Mexico Vive

Mexico Lives - that is their advertisement campaign currently.  Mexico has been hit hard - they are in an economic crisis, their tourism is down due to narco traficantes, the pig virus, and crime.  

I've got news for you folks!  Mexico is the place to be!  It is a beautiful country, filled with gorgeous beaches, friendly folks (not just my family), delicious food, economical, and best of all, a hop skip and a jump from Texas.  Seriously - a 2 hour flight later and you could be on a paradise beach!  

We went for two weeks this summer.  My sister, Isa, Diego and I went down June 29th, Bret and my dad joined us July 3rd and July 4th we celebrated US Independence Day by driving to Acapulco from Mexico City.  

Coming from a good Mexican family, my dad is one of eight children, thus providing several cousins for us.  We went to many outings at various homes of different families and had a great time seeing such a great city.  I didn't get to play tourist too much in Mexico City because of all the family visits, but next time I want to take the kids to Xochimilco, the pyramids, Bazar Sabado, the Children's Museum (it's HUGE), and several other fun things of the sort.

While we were there, we enrolled Isabella in a little school where she attended for a week.  She went with one of my cousin's sons.  She LOVED it.  She thought we were moving there and asked for specific things for her birthday party.

TANGENT: She is obsessed with her birthday and talks about it all the time.  She tells you that she will be turning 4 on the 2nd of August and that she will be eating cheetos, chicken nuggets and cheese for her birthday.  She's going to have strawberry cake and she is going to have a princess pinata.  We (her parents) will sing to her and that will make her birthday complete.  Her biggest illusion though is not to be 4, it is to be 5 - she thinks that 5 is very big and then she will move out of the house because the house will be too small for her.  At 5 she will get to climb the climbing wall at the gym (something she asks about every single time we go).  

Back to Mexico...our gracious hosts were my cousin, Karla with her husband and three children, and then in Acapulco, my aunt has an awesome condominium (if you want to rent it, let me know!).  

Diego loved the beach, but it was scary how much he liked the waves and getting pummeled by them.  I looked like a delinquent mom out there because he would let go of  my hand and run straight into the water and giggle the whole time until a wave came and knocked him down.  

Isabella also loved the waves, but she was more careful and always was held by an adult (mostly her Tia Fia) and went a bit deeper into the waves and liked the feeling of them with the sure grasp of an adult to keep her safe.  

We went to see these crazy divers dive off of a huge cliff.  It's very famous and called La Quebrada where 7 divers took either regular dives, back dives, or flip dives off the cliff into an active part of the ocean.  

All in all it was a great vacation where Isabella was exposed to the culture I grew up with, and it gave her a wonderful opportunity to hang out with all Spanish speakers and cousins relatively her own age.  It was one of the best vacations Isa has ever had.  She's still talking about it.  

Diego's Update

A medical update on my sweet, cuddly, thumb-sucking, big deep dark brown-eyed babe, Diego.  Diego has been off the weight curve since October of 2008.  Our pediatrician took into consideration our history (our family history doesn't indicate giants or obese folk) which made us not worry very much.  

But, after seven months of Diego continuously weighing in only at 17lbs. (going further and further away from the weight curve), we were referred to a GI specialist.  I felt that I am privileged to live in Houston - a medical city with some of the best doctors at my back door - and therefore I should do my due diligence (so to speak) and check further into Diego's lack of weight gain.  

Some history: He went through a severe bout of colds this winter which caused him to basically throw up on and off for about 4-5 months.  A very unpleasant experience.  He also was only drinking soy milk because he was strongly intolerant of cow's milk.  Aside from these things, there was nothing indicating a cause for Diego's lack of weight gain.  He's pretty normal and pretty active.  He eats more than your average toddler (which is exactly how Isa was and continues to be).  

Well, after multiple tests of crazy, uncommon diseases - celiac panel, RTA, cystic fibrosis and several others, the doctors haven't found anything.  Diego's tests have all come back either negative or normal.  I have therefore put a stop to any more tests.  My baby is tired of being poked and prodded multiple times (some by very good nurses/techs and some by terrible nurses/techs which made it all the more miserable).  

My pediatrician who has been in practice over ten years says that he has seen a handful of kiddos who did this - and then went back on track to their curve (wherever they were on the curve to begin with...in our case 5%).  I am no doctor and have not a science brain, but I am taking stock in this and just chalking up his lack of weight gain for so many months due to his increase in activity and his genes.  

Diego's last weight check was 2.5 weeks ago at which time he had finally gained weigh and was up to the most he's ever weighed - a whopping 18lbs. 11oz.  Mind you he is 17 mos. old and Isa who was considered very small weighed 18lbs on her 1st bday.  We have not been able to turn Diego around in his car seat despite his legs being all scrunched up like a wee frog.  

So all this to say that Diego is fine.  For those of you who were keeping up, thank you for your prayers.  We are very much at peace with his health and are thankful for healthy children.

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.