Taxco

For Mexican Independence Day, we escaped he city again and went to Taxco, about 2.5 hours away. It is a beautiful little town built into a hill: cobblestone streets and all white houses with red brick trim and red adobe roofs. City Center was abustle, getting ready for the big night. We saw part of the big show that night with beautiful costumes and dances, but gave up early when the kids were getting tired and it was difficult for them to see the stage anyway.

We got a tour of the main church. The detail was amazing with all of the altars gold-leafed. The gold leaves were stuck on using cactus juice.

We drove up a labyrinth of streets to get to this Rio-esque Christ. The platform was littered with big black beetles which terrified Iris.

View of the city from the teleferico.

The kids pretended to be afraid of heights. Iris wasn't pretending but isn't showing her terror in this pic.

View leaving the city.

On the way home we stopped at the Grutas (caves) de Cacahuamilpa.

 

The stalactite/mite formations were absolutely amazing. As I walked through the caves I couldn't help but compare it to the ornate church in Taxco, which was beautiful too, but man-made never holds a light to the divinely-created.

 The guide claimed the stalagmite below is the biggest in the world (a falsehood), but more importantly, it was the star of a Corona beer commercial.

I'll leave you with a disgusting story, because that's what I do best.

As I have mentioned before, traveling with David can be arduous, often involving blisters and starvation. On the way out of the caves, we bought some food for the road. We thought we didn't have time for a real restaurant bc we were afraid of returning holiday traffic. I ordered quesadillas for the kids and a torta (sandwich) Americana for me. I found not 1, but 2 long, black hairs in my sandwich, but I was so desperately hungry (I'll blame David) that I ate around them. Needless to say, my stomach didn't feel quite right for the next few days.

forgot a few things

Just a few notes I forgot to put in about the last post. As we were traveling to the campground, I made a list of the items places on roofs to prevent the roofs from blowing away: Fluorescent orange safety dividers, laundry baskets, sticks, potted plants, scrap metal, upturned wheelbarrows, dogs, and more. Or maybe people were just using their roofs as attics?
I found it amazing how many houses we passed that were partially made out of cardboard, or tarps, or corrugated metal, yet they all had cable dishes on the roof.
And, most importantly, Claire announced, "If God were here, I'd invite Him camping and I'd share my sleeping bag with Him, but He'd be too big." Iris' response: "Like a donkey."
And a few pics David posted to Facebook from his phone. Gotta keep FB updated, people!

And a few from FB (David's phone) from when my mom came:

David's birthday weekend

Elijah panned a camping trip for one of his Faith in God goals and we were all glad he did. It was extremely nice to escape the concrete, smog, cars...I could go on. We were greeted by grass, trees, wild flowers, an awesome playground, and gloriously open space.

The girl's favorite part of the trip was the 2-storied playhouse (upper right pic) where they made us several delectable delights.

The spider web

The campground belonged to the church (free!). We had the place almost all to ourselves. There were several cabins and we actually had a key to one, but in birthday-boy's words, "We came to camp and we are going to camp." I think he may have changed his tune that night when he slept next to the chronic tooth grinder. (At 4, Iris hasn't stopped that habit, but I'm sad to say she doesn't convulse as much when she's excited and she has learned that eleventeen isn't really a number--I was hoping that day would never come.) We all suffered that night; it dropped below zero Celsius.
Claire felt the need to run through the frosty grass without shoes, so Elijah was nice enough to warm her socks over the fire.

Claire appreciated the dry socks, but could have done without the burnt holes.

We had to leave the campground earlier than we wanted so we could get back in time for David's birthday bash.

7 families (4 of whom I didn't know--work and church) and 2 missionaries attended. I think someone told David he was turning 4 because that man wanted face painters and a jumping castle. He was on a vendetta to out-do Iris' party, but I am THE Ruiner of All Fun. He settled the score by buying 2 enormous piñatas (1 for kids and 1 for adults). He bought the candy behind my back and per David fashion, he didn't hold back financially with Lindor Master Swiss Chocolates among them.

