Mexico Trip

Warning!  Here's another picture filled post from our trip to Mexico.  Although we were down there for Christmas and were most excited about just spending time together, we also got out and did lots of sight seeing.  My parents live about 45 minutes south of Guadalajara above the villlages of Jocotepec and San Juan Cosala, overlooking the largest lake in Mexico, Lake Chapala.  It's a beautiful area.

Here are some views of the lake from their front patio

My parent's home

One morning while we were out on the patio someone noticed these donkeys walking on the hillside carrying bundles of sticks.

San Andres Church in Ajijic

Ajijic

Boardwalk down by the riverfront in Ajijic

We spent some time walking around the village, and checking out the shops

One afternoon me, my dad, Trevor, and Mike went on a hike over the mountain behind my parents home, and caught a local bus home on the other side.

Local market

Raspberries are grown locally in the area, and are super cheap!  We ate ALOT of raspberries!

One afternoon we went on a tour of a fish farm out in the middle of Lake Chapala.  A man in my parents ward does many projects to help provide lasting resources, as well as jobs for the natives in the area.  This fish farm will provide an inexpensive source of protein for locals, as over fishing in the area has depleted much of the lakes natural source of fish.  We then visited the near by Island of Mezcala, a site of significant historical importance during the Mexican war of independence from Spain. 

The fish farm

This family of nine lives on a tiny island near the fish farm, where workers will often stay if the water is too rough to return back to shore.

Practical jokes were constantly being plotted during this trip, and I think there was even a secret practical joke club organized at one point.  Pretty sure Heather and Trevor were the ones behind this.  So here is Erin and Grandpa Ducky pouring water on someone from up in the fort.

After returning from the lake we enjoyed a picnic lunch and warm weather!

Trying local snacks from street vendors in Ajijic

Freshly made tortillas

One evening we managed to go out for an ADULT ONLY dinner! 

Horse back riding!  Gavin absolutely loved it, but I think 30 minutes would have been plenty long for him.  By the end he was getting pretty uncomfortable, but every time I asked if he wanted to get off, he adamantly said NO!  Even if it wasn't the most comfortable thing, he was going to stay on that horse for as long as he could!

More practical jokes!  This time we all gained up on Trevor as he was coming up for breakfast

More exploring in Ajijic

We sure had a great time!

Christmas 2012 - Part Two

For years my Mom has talked about having family come to her home for a visit.  Since my parents have lived overseas for over the past ten years, this wasn't often possible.  But now that they have (semi) retired and are living in their new home in Mexico, we were all invited to spend Christmas at their home this year!  Everyone was able to make it down except for David and Isaiah, so it was a crowd!

With so many cousin, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, etc. to visit and play with, we enjoyed relaxing and just spending lots of time around the house together.  Of course the hammock was a hit with everyone!

A bonus of going Mexico for Christmas, besides all the family, was getting away from the cold weather and enjoying the outdoor pool down the street.

Being Christmas we did do all the typical Christmas traditions: caroling, decorating the gingerbread house & cookies for Santa, reading from the Bible, tracking Santa's progress as he made his way down to Nana and Grandpa Ducky's home; but we also incorporated some new Mexican Christmas traditions: Christmas pinata and visiting the Christmas Eve Tableaus at the local village church (Click HERE to read more about these two traditions).

Christmas Decorations

Gingerbread House

Advent Calendars!  Erin's in the back moving the camel on the advent calendar I remember growing up with as a little girl, and Gavin is putting baby Jesus on Nana's other advent calendar.  You may notice it looks alot like ours - Nana & Grandpa Ducky  gave us the same one a few years back

Tracking Santa as he sets out delivering presents around the world

 Caroling at the neighbors' homes

Decorating cookies for Santa (or just eating the icing!)

Christmas Pinata
After each of the kids took a few rounds at trying to knock it down, we finally had to get Nana in there to help them out

Reading from the Bible

Nativities at San Andres Church

Reading Davey - My Mom was given this book when she was a little girl, and I remember her reading it to us each Christmas growing up.  I love that the tradition continues, as she now reads it to the grandkids!

Christmas eve pajamas - Growing up my Nana and Papa always gave us new PJs to open on Christmas eve.  Now they give them to the grandkids.  The kids loved opening their new PJs from Nanny M and Papa, and it was quite an ordeal trying to get a decent picture of them all together.

I love Gavin and Isaac in this one

It took seven adults and lots of crazy faces!

Christmas morning it was fun watching the kids get all excited about what Santa left in their stockings.  It's always nice to get gifts, but what I loved more was seeing how excited everyone was to watch others open the gifts they had given!

Waiting for everyone to wake up Christmas Morning

Thirteen people makes for lots of gifts under the tree!

The kids were all over Grandpa Ducky to see what was in his stocking

I don't know how he does this!