First day of Kindergarten!

The day before school started Lela had an open house we attended. Afterwards I took her out for dinner at Zaxby's. 

Rise and shine! (Ever since Grandma came to visit and slept with all the kids, Stuart doesn't want to sleep alone anymore. Every night he wakes up and crawls into bed with his sisters).  

There's the proud school girl showing off her lunchbox. 

Walking to the bus stop. 

I told Stuart to 'hold sissy's hand' and so he made a big show of crossing his arms. 

The cats walked us to the bus stop. 

At the bus stop. However, her bus driver was so late I thought he wasn't coming so I ended up driving her to school. Her bus is supposed to arrive at 8:30, but at 8:55 he still hadn't come. When I got to school the bus pulled up a few minutes later! 

Such a cute little brother!

                                                  

     

I forgot to get a picture this morning of Thula heading off at 6:45 A.M. for 6th grade! But here she is a few days before school at her volleyball practice. She was sooo happy to make the team. 

Back to School Harry Potter Party!

Thula finished reading the Harry Potter series this summer. She watched one of the movies with some friends and then decided to finish watching the series later with a H.P. Partay! She put together this invitation. 

She designed all the costumes, hair, and make-up. Thula is Bellatrix Lestrange, Lela is Tonks, and Stuart is Dobby the house elf. 

You must take a password to get past the Fat Lady!

She thought of all the passwords....

and decorated. She put together toilet paper rolls with led lights for a floating candle effect. 

She strung up her owl and a little purse for delivering messages. 

We had pizza, British cookies, and home made butter beer!

Her party was a success. All aboard the Hogwarts Express for school!

Tetela and Chignahuepan, Mexico

Rohelio wanted to take us on a tour of Mexico and show us some 'magical' places. Shannon asked him not to take us more than 2 or 3 hours away. Well he had other ideas. He took us to Conchita's childhood hometown of Tetela. It is high in the mountains on switchback roads. I was so nervous getting there because we were after touring the ruins all day we were driving at night. When we arrived we stayed at her brother's hotel cabins. They were so cozy and it was a welcome change. Conchita's brother was a gruff mountain man that dressed just like a cowboy. 

When I woke up the next morning I was greeted by this beautiful place. Of course I burst into "The Hills are Alive." 

The cabin area

Our cabin

Cabin area

The best tamales I have EVER tasted!!!!! We ate here for breakfast. Mexican's have hot chocolate for breakfast and before they go to bed. It is straight chocolate mixed with corn flour and a little cane sugar and milk. I don't really care for it. 

Tetela's lovely town square. This girl is selling fruit. Tetela boasts that it had the most volunteers serve in the war against the French (who were defeated in a major battle Puebla). We went to a museum here. 

I always saw cats up on the roofs. 

The infamous beetle!

Mural depicting the battle against the French. The French tried to invade after Mexico had ousted the Spanish. 

Native woman selling embroidered clothes. 

The miliarty paying the locals to turn in their guns. I tried to be inconspicuous when taking this photo. I saw those men turning in their shotguns. In Puebla, I never saw a military presence, but here in Tetela there was. It makes you wonder.....

I bought a 'tortilla' cloth from this native woman and I asked if I could take her picture. She took off her jacket and adjusted her money she keeps hidden in her bra. She said she must look her best for a photo. She was so tiny. 

Village towns. Those white things in the distance are greenhouses where they grow tomatoes. I wanted to ask where all the drugs are grown, but I didn't. It was truly breathtaking up in those mountains and if I lived in Mexico I would live there. 

This is the town of Chignahuepan (it's an Aztec word-that language is still spoken in this region). This town makes Christmas decorations. There were Christmas shops everywhere. John Ely would have been in heaven. I ate the best bread of my life in this town. It was a fig bread and you can only get it there. We also ate at a nice little restaurant where I had something delicious that I don't know the name of. 

In honor of Nacho Libre-a family favorite movie-I had to have corn on a stick with lime and chili powder and mayo. The corn was feed corn-gross-the locals dig it however. I liked all the stuff on it though and might try it with some good ol' USA corn.
I loved my trip to Mexico. I was surprised by the poverty, but even more surprised by the friendliness and generosity of the people. I felt safe my entire time there. It is a beautiful country and I can't wait to go back again!