Iris, I'm sorry, but he beat you big time. I really won't be surprised if he asks me to take cupcakes into his work in a few weeks while we all sing to him.

Iris' bday weekend: 4, going on 6

The day before Iris turned 4, David said he wanted me to go to the airport with him to pick up his colleague. I thought that was especially weird, seeing as though there are 5 of us and 5 seats in the car and why would he want a circus to pick up his colleague. Anyway, we went, right after the E and C got out of soccer camp. E was hesitant to go, bc a famous soccer player visited their soccer camp (by the way, every day their soccer camp began with everyone reciting the Lord's Prayer in a circle--NICE!). Topo Valenzuela:

And this was his lovely colleague at the airport (Notice what's in E's hands. His pocket knives visit every visitor):

Gotta get the colleague some tacos:

Buying Iris a piñata. This girl was in heaven.

We managed to keep the bday tradition alive by eating an IHOP dinner. Let me tell you, it’s just as bad in Mexico as it is in USA. But there’s something magical about having a choice of 5 syrups to put on your dry pancakes. I remember going to IHOP as a kid in Boston and loving it.

 Also, per tradition, we all went around the table saying things we liked about Iris. Even her siblings had long lists. At least half of the lists included Iris’ jumping-jacks. And in a rare moment of bravery, Iris gave us a demonstration (normally, she hates when people laugh at her):

 

 The next morning we went for a nice hike in a national forest that's about 10 minutes from our home. E, ever the boy, had to drag "walking sticks" twice as big as him.

 Can't have a family trip without torture.

After the hike we partook of the most heavenly blue-corn tortilla quesadillas in existence. And we hurried back to meet friends at the ice-skating rink that's in the mall across the street. The kids were pretty good except Iris when tried to throw in some figure skating. As usual, E was more interested in speed than grace, and C, the opposite.

We brought all the friends back to the BBQ pit that's outside our place where we ate and face painters did an excellent job.

Iris and her good buddy Leo.

Only one adult got in on the face-painting action. Guess who?

I got cupcakes to her classroom within a month (barely). I don't think she minded a month of celebrations.

 

The main aim of Iris’ life is being big. She often remarks: “when I was little, when I was 3, I used to…” And she tells me who is smaller than her. Yesterday, at swim class, she went up to a woman, stuck her foot in the air, and said “look.” The woman said, “Oh yes, that’s your leg.” Iris replied, “my legs are getting long. I grow when I eat. I’m 4.” That’s not unusual for her. She checks the tags of all her clothes before putting them on to make sure they aren’t 3. Right after her bday she kept telling me that she was almost 5. It has already moved up to 6. Iris is quite possibly the quirkiest person I’ve ever met. Nothing associated with her can be cute or pretty. “No, I’m beautiful,” she’ll say. She randomly growls and is usually composing a song of some sort. Every once in a while she’ll stop her song and say, “No, I’m not going to use potty language.” But more often than not, she does. Welcome to the family!

 On a tree that fell down after a hard rain. David has always called her his monkey. She resisted for a long time, but has recently started making the monkey sound and scratching her axillas in acquiescence.

 

First day

Last Monday was the first day for E and C. Iris is sporting her PJs bc Friday was her first day. Notice it's pitch black and notice the kids are cold...wearing sweaters... in August.
I: Segundo de pre-escolar
C: Primero de Primaria
E: Tercero de Primaria
    School has started! Unfortunately, so has my list of complaints. Like, why, oh why is cursive so important? Hello last century! And embroidering their names in everything (they wear uniforms 2 days a week plus have lab coats and a special bag and smock)? Hello sharpie! And the main complaint is that E and C spend half of their day learning English. Hello Americans! In the US, their school was half Spanish, but they learned science and math in Spanish. Here, English is just English. And all other subjects are crammed into the other half of the day. The good news is at least my kids will learn English. Last one, I promise, until tomorrow: it's early! This kids don't enjoy waking up at 6 to be ready for the bus at 6:57.
    There is a list of pros too: their friends speak Spanish. Let me get back to you with the rest of the list. There's more, it's just been a crazy week.