Bath time

Mexico was hot and humid.  This single mother of yours bathed both kids every night.  And as most things BB has to endure, he bathed in his big sister's pink tub.

At the zoo

I have great memories of going to the zoo myself growing up.  Free entertainment to anyone who desires, this is a great way to spend the morning with the family.  I told my mom while we were there that if we were living in Merida, I like to believe that we'd go there regularly.  

We started off the morning on the train.

No surprise here.  My fearful girl covered her ears for most of the ride (she doesn't like odd noises, even if they are not necessarily loud).

Byron spent a lot of time pointing at things:  "douh, douh," he'd say.

Oma brought the handy-dandy wagon as an alternative to walking or being in a stroller.

The absolute highlight were the hippopotamus.  There were four of them, one of them being a baby.  We got to see them get fed and watch them get out of the water.  We definitely spent the most time there.

BB decided to be a little independent while we were there and try to run off to do his own thing.  Glad Oma was there to help keep him company.

Flamingos-- one of Emma's favorite things to look at.

 More pics with the hippos.

As a little token, and since the whole experience was free, I decided to buy the kids some cheap and overpriced gifts.  Emma chose a Dora helium balloon, and BB chose a "bawl." 

We had a little picnic afterwards, and BB enjoyed relaxing a bit on Oma's legs.

On our way back to the car.  Very sunny and hot by the time we left.  Both kids were thankful for the wagon.

Sweet friend of mine.

One of my sweet highlights from this trip was getting to spend lots of time with my long-time kindredered-spirited friend Valerie. 

We've been friends since we were 9 y.o. Went to school together through 12th grade before both moving to the States for college (each at a different schools). Both bicultural and bilingual. 

Now both mothers of two. Emma and her oldest, Constanza, are the same age and enjoyed playing together.

You know you have a sweet friend when you come together, and no matter how much time has gone by between seeing or talking with each other, it's as if no time has gone by at all.

Valerie and myself.

Constanza and Emma.

Planting

One afternoon, Emma decided to do some planting with her Emma girl.

They got all their tools ready.

Little Man and Mommy were spectators.  

(That finger!!!)

Emma was a very good helper.  Even Oma herself was amazed with how well she did.  She collected the rocks to put on the bottom of the pans, put the dirt in, placed the seeds, then covered with dirt again.  

What was Mommy doing during this time?

Taking pictures of my handsome Mexican boy.

Avocados

A certain perk from being in Mexico was giving my avocado-loving-girl as many avocados as she wanted without feeling like my wallet was leaking.  She loved eating her avocado "like ice cream."

Baking with Oma

Emma also enjoyed baking with Oma. 

It's so funny for me that the sound of the mixer bothers her so much, she needs to cover her ears... always!

Problems

Our little hurricane-of-a-son was not spared from injury while in Mexico.  A new walker himself, he tripped on his own feet and his head landed right on the edge of a brick wall.  A nice, quarter-sized goose-egg was left as a temporary reminder of this fall.

Also, moooosssquiiiitooos!!!!  Good grief... these suckers found my sweet children and feasted on them if I did not put mosquito repellent on them.  

Bellow is a picture of Byron's legs after being attacked during the night.  Even though it's been a month since this took place, he still has some scars from this attack. 

Legos

What 15-month old boy does not love Legos?  His favorite part was the Lego car, which he enjoyed wheeling against any surface, with sound effects such as:  "fffuuuummmm."

Picnic with Oma

On my second Sunday in Mexico, I left the kids at home with my mom to enjoy to let her enjoy some time alone with them.  Emma requested a picnic outside, and the kids enjoyed some yummy food and great company.

Home entertainment

The kids got to enjoy lots of time at Oma's house.  Here are a few pics to show all that we did while we were there--

Reading books with Oma (of course, this pic was taken during the 10 second period where BB sat still... he eventually tore the page off the book before we put him down *sigh*).

Candy Land was a board game Emma and Oma got to play and enjoy together a lot.  

Lots of wagon time.

And lots of cute little helpers.

Coloring in the backseat while driving to and from Oma's house (about 20-40 minute drive one way, depending on where we were going).

Emma became good friends with Freddy the Frog, and by the end of our time there, she was changing his diaper and putting him to bed as well.

What a mama!

There were always lots of oranges around the house, which was absolutely perfect for BB who loved pretending they were his balls.  He enjoyed throwing them out of the basket, walk around with the empty basket, then pretending to putting them back in.

Day of the Dead

One of my personal highlights from the trip was getting to enjoy the food from the Day of the Dead celebrations. 

I would dare say Day of the Dead as our Thanksgiving equivalent.  Full of food, tradition, and national pride.

All in life is good when you have your pib, xec, and glass of Coke.

Produce

We got to enjoy plenty of fresh produce while in Mexico.

Oma lives in a small village outside of Merida (city where I was raised).  One evening she wanted to give Emma the experience of riding on a Tricitaxi to the village's main square to buy some produce.  There were, of course, no car seats... welcome to "Anywhere Outside the States."

Emma got her own little shopping bag and got to choose her own produce to bring home.

Also, among many other trees, Oma has an orange tree in her front yard.  Most mornings Oma and Emma would go out picking oranges to then squeeze into fresh orange juice.

Most certainly one of Emma's trip highlights.