that he made from platic cups.  Mee-maw, Grandpa, Uncle David and Bret's sister, Susan and her dog Puck all joined us for the afternoon festivities as well.  A good time was had by all.  

Hit the ground running!

We came back from our ski/visiting gparents trip to Utah and hit the ground running.  It was Spring Break, so we filled our days with fun-filled outings.  All of which included animals.  Apparently if you live in H-town, you need to pretend you're not city folk on your days off.  

Monday we went to the RODEO!  We scored some free passes, free parking passes and a free tour to the rodeo!  We went to the livestock part and even saw two calfs being born.  New life is always amazing - such a miracle.  We went with two of my good friends, Hilary and Kim and their offspring.  The older kiddos had a great time running around holding hands, checking out chicks, and running AWAY from us.  Lucas had already become a pro rodeo goer, so he was excited to show Reese & Isa the tractors.  The kids had a blast climbing all over the place on the tractors and pretending to be driving on a farm.  Sadly for them, their parents don't know the first thing about running a farm.  Diego, Matson and Jonah were good sports and basically stayed in their strollers the entire outing without making much of a peep!

Tuesday I had to work, so the kids didn't get an exciting outing.

Wednesday we went to the zoo.  A word of advice:  DO NOT, I repeat, do not go to the zoo during Spring Break.  It was a complete ZOO.  I have never seen so many people in one place.  I think I got the last semi-legit parking space.  We arrived early and met up with Erin B. and Hilary and one of my high school friends, Milena who had just recently gotten back from a 9 month trip around-the-world.  Milena was such a good sport pushing Matson's stroller around and indulging us by letting us talk about our kiddos galore.  We gave her lots of advice: sleep as much as possible, enjoy your cocktail, sleep, watch movies, sleep, go out to eat, and sleep some more.  

Thursday we went to the Houston Oil Ranch with our Spanish play group.  Isabella rode a horse - she was very adamant about riding the horse and not the pony.  She refused to milk a cow.  She paid attention to the talk about the utters and where milk comes from.  But when it came time to actually milking the cow, she completely wimped out - even when bribed with stickers.  She also refused to feed the cows.  Diego on the other hand loved it and squealed at the cows coming up to our wagon.  The best part we saved for last of course - the train ride around the pond and more farm animals.  Isabella really enjoyed it and wanted to go on it again.  We had to jet as Diego was soo ready for his nap and I had to get ready to go to the Elton John/Billy Joel concert that evening.  

Finally it came to Friday and Isa woke up asking me where we were headed that day.  Umm, nowhere sweet pea.  Mama is TIRED.  We stayed in and didn't get out of our pj's until the afternoon.  It was a much needed catch up day.  I think three big outings in one week is plenty.  

Isa takes her family to Utah

Papi, why is it cold in Utah?

Papi, why is there snow in Utah?

Papi, why is Utah far from Houston?

Papi, why isn't the man in his seat?

Papi, why did the man come back from the restroom?

Papi, why did the man leave the plane?

 

Those are the sounds of traveling on a plane with Isa to Utah, pretty much like that nonstop for 3 hours.  But of course, it's a small price to pay to spend a relaxing week in Utah and teach Isa how to ski for the first time.  Not to mention, answering "why?" questions is much easier than Mom's task, which is to calmly hold Diego for three hours.  Hand him to Dad, no way, Diego won't have any other seat than resting comfortably in Mom's arms.

So, on to Monday, Isa's first day at the slopes.  Sara's Uncle Mark kindly drives Isa and me from Sara's Grandma and Grandpa's house, up Logan Canyon, and up to Beaver Mountain.  It snowed that whole day, so it's always good to have a local personally drive you through the canyon leading to the slopes.

Let me tell you why I love Beaver Mountain - best snow on earth (or so the locals advertise their Utah snow, and I have to agree it's fantastic), lift ticket for half price ($38 for the day) and $19 for skis (or free to me, thanks to Mark for letting me borrow from his personal ski closet).  Pretty much can't beat the skiing and snow for the price.

Ok, so back to Isabella.  Mark drives us up the canyon for Isa's lesson at 12:30, and what happens?  Isa takes a nap for the first time in like 6 months!  I am ready to go and she's sound asleep and snoring in the back.  So, ok, I will go check out the lift tickets, rentals for Isa and the Wee Ski class for 3-5 year olds.  Ooops, the wee ski was at 10 in the morning.  No matter, I will take a few runs and then Isa can take a private lesson.

And I'm back... and Isa's still not awake so Mark has also taken to her idea for a brief nap.  One more run and then back to grab Isa.  No more sleeping, it's time to ski.  She's got her gloves, mittens, hats, and she is ready to get those skis on.  Papi, why can't I put on the skis in the lodge?  Isa, it's because... never mind, let's go.

Off she goes with her instructor, Deb.  It's snowing and pretty cold, but she's a trooper (both Isa and Deb).  Down the hill to the flats, learning to put on the skis, and then over to the tow rope lift.  Isa is skiing!  Then over to the big lift and down Gentle Ben, Beaver's easy green.  That's it for the hour lesson.  Seems like not much, but I can attest, when you're teaching a 3-year old, it's a slow trip down the hill.

Now it's Tuesday, my turn to teach Isa to ski.  Good thing I've been practicing skiing backward in a wedge in a hunched over position, oh wait, I'm a tax accountant.  But I'm loving it, watching Isa ski, her goggles taking up most of her face.  It's slow, but fun.  Ok, my turn, I say as I ski a few feet away; and now it's your turn, Isa.  And we go again, but this time there is no movement from the 3-year old.  What's wrong, Isa?  Papi, es que no quiero hacer, Whoa!  What, I ask?  Es que no quiero hacer, Whoa!  Ah, now I get it, "I don't want to go, Whoa, Daddy!  Translation: I want to ski between your skis, not by myself.  So, back I go to the reverse hunched wedge position.  Isa is loving it, skiing between Daddy's skis with her head leaning way back.  Make a pizza pie, I say, but it's no use at this point.  She's figured out the easiest way down the hill.  And of course, I'm delighted to help her get the ride of her life.  What fun I had teaching Isa to ski!

We'll be back next year, and hopefully, she'll be one of those little torpedoes who makes no turns from top to bottom.  And I can return to facing downhill...