Holiday Newsletter

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Last Sunday on the farm

Last Sunday we had to go and visit a friend of Oscar's and his family. They live in a small town near Oscar's hometown. However it's mostly dirt roads to get there! Well Hyrum had a blast w/ all the animals they have out there. It was a good Sunday evening as well a time to learn a bit!

First we learned Hyrum really isn't scared of animals. He got right up into the sheep's faces and wanted to play.

Second, that mom can pick up a baby sheep and help her son try and pet it... after this picture was taken... the mama sheep came running and I quickly put the baby down... I was afraid mama was going to ram me or something! It was funny, ask Oscar! hahaha.

Third Hyrum is still getting the in's and out's of going potty when away from home... therefore no pants... oops! However that doesn't slow him down... he was willing to feed the sheep, once they were back in their pen.

Fourth, we learned that chickens and turkeys sleep in trees down here... maybe in the US too, however I always thought they slept in coops!?

And fifth, Hayden... after a nap... learned how to walk on a pasture... not quite as even as grass! She had a good time seeing all the animals as well!

Definately something we'll do again, however not in Sunday dress... as so mom doesn't freak out if Hayden's dress gets dirty... I seem to do that a lot lately, freak out when the kids get their nice clothes dirty. Not something I can avoid for now... so I am learning to relax... learning!

Potty Training... Going #2

Well many of you know we have had a crazy year. The whole potty training thing w/ Hyrum has been a long road. I wanted to have him potty trained shortly after he turned 2, as so I wouldn't have double diaper duty... however he wanted nothing to do w/ it at that time. We knew at the end of May we'd be headed down to Mexico, so we decided to wait until we arrived down there, as to be in a stable environment to get the job done. Well things didn't work out as we wanted when we had our first round in Mexico. We were in Seattle for a short 4 months (not as planned), and we tried again there... as we thought we'd be staying longer. While we were there, he got the pee pee thing down pretty good, thanks to the Pre-School he was attending, however he wasn't in big boy underwear and he treated the Pull-ups as diaper, when it comes to #2. We've been here in Tepatepec, Hidalgo, MX for a little over a month now... and about 2 weeks ago (yes I am a little slow!) Hyrum did his first #2 on his own. We didn't tell him to go or try... he just did it on his own. As many of you, we were overjoyed. As you can see from the picture (which was a re-enactment several minutes later!) He didn't not go on the "Potty". At my in laws house here in Mexico... you have to go "outside" to go to the bathroom... the bathroom it's self is a room, house the middle of the house is open and all the doors face the middle (court yard... sorta kinda). Well someone was in the actual bathroom, and my wonderful husband taught (against my wishes) that if the bathroom is occupied to go "outside" near the washboard and washing machine, as there is a drain out. Well that's where Hyrum did his first #2, he was very proud of himself that he did it all by himself. Guess who had the honor of cleaning it up... oh no not me... papi, as he taught him to go there! Well since then the going #1 or #2 "outside" has stopped. Thank goodness... GROSS! We have had several accidents... however we are going strong and we have had 2 dry nights so far... so hopefully we can get that done and over with, before we try on Hayden. They say girls are easier and faster... we'll see!

More caught up!

Since the last few months I haven't been the best as far as keeping updated, I thought I through a few more pics of ourtime in Bellevue in. Enjoy!

This is Hayden on the place leaving the Sea-Tac Airport going to Texas. She did pretty well on the plane! Thank Heavens for 3 seats... I couldn't have done it otherwise. She slept most of the both flights!

Hyrum on the flight on Sea-Tac airport to Texas... he was watching I believe Fung-Ku Panda... one of his new favorites. Hyrum was pretty great on both flights... he watched movies on the first and slept the 2nd!

We went to the pumpkin patch to pick some Pumpkins in Fall City, Wa. We went w/ Uncle Cris and Auntie Jenn, as well as our cousins. They both had a good time!

Hyrum on his first day of Pre-School at Lil' People's World in Bellevue, Wa. He loved his teachers and made some good little buddies while we were there! He loved his backpack... so proud!

While we were living w/ Uncle Cris and Auntie Jennifer we got a bike, a lot like the bike here in Mexico... he loved it and was so excited when he first saw it!

1st & 3rd Birthday!!

Well shortly after arriving back in Mexico, Oscar planned a Birthday Party of Hyrum and Hayden. Hyrum turned 3 on Oct. 30th and Hayden is now 1 year old as of Nov. 19th. Over this last year both have grown so much, especially my Hayden. I can't believe she has been walking for about 3 months now and is wanting to talk so bad. Thus far she has papi, mami, more/mas, bahbah (bottle), esta (this), and love to shake her head "no"! Well we had a great time at their Birthday party. Lots of Oscar's family! The night before we thought only 1 maybe 2 siblings would arrive, as all were saying they had this or that do. However the day of, we were greatly surprised at the turn out. 4 of his 8 siblings and spouses came, as well as their children. We ate food very tradition to this part of Mexico. Tamales- chicken w/ green salsa as well as sweet tamales- pineapple, rasins and apple... not together... in different tamles. As well as Ponche- which is a hot fruit drink, similar to apple cidar or wassel. Also Posoles- which is dried corn which you then boil for a few hours to soften, then there's pork chunks, and then you at the chiles mixure. You eat it as a soup w/ tostadas, shredded lettuce and fresh lime. It's super yummy! However it stains! We also had cake of course. Oscar's brother Ivan and his wife Lizeth, brought a "Kung Fu Panda" pinada. The kids had a great time. Hyrum had to change his shirt 3 times, as he got so excited about his cake and got it all over him, before we even started the party. Silly kid! Latin tradition is that after you blow out your candles (Oscar bought trick ones!!! Thanks I got to blow, and blow, and blow them out!), that you take a bite of your cake... well Hyrum didn't want to, then after he saw how funny it was when Hayden did it... and he kept putting icing on his face, and Hayden jecked and got it on her forehead! I hope you all enjoy the pics! We had a great time! Thanks to all!